Alabama Football: What has been learned so far in Miami

Alabama football arrived in Miami on Christmas Eve and went to work. After a session in full pads on Christmas Day information is seeping out.

South Florida is a place for fun. For Alabama football, it has meant getting back to work after a three-day pre-Christmas break. There was media viewing access for the first Miami practice but Tuesday’s full-pads practice was not open to media members.

The first early news was not good. Deonte Brown, Kedrick James and Elliot Baker did not make the trip to south Florida. Nick Saban said the trio were suspended for a violation of team rules. Baker is a non-factor and James has always been way down the depth chart.

The situation with losing Deonte Brown is completely different. A starter at left guard since mid-season, Brown has been more effective in run-blocking than the man he replaced, Lester Cotton. Unless Nick Saban opts for a surprise move, using someone like Matt Womack, Cotton will start at left guard against the Sooners.

The next early news was decidedly better. Tua Tagovialoa announced he is able to do all the physical work required to run the full Alabama football offense. Based on Tua’s comments and observations from reporters at the Monday session, Tua is close to 100 percent. Additionally, Jalen Hurts appeared to be fully recovered from a similar ankle injury incurred before Tua’s mishap.

There are a couple of brief shots of Tua and Jalen in the video below.

Information from the Tuesday full-pads practice is almost completely limited to message board comments. Looking for an official report on the Tuesday practice here is one.

So, we look to message boards for more information. The observations shared on message boards may or may not be reliable. However, a small amount of buzz seeped out on Christmas night, indicating Tua was being honest about his ankle recovery. Alabama QBs are no contact, even in full-pads practices, but the word from Tuesday was Tua was moving without any visible signs of problems with his ankle.

Unless Tua is re-injured against the Sooners, Alabama football fans can stop worrying about his ankle. For those needing something else to worry about, the left guard situation will have to suffice.

It has not been all work for Alabama football in Miami. After the Christmas Day practice, players hit the beach.