Morning Kickoff: Crimson Tide News 9/12

It’s Friday! Start your last morning before game day with the latest Crimson Tide news.

Saban says Alabama has “a lot less selfishness”

"“There’s just a lot of guys on our team that are so much more team-oriented in terms of wanting to do well,” Saban said. “Some of those circumstances may have been created by how we finished last season and they want to prove something and create a new identity as a team."

This team may have more faults than usual in the Saban era but it’s a hungry team. Even though the lack of experience has played a factor, that steadily changes every week with this young and talented core. The biggest fear in college football is playing an angry and motivated Alabama football team. No one is really sure what happened last year but complacency and a lack of leadership were both major concerns. This year is a totally different squad. Hopefully Alabama stays low (I know we’re #3) so Saban can eventually dish out that disrespect card once we hit October.

Despite week 2 win prices for Alabama tickets tumble

"Despite a convincing 41-0 win against FAU, Alabama dropped in the AP Poll from number two in the country to number three. Alabama fans are apparently upset at being outside the top two spots as prices for Tide home games dropped 5% from last week and four spots to the 17th most expensive ticket in the country. It marks the lowest position on the TiqIQ Top 25 for Alabama in four years. The most expensive remaining game on the Alabama football schedule this season is for Alabama vs. Auburn on November 29. After last year’s dramatic Iron Bowl loss that took the college, prices for this year’s rematch in Tuscaloosa currently average $396 on the secondary market. That’s 182% above the season average.  It’s also $140 more expensive than the last Iron Bowl is Tuscaloosa in 2012, and it appears that perhaps Alabama fans are saving their money for what they’re hoping will be a revenge game."

I can assure you the price for the Southern Miss game didn’t go down because of our ranking dropping to third. The prices went down because it was almost 100 degrees last weekend at a stadium that doesn’t let you bring in your own water. Something most other SEC schools allowed. Entering my 5th year, I’ve only missed one game as a student. That was against Georgia Southern in 2011 and I had a really bad cold. Even on Saturday at halftime I was questioning if I wanted to stay. Fans probably don’t want to experience a flash back from last weekend, especially over a game against Southern Miss.

Injuries test Tides depth at secondary, receiver

"Williams played both the “star” and “money” role, which are the fifth and sixth defensive back spots in Alabama’s nickel and dime packages. He also served as the Tide’s backup strong safety behind Landon Collins."

He hasn’t been the most well-known guy or most popular but Jarrick Williams is a valuable member to this secondary. Obviously without him our depth takes a hit. As unfortunate as an injury is, this allows the younger guys to step up. Which can be exciting and frustrating at the same time. On offense DeAndrew White continues to rehab from his shoulder injury. Personally I don’t think he should risk another injury and he should just prepare for Florida next weekend.

Saban wants players to have “beast mode”

"“I think today was a good example of when Eric Thomas was here,” Saban said. “Everyone wants to be the beast — you’ve heard that one before — until you have to do what the beast do. Well, when it gets hot outside and you have to practice in pads and take a lot of reps, you either have beast mode or you don’t have it. Aight? We had some guys that had it and some guys didn’t. We have to get that corrected so we can get everybody doing what they need to do so they can get better individually and we can get better as a team.”"

The fact that Saban said “beast mode” is entertaining enough. Despite the third game a day away, there are still quite a few position battles. I believe that’s what Saban was referring to in this interview. Alphonse Taylor and Leon Brown continue to battle it out on the line, with Brown working with the first team lately. Then you have Chris Black making a case to play more than Christion Jones in the slot, feelings mixed on that one. With Jarrick Williams down, who steps up there? Then of course you have a defensive line that seems like it goes three deep. A lot to watch over the next couple of weeks.

C.J. Mosley contributes highlight, Courtney Upshaw’s hit

"Mosley made his NFL debut in the Ravens’ 23-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. Mosley had seven tackles and knocked down one pass in his first game. On Thursday night, Mosley again got his hands on a pass, and he raised his tackle total to nine."

Reading camp reports throughout the summer, it’s not surprising Mosley has made quite an impact so far. Courtney Upshaw also looks like he’s improved (and bigger), landing a bit hit on Ben Roethlisberger early in the game. It’s beginning to get a little hard flipping on a NFL game and not seeing an Alabama player. Eddie Lacy and HaHa Clinton-Dix are teammates in Green Bay, Chance Warmack is holding down the line in Tennessee, New Orleans is finally getting Mark Ingram the ball more, and corner backs Dre Kirkpatrick and Dee Milliner are primed for big years if they can stay healthy.