Tide Tidbits – September 1, 2009

Robber Shoots UA Defensive End Shot
A University of Alabama football player spent the night in the hospital after being shot during a robbery attempt Monday night. Tuscaloosa police say Brandon Deaderick was approached by a man with a gun near Rivermont Apartments in Tuscaloosa. Police Chief Steven D. Anderson says the man demanded everything Deaderick had, then shot him once in the forearm. Deaderick’s injury wasn’t considered life-threatening, but he was admitted to DCH Hospital for the night. Police have not caught any suspects in Deaderick’s shooting. Deaderick is a senior from Elizabethtown, Ky., who plays at defensive end for the Crimson Tide. He’s one of six seniors on the defensive side of the ball and is expected to play a major role for Alabama this season.

Passing game now priority?
Did you happen to notice quarterback Greg McElroy’s statistics from Alabama’s second preseason scrimmage? Apparently, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer did. “They’ve been throwing a lot this preseason,” Beamer said Monday. “I think that’s for a reason, because he’s a good thrower.” According to numbers released by the team, McElroy threw 44 times during the Aug. 22 closed workout at Bryant-Denny Stadium. He completed 23 passes for 295 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. No tailback logged more than 12 carries. “We like to grind things out,” Alabama left guard Mike Johnson said. “But (offensive coordinator Jim) McElwain is the guy upstairs calling the plays. If he thinks we need to throw a few more deep balls, then we’ll throw a few more deep balls. Greg has the ability.”

Saban: Still no word on status of Julio Jones, Mark Ingram
Alabama coach Nick Saban had no update on the status of receiver Julio Jones and tailback Mark Ingram, two starters who have been in limbo since accepting a free Gulf Coast fishing trip from an Athens resident over the summer. Curtis Anderson, who owns a condominium in Gulf Shores and has known Jones from the latter’s days as a high school student earning extra money working around charter fishing services, was questioned by university officials, who forwarded their information to the Southeastern Conference. The university also consulted with the NCAA and has offered no self-imposed penalties while it awaits the decision from the conference.

Tide offense looks to set tone in opener
The ques­tions are similar when compar­ing Saturday’s season opener in the Georgia Dome with Virginia Tech and last year’s opener in the same arena against Clem­son. The Crimson Tide was an un­derdog in that 2008 game with a questionable defense that won­dered if it could hold its own against ninth-ranked Clemson. This year, the Tide is a touch­down favorite, although there are plenty of questions about three new starters on the offen­sive line and whether that group can move the ball against the seventh-ranked Hokies. “We need to get out there and set the tone from the begin­ning,” said center William Vla­chos, starting his first game in place of former three-year start­er Antoine Caldwell. “We know we need to be able to run the ball. That was our strength last year and we hope that’ll be our strength this year again.”

No freshmen listed on Tide two-deep
With Monday’s depth chart release, Alabama officially named 11 new starters among its 22 offensive and defensive positions. None of them, however, were true freshmen. Left tackle James Carpenter, a junior college transfer who arrived in the spring, is the only first-year player on the first-string. Last year’s initial starting lineup featured three new enrollees — freshman receiver Julio Jones, freshman linebacker Dont’a Hightower and junior college transfer Terrence Cody at nose tackle. “Well, it’s a sign of one or two things. We either don’t have as good of freshmen, or the guys that are here are a little better,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “That’s the only way I can explain it. But we do have a lot of good freshmen, and a lot of them are in competitive positions to play.”

Roll Tide!

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