🏈 ***Way too early Bama/Chokelahoma pregame Thread***

[Alabama17Tide]

Monday Insider Report (Orange Bowl prep No. 4) | BamaInsider.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama moved outside Monday for its fourth practice in preparation for its Orange Bowl matchup against Oklahoma on Dec. 29. Players were dressed in shirts and shorts and practiced under sunny, 57-degree weather. Here are some notes from the media viewing session.

— Terrell Lewis (ACL) was back at practice after he wasn’t spotted during Saturday’s viewing period. The outside linebacker was wearing a brace on his right knee but was moving well during footwork drills as the unit weaved between tackling dummies.

— Outside linebacker Christopher Allen (ACL) was not at practice during the media viewing period. He was also absent from the viewing period on Saturday. Freshman Eyabi Anoma was also missing from the unit for an unknown reason.

— Early enrollee quarterback Paul Tyson threw to Jalen Hurts when the unit warmed up on one knee. Starter Tua Tagovailoa threw to a coach, while Mac Jones threw to walk-on Kyle Edwards. Walk-ons Braxton Barker and Lane Hatcher also threw to one another.

— Tagovailoa (ankle) did not appear to be limited during the brief time the media was allowed to watch.

— Offensive lineman Pierce Quick was also at practice. However, fellow early enrollee John Metchie was not. Metchie, a four-star receiver has arrived on campus but has yet to practice with the team.

— Brian Robinson was getting his foot wrapped at the beginning of practice but was able to join the rest of the running backs.

— The backs were positioned far away, but one player wore the No. 4 scout team jersey of Oklahoma’s Trey Sermon. The 6-foot, 224-pound back is the Sooners second-leading rusher with 928 yards and 12 touchdowns on 155 carries.

— Freshman cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (ACL) was at practice but did not work with the rest of the defensive backs. He had a brace on his right knee and was walking away from the unit at the beginning of the viewing period.

— Former Alabama linebacker Nico Johnson was at practice.

 

[Alabama17Tide]

Seeing where Eyabi Anoma missed practice for personal reasons. He is saying he isn't transferring, but people love eluding to that with big star recruits. I know he has posted some pictures in the hospital with his momma. Anyone have any news on this?

Saban mum on freshman linebacker Eyabi Anoma's absence from practice | BamaInsider.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nick Saban remained mum when describing freshman linebacker Eyabi Anoma’s absence from practice Monday. Earlier in the day, the former five-star recruit sent out an ambiguous tweet, stating “Made a decision and will stick by it.”

Tweet!

“I haven’t really had the opportunity to visit with him,” Saban said. “He had a personal day I guess to sort some things out. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get him back on track here soon.”

Anoma was later asked on Twitter if he planned on transferring from Alabama and replied "No."

Anoma was the highest rated recruit in Alabama’s 2017 class, ranking No. 7 in the nation and No. 1 among weakside defensive ends. He earned SEC All-Freshman honors this season after recording nine tackles, two for a loss, with a quarterback hurry over 11 games.
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1

 

[Alabama17Tide]

Meet the man tasked with replicating Kyler Murray for Alabama | BamaInsider.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Freshman Slade Bolden has worn plenty of hats during his first season at Alabama. Listed as a receiver, he’s played in just four snaps while spending the majority of his time filling various spots on the Crimson Tide’s scout team.

The former four-star athlete is one of Alabama’s most versatile players. He worked at defensive back during the spring before moving back to receiver this fall. He can catch balls out of the backfield and could easily fill in as a scatback if needed.

Then there’s quarterback, the position Bolden primarily played in high school. Alabama’s used him there too, lining him up behind center before the game against The Citadel to mimic the Bulldogs’ rare triple-option attack.

Bolden will once again take snaps behind center on the scout team as he’s tasked with replicating Heisman winner Kyler Murray while No. 1 Alabama prepares for its Orange Bowl matchup against No. 4 Oklahoma.

This will undoubtedly be Bolden’s most difficult assignment to date. Through 13 games, Murray has piled up 4,053 yards and 40 touchdowns through the air while adding 892 yards and 11 more scores on the ground.

“The guy is so quick, so fast, so talented. Makes really good decisions, makes them fast. Does a great job of executing their offense, understands it well,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said of Murray. “They've got a really good system and a really good scheme and a complimentary play that goes with the last play. They do a really good job. I don't know that you can (replicate that).

“If we had somebody that can duplicate what he does, we'd be playing them. Obviously the guy won the Heisman Trophy and is the best player in college football. Anybody that has had success throwing the ball as well as the rushing totals that he has and the explosive plays that he's made when they run the ball, it's pretty difficult to try to get someone to simulate that.”

While no one is expecting Bolden to completely mirror Murray, the do-it-all freshman shares some of the same tools. Bolden might not be able to match Murray’s 4.4 speed, but he can move pretty well himself. Like Murray, Bolden was a dual-threat quarterback in high school, passing for 1,622 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 1,460 yards and 20 more scores during his senior season.

"He gives us a good look,” linebacker Mack Wilson said. “He's fast; I feel like he can throw the ball as well. He gave us a great look (for) The Citadel game, and I feel like he'll give us a great look today, too.”

“You can tell he has a feel for it,” safety Deionte Thompson added. “So he does a good job giving us pictures of what we’re going to see in the game.”

Bolden donned Murray’s No. 1 jersey Monday as Alabama held its third practice in preparation for Oklahoma. Listed at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, he’s a hair bigger than Murray (5-foot-10, 195 pounds). The Crimson Tide will begin full installation of its Oklahoma prep this week as it moves closer to its Dec. 29 meeting against the Sooners inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

“Our scout team can try to run the offense, but ain't nobody going to run it as good as them,” Wilson said. “So I feel like everybody's got to get extra and know what to expect. There's only so much a football team can do. We've just got to make sure everybody gets extra film and pays attention to the details."
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1 Tony_Tsoukalas, Yesterday at 6:55 PM

 

[planomateo]

Wow...worst 3 defenses in Oklahoma history have occured in last 3 seasons.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Wow...worst 3 defenses in Oklahoma history have occured in last 3 seasons.

Sparks notes version:

We stop them ONCE, we win.

Guaranteed we'll stop them quite a few times.

 

[musso]

Wow...worst 3 defenses in Oklahoma history have occured in last 3 seasons.

Oklahoma has what that 2010 Auburn team had ... a statistical and athletic anomaly at QB. Can't wait. I'm actually glad we are facing OU because if our team needed any extra motivation in their preparation, they are sure to have it.

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[TerryP]

 

[planomateo]

Some fodder for Coach Kool.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[Alabama17Tide]

I

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama moved indoors Wednesday as it held its sixth practice in preparation for its Orange Bowl matchup against Oklahoma on Dec. 29. Players were dressed in full pads for the workout. Here are some notes from the media viewing period.

— Tua Tagovailoa (ankle) continued to move well during footwork drills. Earlier in the day, he said he was “doing great” and said he expected to be ready to play in the Orange Bowl.

“I’ll probably be at 100 percent by the time the game comes,” Tagovailoa said. That’s my prediction. Definitely.”

— Tagovailoa no longer has tape on his left ankle but did have both of his cleats spatted for the workout.

— Terrell Lewis (ACL) appeared limited when the rest of the outside linebackers worked on coverage drills. He spent most of the viewing period on one knee, watching the rest of the unit.

— Outside linebacker Chris Allen (ACL) was seen walking out of practice before the viewing period. He was fully dressed and had a brace on his left knee.

— Deonte Brown was taking snaps a left guard with the first-team offense when it moved into team drills. Lester Cotton worked on the first team when the offensive line was working in positional drills.

— Defensive back Kyriq McDonald was wearing a wind jacket under his jersey and had a brace on his left knee. This is the first time we’ve seen McDonald in a brace. His injury status is unknown.

— Offensive coordinator Mike Locksley was present with the team despite it being National Signing Day. He seemed to be in good spirits and was very interactive with the quarterbacks and wide receivers during drills. Locksley’s approach hasn’t seemed to change since he took the head coaching position at Maryland earlier this month.

— Offensive lineman Pierce Quick and quarterback Paul Tyson were in full pads after completing their acclimation periods. They can now fully participate with the team. Fellow early enrollees John Metchie and D.J. Dale were still in shoulder pads and shorts for the workout. Not sure if I mentioned this already, but Metchie is wearing No. 3 and Dale is wearing No. 72.

— Alabama worked out of the dime unit again Wednesday, but only used one linebacker. Patrick Surtain II and Saivion Smith were the two cornerbacks, while Shyheim Carter played Star and Xavier McKinney played Money. Deionte Thompson and Jared Mayden played the two safety positions, while Mack Wilson served as the lone linebacker.

— Punter Skyler DeLong was working on his drops toward the end of practice. We rarely see punters at practice, so I thought I’d throw that in.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

 

[planomateo]

 

[EasyTider]

Just came here post this tweet. Days off? Not for young Jaylen ‘Jafarious’ Waddle. This kid is unbelievable as a true freshman and I can see why. Enjoy him now because he’ll be here for just 3yrs.

 

[rick4bama]

My oldest granddaughter sent me!

 

[planomateo]

 

[#80]

Heading out to take care of business.

 

[planomateo]

 

[bama alum]

Not the way to one up Clemson....