Alabama Fall Camp: Practice No. 11 Observations
Today, the 2024 Alabama Football team practiced for their 11th time in this Fall Camp. Charlie Potter and I were there to watch a small portion of their work. Here are a few observations:
*** The viewing period was quite brief today.
*** The energy at practice was very good all things considered. There was a 102-play scrimmage on Saturday, followed by a full pad practice in the stadium on Sunday. The Alabama team was back in full pads again today. It would be normal for things to drag a little but the tempo looked good.
*** In fact, the defensive line was highly physical in drills. They were working specifically on short yardage tackling. Stopping the ballcarrier in his tracks, allowing for no forward movement. Pretty intense drill. It’s also entertaining to watch 300-pound lineman operate as the ‘ballcarrier’ while Coach Freddie Roach instructed the defender in the drill as to proper technique.
*** Young players like Jeremiah Beamon and Isaia Faga needed more instruction (of course) than the older veterans. And, as usual, the experienced veterans stood out in the drill, particularly fifth year bandit, Jah-Marien Latham who showed excellent technique and a lot of strength.
*** This remains perhaps the deepest group on this Alabama ballclub. Based on what we have viewed in these practice periods, I think you will see, in the games: Latham and LT Overton at Bandit, Tim Keenan, Tim Smith, Jeheim Oatis, James Smith and Damon Payne at the two inside spots. What’s interesting and unsettled: Will Jordan Renaud see time with the 1s? Keon Keeley? Edric Hill? Point being, this is a deep group, period. It may go even deeper.
*** Spent most of the viewing period watching the offensive line. The normal starting guards did not practice on Sunday but both were back with the 1s today … both Jaeden Roberts and Tyler Booker looked healthy and pretty darn good today. In fact, on one particular snap, Booker nearly buried the walk-on OL who was the “defender” in drills. Book plays with a lot of energy. Roberts also looked quick.
The first team today was the usual: Kadyn Proctor at left tackle, Book at left guard, Parker Brailsford at center, Roberts at right guard and Wilkin Formby at right tackle.
The second team was more interesting. The left tackle was Miles McVay and the right tackle was Elijah Pritchett (no change there) but there was a different interior. Geno VanDerMark was at left guard, Roq Montgomery at right guard and the center was true freshman, Jo Ionata. A potential explanation here is Olaus Alinen perhaps being a bit dinged up … Olaus was dressed and practicing and appeared fine but he was a non-participant in the open practice on Sunday. Olaus has been a consistent presence with the 2s at guard.
It is completely normal for players, on day 11, at Alabama or anywhere else, to be banged up. In fact, the abnormal event would be ten practices and pristine health. That just does not happen in big-time football. This is just the part of the year where the coaches work around who can go and who can’t … and everyone will be fine with just a day or two of rest. In fact, this upcoming Sunday and Monday will be exactly that. Two days off.
*** The specialists were stretching indoors. Graham Nicholson had a good day on Sunday and James Burnip was pretty spectacular, regularly killing punts inside the ten-yard line. No question, this will be a team strength for Alabama this Fall. I felt Conor Talty looked improved over where he was this previous Spring which is a positive for the program going forward as Nicholson has only one year of eligibility remaining.
The team will return to the practice field on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (no media viewing) and will scrimmage once again in Bryant-Denny on Saturday, August 17th.
Charlie and I will be back in the facility interviewing defensive players and coaches following today’s practice. Be looking for our video and reports shortly after noon.
The post Alabama Fall Camp: Practice No. 11 Observations appeared first on On3.
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