Aug 4, 2013; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban during practice at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports
Alabama head coach Nick Saban started a busy day this morning on a teleconference with other SEC coaches and the media. In an interesting comment, Saban said he actually doesn’t like the open week before the Texas A&M game that many have called an advantage for the Crimson Tide. He said that he’s never remembered having a bye week so early in the season, “but it is what it is,” and the team will try and take advantage of additional practice time.
When asked about senior quarterback AJ McCarron’s fall camp Saban said that he has had a good fall camp, coming off of a good spring as well. Saban said the biggest advantage of having such a experienced quarterback is that he can “help lead and manage those players (around him) to play together.” Saban said that he feels the rest of the offense around him also has a lot of confidence in him.
Saban said that he feels backup quarterback Blake Sims has “drastically improved” his passing as well as his decision making and understanding of the offense during fall camp. He called fall camp Blake’s “development time.”
In regards to the leaders on this team, Saban he’s never satisfied completely with that on any team, and that it is something this team needs to continue to develop, but you can’t really know what kind of leaders you truly have until game time comes.
This afternoon Alabama went back indoors to the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice facilities, preparing to play inside the Georgia Dome against Virginia Tech.
Freshman tailback Derrick Henry was sporting a new number, 21, during practice. Saban said that the number change was for “special teams purposes,” likely meaning that Henry will be a contributor on kickoff and/or punt teams. Starting safety Vinnie Sunseri is also on special teams and wears the No. 3 jersey as well. There cannot be two players with the same number on the same team on the field together. Fellow former No. 3 Trent Richardson, who Henry is probably most comparable to in terms of strength, also played early on special teams as a freshman because of the type of hitter he was.
Running back Kenyan Drake was again working with the scout team. Freshman tailback Alvin Kamara looks to be moving pretty well, but has a big brace on his knee. Regarding Drake, Saban said after practice that he expects him to be a contributor this year and that he has a lot of ability, but that he didn’t think he would have a big role in the opener. Saban made no mention of whether or not Drake has been in some type of trouble, which has been rumored to be the reason for his demotion to the scout team.
Receiver Kevin Norwood doesn’t seem to be limited much anymore in drills. Fellow receiver DeAndrew White was spotted limping during practice today favoring his knee, but did participate fully in practice. White tore his ACL early last season.
Kellen Williams wasn’t swapping out first team reps with Arie Kounadjio today like yesterday.
Nick Saban started his post-practice press conference by saying that he felt that it was time to get excited for the opener, and that he hoped the leaders on the team as well as the fans were excited about “the mental intensity we need to win big games.”
Regarding Virginia Tech, Saban said, “I think we’re playing a quality opponent that has something to prove in terms of what they experienced last year.”
When asked about Virginia Tech’s youth in the secondary today, Saban said that he didn’t believe that their secondary would be weak simply because they have freshmen that will play. He mentioned that Alabama has used freshmen in the secondary in the past and that they did pretty well.
Both the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions were represented by scouts at today’s practice.
This will likely be the final update before the opener, as Alabama’s final practice and walk through are closed to the media, and today was the last time Saban will be speaking to the media other than possibly ESPN.