Notes: Saban focuses on young players
August, 3, 2012
8/03/12
4:34
PM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Those looking for a full preview of the defending champs at the University of Alabama's first practice of preseason camp on Friday got more of a teaser. Coach Nick Saban and roughly 50 players took to the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields on a hot, humid morning.
And if 50 players sounds slim to you, it should. Only the veterans took the field, with the younger, inexperienced players getting their first crack later in the day at the second of the two-a-day session.
The reason, coach Nick Saban said, was to give freshmen a chance to get their feet wet without the pressure of being surrounded by teammates that already know the ins and outs of practice.
"I always thought it was good in the old days when you could practice with the freshmen for a few practices so that you could sort of teach them and sort of eliminate some of their anxieties about going out to practice the first time," he said. "This way if we can take 50 players to practice this morning and 50 players to practice tonight, all the young players will be able to practice tonight."
In an offseason where the Crimson Tide must replace a number of starters from last year's team, the concentration will be on the youth. That makes the month before the start of the season that much more important as the coaching staff attempts to integrate a number of first-year players on both sides of the ball.
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Davide De Pas for ESPN.comAlabama freshman Cyrus Jones is attempting to learn the Alabama system quickly.
Davide De Pas for ESPN.comAlabama freshman Cyrus Jones is attempting to learn the Alabama system quickly.The reason, coach Nick Saban said, was to give freshmen a chance to get their feet wet without the pressure of being surrounded by teammates that already know the ins and outs of practice.
"I always thought it was good in the old days when you could practice with the freshmen for a few practices so that you could sort of teach them and sort of eliminate some of their anxieties about going out to practice the first time," he said. "This way if we can take 50 players to practice this morning and 50 players to practice tonight, all the young players will be able to practice tonight."
In an offseason where the Crimson Tide must replace a number of starters from last year's team, the concentration will be on the youth. That makes the month before the start of the season that much more important as the coaching staff attempts to integrate a number of first-year players on both sides of the ball.
Ranking the top 10 secondaries 
August, 3, 2012
8/03/12
9:30
AM ET
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN Insider KC Joyner writes: Alabama lost two all-SEC-caliber secondary players in Mark Barron and Dre Kirkpatrick to the NFL draft. That kind of personnel transition would normally preclude a team from being included on this list, but Nick Saban's history of strong recruiting gives the Tide terrific replacements in Lester and Milliner.
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From now until kickoff in Arlington, Texas, we'll be counting down the days before Alabama and Michigan get the season started. Today, we move to No. 29 and what it means to UA football. See all the previous editions here.
Jalston Fowler didn't carry the ball much in the 2011-12 season, but he made the most of his carries. The big, bruising running back averaged 4.3 carries per game, yet managed to finish fourth on the team in total yards, picking up an average of 29.6 yards per contest.
Fowler, at 6-foot-1 and 242 pounds, is the heaviest tailback on the roster but possesses remarkable quickness for his size. In the SEC, only three running backs with 50 or more touches averaged better than 6.9 yards per carry. One was Eddie Lacy, one was LSU's Alfred Blue and the other was Fowler. With 56 carries, the Mobile, Ala., native ran for 385 yards and four touchdowns.
Jalston Fowler didn't carry the ball much in the 2011-12 season, but he made the most of his carries. The big, bruising running back averaged 4.3 carries per game, yet managed to finish fourth on the team in total yards, picking up an average of 29.6 yards per contest.
Fowler, at 6-foot-1 and 242 pounds, is the heaviest tailback on the roster but possesses remarkable quickness for his size. In the SEC, only three running backs with 50 or more touches averaged better than 6.9 yards per carry. One was Eddie Lacy, one was LSU's Alfred Blue and the other was Fowler. With 56 carries, the Mobile, Ala., native ran for 385 yards and four touchdowns.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama will hold its first practice of fall camp on Friday morning, and there will be plenty of new faces in attendance. Of the 26 players in the Crimson Tide’s 2012 recruiting class, 18 will be seeing their first action in camp. Here are five names to keep an eye on as it gets closer to the first game.
1. Landon Collins (DB): There are not many players who can come in as a true freshman and play for Alabama’s defense. Collins might be one of those. Physically, he’s ready. He has the speed to make a quick transition to the college game, and he has football instincts beyond his age. The only question is where he fits into the rotation in the secondary. Long term, I think he takes over for Mark Barron as the hard-hitting safety. But this year he will have to compete with the likes of Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, Robert Lester and Vinnie Sunseri for playing time. He might start out playing as a nickel back, but there’s a chance he takes over one of the safety spots by the end of the year.
2. Eddie Williams (WR): Similar to Collins, Williams is a physical gifted athlete. He could play just about anywhere on the field, but he’s projected to play wide receiver, a position he’s not very familiar with. In high school, he played primarily at quarterback and safety. Still, he’s 6-foot-4, and he has the capability to give Alabama that big target on the outside that it’s lacked since Julio Jones left for the NFL. Everybody’s been talking about Amari Cooper and the early impact he will make as a freshman, but if Williams gets acclimated to the offense quickly enough, he could add yet another weapon to AJ McCarron’s arsenal.
1. Landon Collins (DB): There are not many players who can come in as a true freshman and play for Alabama’s defense. Collins might be one of those. Physically, he’s ready. He has the speed to make a quick transition to the college game, and he has football instincts beyond his age. The only question is where he fits into the rotation in the secondary. Long term, I think he takes over for Mark Barron as the hard-hitting safety. But this year he will have to compete with the likes of Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, Robert Lester and Vinnie Sunseri for playing time. He might start out playing as a nickel back, but there’s a chance he takes over one of the safety spots by the end of the year.
2. Eddie Williams (WR): Similar to Collins, Williams is a physical gifted athlete. He could play just about anywhere on the field, but he’s projected to play wide receiver, a position he’s not very familiar with. In high school, he played primarily at quarterback and safety. Still, he’s 6-foot-4, and he has the capability to give Alabama that big target on the outside that it’s lacked since Julio Jones left for the NFL. Everybody’s been talking about Amari Cooper and the early impact he will make as a freshman, but if Williams gets acclimated to the offense quickly enough, he could add yet another weapon to AJ McCarron’s arsenal.
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Schedule: The Crimson Tide’s first practice is on Friday at 10:30 a.m. ET, and their first day in full pads is scheduled for next Tuesday. Alabama opens the season on Sept. 1 against Michigan in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised nationally by ABC.
Returning starters: Six on offense, five on defense and the place-kicker and punter on special teams.
Star power: Senior Barrett Jones is moving to center this season after winning the Outland Trophy a year ago as the Crimson Tide’s left tackle. He began his career at Alabama by starting 25 games at right guard.
New faces: Junior college cornerbacks Deion Belue and Travell Dixon are both in the running for key roles in Alabama’s secondary rotation. They both went through the spring, and Belue could be a starter at cornerback. True freshman Landon Collins is also talented enough to find his way into the safety rotation. The Crimson Tide will be looking for help at receiver, and true freshmen Chris Black and Omari Cooper were both impressive this spring after enrolling early. Another one to watch at receiver this preseason camp is true freshman Eddie Williams, who has tremendous size at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds. True freshman running back T.J. Yeldon whet everybody’s appetite this spring with his ability to gain yardage both rushing and receiving. He had 179 yards of total offense in the spring game and won’t have to wait long to get on the field this fall.
Returning starters: Six on offense, five on defense and the place-kicker and punter on special teams.
Star power: Senior Barrett Jones is moving to center this season after winning the Outland Trophy a year ago as the Crimson Tide’s left tackle. He began his career at Alabama by starting 25 games at right guard.
New faces: Junior college cornerbacks Deion Belue and Travell Dixon are both in the running for key roles in Alabama’s secondary rotation. They both went through the spring, and Belue could be a starter at cornerback. True freshman Landon Collins is also talented enough to find his way into the safety rotation. The Crimson Tide will be looking for help at receiver, and true freshmen Chris Black and Omari Cooper were both impressive this spring after enrolling early. Another one to watch at receiver this preseason camp is true freshman Eddie Williams, who has tremendous size at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds. True freshman running back T.J. Yeldon whet everybody’s appetite this spring with his ability to gain yardage both rushing and receiving. He had 179 yards of total offense in the spring game and won’t have to wait long to get on the field this fall.
ESPN 150 cornerback Jeryl Brazil became the first member of LSU’s 2013 recruiting class when he committed to the Tigers last summer, but that hasn’t stopped other schools, specifically Alabama, from recruiting the Louisiana native.
Brazil made an unexpected trip to Tuscaloosa last week to visit the Crimson Tide’s program. It was his first time back to UA in more thana year.
“The visit went well,” Brazil said. “I got to see a lot more than I did last time. I chilled with Bradley [Sylve] and Landon [Collins] that night, and then the next morning, I talked with Coach [Nick] Saban, Coach [Burton] Burns and the rest of the coaching staff. After that, I just took a little tour around campus.”
Brazil made an unexpected trip to Tuscaloosa last week to visit the Crimson Tide’s program. It was his first time back to UA in more thana year.
“The visit went well,” Brazil said. “I got to see a lot more than I did last time. I chilled with Bradley [Sylve] and Landon [Collins] that night, and then the next morning, I talked with Coach [Nick] Saban, Coach [Burton] Burns and the rest of the coaching staff. After that, I just took a little tour around campus.”
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Door to Texas now open for SEC schools
August, 2, 2012
8/02/12
1:35
PM ET
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
The impact that Texas A&M's membership in the SEC has had on recruiting is noticeable. The Aggies currently have a whopping 27 commitments in their 2013 recruiting class even though fall practice hasn't even started for Texas high schools. Many of the Aggies’ commitments have said that the SEC membership is among the top reasons they chose Texas A&M.
Coach Kevin Sumlin has acknowledged that impact, noting that Texas A&M has "probably gotten a few more visits" and his coaches have had a few more "return phone calls" from recruits who might not otherwise have considered the Aggies if they weren't in what's widely considered to be the nation's premier football conference.
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Tide ranked No. 2 in preseason poll
August, 2, 2012
8/02/12
12:04
PM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
University of Alabama players reported for the start of preseason camp Thursday morning, and what greeted them that afternoon was the first major college football poll of the season. The Crimson Tide, fresh off beating LSU in New Orleans for the BCS National Championship, came in second in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll.
Alabama finished just four points behind the No. 1 team in the country, LSU. Seven SEC schools, including Georgia (6), South Carolina (9), Arkansas (10) Florida (23) and Auburn (25), made the top 25.
The Crimson Tide have a lot of work to do if they're to finish the season third or better. Coach Nick Saban must overhaul three-quarters of the defense, replacing five first- or second-round NFL draft picks: linebackers Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower, defensive backs Mark Barron and Dre Kirkpatrick, and running back and former Heisman Trophy finalist Trent Richardson.
Alabama finished just four points behind the No. 1 team in the country, LSU. Seven SEC schools, including Georgia (6), South Carolina (9), Arkansas (10) Florida (23) and Auburn (25), made the top 25.
The Crimson Tide have a lot of work to do if they're to finish the season third or better. Coach Nick Saban must overhaul three-quarters of the defense, replacing five first- or second-round NFL draft picks: linebackers Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower, defensive backs Mark Barron and Dre Kirkpatrick, and running back and former Heisman Trophy finalist Trent Richardson.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama renews its title defense Friday with the first practice of pre-season camp. The Crimson Tide will hit the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields for a double-dip, going at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
While we wait for the team to strap it up and get going, here are five things to watch as we inch toward Sept. 1 and kickoff against the Michigan Wolverines.
1. Full recovery: Is the "spin move back," as Michael Williams put it at SEC media days? Coach Nick Saban and players insist Eddie Lacy is ready to run again after missing all of the spring recovering from offseason surgery. If he is back at 100 percent, the Alabama backfield could be lethal with the addition. How Arie Kouandjio comes back is important as well, adding depth to an offensive line that's potent up front but lacking players to fill out the rotation.
While we wait for the team to strap it up and get going, here are five things to watch as we inch toward Sept. 1 and kickoff against the Michigan Wolverines.
1. Full recovery: Is the "spin move back," as Michael Williams put it at SEC media days? Coach Nick Saban and players insist Eddie Lacy is ready to run again after missing all of the spring recovering from offseason surgery. If he is back at 100 percent, the Alabama backfield could be lethal with the addition. How Arie Kouandjio comes back is important as well, adding depth to an offensive line that's potent up front but lacking players to fill out the rotation.
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From now until kickoff in Arlington, Texas, we'll be counting down the days before Alabama and Michigan get the season started. Today, we move to No. 30 and what it means to UA football. See all the previous editions here.
Listen to coach Nick Saban speak and you'll rarely hear mention of the number of sacks the Crimson Tide defense accumulated. Alabama finished the 2011-12 season with 30 sacks, good enough for fourth in the SEC and 29th overall. Those stats won't blow you away, but the tape certainly will.
That's because the defense isn't built around sacking the quarterback as much as disrupting him. That's how incompletions, interceptions and fumbles happen. That's how turnovers happen, and there's no better friend to a defense than taking the ball away.
Alabama finished the season with 40 quarterback hurries and 96 tackles for loss.
Listen to coach Nick Saban speak and you'll rarely hear mention of the number of sacks the Crimson Tide defense accumulated. Alabama finished the 2011-12 season with 30 sacks, good enough for fourth in the SEC and 29th overall. Those stats won't blow you away, but the tape certainly will.
That's because the defense isn't built around sacking the quarterback as much as disrupting him. That's how incompletions, interceptions and fumbles happen. That's how turnovers happen, and there's no better friend to a defense than taking the ball away.
Alabama finished the season with 40 quarterback hurries and 96 tackles for loss.
Tide, Tigers battle for in-state recruits
August, 1, 2012
8/01/12
2:16
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
Alabama-Auburn is one of the greatest rivalries in college football. It’s a rivalry that dates back centuries, but it has become magnified on a national scale over the last few years, and not just on the field, but on the recruiting trail as well.
Last year, ESPN 150 running back T.J. Yeldon committed to Auburn in June, but in a turn of events that nearly sent the state into pandemonium, he flipped his commitment to Alabama and ultimately signed with the Crimson Tide. Now, Yeldon is poised to make a significant impact as a freshman for UA.
Fast forward to this year’s class.
Last year, ESPN 150 running back T.J. Yeldon committed to Auburn in June, but in a turn of events that nearly sent the state into pandemonium, he flipped his commitment to Alabama and ultimately signed with the Crimson Tide. Now, Yeldon is poised to make a significant impact as a freshman for UA.
Fast forward to this year’s class.
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Ranking the top 10 defensive lines
August, 1, 2012
8/01/12
11:50
AM ET
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN Insider Travis Haney writes: They’ll be breaking in new talent at defensive tackle, but the LSU pass rush could be remarkably good in 2012. And yet, they’re still No. 2 behind Florida State, which has both experience and a major talent infusion from recent recruiting. Where do the Crimson Tide place in Haney's rankings of the top defensive lines in the country?
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From now until kickoff in Arlington, Texas, we'll be counting down the days before Alabama and Michigan get the season started. Today, we move to No. 31 and what it means to UA football. See all the previous editions here.
Befpre the start of the 2011-12 season, Vinnie Sunseri was an unknown. The linebacker at Tuscaloosa's Northridge High wasn't exactly the recruit that came with high expectations. The four-star player had just five college offers (see: recruiting profile), and many wondered whether Alabama was one of them just because his father, Sal, was an assistant coach on staff.
Those people were wrong. Or at least they were proven to be wrong.
Sunseri passed up the opportunity to go to Pittsburgh and play with his brother, and became arguably the most successful true freshman to play at Alabama last season. Despite not starting a game, he finished ninth on the team with 31 total tackles. He had one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery and forced one fumble in 13 games. He and left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio were voted to the Freshman All-SEC team.
When his father left to become the defensive coordinator at Tennessee after the season ended, some wondered whether Vinnie would follow suit. He didn't, and now he's in a position to receive even more playing time under coach Nick Saban. Sunseri spent most of the spring playing safety, star and money on defense. He told reporters that he'd like to improve his pass coverage before the start of the season.
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Marvin Gentry/US PresswireVinnie Sunseri (3) excelled on A-Day and could have a big 2012.
Marvin Gentry/US PresswireVinnie Sunseri (3) excelled on A-Day and could have a big 2012.Those people were wrong. Or at least they were proven to be wrong.
Sunseri passed up the opportunity to go to Pittsburgh and play with his brother, and became arguably the most successful true freshman to play at Alabama last season. Despite not starting a game, he finished ninth on the team with 31 total tackles. He had one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery and forced one fumble in 13 games. He and left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio were voted to the Freshman All-SEC team.
When his father left to become the defensive coordinator at Tennessee after the season ended, some wondered whether Vinnie would follow suit. He didn't, and now he's in a position to receive even more playing time under coach Nick Saban. Sunseri spent most of the spring playing safety, star and money on defense. He told reporters that he'd like to improve his pass coverage before the start of the season.
Each week at TideNation we will speak with a writer who covers one of Alabama's 2012 opponents. Today we spoke with Joel Erickson, who covers Auburn for the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer.
Scarborough: A new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator, new starting running back and a quarterback competition. The offseason at Auburn has been more tumultuous than usual this year. How has all the turnover affected the program and what kind of changes can we expect under both coordinators?
Erickson: Auburn has had a quarterback battle every year that Gene Chizik has been the head coach, and the return of Onterio McCalebb means that the Tigers have some continuity at the running back position, if not a clear No. 1 option in the absence of Mike Dyer. What really could affect the program is the change in coordinators. Expect Brian VanGorder’s defense to attack more, especially on the defensive line. VanGorder asks his defensive linemen to focus on penetration, rather than reading and reacting like they did under Ted Roof. On the offensive side, the days of Auburn running the hurry-up, no-huddle offense are over. New coordinator Scot Loeffler has kept his cards close to the vest, but Loeffler will likely run some pro-style, some shotgun and some pistol, with an offense tailored to his playmaker’s strengths.
Scarborough: A new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator, new starting running back and a quarterback competition. The offseason at Auburn has been more tumultuous than usual this year. How has all the turnover affected the program and what kind of changes can we expect under both coordinators?
Erickson: Auburn has had a quarterback battle every year that Gene Chizik has been the head coach, and the return of Onterio McCalebb means that the Tigers have some continuity at the running back position, if not a clear No. 1 option in the absence of Mike Dyer. What really could affect the program is the change in coordinators. Expect Brian VanGorder’s defense to attack more, especially on the defensive line. VanGorder asks his defensive linemen to focus on penetration, rather than reading and reacting like they did under Ted Roof. On the offensive side, the days of Auburn running the hurry-up, no-huddle offense are over. New coordinator Scot Loeffler has kept his cards close to the vest, but Loeffler will likely run some pro-style, some shotgun and some pistol, with an offense tailored to his playmaker’s strengths.
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The rundown
2011 overall record: 8-5
2011 conference record: 4-4
Record against Alabama: 34-41-1
2011 overall record: 8-5
2011 conference record: 4-4
Record against Alabama: 34-41-1
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ABOUT TIDE NATION
Greg Ostendorf
Greg Ostendorf joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering University of Alabama football and basketball recruiting at the Tuscaloosa News and Rivals.com. Ostendorf graduated from the University of Alabama and currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Email him at gsostendorf.espn@gmail.com.
Alex Scarborough
Alex Scarborough joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering University of Alabama athletics and high school football for The Tuscaloosa News. He currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Email him at alexscarborough.espn@gmail.com.