Greatest Names In Bama Football History-Chris Samuels
Chris Samuels, born July 28, 1977, was another of the greatest players in Bama football history. Samuels was born in Mobile, Alabama and attended John Shaw High School in Mobile, helping Shaw to to an 8-2 record and making the AHSAA playoffs.
He attended the University of Alabama from 1996 to 1999 as an offensive tackle. As a senior in 1999, he was named to the All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) first team by the conference's coaches, the Birmingham News and the Mobile Press Register, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American. Samuels also won the Outland Trophy as the nation's best college interior lineman, and was a finalist for the Lombardi Award.
Samuels also won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy as the SEC's most outstanding blocker. He started in 42 consecutive games for the Crimson Tide, from early 1996 as a freshman until his last regular-season game as a senior, without yielding a sack. He didn't allow a quarterback pressure in 1999, had 91 knockdown blocks and played nearly every offensive snap during the regular season, and opening holes for Bama running back Shaun Alexander.
Samuels was drafted third overall by the Washington Redskin in the 2000 NFL and was considered the premier offensive tackle in that draft. He was the only offensive tackle taken in the top 19 of the draft, and the first Alabama offensive lineman selected in the first round of an NFL draft since Bob Cryder in 1978.
After his retirement from professional football, he volunteered as offensive coordinator at Blount High School in Pricard, Alabama, helping them to an impressive 10-2 record and an appearance in the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs. After that one season he returned to the University of Alabama (2012) to serve as a student assistant coach for the Tide and head coach Nick Saban. He served as an assistant offensive line coach in addition to working to complete his degree in physical education. He left Alabama in 2015 to become a high school coach at Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia.
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Taking A Look At Bama's First Scrimmage
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama completed its first scrimmage of the fall practice season yesterday with mixed results. It was a scrimmage that lasted approximaely two hours and 110 plays with a light drizzle falling throughout.
"I was certainly pleased with a lot of the effort we had here today," head coach Nick Saban said. "Our guys competed well. There was some really good, physical play with big hitting. The execution, for a first scrimmage, was probably okay but not where it needs to be. Certainly, we have a lot of things that we need to work on."
For those hoping to get a clearer picture of Alabama's starting quarterback situation after yesterday's first scrimmage...ain't happening. Alabama head football coach Nick Saban was clearly, for want of a better word, frustrated with his quarterbacks today. Not only was there no clear separation between the quarterbacks, non seemed to step up and take control of the team.
Saban said, "From a quarterback standpoint, I can’t really say one guy was better than another. I think all did good things and I think all did things not so well. I think that I would love to see one of these guys take the bull by the horns and play with a sense of urgency that affects everyone else and shows leadership.
"I don’t think we need to have a quarterback that has to win the game. I think if we have someone who can play well enough and make good decisions and not make major errors, that would probably keep us in the game. And with the level of the players we have everywhere else, we’ll have a good chance."
After being questioned further about the quarterback situation by the media, Saban commented, " The way I see it happening is, you know, as soon as we start gaining confidence in a guy and put him in the situation, then they have to take the ball and run with it. We’ve seen that a couple times. I’m just waiting on somebody to just break out and really take it after having a couple good days.
"Somebody’s got to make it happen. As bad I like to make it happen, I can’t make it happen."
Concerning the scrimmage as a whole yesterday, Saban said, "The defense is probably a little bit ahead of the offense, which is not unusual in terms of their ability to execute and do their job." Throughout the years with all the Alabama head coaches it was a common theme: the defense generally matures quicker than the offense. Concerning the offense he commented, "Offensively, I think we got better as the day went on in terms of how we competed. A lot of the success came toward the end of the scrimmage."
Obviously it is early yet. But it was clear that Saban expected to see a lot more from his quarterbacks yesterday than he did.
This was the first scrimmage for Alabama in preparation for the season opener against Wisconsin in Arlington, Texas, for the AdvoCare Classic. The game between the Crimson Tide and Badgers is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff inside AT&T Stadium on ABC. Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Heather Cox will be handling the broadcast.
The team is off today for the first time since the beginning of fall practice. Monday will find them on the practice field again for it final two-a-day practice sessions.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
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Alabama Football Scrimmage Injury Report
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Another key University of Alabama player was added to the injured yesterday. Receiver Robert Foster suffered a sprained knee toward the end of Saturday's scrimmage. Foster was a five-star recruit out of high school and is expected to be a big contributor in this season's offensive scheme. In fact, he had been working with the first team during fall practice sessions.
Besides Foster, Bama has running back Kenyan Drake and junior receiver Chris Black still recuperating from their injuries and did not participate in today's scrimmage. Drake was dressed out but didn't participate because of a strained hamstring, and according to head football coach Nick Saban, it didn't appear to be a "big issue", but held him out so it wouldn't become a chronic issue. Black is still recovering from a twisted ankle that had limited his practice all week.
All three are expected to fully recover and be back in action soon, or so Saban hopes.
Saban said, "I think that would be very helpful, if we could get some of these guys that are sort of our playmaker guys on offense back out there working. I think that would be really, really helpful."
The injury to freshman offensive lineman Lester Cotton wasn't addressed, but that he has missed the last few days of practice with no specific reason being given.
There was good news Friday that freshman cornerback Marlon Humphrey participated in practice Friday and also was able to participate in the scrimmage Saturday. He seemed to be pretty much back at full speed after seeing limited practice during most of the week.
The injury to freshman offensive lineman Lester Cotton wasn't addressed, but that he has missed the last few days of practice with no specific reason being given.
There was good news Friday that freshman cornerback Marlon Humphrey participated in practice Friday and also was able to participate in the scrimmage Saturday. He seemed to be pretty much back at full speed after seeing limited practice during most of the week.
