re: ***Official Practice Thread***

Fanning back to DL

What we saw

-- LaMichael Fanning, who opened camp with the tight ends and H-backs after two years of work on the defensive line, was back with the defensive line at today's practice. Alabama coach Nick Saban originally called it a five-day experiment and later said it would continue beyond that point. When he was asked about the group as a whole Thursday, Saban did not mention Fanning.

-- WR Amari Cooper worked with head athletic trainer Jeff Allen through some stretching exercises. The focus appeared to be on the back of his right foot.

-- DL Wilson Love was not at practice. He continues to deal with an undisclosed medical issue.

-- DL Dakota Ball (appendectomy) has yet to return to practice. He's been out since Aug. 7.

-- LB Xzavier Dickson appeared to have an increased workload after sitting out some drills earlier in the week. Saban did not mention Dickson in his injury rundown, so that likely means it's something minor.

-- RB Alvin Kamara (knee) was not on the practice field. He's supposed to miss the next couple of weeks.

-- From the looks of it, CB Deion Belue (hamstring) is getting closer and closer to full go. Will be interesting to see if he participates in Saturday's scrimmage.

What's next?

Alabama doesn't have any media responsibilities today. The Crimson Tide will scrimmage Saturday afternoon -- some time after Bid Day comes to an end at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

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No, the staff seems to still want him to contribute at RB, but he's clearly our best H-Back right now (Vogler's got the starting TE spot nailed down), so it will be interesting to watch, given the depth at RB.

We seriously need some other guys to step-up at TE/H, otherwise Nudie may end up stuck there out of necessity.

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I mean when he is the H Fowler is a Fullback anyway so what would stop him from playing fullback one snap and tailback the next?

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In that sense nothing, and his versatility is certainly something that we all have been looking forward to seeing in action.

However, I'm also sure the staff is going to be careful not to over-work him, especially with him coming off a pretty serious knee injury, so how many times would you expect that scenario (Jalston lining up at tailback) to take place, if he is basically a full-time H-Back/Fullback out of necessity?

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Go watch the first three games of last year. There was a few plays in the 2nd half of the Michigan game where we broke the huddle with he and yeldon on the field together and Yeldon went out wide in a spread set. Except to see that used a lot. They are expecting an I set (especially if Vogler is the Y) based on the huddle personnel then we line up 4 wide with Fowler the RB.

I read in a few different articles that reps go in the order of seniority

Nick must be losing his status..He has to wait for bid day to finish. Shame on you Nick..Be a man...

Around noon I think

File this under ridiculous pre-season hype but on the radio this morning, John Copeland said that he has a source that is at practice everyday and understands football who told him:
1. We will have our best kicking game since the Phillip Doyle years
2. Our punter will be punting it 60 yards every punt

Obviously, the 2nd one is ridiculous. Cody has improved every year and looked great in the spring but 60 ypp is ridiculous. The Doyle reference has me wondering if the source was saying a kicker (Griffith?) can make 60 yard field goals and it got misconstrued by Big John

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Its gonna be awesome listening to the crowd chant, nudie, nudie, nudie. If, knock on wood, we win the natty, I say the team should carry him off on their shoulders.

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Took me a moment to get it.