🏈 Fall practice notes & CNS Presser

Jedrick Wills is one of those examples that just scream when you got it, you got it. Over half of this class of freshmen were early entrees, but Wills wasn't one of them. The consensus is that the OL is maybe the toughest position to master and make progress. But here comes Mr. Wills and we've read even when his feet are not perfect he is still dominating. I wonder if he's making a name for himself because he can pass block?
 
According to Rashaan Evans' dad (Alan Evans) this is the official starters on defense:



DE: De'Shawn Hand

NT: Daron Payne

DE: Raekwon King

JACK: Anfernee Jennings

WILL: Shaun Dion Hamilton

MIKE: Rashaan Evans

SAM: Christian Miller

CB: Anthony Averette

CB: Trevon Diggs

SS: Minkah Fitzpatrick

FS: Ronnie Harrison

STAR: Tony Brown
 
Practice day 20

By Tony Tsoukalas


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 1 Alabama participated in its second day of game prep Thursday for next Saturday’s matchup against No. 3 Florida State. Players were dress in full pads in 90-degree weather for their 20th workout of preseason camp.

Here are a few notes from the media viewing session:

— Injured running back Josh Jacobs (hamstring) was with the rest of the running backs but was still limited during practice. While the other running backs ran through their individual drills, Jacobs went through the motions at a walking pace. Thursday Alabama head coach Nick Saban said he would take caution with Jacobs to avoid a serious injury. It is unknown how available he will be for the season opener.

— With that said, running freshman running back Brian Robinson is still on the scout team wearing the No. 9 of Florida State running back Jacques Patrick. Damien Harris led the group followed by Bo Scarbrough, Najee Harris, Robinson and Ronnie Clark, who was also wearing a No. 9.

— Other interesting scout team numbers include: inside linebacker Markail Benton (No. 6 of FSU linebacker Matthew Thomas), linebacker Joshua McMillon (No. 18 of FSU linebacker Ro’Derrick Hoskins), wide receiver Chadarius Townsend (No. 8 of FSU receiver Nyqwan Murray), receiver Tyrell Shavers (No. 18 of FSU receiver Auden Tate) and defensive back Keaton Anderson (No. 3 of FSU defensive back Derwin James).

— Matt Womack took most of the reps at first-team right tackle, but we did see Jedrick Wills come in a couple times for reps with the No. 1s. Fellow freshman Alex Leatherwood is serving as the left tackle on the second unit.

— Both Womack and Wills showed great push off the ball during team drills. It should be a battle to the end for the starting spot.

— Damien Harris took the first carry at running back when the running backs moved to team drills. Bo Scarbrough was next in line.

— Alabama practiced out of the nickel formation with Trevon Diggs and Anthony Averett at corners. Hootie Jones and Ronnie Harrison were the safeties, while Minkah Fitzpatrick played at Star. Rashaan Evans and Shaun Dion Hamilton were the two linebackers in the formation.

— While Diggs got most of the snaps with the first unit, we did see Levi Wallace work one rep with the No. 1s. As the most experienced option in Alabama’s reserves, it will be interesting to see how much playing the former walk-on gets during the opener.

TEAM NEWS - Practice No. 20 (8/25) | BamaInsider.com
 
Practice day 21
By Tony Tsoukalas


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama players practiced outside Saturday a week before their season opener against Florida State inside of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in at Atlanta on Sept. 2. Players were dressed in shorts and shells in cloudy, 85-degree weather for their 21st workout of preseason camp.

Here are a few notes from the media viewing period:

— Injured running back Josh Jacobs (hamstring) was back with the running backs again but still appears to be limited. He looks to be moving a little better but still didn’t have gloves on in the practice.

— In other injury news, Christian Miller, who was limited earlier in the week, has been practicing with the rest of the outside linebackers. He is going through individual and team drills but was wearing athletic shoes instead of cleats for the practice.

— The outside linebackers worked on resistance training, using rubber bands to get better explosion off the ball.

—Alabama’s defensive backs worked on fumble-recovery drills as coaches rolled balls at them to scoop up.

— Alabama’s secondary practiced out of the dime formation. Trevon Diggs and Levi Wallace split time at left corner, while Anthony Averett manned the right cornerback position. Hootie Jones and Ronnie Harrison served as the safeties, while Tony Brown was at Star and Minkah Fitzpatrick was at Money. Shaun Dion Hamilton was shadowed by Mack Wilson at the linebacker spot.

— Matt Womack continued to practice at first-team right tackle, while Jedrick Wills served at right tackle on the second unit. Alex Leatherwood was at second team left tackle. It’s a safe bet to assume Alabama’s starting offensive line will be Jonah Williams, Ross Pierschbacher, Bradley Bozeman, Lester Cotton and Womack for the opener. However, it will be interesting to see if Wills gets some playing time in the game.

— Alabama’s defensive line also remained the same with Da’Shawn Hand, Da’Ron Payne, Joshua Frazier and Raekwon Davis in the first unit. Isaiah Buggs, Jamar King, Johnny Dwight and Quinnen Williams made up the second unit.

— It’s crazy how well Payne moves for his size. Even at 6-foot-2, 308 pounds, he moves the best out of the rest of the defensive linemen in the unit.

— It was a crowded practice with plenty of recruits and visitors. One of the visitors I noticed was Alabama head baseball coach Brad Bohannon.

TEAM NEWS - Practice 21 (8/26) | BamaInsider.com
 
Game week practice, Monday
By Tony Tsoukalas


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama moved inside for its first practice of game week Monday as players prepared for Saturday night’s season opener against No. 3 Florida State. Players were dressed in full pads for the workout.

Here are some notes from the media viewing period:

— Raekwon Davis was not present during the viewing period. The 6-foot-7, 306-pound defensive was shot in the right leg early Sunday morning. Before practice, Alabama head coach Nick Saban said Davis was released from the hospital and back with the team. The sophomore is listed as “day-to-day” for Saturday’s opener.

— Running back Josh Jacobs (hamstring) was with the rest of the running backs during individual drills but left with trainer Jeff Allen during team drills. Jacobs was going through drills at half speed and was not wearing cleats or gloves. Saban said a decision will be made on the sophomore’s status midway through the week.

— Najee Harris (hamstring) is wearing a hamstring-support apparatus but is participating in drills at full-go.

— It was hard to see the defensive linemen, but it appeared the first group was Da’Shawn Hand, Da’Ron Payne, Joshua Frazier and Phidarian Mathis. Isiah Buggs, Jamar King, Johnny Dwight and Quinnen Williams were on the second group.

— If Davis is unable to go, the most logical replacements would be Buggs, Frazier or Williams. Fraizer is listed as the alternate defensive end to Davis on the depth chart Alabama released Monday.

— Alabama’s secondary practiced out of the nickel package. Levi Wallace and Trevon Diggs worked at left cornerback, while Anthony Averett worked at right cornerback. Diggs is listed as a starter on the depth chart, but Saban said Wallace was providing good competition at the position. It looks like Diggs should get the start Saturday but might be on a short leash.

— Hootie Jones and Ronnie Harrison were the safeties, while Minkah Fitzpatrick was at Star. It’s interesting Alabama put Fitzpatrick at Star, given Tony Brown is listed as the starter at Star on the depth chart. Rashaan Evans and Shaun Dion Hamilton were the two linebackers, while Mack Wilson shadowed Hamilton at Mike position.

— Another interesting note was that Jared Mayden was still working at cornerback on the second unit. The 6-foot, 197-pound sophomore is not on the depth chart provided by the team but has worked on the second unit all preseason.

— Alabama’s first team offensive line remained the same as the Tide lined up with Jonah Williams, Ross Pierschbacher, Bradley Bozeman, Lester Cotton and Matt Womack from left to right. Womack and freshman Jedrick Wills are both listed as starters on the depth chart, so it will be interesting to see how things play out this week.

— There were two number changes to report on special teams. Punter JK Scott will now wear No. 10, while Andy Pappanastos will wear No. 12.

TEAM NEWS - Monday practice Florida State game week | BamaInsider.com
 
Fitting that JK will be wearing #10. People in those jerseys will be showing them off at least a few times a game

Seems like Minkah will play Star. I love this move. If Tony Brown can't nail it down, then there's only 1 man for the job.
 
By Tony Tsouakas

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama practiced inside for the second straight day Tuesday as players gear up for Saturday’s opener against Florida State inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Players were dressed in full pads for their second workout of fall camp.

Here are a few notes from what we saw during the media viewing period.

— Running back Josh Jacobs (hamstring) and Raekwon Davis (leg) were both absent from practice. Saban said the team would make a midweek decision on Jacobs, although at this point signs don’t point toward him playing in the opener. We spotted Davis entering the football facility earlier in the day. He had a bandage wrapped around his right leg and was walking with a heavy limp. Saban said the defensive lineman is day-to-day.

— Despite Jacobs’ absence, freshman Brian Robinson is still working on the scout team during drills. Saban previously alluded toward playing the freshman in the opener if Jacobs was unavailable. However, Robinson was not included in the two-deep depth chart provided by Alabama on Monday.

— Alabama’s secondary practiced out of the dime package. Levi Wallace and Trevon Diggs split time at left cornerback, while Anthony Averett played at right cornerback. Hootie Jones and Ronnie Harrison were the safeties, while Tony Brown played at Star and Minkah Fitzpatrick played at Money. Diggs listed above Wallace on Alabama’s depth chart and has been working before him during drills.

— Alabama’s offensive line remains unchanged with Jonah Williams, Ross Pierschbacher, Bradley Bozeman, Lester Cotton and Matt Womack lining up from left to right. Jedrick Wills continues to work at right tackle with the second unit.

— When watching the offense work during team drills, I noticed both Miller Forristall and Irv Smith working together on the first team. It will be interesting to see how many times Alabama works out of a two tight end set this season. It is a popular formation for the New England Patriots, where first-year Alabama offensive coordinator Brian Daboll spent the past four seasons as an assistant.

— The wide receivers were participating in both quick-out routes and deep balls. Cam Sims and Jerry Jeudy are both listed as starters at slot receiver on Alabama’s roster, although Sims has continuously been ahead of Jeudy during drills.

— Alabama staffer and former defensive back Javier Arenas had his red Audi booted before practice after he parked it right outside the practice facility. The boots were later removed before practice.

Tuesday practice report (Florida State game week) | BamaInsider.com
 
Davis walking with a heavy limp... Dang. Doesn't sound too good for him this weekend.

Buggs & Quinnen Williams will get their shot! That position is by far the most intriguing IMO... Someone will step up, just not sure who

Frazier will play some DE as well. He's dropped 30 pounds, and has improved his conditioning
 
Kendall Sheffield would have been a big help this year. WEF


He could have been a big help last season. I truly hope kids like Kendell, for whatever reason, just dislike the program they're in. Being from Texas maybe he just didn't feel it. But if this was all about immediate playing time, period, that was the most poorly thought out, prisoner of the moment, knee jerk decision, I've seen in a long while.
 
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