Alabama Football: First Tide Scrimmage news and nuggets
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football conducted its first scrimmage of fall camp in Bryant-Denny Saturday afternoon. Check out these nuggets on what transpired.
The biggest news for Alabama football at Saturday’s scrimmage is the possibly serious injury to senior, inside linebacker, Josh McMillon. Josh was expected to start next to Dylan Moses against Duke. There has been no official diagnosis but all reports are the Crimson Tide staff is concerned it could a serious injury.
Adding McMillon to the list, five key starters were sidelined Saturday. Mike linebacker, Dylan Moses and right guard, senior, Matt Womack were withheld from the scrimmage. Neither is expected to miss much work. LaBryan Ray and D.J. Dale are out with a foot and knee problem. Both are expected to return no later than Duke game week.
On top of Trey Sanders, broken foot, the potential loss of McMillon is troubling to Alabama football fans fearful of another year of key losses. There is also an unconfirmed rumor backup defensive lineman Stephon Wynn was banged up during the scrimmage.
Based on carefully leaked reports from some present, there were plenty of positives from the Crimson Tide’s first scrimmage. Redshirt freshman, running back Jerome Ford broke a couple of good runs. At least one of them against the first-unit defense. In fairness to that first unit, it was not near full strength with Ray, Dale and Moses out.
The chatter is the offensive line did very well in run blocking. Evan Neal stepped in for the banged-up Womack. Multiple unconfirmed reports are Terrell Lewis, Anfernee Jennings and Chris Allen had strong performances.
Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News reported Will Reichard was 4-for-4 on field goals with one being in the 50-yard range. There was more chatter Reichard punted well. Nick Saban commented on Reichard and punter Skyler DeLong as doing good jobs.
Mac Jones did well according to multiple reports and Saban said,
"Mac played well today. He had a really good day today. He had a high completion percentage, threw for some big plays, really did a good job and some of it was against the first defense."
It was expected both Mac and Taulia Tagovailoa would get some chances to prove themselves working against the first defense.
dark. Next. Defense has time to grow
After a long week, the Alabama Crimson Tide will take Sunday off. The team will return to the practice field Monday night.