re: ***Official Practice Thread***

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McCarron throws TD passes on three consecutive throws

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Amari Cooper beats John Fulton

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DeAndrew White beats Deion Belue

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Raheem Falkins beats Fulton.

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Dee Hart lines up first in line to field punts

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Also there: Chris Black, Cyrus Jones, Amari Cooper and Robert Foster

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*Two guys in football who were better coming off an ACL injury than before it: Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Alabama wide receiver DeAndrew White.

And I’m talking about the very next season, not two years down the road.

White, who worked alongside Amari Cooper with Alabama’s first-team offense in Sunday’s open practice at Bryant-Denny Stadium, continued to impress with his ability to make plays down the field, catching no fewer than three deep passes from quarterback AJ McCarron in the Crimson Tide’s latest workout.

During Media Day interviews prior to the workout, I asked White, who missed the final nine games of the 2012 campaign after injuring his knee against Ole Miss, if he had modeled his own rehab after Peterson’s.

“It really was motivation,” White said. “Watching him do what he did really encouraged me to work hard.”

So where does White’s speed compare with where it was pre-injury?

“If anything I’m a little faster than before,” White said.

For those who don’t recall, speed wasn’t an issue for the junior before the knee injury. In addition to regaining his speed, White added six pounds of muscle, going from the 184 pounds he played at a season ago to 190 heading into the 2013 season.

Crazy as it sounds, the fully-recovered White is better in every aspect of his play.

Scatter shots

*The offense opened team drills with a lineup that included tight end Brian Vogler and running back Jalston Fowler at H back. When the unit went with three wides, Christion Jones came on to join Cooper and White at wide receiver.

*Working with Deion Belue and the first-team defense at corner Sunday was senior John Fulton, who missed all of spring drills after undergoing surgery on his toe in the offseason. Fulton gave up a couple of plays but he also had an impressive breakup of a McCarron pass that ended safety HaHa Clinton-Dix turned into an interception.

*Second-team corners were Cyrus Jones and Bradley Sylve. Look for the Fulton-Jones battle to continue on for a while.

*Cornerback Geno Smith worked at star when UA went to its nickel package and safety Landon Collins worked at money in the dime. Still a number of scenarios that could play out at those spots, including safety Vinnie Sunseri working at money. Freshman corners Maurice Smith and Jonathan Cook are also learning the star position.

*For the most part, I’d give Blake Sims the edge behind McCarron in Sunday’s practice. Thought he was more decisive in 7-on-7 than Alec Morris, although Morris appeared to be more comfortable during the practice’s blitz period. Sims’ instincts are still telling him to leave the pocket when pressure comes.

*I thought Cooper Bateman got better as the workout moved along, something you typically don’t see from quarterbacks. If anything, he was at his worst in individual drills (throwing against air) and at his best against the blitz. Right now, he seems more confident when throwing on the run than from the pocket.

*Based on the practice, I’d say Alabama’s top six wide receivers are Cooper, White, Christion Jones, Kenny Bell, Kevin Norwood and Chris Black. That’s before you get to freshmen Raheem Falkins, Robert Foster and ArDarius Stewart, a trio that has done nothing but impress early on.

*Falkins is a 6-foot-4 receiver who knows how to use his size and strong hands to maximize his ability. On two occasions Sunday he created separation when the ball was in the air – once against Belue and the other time against Fulton – by subtly using his hands to gain an advantage. He didn’t make the grab over Belue but he did beat Fulton, who had good coverage on the play.

*As big as tight end experiment LaMichael Fanning is (6’7, 270), he will learn to lower his pads after the catch. Linebacker Trey DePriest provided a lesson on just that during 7-on-7, giving Fanning a love tap that nearly dislodged Fanning’s helmet.

*Harrison Jones saw time with the first offense at tight end Sunday, but look for a good bit of situational work for Alabama's H backs and tight ends this season, especially Fowler and OJ Howard, who, along with Kurt Freitag, worked with the second offense on Sunday.

*Collins will impact kick coverage units once again in 2013, especially as a gunner on the punt team.

*Wide variety of punt return candidates saw work in Sunday’s practice, with Dee Hart up first. Hart was joined by Cyrus Jones, Chris Black, Christion Jones, Robert Foster and Cooper, who had the lone muff of the period.

*Cole Mazza is the lone snapper on the fall camp roster but junior walk-on linebacker Tyler Owens is also working at the spot. Mazza was solid during the punting period.

*Plenty of competition for depth roles at defensive end. In addition to Dalvin Tomlinson, sophomore Wilson Love and junior Anthony Orr saw time with the second unit at end Sunday. Xzavier Dickson appears to be continuing the combo role of defensive end and outside linebacker from the spring. And in case you’re wondering, freshmen ends Jonathan Allen and A’Shawn Robinson worked with the third group.

*Denzel Devall worked with the first defense at outside linebacker during the practice. It looks like he’s the guy to beat opposite Adrian Hubbard on the outside, with Hubbard staying on the field regardless of package.

*Still early in the race to backup TJ Yeldon at running back, but Hart and Kenyan Drake were the first two guys to go behind Yeldon on Sunday. Ultimately, I expect Derrick Henry to be solidly in the mix for carries among the top three backs.

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Cyrus and Eddie Jackson

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Notice any difference in AJ's arm strength?

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