re: Official In-Season Practice, Injury Reports and Press Conferences Thread: 12-0

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TUSCALOOSA -- When talking to his teammates, many don’t hesitate to name Da'Ron Payne the strongest player on Alabama’s roster.

In the weight room it’s obvious. And he doesn’t hold back from showing it on the football field, either. Just turn on the tape of the LSU game. Payne obliterated right guard Josh Boutte, putting on his back while applying pressure on quarterback Danny Etling.

But that is no surprise to his teammates.

“Oh my gosh, he’s an athletic specimen,” tight end Hale Hentges said. “As you guys have seen, he’s probably the strongest dude on our team, if not, one of the strongest. His quick twitch, his explosion, his power is something that I’ve never seen out of a D-lineman, especially for how young he is. I think he’s younger than me.

“For him to be that strong and that fast and just a complete player at just being a sophomore is just incredible. He’s a great leader on our defense too, which is something a lot of people don’t talk about, but he’s a great leader.”

The sophomore has recorded 23 tackles from his defensive tackle position, including 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. In seeing more snaps, Payne has made more highlight reel plays and displays of his strength (see also the Tennessee game) in his second season compared to his first. Why is that?

“I try to improve as every day goes on, and learn from the older guys like Jon Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson,” Payne said earlier this week. “Keep my head in the playbook and watch a lot of film. I think I'm getting better.”

SABAN SEEING PROGRESS FROM HURTS

The passing game was an area of emphasis for Alabama in its 51-3 win over Mississippi State on Saturday, and true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts showed signs of progress with his downfield passing in his 347-yard, four-touchdown outing.

Getting Hurts to stretch the field and accurately distribute the ball to the Tide’s plethora of playmakers has been something Nick Saban has harped on of late. But to be clear, he never said he was limiting how much of the field Hurts could read.

“I said the guy has to know whether it’s the middle of the field or split the safeties and which half of the field that he works on versus what he reads in the coverage,” Saban said. “That’s how most passing games are built. It’s not what we allow him to do or don’t allow him to do. We’re trying to get him to do that very effectively. He is getting better and better and better at it. I think it was a good indication, the way he played in the last game, the progress that he’s made.

“We have to trust in the quarterback, that we can get the ball to our skill guys and he’s going to get it to them effectively in the right places and the right time so that we can make explosive plays down the field. So I think we’re making progress in that area, but we’re continuing to work on it every day.”

In his ninth start of the season, Hurts also received a few snaps from under center from Bradley Bozeman. That’s been a rarity for the dual-threat quarterback, who has obviously been more comfortable working out of the shotgun. But that’s also a sign of his progress.

“I think it’s important to him. I think it’s important to the offense. I think it’s important to our team,” Saban said. “When you say it’s important to me, I think I’m just a part of the team here. Jalen has progressed very nicely and I thought he played his best and most complete game in the last game against Mississippi State. Hopefully we can build on that.”

‘GREAT TO BE IN DRIVER’S SEAT’

The third College Football Playoff rankings were unveiled Tuesday night after a chaotic week of college football. Nos. 2, 3 and 4 all lost but did not drop out of the top six, while Alabama (10-0, 7-0 SEC) remained in the No. 1 spot. Being able to control their own destiny as the lone, undefeated Power 5 team is something the players are aware of.

“We are lucky enough to stay in that same spot all year, and we just gotta keep playing like we have been. Hopefully we stay there,” Hentges said. “... You don’t want to put your own fate into the hands of a committee. If you can stay undefeated, obviously that’s what you want to do, because if you are 10-0 and you win the SEC and you win all of your games, then no one can deny you that No. 1 spot.

“That’s a great feeling just to know you are in your own driver’s seat and you don’t have to leave it up to some people on a committee. Obviously, you want to control your own destiny in college football.”

WISE WORDS FROM COACH PRUITT

All of the Crimson Tide coaches have helped junior linebacker Rashaan Evans develop over the course of his career, but first-year defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has already had a lasting impression on him. He provides Evans with life concepts that he uses every day.

“The No. 1 thing I would say is the game of football is a game and we all love the game, but there are bigger things other than football with family and friends and all those things,” Evans said. “He’s always telling us to kind of enjoy those things and also enjoy the time that you do have around the guys that are here, because, to be honest with you, we are embarking on history right now so it’s always good for you to slow down and live in the moment.”

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