re: Alabama FB -- 2018 FALL CAMP Thread -- Garbage Dump Edition

Alabama Practice Report: New LB in full pads

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Alabama returned to the field Thursday on a hot, sunny afternoon. The temperature outside was 91 degrees. Here are some observations from the limited access period provided to the media:

-- Freshman inside linebacker Ale Kaho was in full pads for the first time since joining the team last Saturday.

-- Running back Najee Harris was not spotted. He continues to recover from a foot injury suffered last week.

-- Defensive lineman Stephon Wynn (ligament strain) continues to be sidelined.

-- There were no setbacks for outside linebacker Jamey Mosley and safety Daniel Wright. They were both seen for the second consecutive day after previously being out with shoulder injuries.

-- Patrick Surtain II was working at Star with the first-team in a nickel package while Shyheim Carter was at safety with the reserves in a similar alignment.

-- Mack Wilson was spotted adjusting his cleats at the start of practice, which was only notable because he missed time last season with a Jones fracture in his foot.

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Giving him reps to see what he does.

LINK ]Coach Saban provides injury update on absent RB Najee Harris (BamaOnLine)

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Alabama running back Najee Harris has missed the last three practices of the Crimson Tide’s fall camp, so head coach Nick Saban provided the latest on his status.

“We have a lot of guys that are nicked up, missing a day’s practice here, a day’s practice there, black jersey for a couple of days,” Saban said after Thursday’s 12th preseason practice. “But the only guy -- Najee Harris, who has a cast on his foot because he had a minor foot injury that our medical staff here felt like totally staying off of it for a week would be very, very helpful.

“When he comes out of that, we’ll start rehabbing. He’ll be day-to-day. But this is not a long-term issue that we think is going to be a significant problem for him, even to be ready for the first game.”

Harris has been spotted around the football facility with his injured leg on a scooter. While his teammates practiced Wednesday evening, the sophomore lifted weights in the weight room.

The highest-rated player in Alabama’s 2017 signing class, Harris entered last season as one of the most-anticipated freshmen on the Crimson Tide’s roster. He saw time in all 14 games, rushing 61 times for 370 yards and finished ninth in the SEC among freshmen for rushing yards, despite limited carries. He also added six receptions for 45 yards in the passing game.

But the former 5-star found himself more involved with the first-team offense late in the season and played a key in the national championship game against Georgia. He led all UA rushers with 65 yards on only six carries and recorded a career-long rush of 35 yards.

This spring, with Bo Scarbrough entering the NFL a year early, Harris found himself as the No. 2 running back behind returning starter Damien Harris, and for the second game in a row, the now-sophomore led all backs with 41 rushing yards in the A-Day Game in April. He carried his progress over into the Tide’s preseason camp before suffering the injury this past Saturday.

“I think Najee, obviously at the end of the season, played very well for us and made progress last year, got more confident in what he was supposed to do, how to do it, how to run the plays, how to read the plays, understanding the pass protections better and being a more effective guy in the passing game,” Saban said earlier in camp. “And I think that progress has continued over the spring. And we’ve only had one practice so far, but he hasn’t done anything to disappoint.

“I just think that he has more maturity, more confidence and a better understanding. And I think that should help him be more productive.”

Alabama will practice again Friday, Aug. 17, at 2:30 p.m. before its second scrimmage Saturday.

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LINK ]WATCH: Tide receivers prep for Saturday scrimmage (BamaOnLine)

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Upon further investigation they are getting Surtain ready to play Star in dime and move Carter to money.

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Kinda had a feeling they may do that

If McKinney is already outplaying Thompson, our safeties will be good. Diggs playing well is good news too. I think Savion and Carter both have talent but maybe aren’t as consistent as they should be which is why their jobs aren’t locked down. Just a guess. Obviously PS2 is pushing for someone’s job in a big way. I also like Mayden. We have the ingredients of a good secondary, just gotta figure out the right combination and get them some more experience.

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trying to figure out who the hell Riggs

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LINK ]Damien Harris says Alabama has shown extreme focus in fall camp (BOL | ESPN)

LINK ]Alabama OL Matt Womack suffers foot injury at Thursday practice (BamaOnLine)

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Alabama offensive tackle Matt Womack cracked a bone in his previously-broken foot at Thursday’s practice and will undergo surgery to repair it, BOL has learned. He is expected to miss roughly six weeks with the injury.

This is the same foot that Womack, a redshirt junior, broke prior to the spring season and had to miss all of the Crimson Tide’s 15 practices. The injury occurred during a workout, and he injured it further walking up and down steps over spring break, Nick Saban said in March.

Womack earned the starting job at right tackle last season following strong spring and fall camp performances and was part of an offensive line that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award. He started all 14 of Alabama’s games, including the team’s two playoff contests.

The Hernando, Miss., native was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week and Tide coaches recognized him as an offensive player of the week for his efforts against Fresno State.

During preseason camp, Womack was working at right tackle with the second-team offense.

With Womack’s injury, the right side of Alabama’s offensive line will likely be manned by Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills for the foreseeable future. Lately, Leatherwood has practiced at right guard with Wills lining up at right tackle. Wills saw time at right tackle last year in the Tide’s jumbo packages. When the then-freshman entered the game, Womack lined up at tight end.

Prior to that, Leatherwood had been at right tackle with Wills at right guard.

“Just an experimental thing that we do,” Saban said Thursday. “One of the things you need to do in camp is -- OK, every day is important, today is important, the next play is important, tomorrow is important but what happens in October and November is important, too. So, if you’re going to build diversity in your players, you almost have to do it now.

“If a guy goes down and you want to move somebody over to guard, play another guy at tackle, get the best five guys out on the field however you can. You’ve got to do it now, and we have to know now if guys can do it if that makes any sense. Sometimes we move guys around, so let’s just say we lose a player what do we do next? Sometimes you find out that some combinations work a little bit better than others.

“We haven’t made that determination in the offensive line just yet.”

Alabama will practice later this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. CT on the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields and will make the short trek to Bryant-Denny Stadium for its second scrimmage Saturday.

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