Daily Archives: November 28, 2012

Saban says Chris Black ready to play Saturday

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Alabama receiver Chris Black (in black jersey) with teammates Kevin Norwood (83) and Kenny Bell (7). Players who aren’t cleared for contact wear black jerseys during practice, and this was taken before Black was cleared Monday.

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — True freshman wide receiver Chris Black will make his season debut Saturday in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban said the highly touted pass-catcher has practiced and is ready to play. Black injured his left shoulder in the first week of preseason practice and underwent surgery. He rejoined practice three weeks ago, but he wasn’t cleared for contact until Monday.

Black was slated to be redshirted until receiver Kenny Bell broke his leg in Saturday’s win over Auburn.

“Chris wants to play,” Saban said, adding he made the decision in combination with Black and his family. “He can help the team by playing. It might help his development between this game and one more game, wherever it is, whoever it’s against, in terms of his development for the future. It’s a tough decision and you never know it’s the right decision because you never know what’s going to happen five years from now.”

Saban said he has come across this situation before. In 2001 at LSU, he played true freshman cornerback Travis Daniels for the first time in the SEC Championship Game.

Daniels was forced into action when Randall Gay was injured during the game, leaving nobody left to play. He broke up two passes in the 31-20 win, including one in the end zone. After four years, Daniel was a fourth-round NFL draft pick and is still in pro football with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“We had to make that decision on the spot,” Saban said. “We didn’t really have anybody else to play corner. He ended up being a fourth-round draft pick in his fourth year. I don’t know if he would have stayed for another year. He had already graduated. I think that’s what you have to weigh.”

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Thoughts from Wednesday’s Alabama practice

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Alabama’s offensive linemen during Wednesday’s practice.

Chance Warmack (65) with Cyrus Kouandjio (71).

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — The Crimson Tide worked out inside its indoor practice facility for the third straight day. With Saturday’s game in the Georgia Dome, Alabama is committed to practicing inside for the week.

The Crimson Tide worked out in full pads for the second straight day. The only player who appeared slowed by an injury was noseguard Brandon Ivory (ankle), who was dressed out but didn’t participate in drills during the media viewing period.

Running back T.J. Yeldon (ankle) look good in the running back drills. Watching him also gave us time to notice walk-on Ben Howell (5-9, 194) wore No. 3 today for his scout-team duty. Georgia running back Todd Gurley (6-1, 218 pounds) wears No. 3.

Offensive guard Chance Warmack still has the heavy tape job on his left hand to protect his ring finger, which he injured against Auburn. We’ve got a couple of photos for you, although they’re from my phone, and the line practices pretty far from where we stand.

The receivers looked fine, and if Alabama wants to play Chris Black, he looks ready to go. Of course, it’s always different when a player gets hit for the first time in a game. He has some sort of brace underneath his pads for his shoulder, which he injured in the preseason.

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Tide takes on another 1,000-yard rusher Saturday

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TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Georgia’s Todd Gurley marks the sixth 1,000-yard rusher Alabama has faced this season, although none of the previous five gained 100 yards against the Tide.

Gurley has 1,138 yards entering Saturday’s SEC Championship Game.

We’ve got a list of the five 1,000-yard rushers, and maybe the most impressive is Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson. He missed two games when his throwing arm was stepped on by a Nebraska player. Then in the two games since returning, he hasn’t been able to throw the ball, which has limited him to playing a little running back, quarterback and receiver. Even so, he got enough yards to go over 1,000.

Mississippi State’s Ladarius Perkins, who was the SEC’s leading rusher before facing Alabama, is at 940. He had 38 against the Crimson Tide.

Player, team Yards Vs. UA
Antonio Andrews, W. Kentucky 1,609 31
Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M 1,181 92
Denard Robinson, Michigan 1,166 27
Kendial Lawrence, Missouri 1,102 39
Tre Mason, Auburn 1,002 82

Note: Totals by Andrews, Robinson and Lawrence against Alabama were their lowest of the season.

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The SEC’s Alabama season highlight video

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We have for you the Alabama season highlight video done by the SEC Digital Network.

The video covers three minutes, and they’ve done a terrific job. However, there’s one huge omission that you probably will notice without me pointing it out — there are no highlights from the Auburn game. Clearly, they completed the video before that game.

But it’s still worth watching.

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Tide lands three on coaches’ All-America team but someone is missing

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Alabama’s Barrett Jones probably doesn’t care the AFCA left him off its All-America team. After all, he has two national title rings and is working on a third.

The American Football Coaches Association has released its FBS All-America team, and the good news for Alabama fans is that it includes three Crimson Tide players.

The bad news: There’s a pretty big name missing. The center on the squad is not Alabama’s Barrett Jones, the Outland Trophy winner from a year ago.

Clemson senior Dalton Freeman (6-foot-5, 285 pounds) is the team’s center.

The Alabama guys who made it include offensive lineman Chance Warmack (6-3, 320), linebacker C.J. Mosley (6-2, 232) and defensive back Dee Milliner (6-1, 199).

Click here to see the whole team. (By the way, Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel isn’t the quarterback. Instead it’s Clemson’s Tajh Boyd.)

Last year, Alabama landed five on the AFCA team, including Jones, running back Trent Richardson, linebacker Dont’a Hightower, safety Mark Barron and defensive back DeQuan Menzie.

Keep in mind this is one of many All-America teams that will be released in the coming weeks. In my opinion, the most important and influential one is The Associated Press All-America squad, which includes first, second and third. Jones made AP first team last year and AP third team in 2010.

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Alabama’s Lester laments lost chance at a touchdown

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Alabama defensive back Robert Lester (37) returns an interception as Auburn running back Tre Mason (21) and Auburn wide receiver Trovon Reed (1) try to bring him down. (Copyright photo by Gary Cosby Jr. of The Decatur Daily)

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — If it looked as if Alabama defensive back Robert Lester was trying for a touchdown on his interception against Auburn, he was.

“I wanted to get a touchdown,” he said. “It would have been my first touchdown ever playing football. I tried, but it wasn’t happening.”

Lester returned it 31 yards before being brought down at the Auburn 29. Lester said he didn’t get a touchdown even when he played at Foley High with current Atlanta Falcons receiver Julio Jones. Lester said he didn’t play much offense at Foley.

“We had Julio,” he said, smiling. “There was no need.”

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Finally healthy, Lacy shows what he really can do

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Alabama running back Eddie Lacy has rushed for 1,001 yards this season. (Copyright photo by Gary Cosby Jr. of The Decatur Daily)

This is my story for today’s print editions:

—

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Crimson Tide running back Eddie Lacy has gained a whole new perspective on turf-toe injuries.

After recovering from one for about a year, he appreciates how good he feels these days. As second-ranked Alabama (11-1) prepares to face No. 3 Georgia (11-1) in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game, Lacy is healthy and running like it.

In the last four games, he has rushed for 405 yards, even though he splits carries with talented freshman T.J. Yeldon, never getting more than 19 carries in a game.

“I feel a lot better now than I did then,” Lacy said. “We just have to continue the process. But I feel a lot better.”

Lacy’s troubles go back to the fourth game of last season when Alabama beat Arkansas. That’s when he suffered his turf toe injury, which he said he wasn’t sure there was such a thing until he actually endured it.

Although he was able to play, it bothered him for the rest of the season. Typically, he struggled after his fourth or fifth carry of the game.

After off-season surgery, he missed spring practice. He also was limited at the start of August practice. On top of that, he sprained his knee in a preseason scrimmage, adding to his problems.

As a result, he averaged only 42 yards a game in the first three contests. Now, he’s running the way people remember. He said it helps that he doesn’t have to carry the load. Yeldon has carried the ball enough to gain 847 rushing yards.

Combine that with Lacy’s 1,001 yards, and they’re the second most productive running back tandem in the SEC.

Georgia’s Todd Gurley (1,138) and Keith Marshall (720) have combined for 1,858, which is 10 yards more. The most productive running tandem is Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel (1,181) and running back Ben Malena (752), which has 1,933.

“Coach (Nick) Saban and the offensive coordinator (Doug Nussmeier) have been doing a great job with the rotation and I’m happy with the rotation,” Lacy said.

Saban said he prefers having two running backs rotate anyway, regardless of Lacy’s injuries. Rather than have a guy carry the ball 36 times a game and get hurt after six games, he would rather have him carry 18 times a game and be ready every day.

That’s made Yeldon’s development even more important. With Lacy needing time to recover from surgery, he carried a bit more of the load early. As Yeldon has dealt with the college workload and a recent sprained ankle, Lacy has taken the lead.

“T.J.’s a tough guy,” Saban said. “Hopefully, he’ll continue to get better and play well this week.”

Lacy said Yeldon is phenomenal.

“He’s putting in work like the rest of us,” Lacy said. “He’s holding up, his body’s great.”

For Lacy, having Yeldon means he doesn’t have to stress his repaired turf toe. Also, he said rotating with the freshman means he doesn’t get worn down as quickly.

“We wear the defense down and we rotate, so we don’t really get tired, then we come in late in games and continue to pick up where we left off,” he said. “It’s a great help for the offense.”

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Alabama vs. Georgia, basic details

Posted on November 28, 2012 by | 1 Comment

Amari Cooper (9) has turned in the most big plays this season for Alabama. (AP photo by Dave Martin)

Who: No. 2 Alabama (11-1) vs. No. 3 Georgia (11-1)

When: Saturday, 3 p.m.

Television: CBS. Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson will call the game from the booth, while Tracy Wolfson will serve as sideline reporter. This marks the sixth time CBS has televised an Alabama game this season and the third time for Georgia.

Where: Georgia Dome at Atlanta

The series: Alabama leads 36-25-4. In their last meeting, No. 8 Alabama knocked off No. 3 Georgia 41-30 in Athens, Ga., on Sept. 27, 2008.

Weather: What weather? They’re playing inside.

Alabama vs. Georgia in the top 10: Saturday marks the fourth time these two teams have met as top 10 opponents. In 1942, No. 2 Georgia beat No. 3 Alabama 21-10 in Athens, Ga., as the Bulldogs eventually won the SEC title. In 1976, No. 6 Georgia beat No. 10 Alabama 21-0 in Athens, eventually winning the SEC again. The 2008 game was the third time.

Statistical rankings: Alabama ranks first nationally in total defense and scoring defense, second to Stanford in rushing defense and third in pass defense. Georgia’s Aaron Murray ranks first in passing efficiency, while Alabama’s AJ McCarron ranks second.

Perfect kicker: Alabama’s Jeremy Shelley hasn’t missed in 70 kicks this year, including 60 extra points and 10 field goals. The last kicker who was keeping pace with Shelley was Navy’s Nick Sloan, who missed a kick three weeks ago.

Long plays: Alabama has had 81 plays this season gain 20 yards or more, and that counts everything — run, kick returns, interceptions and fumbles. Amari Cooper leads with 15 (all on pass receptions), while Christion Jones is second with 12 (six pass receptions, three kickoff returns and three punt returns). Eddie Lacy is third with 10 (eight rush and two pass receptions).

Next for Alabama: A bowl game. If the Crimson Tide beats Georgia, Alabama will play Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game in Miami on Jan. 7, 2013, on ESPN. If the Tide loses, the Cotton, Outback, Capital One and Chick-fil-A Bowls are possibilities.

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