re: ***Official Practice Thread***

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Alabama practice report: Crimson Tide hits field for 1st two-a-day

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What we saw

-- WR Amari Cooper is a full participant but, as you can see from the picture at the top of the page, appears to be wearing heavy tape on his left hand. That he's practicing in early August indicates it's probably nothing serious.

-- LB Reuben Foster continues to wear heavy tape on his left hand. Knowing how linebackers function, this will probably be a trend for a while but will have no effect on his ability to play at a high level.

-- LB Dillon Lee was back with the outside linebackers at the start of today's practice. He was with the inside linebackers during Tuesday's viewing session.

-- NG Darren Lake was the beneficiary of some extra attention during a blocking sled drill. This was a theme last year. The coaches like the sophomore's potential.

-- LB Anthony Orr is wearing a brace that indicates he's dealing with a hamstring or quadriceps injury. He was a full participant during the periods we watched.

-- CB Deion Belue, who took it easy Monday because of an apparent hamstring injury, had his lower leg wrapped and was fully participating.

-- During interviews Tuesday, OG Anthony Steen said his father told him that freshman DL A'Shawn Robinson looked like a 30-year-old man. We watched Robinson a little bit today and he looks to be in great shape, particularly for a true freshman defensive lineman. We'll keep an eye on his progress.

-- Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has gone a bit hoarse from all the yelling he has to do across the field. No one has a bigger swath of land on the practice field than Nussmeier, who has wide receivers and quarterbacks spread all over the place.

-- Let's just say the secondary wasn't making Nick Saban happy during one of its formation drills. Our Vasha Hunt will probably have a few photos of one of Saban's more animated exchanges with the group in his photo gallery.

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LINK

@LivingCrimson: Jalston Fowler: I'm looking for big things for TJ Yeldon this yr. With me in front of him, I'm going to try to help improve his stock. #RTR

Fowler is such a great player and person, it seems. I can't wait to see him pounding the rock and blocking for TJ/Drake.

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what's you guys opinion of Tana playing a major roll this year. He looks like he has gotten bigger an possibly taller in a few pics I have seen

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I don't see him pushing CJ or Trey off of the field on any down in any set. He'll probably be the first player in if either gets hurt, but other than that I expect Reuben and Reggie to play in garbage time, giving Tana the PT doesn't do us any good, he won't be here next year.

You could have said the same thing about Jerrell Harris whose main contribution was ST and his senior year at LB. NS rewards seniors as long as they are not hurting the team.

Dakota Ball was rushed to the hospital today for an emergency appendectomy.

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You could have said the same thing about Jerrell Harris whose main contribution was ST and his senior year at LB. NS rewards seniors as long as they are not hurting the team.

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Maybe to an extent, but Harris filled a spot at Sam. Tana is an inside guy and both of those positions are locked down rather firmly at the moment. No way he takes CJ off the field, but he might push Trey off of the field in some passing situations, but Trey is no slouch in coverage. Though once he has to turn and run with TEs it's over for him.

Just watched a video of Roobz Foster doing LB drills, and he was lolley gagging pretty bad. Its only his first week of practice so I am confident that he will get it into gear, though. He sure looks the part.

Yeah i remember watching that game and wondering if he was capable of shedding a block.

I'm not worried about Reub's conditioning, he's a Freshman and will get used to it over time. What I am interested in is how awesome of a duo Ragland/Reuben will be down the road.