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Notes: Saban reviews offensive line; Davis cleared to play
Ben Jones | Editor
Lester Cotton, shown here in the A-Day game, made his first start at left guard against Southern Cal.
Gary Cosby Jr. | The Tuscaloosa News
It looked like the offensive line was all set through the first three weeks of camp at the University of Alabama. The tackles had been penciled in since spring, and the interior would be made up of Lester Cotton, Ross Pierschbacher and Bradley Bozeman.
Then the three players in the middle shuffled as Alabama turned to preparation for Southern Cal. Pierschbacher, who had started at left guard in 2015 and had been working at center during spring and much of fall camp, shifted to right guard. Bozeman moved from right guard to center.
That was the lineup Alabama used against the Trojans. The offense posted 242 rushing yards, but still has work to go, Nick Saban said.
"I think our two tackles played, really, pretty well in the game. I think that inside ā the inside three ā we need to continue to improve and work," he said. "There was a little inconsistency there in hand placement, steps, playing with power on a consistent basis.
There were good things from that group as well. The center communicated the calls with the rest of the line effectively. Most of the issues stemmed from technique.
That's not unusual with players in new positions. For Pierschbacher, playing the guard spot opposite of where he spent last year means his body starts in a position that is the reverse of what he's accustomed to.
"The biggest change for me is switching my feet, as weird as that sounds," Pierscbacher said. "Going from left guard, you have a foot forward and then you put the other foot forward at right guard. I just think trying to get used to that and get comfortable with that as far as just taking a pass set or coming off the ball, I think that was kind of the hardest part."
Raekwon Davis cleared to play
Freshman defensive lineman Raekwon Davis has been cleared to play in games, Saban announced on Wednesday after practice. The team received the news earlier in the day.
Davis, Alabama's tallest defensive lineman at 6-foot-7 and among its biggest at 315 pounds, has worked at end and nose guard. Alabama's coaches will now decide if they can integrate him in the defensive line rotation.
"We're doing everything we can to get him ready to play," Saban said. "I don't know if we can get him ready to play for this game, but certainly it'll be a work in progress for us to try and get him ready to be able to play down the road and offer some depth on the defensive line."
Taywan Taylor another tall order
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey faced the Pac-12's leading receiver last week. Against Western Kentucky, he'll get the chance to face Taywan Taylor, who was third nationally with 1,467 receiving yards and second nationally with 17 receiving touchdowns last year.
"Good route runner, good hands," Saban said. "The thing I respect about him most is his production and his competitive spirit in the way he goes about playing the game. He does a really, really good job and I think heās as good as any receiver that weāll play against this year."
Humphrey hadn't reviewed film of Taylor when he spoke with reporters earlier this week, but he knows what the star receiver is capable of.
"In order to throw for 500 yards, you got to have pretty good wide receivers," Humphrey said. "It will be a talented bunch of wide receivers that we will have to study up this week.ā
Weekly awards
Defensive end Jonathan Allen was named SEC player of the week, the league office announced on Wednesday. He had four tackles, two sacks and two pass breakups in the season opener against Southern Cal. Offensive tackle Jonah Williams was named SEC freshman of the week.
Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts was among the Davey O'Brien Award's "Great 8" for the week. Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White, who passed for a nation-leading 517 yards, was also among the eight quarterbacks chosen.
TideSports.com - Notes: Saban reviews offensive line; Davis cleared to play
Ben Jones | Editor
Lester Cotton, shown here in the A-Day game, made his first start at left guard against Southern Cal.
Gary Cosby Jr. | The Tuscaloosa News
It looked like the offensive line was all set through the first three weeks of camp at the University of Alabama. The tackles had been penciled in since spring, and the interior would be made up of Lester Cotton, Ross Pierschbacher and Bradley Bozeman.
Then the three players in the middle shuffled as Alabama turned to preparation for Southern Cal. Pierschbacher, who had started at left guard in 2015 and had been working at center during spring and much of fall camp, shifted to right guard. Bozeman moved from right guard to center.
That was the lineup Alabama used against the Trojans. The offense posted 242 rushing yards, but still has work to go, Nick Saban said.
"I think our two tackles played, really, pretty well in the game. I think that inside ā the inside three ā we need to continue to improve and work," he said. "There was a little inconsistency there in hand placement, steps, playing with power on a consistent basis.
There were good things from that group as well. The center communicated the calls with the rest of the line effectively. Most of the issues stemmed from technique.
That's not unusual with players in new positions. For Pierschbacher, playing the guard spot opposite of where he spent last year means his body starts in a position that is the reverse of what he's accustomed to.
"The biggest change for me is switching my feet, as weird as that sounds," Pierscbacher said. "Going from left guard, you have a foot forward and then you put the other foot forward at right guard. I just think trying to get used to that and get comfortable with that as far as just taking a pass set or coming off the ball, I think that was kind of the hardest part."
Raekwon Davis cleared to play
Freshman defensive lineman Raekwon Davis has been cleared to play in games, Saban announced on Wednesday after practice. The team received the news earlier in the day.
Davis, Alabama's tallest defensive lineman at 6-foot-7 and among its biggest at 315 pounds, has worked at end and nose guard. Alabama's coaches will now decide if they can integrate him in the defensive line rotation.
"We're doing everything we can to get him ready to play," Saban said. "I don't know if we can get him ready to play for this game, but certainly it'll be a work in progress for us to try and get him ready to be able to play down the road and offer some depth on the defensive line."
Taywan Taylor another tall order
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey faced the Pac-12's leading receiver last week. Against Western Kentucky, he'll get the chance to face Taywan Taylor, who was third nationally with 1,467 receiving yards and second nationally with 17 receiving touchdowns last year.
"Good route runner, good hands," Saban said. "The thing I respect about him most is his production and his competitive spirit in the way he goes about playing the game. He does a really, really good job and I think heās as good as any receiver that weāll play against this year."
Humphrey hadn't reviewed film of Taylor when he spoke with reporters earlier this week, but he knows what the star receiver is capable of.
"In order to throw for 500 yards, you got to have pretty good wide receivers," Humphrey said. "It will be a talented bunch of wide receivers that we will have to study up this week.ā
Weekly awards
Defensive end Jonathan Allen was named SEC player of the week, the league office announced on Wednesday. He had four tackles, two sacks and two pass breakups in the season opener against Southern Cal. Offensive tackle Jonah Williams was named SEC freshman of the week.
Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts was among the Davey O'Brien Award's "Great 8" for the week. Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White, who passed for a nation-leading 517 yards, was also among the eight quarterbacks chosen.
TideSports.com - Notes: Saban reviews offensive line; Davis cleared to play
