re: Bama Football Tidings

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Less than 24 hours after practicing under the lights, Alabama was back to dealing with the hot, glaring sun Friday afternoon.

With the temperature 91 degrees in Tuscaloosa, the team was in shorts and shells.

Here are some observations from the limited access period provided to the media:

— Trey Sanders wasn’t spotted two days after head coach Nick Saban said the freshman running back was “doing really, really well” in camp. Saban should address his absence Saturday after the team’s first scrimmage of the preseason.

— Running back Jerome Ford, meanwhile, appeared to be wearing a support device that extended from his left calf to his thigh.

— Linebacker Dylan Moses was spotted in regular sneakers and didn’t appear to be participating in drills.

— Freshman defensive back Brandon Turnage was seen in a black, non-contact jersey before practice and was not on the field.

— Tight end Miller Forristall, who is coming back from a foot injury, appeared mobile during individual drills.

— Defensive tackle DJ Dale was not spotted for the second consecutive day. Also not present during the portion of practice open to the media were defensive back Nigel Knott (undisclosed medical condition) and defensive end LaBryan Ray (ankle).

— The surname written on the back of freshman defensive tackle Ishmael Sopsher’s helmet was misspelled. It read, “Sophsher.” Sopsher, it should be noted, has come along slowly at the dawn of his college career.

— ESPN reporter Holly Rowe was one of the notable people watching from the sidelines.

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If you do not believe that football is a brotherhood, take a closer look at how current Alabama players view the former standouts. Every all-conference, All-American and high draft pick athlete was taught from someone who was in their shoes at one point in time.

The lesson learned are geared toward both football and life itself.

This year’s defensive secondary – headlined by Xavier McKinney, Shyheim Carter, Trevon Diggs, Patrick Surtain II, Jared Mayden and Josh Jobe – have a great opportunity to rival the groups from 2009 and 2016.

Despite both teams having fierce pass rushers, both defensive backfields recorded timely interceptions and for the 2016 unit: it turned mistakes into points.

If you do not believe that football is a brotherhood, take a closer look at how current Alabama players view the former standouts. Every all-conference, All-American and high draft pick athlete was taught from someone who was in their shoes at one point in time.

Veterans leaders such as Eddie Jackson, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Harrison, Anthony Averett and Levi Wallace were on that team.

Regardless of it not winning a national championship, it returned six of 16 interceptions for touchdowns and made up a defense known for big plays.

In filling shoes left behind from Jackson, Fitzpatrick and Deionte Thompson, Mayden told Brian Pride of Touchdown Alabama Magazine that the biggest lesson he learned at Alabama came from Jackson.

“He showed me that when you get older, don’t really worry about doing things fast all the time,” Mayden said on his advice from Jackson. “Just take your time and figure out the schemes people are trying to do to beat you.”

A senior from Sachse, Texas, Mayden is pushing to win the job at free safety.

The 6-foot, 205-pounder totaled 18 tackles in 2018, but was one of the nation’s best defensive back prospects in the 2016 recruiting class.

Xavier McKinney, a junior, returns for his second year at strong safety.

He filled up the stats sheet beautifully last season, accounting for 74 total tackles – including six for loss and three sacks. The native Georgian totaled 10 pass breakups and had two interceptions through 15 games.

McKinney is a preseason candidate for the Jim Thorpe Award (nation’s top defensive back) and a first-teamer for the All-SEC preseason team via media personnel.

According to him, it was Fitzpatrick, Harrison, Averett and Wallace that taught him.

“I learned preparation from those guys,” McKinney said. “Just getting ready for the game and preparing the right way for the game and for practice.”

After what happened in the final three matchups of 2018, the current stars for the Tide must apply the wisdom and reclaim the title of “No Fly Zone.” The coach is in place with Charles Kelly, but now it is about getting all the talented players on the field and watch them work.

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — After a week’s worth of practice, Alabama is set to hold its first scrimmage Saturday inside of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The scrimmage will be one of two this fall and, according to Nick Saban, will not have much of a game-like feel. Instead, the head coach said he’s looking to see how his players react to certain situations on the field without the direct supervision of coaches.

“What is their ability to execute? Do they have the kind of toughness we need? Can they sustain and focus whether they made a good play or a bad play the last play?” Saban said. “We don’t have to really decide who we’re going to have to coach this early in camp, but I think how they respond on Saturday goes a long way in telling you if a guy has the right stuff relative to the maturity to be trustworthy to go out there and do a job, whether that’s special teams, offense, defense or whatever part of our team.”

With that said, Saturday’s scrimmage will provide an opportunity for several players to set themselves apart in crowded position groups. While the workout will be behind closed doors, here’s a few positional battles to keep in mind.

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Freshman nose tackle DJ Dale among those not on the field as the Crimson Tide works in the heat

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — There was a notable absence on Friday as the University of Alabama football team held its final practice prior to its first fall scrimmage.

Freshman nose tackle DJ Dale was not on the field as the Crimson Tide worked in the heat. The temperature was 91 in partly-cloudy conditions, but the heat index was 103.

Dale has missed the last two practices for an undisclosed reason. Junior defensive end LaBryan Ray (ankle) remains out, meaning the team is currently working without two of its three first-team defensive linemen.

There was also no side of freshman running back Trey Sanders and freshman defensive back Brandon Turnage.

The players were in shoulder pads and shorts. The closed scrimmage is set for Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Junior tight end Miller Forristall (foot) has returned to practice, but only for individual drills. He’s still very limited and is using a boot to get around.

Redshirt junior cornerback Nigel Knott (medical issues) remains out.

Nick Saban didn’t have an update on Knott during his press conference Wednesday.

“He's getting rehab and being evaluated,” the coach said. “We’re hopeful that he can back on the field sometime soon, but that's going to be a medical decision.”

Something to keep an eye on is the offensive line. During the observation period, reporters saw players paired off for a drill in which the guards were working alongside a tackle or center. Freshman Evan Neal was initially with redshirt junior center Chris Owens, and then junior left tackle Alex Leatherwood.

When redshirt freshman Emil Ekiyor Jr. took his turn he was on the right side next to junior tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.

Also of note, Saban said the top three outside linebackers are set with Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Lewis and Chris Allen. The player paired with Allen for individual drills was redshirt junior Ben Davis.

EPSN has had a personality/reporter at practice almost every day during fall camp. On Friday it was Holly Rowe.

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