Alabama Football: Player awards and Monday ramp up for ASU

ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Alabama Crimson Tide stretches out for a 49-yard reception in the second quarter of the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Camping World Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 01: Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Alabama Crimson Tide stretches out for a 49-yard reception in the second quarter of the game against the Louisville Cardinals at Camping World Stadium on September 1, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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On Monday, Alabama football returned to the practice field and the team announced player of the week awards. The SEC also recognized two Tide players.

The Alabama football coaching staff recognized seven players for their performance against Louisville. On the Tide offense, Tua Tagovailoa and Jonah Williams were players-of-the-week. On defense, it was Deionte Thompson and Quinnen Williams. Three players were selected for special teams performance, Keaton Anderson, Josh Jacobs and true freshman phenom, Jaylen Waddle.

All Alabama football fans know what Tua accomplished. It is harder for fans, particularly if watching on television, to gauge the offensive linemen. Jonah Williams graded 92 percent. He had six knockdown blocks in the game.

On Monday Williams spoke about the 41 reported ways Louisville DC, Brian VanGorder designed blitzes.

"different fronts, different coverages, secondary shells, that type of things. Multiple different blitzes, I mean, it’s little nuances that you don’t go out there and think which of the 41? Like, we have rules that pick things up. But that’s shown over time. We were watching film of him at Notre Dame"

Thompson and Williams had very strong games for the Crimson Tide defense. Josh Jacobs graded out at 93 percent on 14 special teams snaps.

Monday morning The SEC handed out its weekly player awards. Quinnen Williams was named a co-defensive lineman of the week in the conference. Jaylen Waddle was named freshman of the week.

Williams played so well Saturday, it will be interesting to see if SEC teams decide to double him. Da’Ron Payne faced doubles all last season, freeing up others for more tackles. Going into the season, Raekwon Davis was the Tide defensive lineman expected to command double teams.

Monday Practice Notes

Alabama football worked outside on another hot, almost fall day in Tuscaloosa. The team was in shorts and shells. Before practice, Nick Saban said a couple of players had minor nicks from the Louisville game but he expected them to be practicing as normal by Tuesday.

Based on media reports, those ‘couple’ of players appeared to be Mack Wilson and Alex Leatherwood. Mack Wilson said before practice his exit from the Louisville game was, “my scar tissue popped in my foot.”

Damien Harris and Devonta Smith suffered some dings during the Louisville game but appeared fully ready for the Monday practice. Deonte Brown lined up at right guard with the first unit during drills. Jarez Parks was not seen in the viewing period but he did not play Saturday.

One other small thing occurred Monday. Nick Saban announced Tua will start against ASU.

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Alabama football will return to the practice field Tuesday afternoon. Nick Saban’s next scheduled media session will be Wednesday.