Tag Archives: Deion Belue

Stats from second spring football scrimmage

Posted on April 13, 2013 by | Comments Off

Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper catches a pass in the second spring scrimmage. (Photo courtesy of UA Athletics)

Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper catches a pass in the second spring scrimmage. (Photo courtesy of UA Athletics)

Here are the statistical leaders from the second spring scrimmage for the Alabama football team, the last one before the open A-Day scrimmage. You can click here to see video from the open warm-up period and here for a photo gallery from the event.

Passing

A.J. McCarron – 23 for 28, 319 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INT
Blake Sims – 10 for 15, 183 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

Rushing

T.J. Yeldon – 14 rushes, 101 yards, 2 TD
Derrick Henry – 17 rushes, 79 yards
Kenyan Drake – 12 rushes, 71 yards

Receiving
Chris Black – 10 catches, 113 yards
Amari Cooper – 6 catches, 108 yards, 4 TD
Christion Jones – 5 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD

Defense
HaSean “HaHa” Clinton-Dix – 6 tackles
Denzel Devall – 6 tackles, 1 sack
Ryan Anderson – 6 tackles
Deion Belue – 5 tackles, 1 sack
Vinnie Sunseri – 4 tackles, 1 PBU

Other notes

McCarron’s touchdown passes: 36 yards, 55, 18, 3 and 12.
Sims’ touchdown passes: 22 yards, 63 yards.
Alec Morris had one touchdown pass of 10 yards.
Parker McLeod had one touchdown pass of 23 yards.

Yeldon’s rushing touchdowns: 65 yards, 7.

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Football Practice Report: April 10, 2013

Posted on April 10, 2013 by | Comments Off

Starting quarterback AJ McCarron in Wednesday's practice. (Copyright photo by Brett Hudson)

Starting quarterback AJ McCarron in Wednesday’s practice. (Copyright photo by Brett Hudson)

With the ESPN College Gameday crew in Tuscaloosa for a leg of their spring practice tour, the Crimson Tide took to the practice field again, outside for the second practice in-a-row for what feels like the first time all spring. Here’s the news.

– As expected, Trey Depriest was out of practice on the exercise bike, wearing a protective boot over his right foot. Depriest, as reported by several outlets, had surgery on a stress fracture in his right foot and will miss the rest of spring practice.

– Vinnie Sunseri and HaSeaon “HaHa” Clinton-Dix look like the starting safeties in the defensive backfield, while Deion Belue and Geno Smith look to be the starting cornerbacks. Some key bodies in the reserves include Bradley Sylve and Jabriel Washington.

– Running back Dee Hart was a running back for the entirety of the open periods of practice today, not working with the defensive backs at all. Christion Jones was with the defensive backs for the entirety of the open period, as he has been all spring.

– Cornerback John Fulton (toe) continues to show great improvement, today running and cutting on his injured foot. The cuts he did were not at full speed, and some of them weren’t even at half-speed, but the foot is taking more weight now. Video of that can be seen below.

– Wide receivers were practicing receiving short back shoulder routes on jam man coverage. You can see video of the quarterbacks playing pitch-and-catch with the wideouts below.

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Spring Football Practice Report: March 22, 2013

Posted on March 22, 2013 by | Comments Off

Alabama quarterbacks Blake Sims (6) and AJ McCarron (10) practice in the final Alabama football spring practice before spring break. (Copyright photo by Brett Hudson)

Alabama quarterbacks Blake Sims (6) and AJ McCarron (10) practice in the final Alabama football spring practice before spring break. (Copyright photo by Brett Hudson)

The Crimson Tide suited up for the first time under new Athletic Director Bill Battle just a few hours after his introduction, with Battle in attendance, to continue spring practice. This was the Tide’s final practice before spring break.

Here is the news:

– In a surprising twist (to me, at least), cornerback Bradley Sylve was practicing alongside returning starter Deion Belue, relegating Geno Smith to the second team in individual drills alongside Jabriel Washington. No word on if this is a permanent thing, but it is an interesting development at the very at least.

– In the tight end/H-Back rotation, Brian Vogler was leading the pack alongside Malcolm Faciane. It appeared that Harrison Jones and true freshman O.J. Howard were leading the second-team while Corey McCarron tries to fight his way into the rotation. The five have yet to be assigned to either the tight end of H-Back position for the fall, so no depth chart decisions can be made until those positions are relegated.

– This practice was the first time I have seen John Fulton without a protective boot on his foot as he nurses his toe injury. Both Fulton and wide receiver Kevin Norwood are trying to come back from toe injuries in time for some spring practice before A-Day. Norwood was still in crutches.

– Backup quarterback Blake Sims was practicing fully after doing nothing but spectating as recently as Monday. Why he was as inactive as he was on Monday in unknown, but he seems to be back to practicing normally.

– Wide receiver Christion Jones and running back Dee Hart continue to practice with the defensive backs.

– In the video below, you can see new Athletic Director Bill Battle attending practice, plus the running backs, defensive backs, quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends going through drills.

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Countdown to Spring Football: Cornerbacks Breakdown

Posted on March 15, 2013 by | Comments Off

Deion Belue (left) is following Dee Milliner (right) as Alabama's No. 1 starting cornerback from 2012 to 2013. (AP photo)

Deion Belue (left) is following Dee Milliner (right) as Alabama’s No. 1 starting cornerback from 2012 to 2013. (AP photo)

Daily Bama Blog correspondent Brett Hudson, like he did for the BCS National Championship Game against Notre Dame, will count you down to the beginning of spring practice with another series. Each day, Brett will break down a different position group going into spring practice until the beginning of practice on March 16. Here is the schedule.
March 7th: Quarterbacks (click here to read it)
March 8th: Running backs (click here to read it)
March 9th: Wide receivers (click here to read it)
Sunday: Tight ends/H-Backs (click here to read it)
Monday: Offensive Line (click here to read it)
Yesterday: Defensive Line (click here to read it)
Today: Linebackers/Pro Day (click here for the linebackers preview and click here for the Hub of Pro Day coverage)
Tomorrow: Cornerbacks
Friday: Safeties
Saturday: Opening day of spring practice

The practice videos throughout the years showcase different players going through different drills from year-to-year, even being led by different position coaches. But there is always on constant.

Nick Saban. And not just his presence, but where exactly he is: with the cornerbacks.

Saban’s hands-on approach with the Crimson Tide cornerbacks has produced NFL Draft talent such as Dre Kirkpatrick and DeQuan Menzie, all being replaced in-stride. Alabama has to do the same for 2013 after losing Dee Milliner to what could be a Top 5 pick.

The Tide has Deion Belue returning for his second season of starting at the cornerback position in as many seasons after transferring to Alabama from Northeast Mississippi Community College. Belue intercepted two passes, broke up seven and defended another nine last season.

Geno Smith began to rise as his freshman season carried on, at one point prompting Saban to say, “the light came on,” for him. Smith broke up two passes and defended two more in his limited playing time in 2012, but it was enough to make him a favorite for the 2013 season.

Smith would have been competing with John Fulton, the South Carolina native, had he not suffered a toe injury in the loss to Texas A&M and is out indefinitely for spring practice. Saban has not addressed whether or not he wil practice in spring, but it seems unlikely that Fulton will be ready for the first one on Saturday.

Redshirt sophomores Bradley Sylve and Jabriel Washington will also compete in the spring.

The Tide has four defensive backs coming in as a part of the 2013 recruiting class, all of whom could land at cornerback. Jonathan Cook, from Spanish Fort, Ala., played cornerback in high school and will likely stay at the position. New Jersey product Anthony Averett, listed as an athlete out of high school, has said that Saban plans to try him out as a cornerback.

ArDarius Stewart and Maurice Smith will also enter the program in the fall with their first positions in the defensive backfield.

Breakdown: Two seniors (Belue, Fulton), two redshirt sophomores (Sylve, Washington), one true sophomore (G. Smith), four true freshmen (none in spring training: Cook, Averett, Stewart, M. Smith).

Prediction: Belue is a sure thing as a starter, and G. Smith has a great opportunity to separate himself as the other in Fulton’s absence. Sylve and Washington have the opportunity to compete for the nickelback spot, but so do the incoming freshmen. G. Smith did just that last year: found an opportunity as the nickelback and did not fall back after his initial tryout.

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Countdown: 13 days until the BCS National Championship

Posted on December 25, 2012 by | Comments Off

Each day until the BCS National Championship Game, Daily Bama Blog contributor Brett Hudson will count down to kickoff, giving us bits and pieces of that day’s significance to Alabama and Notre Dame. Today is 13 days until the game, which means Brett is examining the number “13.”

–Alabama’s plus-13 turnover margin this season is tied for 10th nationally with Northwestern and Louisiana Tech.

–Notre Dame has thrown 13 touchdown passes this season. Eleven have come from sophomore Everett Golson, while the other two are courtesy of Tommy Rees.

–Alabama has given up 13 first downs by penalty this season, making for 7.3 percent of the 176 first downs the Crimson Tide has given up this season (Notre Dame has given up 193 this season).

–Alabama held two LSU running backs, Michael Ford and Spencer Ware, to 13 rushing yards. Ware had previously rushed for 90 yards against Auburn, while Ford ran for 76 against Towson and 78 against Texas A&M.

–Alabama’s No. 13 is Deion Belue, junior cornerback in his first season as a starter after coming to the Crimson Tide from Northeast Mississippi Community College. Belue was committed to Alabama from Deshler High in Tuscumbia before going to junior college. Belue is credited with 36 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, and two interceptions. Belue has also broken up six passes and recovered one fumble.

–Notre Dame’s No. 13 is outside linebacker Danny Spond from Littleton, Colo. Spond, a junior, has played in 10 games this season and recorded 38 tackles, one for a loss. Spond has also intercepted one pass.

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Saban’s Wednesday post-practice briefing with reporters

Posted on October 10, 2012 by | Comments Off

Nick Saban spent some time this evening with reporters, and here are the highlights:

–Opening comments: “We’ve had a pretty good week so far this week. I think sometimes with players and you have a team that does a lot of different things, it gets their attention. They have a lot of respect for who we’re playing and what they do, so I think we’ve had a pretty good week.

“I think the focus that we’ve tried to get with our players is this is kind of a new season, a new opportunity for us to go out and play with more consistency and performance — not to say that we haven’t played well, we’ve played well at times, we just haven’t played well all the time. I think the basis for that is how important it is for the players to get quality reps in practice so they develop the right habits in practice, so that they can play well. But I also think it’s about how important it is to them, to the leadership, that demands sort of the standard that we’re trying to get. So you demand more of yourself and each other, and that’s all of us, me included.”

–On graduate assistants: “Well, I was a GA myself once. I know how difficult it is get started in this profession, and I appreciated all the people who helped me get my first job, and all those through the year who have helped me get other jobs and other opportunities. I’ve been able to learn from each and every one of those.

“We’re looking for the same things as a character, quality standpoint, work-ethic what kind of person that they are, how important to them it is in terms of what they want to accomplish and what they want to do, and their willingness to put in sort of the quality work it takes for you to really learn, grow and develop. We’ve had some really good guys here, and a lot of guys who have gotten jobs. When a guy stays here for a year or two and really works hard, for relatively little compensation, we try and do everything we can to help them get to where they want to go. We’ve had lots of guys get opportunities and hopefully they’ll continue to get opportunities.”

–On Missouri’s Sheldon Richardson: “He’s a good player. I think they’re very aggressive up-front, they’ve got good linebackers. They play the runs well. They do a lot of stunting and their players know the scheme well. They don’t make very many errors.”

–On facing another no-huddle team: “We play against no-huddle all the time, and I think it’s just a part of the world that we live in now. I think the more you play against it the more your players sort of develop a conscious awareness of how they need to focus and what they need to do to play that pace in the game. Certainly playing against a team that was no-huddle should be a benefit to our players when we play the next no-huddle team. I think we’re going to see it a few more times before it’s all over too, so hopefully we’ll continue to improve and progress.”

–On Deion Belue: “He’s done great. He’s done fine. Taken all the reps.”

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Thoughts from Monday’s practice

Posted on October 8, 2012 by | Comments Off

Who throws the most interceptions in Alabama’s practice? It’s head coach Nick Saban, left, who tosses passes for his defensive backs to pick off during drills.

Alabama went through today’s workout in shorts, shoulder pads and helmets, and as Nick Saban promised earier in the day, all the injured players were on the field.

Cornerback Deion Belue (shoulder) was back in a regular jersey instead of the black non-contact one he wore last week. He looked fine and was moving well in the 10-minute viewing period we had.

Redshirt freshman Brent Calloway (unspecified injury) worked with the running backs. The 6-foot-1, 217-pound Calloway had practiced with the tight ends and H-backs since spring. Last fall, however, he was with the running backs, so today’s switch wasn’t out of the blue. Because of season-ending knee injuries to Jalston Fowler and Dee Hart, Alabama has only three running backs on scholarship (Eddie Lacy, Kenyan Drake and T.J. Yeldon) and need some help at the position.

Wide receiver Kevin Norwood still is struggling with his lower leg injury. He practiced, but couldn’t do everything. Below, I’ve posted two videos that will help you understand what I mean. He ran a route in the first video and looked fine. But in the second, he didn’t and instead walked slowly down to the other end, joining the other receivers.

Alabama needs Norwood, who is the Tide’s most complete receiver in terms of size, power and speed. Amari Cooper certainly has shined, but it’s hard for any true freshman not named Julio Jones to carry the load.

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Saban: Everybody will practice today

Posted on October 8, 2012 by | Comments Off

Alabama’s Deion Belue (13) with teammate Geno Smith (24) and Tide head coach Nick Saban. (Photo courtesy of Kent Gidley, University of Alabama)

The off-week helped Alabama get some of its players healthy as it prepares for a stretch of seven regular-season games in seven weeks.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban said today every will practice this afternoon.

That includes cornerback Deion Belue, who sat out all drills last week with a shoulder injury and instead rode an exercise bike. Wide receiver Kevin Norwood (lower leg injury) has dressed out and hasn’t been dressed in a black non-contact jersey, but for the past couple of weeks, he hasn’t worked out. H-back/running back Brent Calloway missed sat out some drills last week with an undisclosed ailment.

“Deion Belue’s going to practice,” Saban said. “We’re going to limit his contact for a few more days but he can practice today.

“Kevin Norwood can practice today. Callaway can practice today. Everybody that didn’t practice last week can practice today.”

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Thoughts on Wednesday’s practice, injuries (video)

Posted on October 3, 2012 by | Comments Off

Alabama worked out in full pads today, and we saw about what we expected to see, in regards to injured players and the fallout.

–Tide cornerback Deion Belue (right shoulder) wore a black non-contact jersey and was riding a stationary bike. He couldn’t even lift his right arm up to grab the handle bars, but Alabama coach Nick Saban is hopeful he can return to practice next week.

–Noseguard Brandon Ivory (ankle) was back at practice.

–Defensive end Ed Stinson worked out with the lineman as usual. He went down late in Saturday’s win over Ole Miss with an apparent case of cramps and Saban didn’t mention him in the injury report.

–Brent Calloway was with the H-backs. With Alabama down to three running backs on scholarship, Saban said Monday it might be possible for Calloway to move to running back, which is where he practiced last season. Blake Sims, another running back from a year ago, worked at quarterback.

–Alabama has lost five players to season-ending injuries, and all of them were expected to play some kind of important role this year. Safety Jarrick Williams (knee) and receiver Chris Black (shoulder) were expected to be part of the two-deep depth chart.

Williams also was an important special teams member. Black was expected to help at receiver, even though he is a true freshman. He enrolled early, went through spring practice and caught three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown in the spring game.

Jalston Fowler (knee) was the third-team running back behind starter Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon, but Fowler also played special teams and spent some time at fullback and H-back.

Running back/kick returner Dee Hart (knee) had moved up to first team as a punt returner and did well against Ole Miss — two returns for 18 yards. DeAndrew White (knee) was one of Alabama’s top five receivers.

We have two short videos for you. The first is of the defensive linemen hitting a blocking sled. Ivory (62) is in the middle of the second group. Stinson (49) joins the drill a little late, and you can see him walking by before taking his place.

In the second video, you can see Belue riding the stationary bike. That’s former All-SEC defensive end Kindal Morehead with him. Morehead played six years in the NFL with Carolina and Atlanta and is a Tide graduate assistant coach.

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Deion Belue doesn’t mind up-close coaching

Posted on September 19, 2012 by | Comments Off

Alabama coach Nick Saban with Geno Smith (24) and Deion Belue (13). (Copyright photo by Kent Gidley of The University of Alabama)

Alabama cornerback Deion Belue is used to having a head coach take a strong interest in him. After all, that’s how it was when he played for Deshler High coach John Mothershed.

But when Belue landed at Alabama, he has found that Tide head coach Nick Saban is the same way, especially if you’re a cornerback like Belue.

When players divide into their individual position groups for drills, Saban handles the cornerbacks personally.

“You’ve always got to be at your best. You cannot take a day off,” Belue said. “It’s just part of the way he coaches and it just makes you better.”

It has worked well for Belue so far. He has started all three of Alabama’s games and is tied for fifth on the team with 10 tackles. He also has an interception.

“He treats everyone the same,” Belue said. “He gets on to everybody. If anything goes wrong he’s going to let them know that we need to be doing this.”

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JUCO path gives a boost to Tide’s Belue

Posted on August 31, 2012 by | Comments Off

Alabama’s Deion Belue (13) with teammate Geno Smith (24) and Tide head coach Nick Saban. (Photo courtesy of Kent Gidley, University of Alabama)

Alabama’s Deion Belue spent a couple of football seasons in junior college before touching down in Tuscaloosa, but his high school coach said it’s clear the stopover did his former star player good.

When Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban released his depth chart earlier this week, Belue was listed as a first-team cornerback. He was the only newcomer to the Alabama roster to gain a starting position.

“When Deion finished high school, he was very young,” said John Mothershed, Deshler High’s head football coach since 1995. “He was still 17, and junior college helped him grow up. He also got some size in junior college.

“He’s gained 20, 25 pounds since high school, and it looks like that’s helped him a lot.”

Belue signed with Alabama in 2010 out of Deshler but did not meet the NCAA’s academic standards. So instead of joining the Crimson Tide for preseason workouts, he headed to Northeast Mississippi Community College.

He completed his stint there in time to enroll at Alabama in January, which allowed him to go through spring practice. The new and improved Belue impressed from the start.

“He got thrown into the fire with the plays and everything, but he progressively learned the plays and has been a great competitor out there on the field,” said Dee Milliner, who will start at the other cornerback slot. “He’s learning the plays and doing what he’s supposed to do.”

It might help that he is learning to play only one position. He is playing one cornerback position and stays there, even when Alabama uses a fifth defensive back, which Saban calls “star,” or a sixth, which is called “money.” It’s not unusual for veteran defensive backs to have to slide between various positions, depending on the defensive alignment.

The players say all this isn’t easy to learn, although a week ago Alabama coach Nick Saban admonished a reporter for suggesting his defense is “complicated.” Either way, Saban has had nothing but good things to say all preseason about how Belue is adjusting from junior college to Alabama football.

“Deion has done a very, very good job for us,” Saban said.

There’s more to the story. Click here to read the rest. This link takes you to a subscription website, but readers can view one staff-written story a day FREE.

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Monday practice thoughts

Posted on August 6, 2012 by | Comments Off

Alabama passing drill, with starting quarterback AJ McCarron (10).

The way practice works for reporters at Alabama is that Nick Saban allows us inside the gates for two or three periods, which equals anywhere from 10 minutes to 25.

That’s reasonable, especially these days with information so easily available online. In the old days of Gene Stallings, reporters could watch the Crimson Tide’s whole practice, but can you imagine how hard it would be on a coach if his whole practice was filmed and put online before the team even returned to the locker room?

So, considering that, we don’t get to see a whole lot. But here are a few bits and pieces from our 25-minute viewing period today:

–Nobody except quarterbacks were wearing black no-contact jerseys, but wide receiver Chris Black appeared to be limited. He appeared to injure his wrist during Sunday’s Fan Day workout.

–Freshman offensive lineman Brandon Hill of Collierville, Tenn., was not on the field. Last week, Nick Saban said one of the incoming freshmen hadn’t been cleared to play by the NCAA, and Hill is the only incoming freshman not on the field.

–Junior college transfer Deion Belue of Deshler High is working with the cornerbacks and appears to be doing fine. He’s getting the best coaching Alabama has to offer, because Saban himself spends plenty of time with the cornerbacks.

–Running back Eddie Lacy was wearing a black jersey Sunday, but he was back in white today and seemed to run fine.

–It was hot. Boiling hot. The players are in shorts, but that’s probably not much help, because they’re still wearing helmets and shoulder pads.

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