🏈 Practice notes:

[Alabama17Tide]

Alabama was working outside today after they spent most of last week inside. The team started off the week in shells.

• Things seemed a little more amped up today as the coaches were trying to keep guys focused after a big win. Brent Key was yelling at linemen to dive on the ground in one drill -- shouting "Belly flop! Now get up!" Tosh Lupoi was turned up to 11, as always.
  
  
• Doesn't look like Alphonse Taylor is moving back to first string automatically. We didn't see all 5 linemen working together, but Taylor was going through three-man drills with Brandon Kennedy and Dallas Warmack.
  
  
• Markail Benton was at practice shadowing the inside linebackers. He was wearing an Alabama shirt.
  
  
• Speaking of inside linebackers, there might be some new numbers in that group. Mack Wilson was wearing number 30 (he had been No. 3) and Ben Davis still had his No. 1 helmet, but his jersey was No. 6. Wilson's change is probably to avoid some kind of conflict with Calvin Ridley on special teams. Not sure why Davis would be wearing 6, though, because BJ Emmons and Hootie Jones both have that number. Maybe he's just imitating another player this week or something.
  
  
• Cam Sims did not practice, as expected. He has a shoulder bruise and is questionable for WKU.
  
  
• Steve Sarkisian was at practice today in a red visor. So he's officially begun with the Crimson Tide.

Practice notes: Sept. 5 | TideSports.com

 

[Tidestalker]

From Al.com

— The quarterback order during drills was the same as it was during fall camp. Cooper Bateman was first. Blake Barnett was second. Jalen Hurts was third. David Cornwell was fourth.

— Wide receiver Cam Sims, who suffered a bruised shoulder Saturday vs. USC, wasn't present during the media viewing period. Saban said earlier Monday that Sims will probably miss a few days of practice and could be questionable to play Saturday.

— Defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson appears to be fine after briefly leaving with an injury during the second half of the win over USC. He re-entered the game Saturday and was practicing Monday.

— Freshman linebacker Ben Davis and sophomore wide receiver Xavian Marks are among the scholarship players serving on scout team this week.

Link:
Alabama practice report: Notes on injured players, QBs

 

[Tidestalker]

Saban on QB's:

"I thought that both guys were a little shaky in the beginning in terms of how they played," Saban said. "And I think that the longer they played in the game, the better they played. That goes for both guys."

The idea of using a two-quarterback isn't necessarily a long-term plan. Saban brushed back at a question he perceived to suggest it would extend much deeper into the season.

"Well, you know, you all don't need to be reading more into this than what there is. Do you understand we're doing this for now? So that means that's how it is today. We act like now there's going to be two quarterbacks for the whole season or there's not any competition or ... I don't understand the question.

"I think that if we're going to have two young quarterbacks both of them need to gain experience so they can play in the future. How we go about doing that is a plan that I think is very, very important to both guys and to our team."

More here:
Nick Saban gives a few details of evolving Alabama's QB competition

 

[OldPlayer]

I don't think Sark has started yet. He's not an on-field coach and won't be allowed on the field to coach players. Best way to put it is he will be involved in the scouting report and plans to take advantage of tendencies - ours and theirs.

 

[uofarolltide]

Wtf is up with the QB order during drills? Cooper Bateman will never see the playing field again. Jalen Hurts, who the team wants as their leader, is third?

 

[Che Boludo]

I don't think Sark has started yet. He's not an on-field coach and won't be allowed on the field to coach players. Best way to put it is he will be involved in the scouting report and plans to take advantage of tendencies - ours and theirs.

:headscratch:Sark is the one wearing the visor, squatting down.

 

[Splittine]

Wtf is up with the QB order during drills? Cooper Bateman will never see the playing field again. Jalen Hurts, who the team wants as their leader, is third?

I wouldn't put to much thought into that order.

 

[Splittine]

I don't think Sark has started yet. He's not an on-field coach and won't be allowed on the field to coach players. Best way to put it is he will be involved in the scouting report and plans to take advantage of tendencies - ours and theirs.

He's already on campus and was at practice yesterday.

 

[rick4bama]

Wtf is up with the QB order during drills? Cooper Bateman will never see the playing field again. Jalen Hurts, who the team wants as their leader, is third?

I guess someone need to go ask Coach Saban why this is?

 

[OldPlayer]

He's already on campus and was at practice yesterday.

But I don't think in his new official capacity.

 

[rueben]

OP, if I may: I think Sark may be able to observe practice as a guest, but may not be allowed on the field once he is an official staff member, due to "numbers."

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

Sark can't be on the field during games and at practice can't actively coach players. I don't believe it's really possible to enforce the latter, but that's the official rule.

 

[Max]

But I don't think in his new official capacity.

He's on ... check your thread about the hire.

 

[OldPlayer]

OP, if I may: I think Sark may be able to observe practice as a guest, but may not be allowed on the field once he is an official staff member, due to "numbers."

Agreed. CNS has to be careful about his involvement during observation.

 

[rick4bama]

Agreed. CNS has to be careful about his involvement during observation.

I think he will had that leash close to him.

 

[NickelDoubleDog]

I think there's a lot of grey area here. Mike Locksley isn't an assistant either but was apparently on the sidelines Saturday, with a headset on.

 

[TerryP]

I think there's a lot of grey area here. Mike Locksley isn't an assistant either but was apparently on the sidelines Saturday, with a headset on.

@OldPlayer

 

[Alabama17Tide]

Alabama was in full pads today on one of the hotter days we've had since the start of fall camp. They had the Gator out there spraying guys with water to cool them down, and we haven't seen that in a couple of weeks at least.

• QB order was different than it was before the USC game. Jalen Hurts and Blake Barnett were in one group while Cooper Bateman and David Cornwell were in the other. Hurts was taking the first snaps.
  
  
• Damien Harris was taking the first snaps when they were working behind the offensive line. Bo Scarbrough got carries with the first team OL too, just went after Damien.
  
  
• Speaking of the offensive line, the starting 5 is still the same. Shank is running 2nd team at RG at the moment.
  
  
• No Cam Sims at practice today. He was expected to miss at least a couple days of practice with a bruised shoulder and is questionable for Saturday.
  
  
• Looked like they got to working on the nickel defense quicker than usual today, but I can't be sure of that. Would stand to reason, considering the offense they can expect to see from WKU.
  
  
• Looked like Raekwon Davis was working at the DE spot that Dalvin Tomlinson starts at. I was a little surprised by that, given the depth at DT behind Da'Ron Payne and his overall size. Would be curious to see what his skill set looks like in a game.
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• Practice notes: Sept. 6 | TideSports.com

 

[JoshB]

Wtf is up with the QB order during drills? Cooper Bateman will never see the playing field again. Jalen Hurts, who the team wants as their leader, is third?

Apparently the thing Saban has been saying for about 10 years now about QB order in media viewing drills is true... doesn't mean shit.

 

[Alabama17Tide]

Practice Notes, September 7: Ben Jones
Not nearly as hot as it was yesterday as Alabama worked outside for another day. They were in full pads.

• Alphonse Taylor was still working 2nd team with the offensive line during the viewing period.
  
  
• The QB order looked a little different again today. Jalen Hurts and Cooper Bateman were in one group; Blake Barnett and David Cornwell were in the other group.
  
  
• Cam Sims (bruised shoulder) was at practice and dressed but was standing to the side when I checked on him. He was not at practice on Monday and Tuesday, so having him out there seems like progress.
  
  
• Brent Key has been giving Tosh Lupoi a run for his money as the loudest coach at practice this week. The offensive line assistant is usually pretty vocal but has been especially keyed up the last couple of days.
  
  
• One group of DL working together this week was Raekwon Davis, Jamar King (nose) and O.J. Smith. Also saw Davis working with King on another drill. That's probably third team at this point.
  
  
• Walk-ons come and go often, and they get moved from position to position as needed on scout team, but I think I counted 26 total DBs out there today. I know the transfers took away a lot of depth there, but Alabama had a ton of bodies with the secondary groups today.
  
  
• Scouts from the Jaguars and Ravens were at practice today.