🏈 Fall practice notes & CNS Presser

[Alabama17Tide]

Quick Notes From Hendo from practice No. 1

• Christian Miller looked fantastic during drills today, was first in reps
• Terrell Lewis to no surprised looked to have added some muscle and is very quick and agile
• The first three defensive linemen in reps were Da’Shawn Hand, Da’Ron Payne, and Raekwon Davis
• Joshua Frazier and then Johnny Dwight followed Payne
• Jalen as you can image led the quarterbacks and continues to look polished and is a lot bigger than from the last time we saw him. Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones followed, Tagovailoa is a such a gifted passer
• Robert Foster and Cam Sims looked smooth and fast at the WR position, no slow down from Foster that I saw
• Jeudy looked like Jeudy haha, just incredible
• First look at DeVonta Smith who came out well during routes along with Henry Ruggs. IMO DeVonta Smith is a better route runner than Ruggs, Smith can stick and move as you receivers to do.
• Minkah Fitzpatrick as you’ll see from my forthcoming highlights looked straight ripped, must of added some muscle over the summer.

Practice No. 1 - By Tony Tsoukalas

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama worked out in shorts and shells in 89-degree weather Thursday afternoon as the Crimson Tide took part in its first practice of fall camp.

Here are a few notes from what we saw in the media viewing period:

— Alabama defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand was a full participant during the practice. Hand, a senior, was arrested early Saturday morning for DUI. His discipline has yet to be announced by head coach Nick Saban.

— The defensive line worked in groups of two during individual drills. Hand and Da’Ron Payne were in the first group, Isiah Buggs and Joshua Frazier were in the next group, Raekwon Davis and Johnny Dwight were in the third group and Quinnen Williams and Jamar King were next.

— Freshman LaBryan Ray was working toward the end of the group with as was a surprise member. Fellow freshman Kedrick James was practicing with the linebackers despite being listed as a tight end on the roster. At 6-foot-5, 272 pounds, he certainly has the size to play the position. Alabama has more depth at tight end than it does at defensive line. It will be interesting to see where James plays moving forward.

— Minkah Fitzpatrick practiced with both the cornerbacks and the safeties, while Trevon Diggs was working with the cornerbacks.

— Christian Miller led the outside linebackers and was followed by Anfernee Jennings, Jamey Mosley, Terrell Lewis , Mehki Brown, Ben Davis, Christopher Allen and VanDarius Cowan. Davis split time at both inside and outside linebacker during the spring. Alabama could see him as an outside linebacker or could be trying to test him out in different packages.

— Rashaan Evans led the inside linebackers and was followed by Shaun Dion Hamilton, Keith Holcombe, Dylan Moses, Joshua McMillon, Markail Benton and Mack Wilson. I wouldn’t get too caught up in the order here. Wilson traditionally brings up the rear during individual drills.

— Shaun Dion Hamilton was moving fine in his first practice back after suffering a torn ACL during the SEC Championship Game. He was out of his black jersey and wearing a brace on his right knee

— Benton is another example of the elite athletes Alabama brings in. The 6-foot-2, 237-pound freshman looked impressive during the practice.

— Alabama’s first-unit offensive line consisted of Jonah Williams, Ross Pierschbacher, Bradley Bozeman, Lester Cotton and Matt Womack from left to right. Alex Leatherwood backed up Womack at right tackle, while Deonte Brown backed up Cotton at right guard.

— Damien Harris led the running backs and was followed by Bo Scarbrough, Josh Jacobs Najee Harris Brian Robinson and Zavier Mapp.

— Calvin Ridley, Robert Foster and Cam Sims appear to be the first three receivers on Alabama’s rep chart.

— Sims, Xavian Marks, Chadarius Townsend and Henry Ruggs worked at slot. Ruggs looks quick and ran fluid routes but appears a little bit on the light side for an SEC receiver. He’s listed as 6-0, 175 pounds on the roster and could probably benefit from putting on another 5-10 pounds.

— Foster was followed by Jerry Jeudy, Tyrell Shavers and Mac Hereford. Shavers looks to be a dark-horse candidate as a contributor. He moves really well for his size and at 6-foot-6 is a big option for Jalen Hurts on the perimeter.

— Ridley was followed by Derek Kief and Devonta Smith. Like Ruggs, Smith could stand to put on a little more weight. It was interesting to see him on the outside rather than at slot. Nevertheless, his speed could be a dangerous weapon next season.

TEAM NEWS - Practice Report No. 1 | BamaInsider.com

 

[planomateo]

 

[Tidestalker]

FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!!! Thanks for posting

-Great to hear Christian Miller is looking like the real deal. I give him a lot of credit for "sticking it out" and not getting impatient. It appears to be his time. Out of HS he had such an amazing nose for the ball and made so many plays. Now with the extra lbs he should be ready to make a huge impact. Jennings is still my fav to get the most snaps at the position as I see an Upshaw 2.0 - But Terrell Lewis (Hall) has to get on the field at some point. Freakish talent!

-Glad to see SDH is moving well. I genuinely think he could've been the difference last January. Such a smart player we will need him with Rashaan's raw athleticism. Throw in Mack as a potential all around stud and Holcombe as a good option in pass coverage, that position is looking really good. Of course Mosley may be the next big thing too... He's the most intriguing of all... But Benton is my personal fav in that class. He can really move.

-Not surprised at all to see that Damien Harris could be our #1. He was really good last season when healthy. Personally I think Jacobs is the next best, but obviously Bo has amazing talent too. Harris and Robinson are some special 4/5's... And please, if one gets nicked up, RS them so they don't waste a year with less than 30 carries. Although while it sucks that Emmons left, I'm sure the others are more optimistic with 1 less thoroughbred in the stable.

-Ridley/Foster/Sims are a solid bunch. Foster the most intriguing because we really don't know what to expect... The kids behind them though... Here we go! Jeudy is next up in the line of S. Florida draft picks and Smith seems to have that "it" factor. Ruggs has a chance to be something also. One more guy I think could do his thing down the road is Townswend.... Reminded me of A. Stewart out of HS, same body type and athleticism. Looks like he's starting in the slot, which hopefully is a good thing with Daboll.

-DL would be the only position with some hesitation. Top 3 should be all good, with Frazier as a solid 4. I'm fully expecting Buggs to be starting by SEC play and show signs of Jon Allen type of play. After that it's Q Williams time to step up and contribute when the time comes. Moving Kendrick James to DL would make a lot of sense... He's massive for a TE and we are in great shape there. Hope he does well

-OL speaks for itself... Hopefully Cotton is ready mentally, and Womack is ready physically. If so that should be a fun group. HUGE group. Like the move Deionte Brown has made and obviously Leatherwood has a chance to be special. He may be our LT sooner than later

-Secondary stuff is most intriguing for me. With Diggs moving over, there's a lot of guys fighting for just a few snaps. Seems like Hootie may be the odd man out, but I'd expect him to play in Dime. Huge season for Tony Brown to finally come of age... He's the X factor of the whole defense IMO. That star position is so damn important vs the great offensive teams

RTR!!

 

[Bamabww]

Interesting that Kendrick James was at LB. I hope he stays there.

 

[Alabama17Tide]

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Some things never change.

As Alabama opened up its fall camp Thursday, the inevitable ensued. Head coach Nick Saban started his first news conference by stating the importance of accountability, both on and off the field. He recited his annual speech about self-assessment, using the familiar buzz words such as “work ethic,” “perseverance” and “discipline.”

On the field, the Crimson Tide players donned shorts and shells under the same 90-degree heat they will come to get used to over the next month. Five-star freshmen began their battle to earn early playing time, while their veteran teammates took their first steps toward establishing newfound leadership roles. Coaches screamed and whistles blared, the same as they always have — rinse, wash, repeat.

As monotonous as it may be, it’s hard to argue against Alabama’s well-run machine. After all, the Tide’s dedication to routine and “the process” has propelled it to four national championships over the past eight years. However, as the Tide aims for its fourth straight appearance in the College Football Playoff, it’s what is missing this offseason that has players excited.

For the first time since 2013 Alabama begins its preseason without a quarterback battle. Instead, the Tide breaks camp with quite the opposite, returning the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Year in Jalen Hurts.

“It’s different,” junior offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher said. “I think this is the first time since I’ve been here that we’ve haven’t had a quarterback battle. Just the offense takes advantage of that, just knowing that we have a guy back there we can trust who’s been through that is going to help us out and propel our offense forward.”

Hurts returns for his sophomore season after becoming the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Alabama since 1984. Admittedly, he's at a completely different place mentally than he was at this time a year ago.

"Like I said, last year, it was different situations,” Hurts said. “No experience, nothing like that, fighting for my job. Now it's just I have to lead the team, I have to lead the way. And, I'll use it again, improve. We have to improve, continue to improve as a team so we can be where we want to be."

Despite breaking Alabama’s single season touchdown record with a combined 36 scores last season, much has been said about Hurts’ need to improve as a passer this season. The 6-foot-2, 218-pound quarterback threw for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns with nine interceptions last season but failed to maintain consistency, especially in the downfield passing game.

Saban said the goal this offseason was to improve Hurts’ ability to be a more efficient and effective passer while allowing him to be more comfortable in the pocket. After an impressive performance in spring camp, that looks to be a success.

“I think he’s made tremendous strides in the spring,” Saban said. “We’re not allowed to watch a lot of what they do over the summer, but based on his confidence, the poise that he played with out there in practice today, I think there has been a lot of improvement in his knowledge and understanding and confidence. His leadership, his presence, all those things I think have a real positive impact on the offensive team and the offensive players. I think he’s really improved as a passer.”

Thursday’s viewing period only allowed reporters to catch a glimpse of Hurts’ passing ability, as he tossed quick, intermediate routes to receivers. However, his status as a leader can’t be missed.

“He’s taken this as his team,” Pierschbacher said. “I think as a quarterback he should. The offense really respects that. We’ve got a lot of leaders on offense, but Jalen is going to run the show, he’s the quarterback.”

A coach's son, Hurts admits some of his leadership ability comes naturally. Although that doesn’t mean he takes his role for granted. Just as he worked last season to earn his spot as the starter, Hurts knows he must now continue to develop trust and inspire belief amongst his teammates.

“People lead because they let you lead,” Hurts said. “Just because I walk in and say I want to do this don't mean I'm going to do it. It happens over time, respect and what you do on the field. My peers respect me and we just want to improve every day.”

That improvement will continue over the next month, as No. 1 Alabama gears up for its season opener against No. 3 Florida State on Sept. 2 inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Until then, it’s back to business.

“One day at a time,” Hurts said. “We just finished Day 1, you know, so we'll watch the film and take care of that. Just one day at a time."

Some things never change.

BamaInsider.com - Jalen Hurts' leadership apparent on Day 1 of fall camp

 

[50+yeartidefan]

I can only imagine 3 more years with JH being the leader for this team....
What a great time in history to be a Bama fan......
Everyone should sit back and enjoy

 

[Tidestalker]

Interesting that Kendrick James was at LB. I hope he stays there.

That was a typo... In that paragraph they were referring to DL's. Saw in another report that he was working wth DL's also. Makes more sense at 274lbs

 

[Alabama17Tide]

Fall Practice Day 2

By Tony Tsoukalas

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama players returned outside for their second practice of fall camp on Friday. Players donned shorts and shells for the second straight day under muggy, 84-degree weather.

Here are some notes from what we saw during the media viewing period:

— After splitting time at both cornerback and safety on Thursday, Minkah Fitzpatrick worked exclusively with the cornerbacks during individual and team drills. Trevon Diggs, who replaced Fitzpatrick during the spring, was also working exclusively with the corners.

— Media only got a brief look at the secondary during team drills before reporters were escorted off the field. Alabama started out of its base formation, with Fitzpatrick and Anthony Averett at the two cornerback positions and Hootie Jones and Ronnie Harrison at the safety positions.

— We were able to see one rep where Alabama used five defensive backs. Interestingly enough, Jones moved inside the box as the fifth defensive back, while Deionte Thompson took his spot at safety. It’s worth noting that Tony Brown, the typical starter at STAR, was present and participating during practice. However, he was resting at the beginning of team drills. It’s probably too short of a sample size to make any assumptions.

— Reporters were being ushered out by the time the second unit took part in the drill, but we did catch Xavier McKinney come in to replace Jones as the fifth defensive back. Once again, this is probably a package Alabama is working on, and we will need to wait until later in preseason to make further evaluations.

— Alabama’s first unit on defensive line consisted of Da’Shawn Hand, Da’Ron Payne Joshua Frazier and Raekwon Davis. The next unit featured Isiah Buggs, Jamar King, Johnny Dwight and Quinnen Williams. The third group consisted of Vohn Keith Jr., Taylor Wilson, LaBryan Ray and Daniel Powell.

— I didn’t catch which group Phidarian Mathis was in, but he was participating in practice as well. The four-star freshman defensive tackle is listed at 6-4, 306 pounds and looks every bit at big in person.

— Davis and Buggs seem to be really pushing themselves for the final starting defensive end position. During footwork drills, the two were audibly exerting themselves, working to the very end of each rep.

— Davis had to be braced by a teammate who jokingly told him to “slow down.” Buggs then followed just as hard right behind, exclaiming “Trying to make something happen.”

— After practicing with the defensive line on Thursday, freshman Kedrick James was back with the tight ends on Friday.

— I didn’t get to look too much at the outside linebackers last practice, so I spent some extra time there today. The first thing that jumps out to me is the size of freshman Christopher Allen. Listed at 6-4, 239 pounds the former four-star is even bigger than fellow true freshman Dylan Moses and is just as ripped. Freshman VanDarius Cowan 6-4, 236 pounds, is also impressive to watch.

— At the inside linebacker position, Shaun Dion Hamilton’s size also jumps out but for different reasons than Allen. Hamilton is listed at 6-foot, 235 pounds and appears to a lot slimmer than last year. The inside linebackers were working on drop backs during the end of practice, and it’s easy to see how Hamilton’s leaner build could help in in coverage. Despite the brace on his leg, Hamilton is very was very fluid in his movement during the drills.

— The offensive first unit offensive line stayed the same, as Alabama lined up with Jonah Williams, Ross Pierschbacher, Bradley Bozeman, Lester Cotton and Matt Womack. Alex Leatherwood was the backup at right tackle. I have continued to predict Leatherwood will eventually take over the starting spot, but it is worth noting that Womack also looks impressive. Like Alabama head coach Nick Saban said on Thursday, it’s hard to tell much about the offensive line without pads.

— Watching the receivers, Devonta Smith continues to catch my eye. The summer enrollee looked like he was moving in fast forward during footwork drills. If he continues that type of agility and explosiveness, don’t be surprised if Alabama finds a spot for him on the field in some way or another.

Quick Takes From Hendo

*Rashaan Evans looked great today, watched him for a while. He was leading the linebacking corps.

*Right after him was Shaun Dion Hamilton and as you’ll see from my film, he looks to be moving very well

*Keith Holcombe and Dylan Moses were next in line and each always looks capable of knocking someone’s head off. Moses is just such a big dude.

*Caught some Calvin Ridley today and to me it’s like watching someone in an NFL uniform already, just incredible body control

*This might be my biggest takeaway from today, Jedrick Wills looks outstanding and in my opinion, he looks a few steps faster and overall better than Matt Womack, at least today he did.

*Lester Cotton looks a little more in shape, but still massive and I get the feeling he’s going to have a big season

*Ben Davis and Anfernee Jennings are two players I likely do not talk about much, but I have great respect for the way they work, especially in this August heat, both get after it.

*Minkah, again just really stands out in the crowd, moves like a true next level player, so seasoned

*Isaiah Buggs ran right towards us today, watch out as he’s going to really shine

*Da’Ron Payne can move! Watch the film when he is working the bags, just blown away

 

[Alabama17Tide]

With Alabama’s first preseason practice in the books, it's time for a new edition of the 3-2-1: Where we offer three things we've learned, two questions we're asking and one prediction.

Three things we've learned
1. Da’Shawn Hand will not be suspended

If everything goes to plan, Alabama will not be without star senior defensive end Da’Shawn Hand during its season opener against Florida State on Sept. 2. Hand was arrested for DUI at 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning when a police officer found him asleep in a parked car at the 1100 block of University Blvd near campus.

While Alabama head coach Nick Saban stated he was disappointed in Hand for putting himself in such a situation, he commended the defensive lineman for not driving and putting others in danger. Due to this, the head coach opted to discipline Hand by putting him in 48-hour in-patient treatment while also assigning him community service and a police ride around.

“I have two choices,” Saban said. “I can punish the guy for putting himself in a bad situation, aight, but making a pretty good decision after he put himself in that situation. Or we can take the situation that he put himself in, which is drinking, aight, and have him assessed for that and try to help him so he can make better choices and decisions in the future.”

While Saban’s decision not to suspend Hand doesn’t come as much of a surprise, the head coach’s willingness to open up on the matter is a break from the norm. Saban typically keeps disciplinary decisions close to the vest but was willing to discuss his rationale at length on Thursday.

“I think what we're doing is helping the player. If he'd have driven the car, it would be a totally different circumstance. Even if he didn't get arrested. He put himself in that situation at 4:30 in the morning being in that condition, we would have sent him to do the same thing for his future safety and his future decision making.”

Hand’s arrest comes as a blow to the team’s hyper-focused approach this offseason. In response, Saban said he gathered his team and told them to use the situation as a reminder what can happen if a player puts himself in a bad situation.

“Every opportunity that we have, whether it's somebody on our team or somebody somewhere else, we use every one of these as opportunities and opportunities for the other people to learn, all the time,” Saban said. “We do it with former players doing good things. We do it with players doing good things. We do it with other people doing not-so-good things and making poor choices and decisions. We're always trying to make the players aware of the consequences of good and bad behavior.”

2. Players on the move

Thursday’s practice showed how the Tide might line up at certain positions while also featuring several players at new places on the field.

One of the biggest stories this offseason has been how junior defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick will be used next season. Fitzpatrick earned All-American honors at safety last year after switching over from the STAR position to fill in for injured Eddie Jackson midway through the season.

Fitzpatrick started spring practice at cornerback but was soon moved back to safety after converted receiver Trevon Diggs was placed at cornerback. Thursday, Fitzpatrick spent time at both cornerback and safety, while Diggs spent his time exclusively at cornerback.

Perhaps the most versatile player on Alabama’s roster, Fitzpatrick can play at any position across the secondary. Where he lines up next season will most likely depend on the performance of those around him.

“I think the goal is to get the best four guys, the best five guys on the field in the best positions that will give us the best opportunity to have a chance to be successful in the back end,” Saban said. “Minkah can play either place extremely well. So based on how the other players develop will probably determine to a large degree how they end up playing.”

Another position of interest is on the right side of the offensive line. During the spring, Alabama used several different combinations up front, swapping out Matt Womack, Lester Cotton and Deonte Brown at the right tackle and right guard positions. Thursday, the Tide’s first-unit line up with Jonah Williams, Ross Pierschbacher, Bradley Bozeman, Cotton and Womack from left to right. Five-star freshman Alex Leatherwood was the backup right tackle, while Brown was the backup right guard.

"We're evaluating the guys every day,” Saban said. “We're evaluating those four guys to make sure they continue to improve and play well. We're also going to evaluate some of the younger players who came in as well as some of the guys that were there in the spring...It's way too early to really tell. Especially these practices where you don't have pads on, not the easiest way to evaluate defensive and offensive linemen."

Another notable move was on the defensive line as freshman tight end Kedrick James worked with the defensive linemen. While it’s too early to tell whether or not James will make the switch to defense, at 6-foot-5, 272-pounds he has the needed size to play the position.

Linebacker was also an interesting position to watch. Redshirt freshman Ben Davis was back practicing with the outside linebackers after spending time at both inside and outside linebacker during the spring. Summer enrollees Christopher Allen and VanDarius Cowan were at outside linebacker, while fellow summer enrollee Markail Benton participated with the inside linebackers.

3. Saban doesn’t care about No. 1 ranking

Alabama is the No. 1 team in the Amway Coaches Poll, announced Thursday, marking the second straight year the Tide has started the season as the nation’s top team.

Of course, that matters very little to Saban, who doesn’t want preseason rankings to get in the way of his team’s preparations.

“It's all about how you play when the game comes against the competition that you have to play against,” Saban said. “We're not going to be in the mood to be making comparisons or making comments on rankings. It's flattering that people think highly of our team, but our team needs to understand that they need to prove who they are to by what they do, and this means very, very little.”

Alabama will play No. 3 Florida State on Sept. 2 inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Two questions we're asking
1. Can Alabama generate the same pass rush as it has in recent years?

Alabama led the nation in sacks the past two seasons with 54 last year and 52 in 2015. However, this year the Tide will be without its top four sack leaders, as Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams, Ryan Anderson and Reuben Foster have all moved on to the NFL.

The quartet combined for 33.5 sacks, 62 percent of the teams' total last season and will be difficult to replace. That being said, Alabama players feel confident this year’s front seven can be equally strong. The Tide project to start former five-star defensive ends Hand and Isiah Buggs while 6-foot-2, 308-pound defensive tackle Da’Ron Payne mans the middle of the line.

At linebacker, seniors Shaun Dion Hamilton and Rashaan Evans will provide experience and leadership up the middle while Christian Miller and Anfernee Jennings offer power and athleticism at the SAM and JACK linebacker positions respectively. Explosive pass-rusher Terrell Lewis will most likely be brought on during obvious passing situations.

"We’re Bama. We just reload,” Hamilton said. “Everybody is going to embrace the challenge."
Hamilton participated without a no-contact jersey during practice for the first time since tearing his ACL in the SEC Championship Game. While the linebacker is still wearing a brace on his right leg, he did not seem limited by the injury during practice.

“It feels really good,” Hamilton said. “It’s been a little while and I’ve put in the hard work to get back on the field and I’m just happy to be out there with my teammates.”

2. Does Jalen Hurts have a chip on his shoulder?

By now, Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts is well-versed in the interview process. So, when the sophomore was approached about having some ill will toward people who have doubted him this offseason, he brushed off the question in veteran fashion.

"Everybody's entitled to their own opinion,” Hurts replied. “All we can do is improve.”

While the starting quarterback might be shy to admit he’s holding a grudge, his fellow teammates have noticed a little something extra in his game as he enters his second season in charge of Alabama’s offense.

“I think he has a chip on his shoulder coming into this season,” Pierschbacher said. “I just think that he’s really progressed this offseason as far as knowing the offense better, knowing the whole big picture and not just what he has to do but what the right guard has to do, the tight end has to do. That’s only going to help our offense just be more smooth.”

Hurts was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year last season after passing for 2,780 yards and 23 touchdowns with nine interceptions while adding 954 yards and 13 more scores on the ground. His 36 combined touchdowns set Alabama’s single season record, breaking Blake Sims’ mark of 35 set in 2014.

“He’s taken this as his team,” Pierschbacher said of Hurts. “I think as a quarterback he should. The offense really respects that. We’ve got a lot of leaders on offense, but Jalen is going to run the show, he’s the quarterback. Coming in and being on the same page with the offensive coordinator, he’s done a good job with that too.”

One prediction
Alex Leatherwood eventually wins the right tackle job

BamaInsider has already predicted the five-star freshman will win the job in its preseason depth chart. However, after seeing the hulking 6-foot-6, 322-pound lineman again in practice on Thursday only further solidified our prediction.

This is no slight at Womack, who at 6-foot-7, 324 pounds is quite the handful himself. After all, the redshirt sophomore is still lining up at right tackle with the first unit. It’s just hard not to notice Leatherwood’s size and ability at the position.

This spring, the early enrollee seemed to struggle a bit taking the step from high school to the college game. However, if he can fine-tune his technique in time for the season opener, he will be tough to keep off the field.

“I think getting that spring out of the way kind of gets you acclimated to the speed, and just being in the SEC, it’s like everyone’s good on the field,” Pierschbacher said. “So, I think he’s really just taken that role and trying to develop his game and compete.”

BamaInsider.com - 3-2-1: What we learned from Day 1 of fall camp

 

[TUSKtimes]

Exciting to finally be getting some practice details, it's been a long offseason. The new offense and the difference makers we have coming back are going to be a sight to behold.

 

[Tidestalker]

So much to digest! I love it. Thanks for Posting A16Tide.

-I personally love the idea of Minkah staying at CB full time. The way teams dink and dunk he could make more of an impact IMO. Safeties have been nearly unneccsary lately in the run game due to our front 7 being so strong. If Minkah can lock down half the field it will make the safeties job much easier with Avarett. Who should be pretty decent also. JMO

-So many "impressive" looking freshman these writers can't even name em all. Chris Allen to me has all the makings of a top 10 pick off the edge. He's basically a bigger version of Tim Williams (actually went to the same HS) and has the same type of game. He will need to show that "burst" that TW did, but no question that he's more physically ready than Tim was as a freshman. Others mentioned like Mathis, Cowan, Moses, etc... All physically ready... Hopefully mentally ready by next season

-First mention of Jedrick Wills, can't beleive I forgot about that dude. He's a monster. Great sign that he's moving well and impressive on his feet.

-Buggs... Show out dude... Sooner the better. Nice surprise that R. Davis has developed into a legit option already. I remember when it was a long shot to even have him at practice

RTR

 

[T&B]

Interesting that Kendrick James was at LB. I hope he stays there.

I'm hoping he can grow into a DE. We have plenty of OLB's imo. We are scary thin on the DL however. Need some quality DL's to emerge. Hopefully James can do this, but playing defense is more than measureables especially at Bama. Gots to be a mean feller

 

[JoshB]

I can only imagine 3 more years with JH being the leader for this team....
What a great time in history to be a Bama fan......
Everyone should sit back and enjoy

He will be here for two more, I would almost guarantee it.

 

[EasyTider]

IMO, D-line play will determine whether we win another title.

Captain Obvious.

 

[Alabama17Tide]

Open Practice day 3

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama wrapped up its third day of fall camp Saturday, as the Crimson Tide opened up its practice to fans and media inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Players donned shorts and shells for the third straight day while working under sunny, 90-degree weather.

Alabama also held its Media Day, giving reporters an opportunity to hear from head coach Nick Saban as well as first-year offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.

Here are five things we learned from Saturday:

Trevon Diggs will stay at cornerback
Unlike last offseason, Trevon Diggs will have a definitive home on the field this fall. The sophomore spent time at both wide receiver and cornerback last fall before working exclusively during the season. During the spring, Diggs made the switch cornerback where he started all three scrimmages with the first-team defense.

Diggs has worked exclusively with the cornerbacks the past three days and while the versatile athlete has proven he can play on both sides of the ball, Saban said he is not a part of the Tide’s offensive plans as of now.

“We're not really going down that road right now,” Saban said before Alabama’s practice. “We're really focused on trying to develop him as a corner on our team, so we're not going down that road right now. We really feel good about the young receivers we have, so we're giving them as many reps as they can. And hopefully at some point this season they'll be able to make a contribution but I think right now Trevon is focused on one thing, which I think is important, especially with young players, to define a role so that they can be effective in that role.”

If Diggs earns the starting spot at corner, it would more than likely move Minkah Fitzpatrick to safety. Fitzpatrick, who led the SEC with six interceptions last season, earned All-American honors at safety last year. However, he started the spring at cornerback before Diggs was moved into the position.

Saban said Alabama does not have a goal in place for where it wants Fitzpatrick next season and stated the junior’s role will likely depend on how others do around him. Saturday, we saw Fitzpatrick work at STAR, the position he started at last season before filling in for injured Eddie Jackson midway through the year. With Fitzpatrick working at STAR, Alabama experimented with Tony Brown as an outside corner.

“I think the goal is to get the best four guys, the best five guys on the field in the best positions that will give us the best opportunity to have a chance to be successful in the back end,” Saban said Thursday. “Minkah can play either place extremely well. So based on how the other players develop will probably determine to a large degree how they end up playing."

Raekwon Davis looks to be improved
Raekwon Davis has been one of the surprises so far during fall camp, working with Alabama’s first unit on defense line all three days. Despite starting for the second-team defense during A-Day, the 6-foot-7, 306-pound defensive lineman has worked ahead of JUCO transfer Isaiah Buggs on the Tide rep chart.

“I can say this, it’s not just about Raekwon, it’s about probably every football player that comes into this program and probably anywhere: In the recruiting process kids are much better football players when they’re a senior than when they’re a freshman,” Pruitt said. “Raekwon was a freshman last year and it’s just kind of the process of developing as a football player. I’m sure over the next couple years he’ll improve and he’ll continue to get better.”

That improvement was apparent this spring when Davis led the Crimson team with seven tackles and a sack during A-Day. Saturday, the towering sophomore continued to impress, holding his own both in team drills and individual drills where he bullied offensive linemen in one-on-one battles.

“Raekwon has been working hard on his technique and staying in the playbook and he just loves to get things right,” Alabama defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne said Thursday.

Najee Harris continues to live up to his No. 1 billing
Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson’s head might still be spinning after trying to corral Najee Harris during pass coverage during Saturday’s practice. The true freshman running back made life miserable for the sophomore linebacker, juking past him several times, including one play were he completely crossed him up in the middle of the field before racing past him for 15 more yards down the sideline.

However, Wilson can take solace in knowing he won’t face too many other running backs like the five-star freshman. Harris, 6-foot-2, 227 pounds, was rated as the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit in this season’s class. Since enrolling at Alabama in January he has instantly stepped in as one of the Tide’s biggest weapons on offense, leading the Tide with 70 yards on 17 carries while catching three passes for 37 yards during A-Day.

Saturday, it was Harris’ pass-catching ability that stole the show. Even at his size, he looked fluid in his routes and caught the ball with easy before displaying his ability to make defenders miss. If Harris continues at this rate, he should be able to compete with sophomore Josh Jacobs for the role of Alabama’s third-down back.

“Look, running back is a position that you can’t have too many of,” Daboll said. “You can find creative ways to try to use them, and everyone will have a role if they earn that role. So, there are good players with all five of those guys, really... All of the guys are smart, they work really hard, are well-coached, so we’ll find some roles that we can use them as we see fit.”

Quick out route could be a staple under Daboll
Saturday’s practice might have provided a glimpse of what Alabama’s offense could be like in Daboll’s first year in charge. While it would be foolish to try and draw too many assumptions from an open practice, it was hard not to notice how much the Tide was working on quick out routes.

One beneficiary of the route appears to be tight end Irv Smith, who was a popular target on short passes toward the sideline during the practice. Smith’s ability to both block and catch has created a lot of buzz this offseason. The 6-foot-4, 246-pound sophomore was also a popular option during A-Day, where he led all tight ends with three receptions for 37 yards.

Tight ends weren’t the only position taking advantage of out routes. Wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Robert Foster were also utilized in short-passing situations on the afternoon. The play shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise coming from Daboll, who spent the past four season with the New England Patriots, a team that utilizes quick outs often.

“We have a ton of different plays that we can run offensively, and what you try to do as a coach is you try to put the players in position to be successful,” Daboll said. “Ultimately, Coach Saban is the head football coach, but we have a variety of different plays, both runs and passes, and we’re implementing new plays every day. We have a whole new package going in today, quite a bit a plays, throwing a lot at these guys. You try to be aggressive as an offensive guy, you try to take away the strengths of the defense and really the strengths of your offensive, you want to try to expose the defense with.”

Alabama's freshman offensive line class is outstanding
While five-star early enrollee Alex Leatherwood has generated much praise since joining the Tide in December, Alabama’s two summer enrollees at offensive tackle have been equally impressive.

Fellow five-star Jedrick Wills served at right tackle in the Tide’s third unit on offensive line. The 6-foot-5, 314-pound lineman looks not only has the size to play the position but has also looked working in one-on-one drills with the defensive linemen. Another surprise was four-star Kendall Randolph, who broke Alabama’s three-deep rotation as the third team left tackle. Listed at 6-foot-4, 309 pounds, Randolph is not as big as both Leatherwood or Wills but should serve as another talented option for the Tide down the road.


BamaInsider.com - Five things we learned from Alabama's open practice

 

[Alabama17Tide]

<iframe width="580" height="326" src="Alabama Football Highlights - Day 3 Breakdown - YouTube" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Alabama17Tide]

Open Practice notes

Offensive Line Updates

1st unit: Jonah Williams, Ross Pierschbacher, Bradley Bozeman, Lester Cotton, Matt Womack

2nd unit: Scott Lashley, Dallas Warmack, J.C. Hassenauer, Deonte Brown, Alex Leatherwood.

3rd unit: Kendall Randolph, Joshua Casher, Chris Owens, Richie Petitbon, Jedrick Wills

Second-team secondary out of base appears to be

Nigel Knott and Shyheim Carter at corner, Hootie Jones and Xavier McKinney at safety

Keith Holcombe and Mack Wilson were working as the two middle linebackers.

Terrell Lewis was at the Jack linebacker and was being shadowed by true freshman Christopher Allen. I'm telling you, Allen looks really good.

-Watching Dylan Moses and Christopher Allen out at the same time is an exciting site for Alabama football. really special to watch.

-For the third straight day, Raekwon Davis is working with the first-team defense. I've also heard nothing but positive reviews on him. It looks like he has really made a big step this offseason and has a pretty good chance of earning the starting spot. I said it this spring, he's gotten leaner while staying at the same weight. Really looks like he can be a force at DE

-There is a drone flying over Alabama's practice, not sure if it's for coaches or something for like SEC Network

-Derek Kief just juked out Ronnie Harrison during ball-out drills.

-Harrison makes up for it by bringing down Jerry Jeudy right away the next rep. He looked a little more determined on that last one.

-Calvin Ridley, Bradley Bozeman and Minkah Fitzpatrick led the team during workouts. That's the same trio that represented Alabama during SEC Media Days.

Cam Sims just took a jet sweep shovel pass from Hurts.... It's happening again.

-VanDarius Cowan is in a black jersey. He has a slight back injury

-Alabama's tight end order is Miller Forristall, Irv Smith and Hale Hentges. Looks like Smith is working his way up the order. I really like his ability to both block and receive, think he can be a big weapon for Alabama this season.

-Minkah is at STAR with Diggs and Averett at the corners. That's three positions for Minkah in three days. Ronnie Harrison and Deionte Thompson were at safeties and Hootie Jones was at Money

-Shyheim Carter was shadowing Minkah at STAR

- Jared Mayden has also received a few looks at corner

- Irv Smith has been used a lot on shallow out routes. I can see that being a big part of this offense this year.

- Levi Wallace just picked off Mac Jones

-Tua has struggled the past few reps I've watched him. Lots of overthrows and forced passes.

-Also, Alabama loves the shallow out pass. That's been a staple of the offense today.

-Small crowd by the way. I'd say there were more at the basketball practice

-Really like what I see from Najee Harris in the receiving game. He looks very natural as a receiver.

-Najee Harris just shook Tony Brown into next week on a swing pass. He's looking like he can be a dangerous third-down option.

-Jared Mayden just intercepted Tagovailoa on a 10-yard out pass

-Josh Jacobs juked out Nigel Knott on a swing pass. Alabama's running backs are solid in the passing game. Najee Harris follows up by juking past a defender for a touchdown.

-Najee Harris should apologize to Mack Wilson for making him look like a fool. Harris just absolutely juked him out. The true freshman has been the most impressive player out here today.

-Punt return order: Xavian Marks, Trevon Diggs, Shyheim Carter, Calvin Ridley, Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Robert Foster is also back there

-Hurts hits Robert Foster for a 37-yard pass in the corner of the end zone

From Henderson

-First things that stand out as I get to the press box. Watching Najee Harris and Brian Robinson, both run with incredible power. Najee looks like a force. My goodness.

-Jedrick Wills again looks good in Oklahoma type drill. Kid can play!

-Miller Forristall impressed today at tight end for me. Better speed from him than expected and made 15-yard reception from Hurts. Forristall also made some nice 5-yard short yard routes and quickly turned it up the field.

-Minkah Fitzpatrick covers so much ground. Saw him break up a pass and on the next play he got right in front of Josh Jacobs. He’s just an incredible safety.

- Najee Harris continues to shine on the day, it's really incredible what he can do with the football. He's caught a few passes out of the backfield and reached the end-zone with ease.

Practice No. 3 (Alabama's Open Practice) | BamaInsider.com

 

[BamaFan334]

Najee's receiving skills is what kept him at #1. The guy is an all around threat and will be on the field.

So I'm not hearing much at all about Tony Brown, he in the dog house or just the odd man out at this point? Felt he played with some fire and big hitting ability last season. Clearly sae he was juked by Najee, but haven't heard much else.

 

[Tidestalker]

Najee's receiving skills is what kept him at #1. The guy is an all around threat and will be on the field.

So I'm not hearing much at all about Tony Brown, he in the dog house or just the odd man out at this point? Felt he played with some fire and big hitting ability last season. Clearly sae he was juked by Najee, but haven't heard much else.

Was just going to post about Tony Brown. Appears he's been beaten out by Diggs, or the staff likes Hootie/3rd Safety more in Nickel.

I will say that it's great to have that depth though. Never fails that a DB gets banged up.

For R. Davis to win a starting spot over Buggs & Frazier, that's pretty impressive. If he's developing quickly, he would be a big time NFL prospect at that size after next season. Something to keep an eye on.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Was just going to post about Tony Brown. Appears he's been beaten out by Diggs, or the staff likes Hootie/3rd Safety more in Nickel.

I will say that it's great to have that depth though. Never fails that a DB gets banged up.

For R. Davis to win a starting spot over Buggs & Frazier, that's pretty impressive. If he's developing quickly, he would be a big time NFL prospect at that size after next season. Something to keep an eye on.

So much cross training going on right now how is that possible to know with Tony Brown? Minkah hasn't lined up at the same position two days in a row. I'm waiting for full pads and some practices under their belt before saying who the man is.