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Henry, Ridley Honored By SEC
Photo Credit: John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports
Two Crimson Tide players have earned SEC Player of the Week recognition for their performances in Bama's 38-10 win over No. 8 Georgia. Bama junior running back Derrick Henry and wide receiver Calvin Ridley are certainly worthy of the honor handed out by the Southeastern Conference office this week.
Henry is certainly no stranger to the honor. This is his second SEC Offensive Player of the Week honor. His rushing attempts and rushing yardage both set new personal career highs for the star running back. He gained 148 yards on 26 carries in the Tide win. This was the eighth time that Henry has rushed for more than 100 yards. His break-away 30-yard touchdown run in the second quarter tied the Alabama record for consecutive games with a touchdown. Henry now has 10.
Ridley has been recognized as the Southeastern Conference Freshman Player of the Week this week. The youngster had five receptions for a career-high 120 yards and a touchdown. He is the first true freshman to get over 100 yards receiving in a game since Amari Cooper did it against Notre Dame in the 2013 National Championship.
Congratulations, gentlemen.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
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Tide And Razorbacks Meet This Saturday
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The 8th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide football team began preparations yesterday afternoon for their upcoming battle with the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Tide had a shortened practice of about an hour and 15 minutes in shells on the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields. Alabama (4-1, 1-1) host the Razorbacks (2-3, 1-1) inside Bryant Denny Stadium this Saturday, October 10th. Bama is fresh off a 38-10 shellacking of the Georgia Bulldogs while the Razorbacks beat Tennessee in Knoxville 24-20.
This Saturday is homecoming at UA with all sorts of festivities planned, but most important, of course, is the football matchup. Bama just squeezed by Arkansas last year in Fayetteville 14-13, but no one really expects it to be close this year. Alabama owns the series 18-7 before forfeited and vacated games, but is in the record as 15-8. The Tide currently has an eight-game winning streak against the Razorbacks.
Coaches are again stressing fundamentals this week, such as tackling, holding onto the ball, pass protection and the like. Fundamentals can never be over-stressed.
Bama and the Hogs kick off at 6 pm CT, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN with Brad Nessler, Todd Blackledge and Holly Rowe.
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Tide Coaches Recognize 10 As Players Of The Week
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama football staff recognized ten Tide players this week as Players of the Week following their 38-10 drubbing of the Georgia Bulldogs. On offense the honor goes to Jake Coker, Derrick Henry, Ryan Kelly and Calvin Ridley. The defensive honorees are Eddie Jackson, Reggie Ragland and A'Shawn Robinson. Special teams honors went to Minkah Fitzpatrick, Adam Griffith and Cyrus Jones.
Offense
Quarterback Jake Coker passed for 11 of 16 for a total of 190 yards and one touchdown. Coker had no interceptions in this past Saturday's game. He also scored on a two-yard run, and ran the ball six total times for 28 yards.
Henry had a career-high 148 yards on 26 carries. He tied the Alabama record for consecutive games with a rushing touchdown on a 30-yard TD run.
Ridley caught five passes for 120 yards, averaging 24 yards per catch. He scored on a 45-yard touchdown strike, and is the first Alabama wide receiver to record 100-yards receiving since the great Amari Cooper in the 2013 National Championship Game against Notre Dame.
Kelly received his honor as a result of the grading system used by the coaching staff. He graded out at 92% for the game.
Defense
Eddie Jackson picked off his second pass of the season and returned the pigskin 50 yards for a touchdown. He also was responsible for four tackles.
Middle linebacker Reggie Ragland had eight tackles, which included two solo tackles as well as a pass breakup. This was Ragland's fourth time to lead the Tide in tackles.
A'Shawn Robinson made five tackles in the Georgia contest.
Special Teams
Minkah Fitzpatrick blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown. He also had four tackles on the day. He also made two special teams tackles.
This is the third week in a row for Griffith to be honored. He made his only field goal attempt of the day from 29 yards out and made all five extra points. Three of his seven kickoffs produced touch backs on the day.
Jones had a total of 53 yards on five punt returns, the longest of which was 23 yards, a season high.
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Saban Press Conference
Alabama head coach Nick Saban spoke to the press yesterday, commenting on the Georgia game, upcoming Arkansas game, injuries and more. He spoke of how he believed the team made a statement in the way they played Georgia this past Saturday, especially in the tough circumstance. He said, however, the team needs to move on.
Concerning injuries the coach said that a few of the guys were nicked up, but fortunately there was nothing major wrong with any of them. He offered no names or what kinds of nicks and bruises.
He was still not pleased with his third-down offense. He said Bama was only 1 of 12 on third-down attempts. Saban said there have been improvements in the area of special teams with punt returns and a blocked punt, but there was still room to get better.
Saban said that Kenyan Drake can't "try to hit a home run every time," and that sometimes a 3-4 yard gain is a good play. He said it is about approach and preparation. Related he said the offensive line needs to be more effective finishing blocks to with Henry's play.
Concerning Arkansas, Saban said this was a team that was playing better and better each week. They were coming off a win in Knoxville. He said this is one of the toughest teams you'll play. He said, "You really have to get your jaw set."
Saban also commented that they were guarding against "relief syndrome." That being they needed to guard against not letting down after a big, emotional win.
There was a point during the press conference that Saban became visibly upset. While he said he doesn't listen to the media, he did deliver a message on the media to the media.
One of the reporters asked Saban about keeping the players dialed in with so much attention on the program. This is where the coach got "in your face" to the media.
Saban said, "I said the same thing as when ya'll buried us last week, aight, and all that. It really doesn't matter what you think. It doesn't really matter what you say. And I'm hoping nobody on our team is playing for you. I hope they're playing for each other and their team and what they want to accomplish and not what you think because that's not certainly what I'm doing. I'm coach and working for our players and our team to be as good as it can be. And if that's not pleasing to somebody else, it's not pleasing to somebody else."
He continued, " I said before, I believe in our team. I do believe in our team and we're going to work hard to make our team better. And I hope our players respond the right way. And it's not going to be for you (the media). The fans, yes. Because if it was up to you, we're six-foot under already. We're dead and buried and gone, gone."
There was a short pause as the microphone was being passed over to another reporter then Saban started again, "So if that was the case, we'd have to get some respirators out or something down there to put life back in people."
Saban also said, "...People are always going to talk. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what they say, because they aren't the ones playing. We felt we had to go out there and re-establish our identity and I thought we did a good job of that."
Understood, coach. You are indeed the coach, and are doing a fine job. Fickle fans and media will always be that way. Just going on record to say, "Great job. Great job all year and not just because of the Georgia win."
Roll Tide!
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Game Time Set For Tide-Aggies
Game time for the Alabama-Texas A&M matchup has been set. Game time will be 2:30 pm CT on October 17th and will be aired live on CBS. Alabama won last year's contest 59-0.
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