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Tide Continues Prep For Aggies
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Wednesday afternoon brought another two hour University of Alabama football football practice on the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields that lasted for two hours in full pads.
Bama continues to hone the game plan for their match up this Saturday with the Texas A&M Aggies. The Alabama defense will face a team employing an offense that historically has caused some problems. The Aggies employ a spread, uptempo game that will test not only the defensive line, but especially Alabama's safeties and linebackers. This is one game that is expected to bring a higher number of offensive plays...by both squads, more than likely.
Left tackle Cam Robinson seemed to be going through his drills better. Coach Nick Saban had said earlier in the week that Robinson was fighting some nagging injuries, and said injuries had more than likely affected his play last Saturday against Arkansas. He is showing some improvement.
Wide receiver Raheem Falkins has been in a black no-contact jersey this week, but has been able to practice.
Quarterback Blake Barnett, who had been hospitalized since Monday with what Saban called an "illness", was released from the hospital yesterday. He will not return to practice this week. (See related story.)
The Tide leads the series with a 5-2 mark, having won the last two contests between these two top-10 powers. Alabama won at College Station the last time there 49-42, then last year in Tuscaloosa by a lopsided 59-0 shutout. Last year's victory was the largest win for a Crimson Tide football against a ranked opponent.
Alabama travels to College Station to meet the top-10 Aggies at 2:30 p.m. CT at Kyle Field. The game will be broadcast by CBS, with Verne Lundquist, Gary Danielson and Allie LaForce on the call.
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Barnett Released From Hospital
Photo Credit: Marvin Gentry/USA TODAY Sports
University of Alabama freshman quarterback Blake Barnett has been released from a Tuscaloosa Hospital, according to AL.com. Barnett had been undergoing tests and treatment since being admitted on Monday, and was released yesterday afternoon.
Naturally the Alabama head coach, Nick Saban, was concerned but upbeat and positive. He was unable to share the results of the tests, but did say he doesn't believe it was "anything serious" or "anything that's a prolonged illness."
The decision for Barnett to go to the hospital on Monday came about because he had not been feeling well, and it was determined it was serious enough to warrant a trip to a local hospital.
In his statement Saban said simply, "We're very hopeful that he'll be fine. We took a lot of precautions to make sure he was okay."
Social media had been abuzz with the news of Barnett's situation. Many fans had requested prayers for the young man and "good thoughts" to be sent his way.
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Saban's Wednesday Press Conference
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Alabama head football coach Nick Saban addressed the media last night in his usual weekly rundown on the upcoming contest and all things Bama.
The Tide's head man was very complimentary of some Bama's players, like safety Eddie Jackson. He stated that Jackson has done a "really good job." He also brought up punter JK Scott, saying that Scott has been punting better in practice this week.
Looking at the Aggies, Saban said that A&M running back Tre Carson was "a really good back." He pointed out that Carson is a bigger and more physical running back than Texas A&M has had in the past.
Concerning that back, and others, Saban says that Texas A&M has "tried to run the ball more effectively this year." The Tide has been used to the Aggies slinging the ball around the field, and they will still pass the pigskin this weekend, but now there will be the added element of a running game.
Saban said that Texas A&M does "present a lot of challenges to you on both sides of the ball." He further stated, though, that "preparation has been good" this week.
Freshman quarterback Blake Barnett was released from an area hospital yesterday and Saban touched on that. Concerning whether the Tide might use Barnett this season Saban said it was possible that Barnett could play this season, but only if he developed to the point that they feel he can contribute in some way.
Saban was complimentary of the team's work ethic in this week's practice sessions. He said "Everybody's been working really hard this week."
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Alabama-Texas A&M Game A Big Deal
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Let's face it, this Saturday's matchup between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Texas A&M Aggies is a big deal. But with one loss this season, to the Ole Miss Rebels, all the remaining games on this season's schedule are a big deal for Bama. But this one is one that could cause problems.
If Alabama can get it's sputtering offense in gear faster this week then things won't be quite so rough. But if it takes over half the game for the Bama O to get things going, then it won't be pretty.
Everyone knows that the Alabama defense is one of the best in both the SEC and in the nation, but the secondary is still suspect. Especially when it comes to the type offense that A&M uses. The Aggies will spread the Tide, and use the uptempo to keep them as off-balance as possible, which is what everyone knows has proven to be a weakness the past couple of seasons.
Alabama has the running backs to get the job done. And at times the offensive line has cooperated. There have been times, however, that missed assignments caused tackles for losses and quarterback sacks. That's to be expected in a heavy rush, but numerous times only the usual three or four have come against the Bama backfield.
Another thing everyone realizes is that quarterback Jake Coker does get shaken and makes bad decisions. But he also has made many really good ones. He is not the worst quarterback Alabama has ever had, by far, though many on Twitter and other social media seem to voice that opinion. (Yes, I've seen that stated more than once.) If Coker won't pre-select his target, learn to throw away the ball more quickly (which as a fifth year senior he should know how to do), and keep his cool when the O-line springs its ocassional leak, he can be fine.
Alabama doesn't have to fired up for this game. The guys are looking forward to it. As is the team from over in the state of Texas. And the coaches are excited.
A&M's defensive coordinator even admitted this game with the Crimson Tide is a big deal. John Chavis told reporters yesterday, "I think, yeah, I hate to admit it, but probably so. You look at their stature. This is a big game for Texas A&M. My focus is on Texas A&M and this game being about us, but certainly, you've got a chance to go and compete against one of the best teams in the league and if that doesn't get you excited as a coach or player, you've got something missing. Players get (excited) for a game like this and coaches do too."
The Aggies defense is pretty strong when it comes to the passing game, but is suspect when faced with Alabama's strength: the running game. A&M is giving up an average of 4.57 yards per carry, and will be hard-pressed to stop Bama's big man, Derrick Henry, if the offensive line performs better than it did against Arkansas last week.
Chavis was asked if there might be any new wrinkles on defense this week since the Tide coaching staff knew his defensive philosophy so well. He replied, "We're not going to change our scheme. It's been tested at times and I need to help our players more at times with calls, but we're not going to change what we do. We're not going to do what somebody else does, we're not copycats. And they're going to know what we're going to do too, because we won't change."
So it's a matter of execution. Both teams are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the other. Both have outstanding players in the so-called key positions. It will be a game of both smash-mouth and finesse. But this is one week we don't need to try to get into a scoring battle.
Game time this Saturday for the Alabama-Texas A&M contest is 2:30 p.m. CT.
