re: Bama Football Tidings

Yep. Nothing but respect for Jalen

We are in a world of hurt at middle linebacker. I just dont see how any of the other could much worse that what we currently have gong on. I remember 35 making a tackle late in the game about 7 yards past the line. And earlier, he had a straight shot at the TN qb, who side stepped him and 35 did get the QB from behind when another ala player got in his way. So I give him credit for effort on that play, even though he got his jock faked out by the TN qb. To me its like the punter, how could anyone do any worse? At least #10 might chase someone down trying to get around end.

What Tua Tagovailoa's tightrope ankle surgery entails (247Sports)

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Nick Saban is confident Tua Tagovailoa will be ready to play in Alabama's upcoming showdown vs. LSU on Nov. 9 after undergoing "tightrope" surgery on Sunday for a high ankle sprain suffered against Tennessee.

Rolling to his left, Tagovailoa was tackled from behind and his leg felt the brunt of a 300-pound defensive lineman crashing to the turf. He was helped off the field by trainers, before walking to the locker room under his own power and leaving the stadium via ambulance for treatment.

“Tua Tagovailoa suffered a high-ankle sprain last night against Tennessee,” Saban said in a statement. “Our physicians performed a successful tight-rope procedure on his right ankle this morning. This is the same injury, but the opposite ankle that Tua injured last season. Tua will miss next week’s game against Arkansas, but we expect a full and speedy recovery.”

Tagovailoa underwent successful tightrope surgery on his ankle, a procedure designed to accelerate recovery for foot injuries, particularly in athletes. Doctors reduce the gap between the tibia and fibula, two leg bones crucial to proper ankle function. According to the Northwell medical journal, surgeons "drill across the two bones and place heavy non-absorbable suture construct with metallic buttons at either end — the “tightrope” — to hold the bones close together."

The end result is long-term protection and stability.

The rest of the college football world is collectively holding its breath that Tagovailoa will be available for the sport's game of the year in Tuscaloosa three weeks from now, a matchup with sizable Playoff and SEC title implications.

Former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts underwent a similar procedure last season after suffering a high ankle sprain against Tennessee. He was limited for a week, then returned to near full strength thereafter and ultimately led the Crimson Tide to a comeback win over Georgia in the SEC final on his surgically-repaired ankle.

Ironically, former Crimson Tide left tackle Cam Robinson had a tight-rope operation on his ankle after the Tennessee game in 2014 and was able to suit up and start two weeks later when the Crimson Tide played LSU.

Alabama is confident Tagovailoa's return will take a near identical path.

“He said, ‘I’ll be back for LSU,’” Crimson Tide linebacker Terrell Lewis said after the game. “I know how Tua is. It’s something he’s been through before, so I don’t doubt the fact that he’s a competitor. He’s going to get right back, and he’ll be fine.”

Tagovailoa suffered an ankle sprain in the SEC Championship Game last season and had a four-week break prior to the Crimson Tide's next game, the pivotal Playoff semifinal vs. Oklahoma. That was a 29-day break between starts for Tagovailoa, who has 20 days prior to the LSU game.

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Twitter videos of Tua practicing 12th day after his Dec 2nd tightrope surgery: LINK | LINK

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we wrapped up one of the running backs at about the line of scrimmage, could never stop his forward progress, and their linemen pushed the guy and several of our defenders about 8 yards for a first down.

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I cussed for two minutes after that play. Seriously, if there are two guys wrapping up the ballcarrier, one of them should drop to the ground and grab one or both feet to stop that crap.

Honestly, I wish they'd change that rule. I hate it. I don't want to watch a rugby scrum during a football game.

Hot take.

Nick Saban provides latest on Tua Tagovailoa after ankle surgery (BamaOnLine)

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Nick Saban provided an update on Tua Tagovailoa following his ankle surgery.

“The surgery was successful,” Saban said Monday. “There’s no real timetable for his return, but the expectation is he will be non-weight bearing for several days and then he’ll be able to come back as his rehab allows him. So, we’re hopeful that, in a 10-day period, he’ll be back being able to do pretty active type rehab, and we’ll see how it goes from there. But these things are pretty unpredictable at this point.”

On Sunday, Tagovailoa underwent a procedure to repair a high ankle sprain on his right ankle he injured in the Tennessee game. The Crimson Tide quarterback left Saturday’s game in the second quarter and did not return to the sideline after receiving medical attention.

But Tagovailoa rejoined his teammates in the locker room after the game, and according to linebacker Terrell Lewis, the junior quarterback said he will be ready to go for the LSU game.

“He said, ‘I’ll be back for LSU,’” Lewis said. “I know how Tua is. It’s something he’s been through before, so I don’t doubt the fact that he’s a competitor. He’s going to get right back, and he’ll be fine.”

Tagovailoa injured his left ankle in the SEC Championship Game last season and had 29 days between his next game in the Orange Bowl semifinal. He has 20 days until the LSU game.

Tagovailoa was 11-of-12 for 155 yards and threw an interception before the ankle injury. He was replaced behind center by Mac Jones, who finished the rivalry game 6-of-11 for 72 yards, and Jones will start this weekend’s matchup with Arkansas in place of Tagovailoa.

But the quarterback isn’t the only player expected to miss Saturday’s Homecoming game. True freshman kicker Will Reichard reinjured his hip during a 33-yard punt and was unable to return to the game. He was replaced at punter by true freshman walk-on Ty Perine.

“We did another MRI today to see what the damage is,” Saban said, “but I would say, just the fact that he reinjured himself to whatever degree, he’ll probably not be available this week.”

Saban did not provide a new injury update on junior defensive end LaBryan Ray, who has not played since Week 3 at South Carolina because of a nagging foot injury.

Alabama will play host to Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. CT (ESPN).

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Twitter videos of Tua practicing 12th day after his Dec 2nd tightrope surgery: LINK | LINK

Alabama coaches name six Players of the Week after win over Vols (BamaOnLine)

Yea I think Saban is playing it close to the vest and Tua will be ready JMO. Like you say he was ready last year pretty early