🏈 Fowler at HB

[JoshB]

"UA's Jalston Fowler (45) with tight ends/H-backs at practice today. #82 is Harrison Jones. pic.twitter.com/ZEF8BUFF"

https://twitter.com/ChaseGoodbread/status/233248358913953792


This could be interesting. :icon_bounce:

 

[doemasters]

would be something to see for sure

 

[TerryP]

I'm not saying him seeing snaps at another position is out of the question but this needs pointing out.

As of yesterday, we still hadn't seen any shuffling on the offensive line—something we've seen each year and will see soon if it hasn't happened today. I'd expect to hear a couple of more stories of skill players getting looks at different positions before we actually get into fall camp.

Jalston has shown good hands out of the backfield in the past and he's definitely worth taking a look at the H-back role. I like the mental picture of him getting a head of steam and running into, then over, someone in the back seven of a defense we're facing.

 

[UAgrad93]

When Jalston was at Vigor High, they used to split him out wide on occasion and throw him the ball. He does have good hands and he would be hell for an opposing LB to take on in the hole.

 

[planomateo]

can you imagine having to tackle him when he's coming at ya. 4th qtr could be VERY interesting...

 

[UAgrad93]

How would you like to be a corner or safety that has to try and square him up after he catches a ball out in the flat and turns up field? Pass the Tylenol!!

 

[JoshB]

Supposedly he was lining up at FB in the I-Form today too... hmmmmmm...

 

[TerryP]

Supposedly he was lining up at FB in the I-Form today too... hmmmmmm...

On the same note, we had a lot of plays last year in our book with guys like Hubbard and Xavier in "specialized packages." BUT, we didn't see them. We've had option plays in the offensive playbook, never utilized.

The I would put a different look to our offense and likely catch a few defenses off guard.

Wow. Flashback.

Do you guys recall so many people complaining about the Wildcat formation and the lack of its apparent success when we first broke that package out? We never heard anything of the like after Mark almost single-handedly won the UofSC game from the 'Cat.

 

[jdpas29]

I think this could be a fantastic fit and a great way to get more talent on the field at one time. I love watching him bulldoze fools with a head of steam.

 

[TerryP]

BTW 37, we started some shuffling along the OL yesterday as well. Arie, taking one, was playing G and T.

 

[Bo]

I've been wondering for a couple of years now with the reports of how good Fowler's hands were why he wasn't used as the H Back some.

 

[JoshB]

BTW 37, we started some shuffling along the OL yesterday as well. Arie, taking one, was playing G and T.

Yeah I saw a report about how wild it was seeing Arie pulling and everything from Guard.

With Yeldon and Hart probably taking away some of Fowler's carries I really hope Fowler gets on the field in some other packages (I-Form) and maybe at the H-Back some just so we have more of that talent on the field. I know its a dream but the thought of Sims at QB, Fowler at HB, and Hart lined up outside or even beside Sims in the Wildcat just makes me wonder... lol

 

[TerryP]

Yeah I saw a report about how wild it was seeing Arie pulling and everything from Guard.

With Yeldon and Hart probably taking away some of Fowler's carries I really hope Fowler gets on the field in some other packages (I-Form) and maybe at the H-Back some just so we have more of that talent on the field. I know its a dream but the thought of Sims at QB, Fowler at HB, and Hart lined up outside or even beside Sims in the Wildcat just makes me wonder... lol

It's fun to think about, no doubt.

Here's one of the neat things about the era we are in with Bama football.

We can envision a lot of fun schemes that defenses would have a hard time defending. But, in the end, I always find myself falling back to this question.

Do we really need to do that?

 

[JoshB]

It's fun to think about, no doubt.

Here's one of the neat things about the era we are in with Bama football.

We can envision a lot of fun schemes that defenses would have a hard time defending. But, in the end, I always find myself falling back to this question.

Do we really need to do that?

Yea thats true, when you can run the ball down teams throats and control the clock you really dont NEED to, but you could also make the argument that maybe it makes us a little more appealing to skill players when we break out different formations and different plays (like our Flea Flicker or the reverse wildcat pass in '09) a little more often. Especially to the divas (wide receivers).

 

[psychojoe]

Something that has crossed my mind:

Fowler has some serious skills as a runner, as does Callaway. I am wondering if there is something in our playbook to give the H-Back some carries as a runner.

I was thinking back to Tom Osborne's glory days at Nebraska when they'd run the option, run the tailback on the toss sweep. Then, when the defenses were concentrated on the QB=TB action they would slip in some dives and counters with the fullback, who up until then was just a bl0cker.

This might be something we would show early on just to give the bad guys something extra to prepare for.

 

[bamaraider]

I say we line up in the wish bone. Have Calloway and Fowler at FB and Lacy in at RB with Blake Sims at QB. Just to see what the defense would look like :wink-new:

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Eddie Lacy and Jalston Fowler in the same backfield at Alabama?

Jalston Fowler worked with the running backs Thursday. He practiced Wednesday morning with the tight ends/H-backs but was back with the running backs Wednesday evening. At one point in a drill, he lined up like a fullback in front of running back Eddie Lacy.
So will the two backs sometimes appear on the field at the same time this season?

Lacy was asked that question after Thursday's practice.

His answer was interesting. See it in this video.

"Uh ... if that's how Coach put it," Lacy said, laughing.

Lacy missed spring practice because of offseason surgery to fix a turf-toe problem. He also missed much of the team's summer conditioning work.

"Conditioning, I'm not where I'm supposed to be, due to the fact that I was out for so long, but going through camp and the back end of summer, I'm not that far off," he said. "I've just got to continue to work hard, and before long, I'll be where I need to be."

He said he's comfortable with his weight (225 pounds).


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[TerryP]

Yeah I saw a report about how wild it was seeing Arie pulling and everything from Guard.

With Yeldon and Hart probably taking away some of Fowler's carries I really hope Fowler gets on the field in some other packages (I-Form) and maybe at the H-Back some just so we have more of that talent on the field. I know its a dream but the thought of Sims at QB, Fowler at HB, and Hart lined up outside or even beside Sims in the Wildcat just makes me wonder... lol

Here's another of those ironic thoughts.

Let's assume we see Fowler lining up in the I this fall. While we as fans will look at that formation and enjoy the unique approach—in terms of what we've run the last few years—what is it really leading to?

5 yards and a cloud of dust up the middle.

Seriously, consider that for a second.

A guy running behind the trio of Warmack, Jones, and Steen with Folwer taking on the first linebacker. The success seems contingent on the choice the TB makes. We're coming full circle in a sense.

Back when we first "released" the Wildcat a lot of the complaints were based on that first game. But, the problem during that first game—at least a good part of that problem—was the lack of patience Mark had in allowing the play to develop. As soon as that timing issue was resolved, we saw success ala UofSC.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Something that has crossed my mind:

Fowler has some serious skills as a runner, as does Callaway. I am wondering if there is something in our playbook to give the H-Back some carries as a runner.

I was thinking back to Tom Osborne's glory days at Nebraska when they'd run the option, run the tailback on the toss sweep. Then, when the defenses were concentrated on the QB=TB action they would slip in some dives and counters with the fullback, who up until then was just a bl0cker.

This might be something we would show early on just to give the bad guys something extra to prepare for.

They've used the H-Back for a fair amount lead blocking in prior years, many times motioning to the point of attack, so Fowler would likely be great in that role.

RTR,

Tim