Alabama football practiced inside the Superdome again on Saturday, in the last open session before the game. Earlier Tua talked team goals and his role.
Even though Saturday’s practice was open to the media, Alabama football coaches did not show much. Understandably, no clues would be served up for Clemson. There was an early passing drill with receivers doing quick slant routes. Slant routes over the middle have not been a staple of the Crimson Tide offense this season.
Such a passing strategy can be effective against a team wanting to sell-out to stop the run. Was Nick Saban sending Dabo and Brent Venables a message? We don’t know but the Clemson coaches can’t know either.
ICYMI: QB Duel may decide Sugar Bowl
Injury Updates
- The group that will not play is unchanged: Shaun Dion Hamilton, Miller Forristall, Nigel Knott and Brandon Kennedy.
- Mack Wilson said earlier he is about 85 percent which would be a health highpoint for him this season.
- Even with some kind of fancy support strip, Minkah appears to be fully recovered from his hamstring problem.
- Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis are close to 100 percent.
- LaBryan Ray is moving well enough to get some snaps. How many snaps is not known but the Tide needs the additional depth.
- Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs have some nagging injuries. Harris is probably close to 100 percent but both appear fit enough to be productive against Clemson.
- Jalen does not have the flu.
Tua speaks about his role
As the backup QB, Tua Tagovailoa is the focus of conjecture and anticipation. Some Alabama football fans have demanded he become the starter or have special packages to rotate with Jalen. Message boards have been filled with rumors of discontent from Tua and ultimatums from his family. This week Tua has been clear about his perspective and his relationship with Jalen.
Tua Tagovailoa on talk of him playing over Jalen Hurts: “We just laugh about it. I just tell him, ‘You don’t have to worry about it. You know you’re the man right now, you’re the man for this team.’ I’m here to support him. If the roles were flipped, I’d want the same from him.” https://t.co/bbcn63pRIC
— Marq Burnett (@Marq_Burnett) December 30, 2017
Check out this video of Tua talking about not playing.
Tua’s family background and faith are built-in guards against placing self above others. When he talks about not being selfish, that is not a concept he learned in Tuscaloosa. So when Tua speaks about his support for Jalen Hurts his sincerity should be unquestioned.
"I’ve said it before, it doesn’t take one person. That’d be selfish of me to be complaining about that."
Tua is a competitor and a confident young man. In his mind, he must believe he can and will win a quarterback competition in the offseason. Any Tua packages against Clemson? It is not likely but also not impossible. Maybe those practice slant routes are a clue.
Next: Like it or not - Jalen is the QB
Interested in Tua’s family background? Check out what we published last January, Tua Tagovailoa. It also includes a link to even more information from a past si.com story.