The University of Alabama football program cranked it back up Tuesday afternoon, kicking off the first practice in preparation for the Sugar Bowl against Ohio State on Jan. 1 in New Orleans.
Three players, including true freshman left tackle Cam Robinson, missed the media's viewing period portion of Tuesday's practice due to a traffic jam in Mississippi, UA coach Nick Saban said.
Grant Hill, who was also absent from practice, has an illness, Saban said.
Tuesday's practice was back to the basics, as the team underwent the two-hour practice in shorts and shells (shorts and shoulder pads), concentrating more on the fundamentals than on the Ohio State game plan.
In fact, players said they haven't began watching film of the Buckeyes yet.
"Not right now; as a team we're just focusing on the little things that help us win games," senior quarterback Blake Sims said.
Preparing for Cardale
Cardale Jones is the second back-up quarterback to start this season for Ohio State, and with just one start, the question remains how Alabama will go about preparing for the 6-foot-5, 250-pound sophomore.
Jones was efficient in his first start, a 59-0 blanking of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns.
Jones got the start in place of J.T. Barrett, who fractured his ankle in the Michigan game. Barrett was named the starter when Braxton Miller suffered a shoulder injury just prior to the start of the season.
Both Miller and Barrett are considerably more mobile than Jones. But Alabama defenders don't think it changes the Buckeyes' offense that much.
"Most of their quarterbacks are kind of similar," junior safety Landon Collins said. "They run the same scheme offense. We're just gonna have to watch film on what they do because, I mean, they're not gonna change the whole offense for one player." Saban agreed.
"I think that the style of the quarterback is the same as the other guy," Saban said. "I think this guy is very very capable, very good passer, big, strong, athletic guy that can really do all the things that the other guy can do in terms of quarterback runs. Just a little different style. That's all.
"But we did see him play in almost a game and a half. And he pretty much did a lot of things that the other guy did but the one thing that he did really well was pass the ball. Made some really really good throws in the Wisconsin game, big plays down the field.
Five-star news
Five-star Tuscaloosa athlete Bo Scarbrough practiced with the team for its opening session of Sugar Bowl preparations.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound running back does not enroll at the university until the spring semester begins in January, but is allowed to practice with the team since he resides in the Tuscaloosa area.
Scarbrough will not travel with the team to New Orleans for its national semifinal game against Ohio State.
"Once a guy finishes all the things that he has to do by NCAA rule and he's admitted to school, he's eligible to practice," Saban said. "He can't go to a bowl game and he can't play. So while we're practicing here he can participate in practice."
Scarbrough, who played his freshman through junior seasons at Northridge High School before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for his senior season, wore No. 1 and his running back teammates noticed the spring in his step.
"Bo looked pretty good, those fresh legs were moving today," senior fullback Jalston Fowler said. "He was moving so fast everybody else was like, 'There goes those fresh legs.'"
All-Americans
A total of four Crimson Tide players were chosen for the AP All-American teams, the news organization released Tuesday.
Junior wide receiver Amari Cooper and junior safety Landon Collins were named to the first team. Senior right guard Arie Kouandjio and freshman punter JK Scott landed on the second team.
None of your business
Saban wasn't keen on discussing Auburn's hiring of one his friends, Will Muschamp, to run the Tigers' business. He especially didn't want to talk about what their conversation was like when the two discussed the move.
"Will's my friend so I don't think I should tell you what my conversations are with my friends," Saban said to reporters Tuesday evening. "He's my friend. He worked for me for a long time and did a great job, so if we have a professional conversation about his future and what he's going to do, I don't know that that's for everybody else to know. I really don't.
"I don't want to say it's none of your business, but I just don't think it's for anybody else to know. If you want to ask Will what we talked about and he feels free to tell you, that's fine. But I don't know. And if Miss Terry asked me what did you and Will talk about, I'd say it's none of your business either."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1716549#sthash.caNevYV9.dpuf
Three players, including true freshman left tackle Cam Robinson, missed the media's viewing period portion of Tuesday's practice due to a traffic jam in Mississippi, UA coach Nick Saban said.
Grant Hill, who was also absent from practice, has an illness, Saban said.
Tuesday's practice was back to the basics, as the team underwent the two-hour practice in shorts and shells (shorts and shoulder pads), concentrating more on the fundamentals than on the Ohio State game plan.
In fact, players said they haven't began watching film of the Buckeyes yet.
"Not right now; as a team we're just focusing on the little things that help us win games," senior quarterback Blake Sims said.
Preparing for Cardale
Cardale Jones is the second back-up quarterback to start this season for Ohio State, and with just one start, the question remains how Alabama will go about preparing for the 6-foot-5, 250-pound sophomore.
Jones was efficient in his first start, a 59-0 blanking of Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns.
Jones got the start in place of J.T. Barrett, who fractured his ankle in the Michigan game. Barrett was named the starter when Braxton Miller suffered a shoulder injury just prior to the start of the season.
Both Miller and Barrett are considerably more mobile than Jones. But Alabama defenders don't think it changes the Buckeyes' offense that much.
"Most of their quarterbacks are kind of similar," junior safety Landon Collins said. "They run the same scheme offense. We're just gonna have to watch film on what they do because, I mean, they're not gonna change the whole offense for one player." Saban agreed.
"I think that the style of the quarterback is the same as the other guy," Saban said. "I think this guy is very very capable, very good passer, big, strong, athletic guy that can really do all the things that the other guy can do in terms of quarterback runs. Just a little different style. That's all.
"But we did see him play in almost a game and a half. And he pretty much did a lot of things that the other guy did but the one thing that he did really well was pass the ball. Made some really really good throws in the Wisconsin game, big plays down the field.
Five-star news
Five-star Tuscaloosa athlete Bo Scarbrough practiced with the team for its opening session of Sugar Bowl preparations.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound running back does not enroll at the university until the spring semester begins in January, but is allowed to practice with the team since he resides in the Tuscaloosa area.
Scarbrough will not travel with the team to New Orleans for its national semifinal game against Ohio State.
"Once a guy finishes all the things that he has to do by NCAA rule and he's admitted to school, he's eligible to practice," Saban said. "He can't go to a bowl game and he can't play. So while we're practicing here he can participate in practice."
Scarbrough, who played his freshman through junior seasons at Northridge High School before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for his senior season, wore No. 1 and his running back teammates noticed the spring in his step.
"Bo looked pretty good, those fresh legs were moving today," senior fullback Jalston Fowler said. "He was moving so fast everybody else was like, 'There goes those fresh legs.'"
All-Americans
A total of four Crimson Tide players were chosen for the AP All-American teams, the news organization released Tuesday.
Junior wide receiver Amari Cooper and junior safety Landon Collins were named to the first team. Senior right guard Arie Kouandjio and freshman punter JK Scott landed on the second team.
None of your business
Saban wasn't keen on discussing Auburn's hiring of one his friends, Will Muschamp, to run the Tigers' business. He especially didn't want to talk about what their conversation was like when the two discussed the move.
"Will's my friend so I don't think I should tell you what my conversations are with my friends," Saban said to reporters Tuesday evening. "He's my friend. He worked for me for a long time and did a great job, so if we have a professional conversation about his future and what he's going to do, I don't know that that's for everybody else to know. I really don't.
"I don't want to say it's none of your business, but I just don't think it's for anybody else to know. If you want to ask Will what we talked about and he feels free to tell you, that's fine. But I don't know. And if Miss Terry asked me what did you and Will talk about, I'd say it's none of your business either."
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1716549#sthash.caNevYV9.dpuf
