re: Bama Football Tidings

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I don’t believe juedy will ever be as physical as TO, but wrs in today’s football don’t have to be too physical.

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Alabama returned to the practice field Wednesday afternoon for their final session open to reporters before Saturday’s game against Ole Miss.

Practice was held indoors with temperatures in the low-90s outside.

Here were the highlights from the portion open to media:

-- Outside linebacker Terrell Lewis appeared to be participating in positional drills again. It was the second consecutive day that Lewis took part in some drill work after watching from the side Monday. Lewis hyperextended his knee against South Carolina and did not play against Southern Miss.

-- Defensive tackle DJ Dale was also dressed and taking part in positional drills for the brief portion where defensive linemen were visible to reporters. If that held true for the rest of practice, it would seem to be a step forward from Dale’s participation Tuesday. He injured his patellar tendon against Southern Miss.

-- Guard Deonte Brown, back from a six-game NCAA suspension, was again working with the second-team offensive line during Wednesday’s practice.

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Alabama football fans have been anticipating the return of offensive lineman Deonte Brown. Nick Saban says he must earn a starting role.

With all the flux in Tuscaloosa from a young and inexperienced roster, constants remain. Alabama football coach Nick Saban’s principles are as solid as a rock. Nothing is given to Alabama football players. All must be earned.

The dazzling Alabama football offense of 2019 is filled with flash. Tua and the best four wide receivers in college football continue to amaze. Longtime Alabama Crimson Tide fans know dazzle alone is never enough. Sometimes it is third or fourth and short – and the logical play is to discard finesse and run up the gut.

There is doubt the Alabama football offensive line has that ‘everything on the line’ physical ability to run over a stalwart opponent. Fans worry the tight ends are ineffective blockers and the center is not near physical enough. True freshman Evan Neal is learning on the job.

Many fans believe redshirt junior, interior lineman, Deonte Brown is the solution. At times in the past, Brown has been the Tide’s most physical run blocker. His physical presence has now been missing for six games due to an NCAA suspension.

Deonte Brown is now eligible to return. But do not look for him to start on Saturday against Ole Miss. Nick Saban was very clear on Monday.

The plan for every player on the team is the guy has to beat somebody out if he wants to play. I mean, nobody is entitled to play. If he gets in shape, he does what he’s supposed to do and shows he can play better than somebody else is playing, that’s the plan. And that’s kinda up to him. Not up to me.

There should be no doubt in Deonte’s mind what is required. Most Alabama football fans will anxiously await his response. Brown may not be needed to win against Ole Miss, TAMU, Tennessee and Arkansas. But cohesion needs development on the Tide’s offensive line. For Brown to take over at one of the guard spots by LSU week he needs strong practice and game performance during the next four games.

Hopefully, he is up to the challenge. Even if he comes up short, the competition will make all the offensive linemen better.
Next: College football's changing tides

For those unaware – the butter and cornbread reference in the post title applies to Brown. Teammates call him ‘Cornbread’ which no doubt has something to do with his expansive girth.

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Alabama football has another tuneup game this Saturday with an opportunity to develop both young players and depth against Ole Miss.

Offseason and early-season concerns about the relative weakness of the Alabama football schedule can be shed. LSU, Auburn and probably Georgia will provide plenty of late-season oomph to negate any weakness in the out of conference schedule.

The Alabama Crimson Tide does not need to run up scores against weaker teams. And if it did, Nick Saban would steadfastly refuse to do so.

For the Tide ‘doing your job’ on Saturday against Ole Miss is all about getting better. Plenty of youngsters will get looks in the expectation they can contribute to depth in the two-deep.

Tua and the four, fleet, sure-handed wizards will dazzle against a weak Ole Miss pass defense. Look for Matt Luke to try and bring heat. Like every other defensive team so far this season, getting pressure is the only option. It will not work. Tua and Sark and those four other guys are just too good.

The Tide running game may not dominate Ole Miss. Any serious weakness in run blocking could cause a quick, first-unit return for Deonte Brown.

The Crimson Tide defensive chess game will be all about player development. Crimson Tide fans should not be concerned if Terrell Lewis and D.J. Dale are on ‘pitch counts’ or even rested.

Ole Miss will have some success running, providing the Tide freshmen inside linebackers with a test. Phidarian Mathis, Byron Young and Christian Barmore could earn valuable extra snaps and game experience. Josh Jobe may even get a chance to redeem himself at cornerback.

The kicking game could be a bit of an adventure if Will Reichard is rested. That too brings opportunity for Skyler DeLong and Joseph Bulovas to step up.

Another interesting component will be the number of snaps for the backup quarterbacks. Tua should exit before the end of the third quarter. How much time is split between Mac and Taulia might provide hints of next season when the pair, along with Paul Tyson and verbal commit, Bryce Young battle to lead the Tide.

Alabama football fans should pay attention to any snaps including Kendall Randolph at tight end. In power sets, Randolph could provide an added run-blocking boost, given the Tide’s main tight ends are not well suited to play with a hand in the dirt.
Next: Top 10 Tide running backs of the Saban era

It could be argued this post and others before show insufficient respect to Ole Miss. Disparaging the school and football program was never fun until Reverend Hugh Freeze came along. We rest our case.

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ESPN longtime NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. is as high as anyone on Alabama receiver Jerry Jeudy. Anyone except, perhaps, fellow draft analyst Todd McShay.

In a discussion about Kiper’s latest NFL big board, McShay told the College Football Live panel that no one may be more NFL ready right now than Jeudy.

“I know he’s inexperienced compared to some of the other players there (in the top five), but it’s kind of like Calvin Ridley,” McShay said. “The second he stepped on the field, you could tell he was at a different level in terms of understanding routes, understanding spacing. He’s not the fastest. You’ve got Henry Ruggs III, who’s faster. He’s not the biggest dude. He just knows how to get open. He adjusts to the football so well. I think he’s special. What you see in college is a little bit like you’re going to see in the NFL level.”

McShay ranked Jeudy second overall in terms of 2020 NFL Draft prospects. His teammate, Tua Tagovailoa, was No. 1.

“Jeudy is a really fun prospect to watch,” McShay said. “He's a truly polished route runner with soft hands, and he does an excellent job tracking the deep ball. Though he might not have elite size and strength, Jeudy should be an immediate impact player in the NFL. Consider that he already has 24 catches for 308 yards (tied for 14th in the country) and four touchdowns (tied for seventh) in just three games.”

Kiper, who has Jeudy No. 1, writes “Jeudy was No. 1 on my preseason Big Board, and he has lived up to his ranking, catching 30 passes for 404 yards with six touchdowns this season. He's unguardable at the college level, and he should immediately become a No. 1 NFL receiver after he gets drafted. I said in May that he's the most talented receiver to enter the NFL since the duo of Julio Jones and A.J. Green went in Round 1 in 2011. Jeudy can run every route and has elite ball skills, and he runs by SEC defensive backs every week. He's the best wideout in what could be a special 2020 class.”

Jeudy has 30 catches through four games this season for 404 yards and six touchdowns. The former 247Sports Composite five-star recruit has 22 touchdowns in 27 games for Alabama. As of Week 4, CBS Sports mocks Jeudy to the Washington Redskins at No. 5 overall to the Raiders.

"Jeudy is an elite route runner who does everything well," writes CBS Sports in its new mock draft. "If you're looking to nitpick, he doesn't have top-end speed, though you wouldn't know it to watch him in games. The Raiders need help at wideout with Amari Cooper now tearing it up in Dallas and Antonio Brown enrolled in online college courses."

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McElroy were awful QB.

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