Alabama Football Practice Notebook: Sept. 3, 2012

The Tide turned on Saturday, in more ways than one. The Crimson Tide clearly turned Michigan’s aspirations for the season around after a 41-14 demolition in the Cowboys Classic, but everything around the Tide changed as well.

“Everyone thought that we were young, too inexperienced, couldn’t handle success” head coach Nick Saban said. “Now, everyone is saying something different. But my question is: what’s different?

“Nothing. We’re still young, still inexperienced. We’ve still got things to work on. It’s going to be all about the maturity the team has to be able to focus on what they need to to correct the deficits we have whether it be individually collectively.”

Kids with a new toy

Alabama confirmed the occasional rumor by running the I-formation against Michigan, by moving Jalston Fowler to the fullback spot and letting either T.J. Yeldon or Eddie Lacy run behind him.

The players love the new wrinkle brought to the Tide by new offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.

“I love it, I think it’s great,” senior center Barrett Jones said. “I’m an old-school kind of guy, so I thought it was a great wrinkle to put in this week.”

Jones praised one player in particular for the formation’s success against the Wolverines.

“I think Jalston Fowler is such a valuable asset that we have,” Jones said. “We’re learning about different ways to use him. He might be our best receiver at runningback, so that makes him even more valuable.

“When he comes in the game, teams don’t know whether to put their big or small personnel out there.”

Speaking of new…

The new guy in the new offense, true freshman runningback T.J. Yeldon, had a night-to-remember against the Wolverines, leading the Tide with 111 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown.

While the episode may have been Yeldon’s national coming-out party, those in his camp knew he could produce.

“Honestly, we weren’t surprised,” Jones said. “We’ve been seeing that out of him for a long time.”

Tight end Michael Williams added, “In the first practice, actually. You could see he had the hips, he had the speed, he had the agility to make big plays in this league.”

Yeldon’s teammates see a great deal of potential in Yeldon, both for now and his future at Alabama.

“I think it’s no secret he might be the next one in line to take over that title of great runningback,” Jones said. “We feel great about the future with him.”

Up next

Alabama now looks forward towards its home debut against Western Kentucky, who is in the process of transitioning from the FCS to FBS, previously known as Division II to Division I. The Hilltoppers last played the Tide in 2008, a game Alabama won 41-7.

Before Saban took the podium to address the media, his counterpart, Western Kentucky head coach Willie Taggart heaped praise on Alabama.

“They’re going to be the next expansion team in the NFL,” Taggart said. “They might give Green Bay a shot.”

Taggart went on to say that it feels like Alabama has the same players from its previous national championship teams, just wearing different numbers, as a reference to Alabama’s ability to reload year-after-year.

Saban is showing a similar respect to the Hilltoppers.

“I know that you all probably don’t think they’re very good, but they’ve won eight out of their last nine games and they’re probably one of the better teams in the Sun Belt this year,” Saban said. “They have 19 starters coming back from a team that won seven out of the last games after going 0-4.

“They do a great job in terms of their defense pressuring the offense a lot.”

Other notes

Saban revealed that four players will be limited in practice Monday: defensive lineman Jesse Williams, linebacker Trey DePriest, linebacker Tana Patrick and linebacker Reggie Ragland. Saban said Ragland’s ankle injury was the most threatening when it comes to status for Saturday’s game.

The coaching staff named Yeldon and Williams as the Offensive Players of the Week, as Williams scored the first touchdown of the game with a three-yard touchdown reception.

In addition to being named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week, Dee Milliner was named the Defensive Player of the Week alongside linebacker C.J. Mosley. Punter Cody Mandell and wide receiver DeAndrew White were listed as the Special Teams Players of the Week.