📡 Scarbrough 'gaining confidence' in crowded backfield

[By Alex Byington Sports]

TUSCALOOSA —Coming off a broken right leg, rising junior running back Bo Scarbrough is increasing his workload nearly every practice.

"Bo is doing more and more every day. He did quite a bit today in practice, non-contact stuff, but he’s sort of gaining confidence,” Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said this week. “Our goal for Bo is, by the end of spring, he’s fully confident that he can do everything he needs to do. Whether he ever scrimmages or (not) is really something that we’re not that concerned about.”

Also seeing time in a black, no-contact jersey is rising sophomore B.J. Emmons, who played seven games last season and missed the last 2½ months with a bruised foot.

Fellow junior Damien Harris — the team’s leading rusher last season with 1,037 rushing yards — sat out Tuesday while recovering from a sprained foot suffered during last Saturday’s practice, but should be back today, Saban said.

Given some of the injuries, those seeing more reps this spring include rising sophomore Josh Jacobs, who surprised many with 567 rushing yards last season, and freshmen Najee Harris and Brian Robinson.

Another backfield option is early enrollee Chadarius Townsend of Tanner, who is listed as a running back but also has worked as a slot receiver the previous two practices.


Decatur Daily—Continue reading...

 

[TerryP]

It's easy to see what the guys have been talking about on the sidelines the last few days. A few have been on the running backs. Suttles has an article I'll link in a second up about the same thing using some tag like "five four and five star back do that ..." As @planomateo coined, #Bamaproblems.

 

[TerryP]

“We have a lot of other young guys — Josh Jacobs has done a good job. We certainly could use the experience. I think it’s a good problem to have.”

Yah.

 

[TUSKtimes]

If Daboll has any two back formations in his playbook, now is the time. As it is, with Jalen running so much, this is going to be a very productive group. Bo's explosive power at the LOS made him the most important running back we had. I don't see that changing, but I hope that Najee Harris and Brian Robinson carry that extra thump as well. Going to be a lot of folks crowding the box this year.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Wow....the talent....but still boils down.....to QB play....

 

[musso]

Hurts in shotgun ... two backs in the backfield ... opcorn2:

 

[UAgrad93]

Hurts in shotgun ... two backs in the backfield ... opcorn2:

One of Coach Homer Smith's favorite formations!! Siran Stacey and Kevin Turner lined up on either side of Gary Hollingsworth in the '89 season.

 

[BamaFan334]

I hope we don't pull an OJ Howard and not use these freaking guys. There is no reason we shouldn't have three, count it, three - 1,000 yard rushers this year.

I can't get over Joshua Jacobs not getting the ball against Clemson, I simply cannot understand it. Didn't get it during the game once Bo was hurt, and don't get it now. To me, he's the best back we have. The guy simply never went down on first contact and had amazing cutting abilities and could make people miss. Bo finally started to get it last season and I think all it took was the Washington game for him to realize he can run through and past these guys and doesn't need to go down at first contact. Damien Harris was so solid as well. He is going to get another 1,000 if he stays healthy. Najee and Robinson should get some carries simply to test their abilities and give them a fair shake. Like others have said, this is going to be a productive group and we simply need to follow what we did a couple of years ago, ride the hosses in the backfield to a Championship. Our defense will do their job, so all we need to do is beat folks into submission with our big boys in the backfield and they'll quit.

 

[Tidestalker]

Fine line between not letting your studs get in a rhythm and use their natural ability, and not giving enough guys enough chances to impact the game.

As BamaFan334 said, the title game a prime example of how useless depth is when not used correctly. Or not at all.

I would love to see Robinson or Harris red shirt but now a days that's a 1 way ticket to Transferville. Hopefully Doball can use the depth as best possible and take advantage of the situation.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Fine line between not letting your studs get in a rhythm and use their natural ability, and not giving enough guys enough chances to impact the game.

As BamaFan334 said, the title game a prime example of how useless depth is when not used correctly. Or not at all.

I would love to see Robinson or Harris red shirt but now a days that's a 1 way ticket to Transferville. Hopefully Doball can use the depth as best possible and take advantage of the situation.

Patience hasn't been a virtue around here lately. With this caliber of athlete, redshirting seldom elongates a guys career either. We just lost Humphries as a RS sophomore. Half expected Bo to go. I read somewhere recently we were rethinking the formation of players we are using on ST. We did get some guys nicked up and overused our starters. Maybe our new ST coach can tighten up the rotation with the younger guys waiting their turn. We should have the numbers.

 

[TerryP]

There is no reason we shouldn't have three, count it, three - 1,000 yard rushers this year.

It would be fun to see three break 100 in one game against a Tennessee, or an Arkansas.