Hightower now a better player

Dont’a Hightower’s answer included a pause that hung in the air like a wobbly pass waiting to be picked off. Alabama’s middle linebacker was asked if, 11 months after reconstructive knee surgery, he felt like he was back to the level he was before his 2009 season was cut short in the Arkansas game. “No,” he replied, then waited several uncomfortable counts before adding, “I think I’ve surpassed that. “I feel like a totally different player. I feel like I play a lot faster, recognize things a lot quicker. That year off let me get in the film room and learn the defense, the ins and outs, why exactly we do this instead of this.” Hightower’s ability to run the defense is crucial for Alabama. His move to the middle replaces Butkus Award winner Rolando McClain. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban credited Hightower with learning the new position even as he recovered from the injury. “Dont’a has really done well, considering the circumstances,” Saban said. “He is in a new role as a signal-caller. That’s a greater responsibility, a little more responsibility for leadership. He’s really done a good job with that. [More]

First up: San Jose St. Spartans

Apparently, this game resulted from a miscommunication in the athletic offices in Tuscaloosa. Nick Saban told the assistant athletic director in charge of non-conference scheduling to arrange a game against the Spartans to help get the defending national champions in shape. Unfortunately, the assistant athletic director thought he meant San Jose State, when Coach Saban in fact meant the ruthless warriors of the militaristic Greek city-state that fought in the Peloponnesian War. Despite being disappointed in the caliber of the opposition, the Tide will roll. [More]

Barron missed Saturday’s practice

The junior strong safety, the only returning player who started all 14 games on defense last season, was excused from the practice, according to a member of Alabama’s media relations staff. No reason for the absence was given. Alabama coach Nick Saban might offer an explanation when he holds his first regular-season news conference at noon Monday. The Crimson Tide did not practice Sunday. Saban is expected to issue Alabama’s first depth chart of the 2010 season Monday. That depth chart may or may not forecast who will start the Crimson Tide when it opens its season at 6 p.m. Saturday against San Jose State at Bryant-Denny Stadium. A year ago, when Saban released his first depth chart five days before the opener against Virginia Tech, some players were ranked as equals at certain positions, and the coach provided a lengthy explanation of the word “or.” That word is likely to be used more today. [More]

Positions begin to fall into place

Open competitions on the University of Alabama football team begin to close this week as the Crimson Tide focuses on a season-opening game against San Jose State on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. UA coach Nick Saban called Thursday of last week “judgement day”, an indication that decisions would be made regarding which players would be coached to play on a weekly basis. To arrive at those decisions, coaches shuffled players in and out of various roles and positions in the preseason. “We move guys around all the time. By moving guys around, that’s how they can play multiple positions,” Saban said. “Sometimes it looks a little ugly, but you’ve got to go through the ugly part to get to where they have confidence.” Most notably, the UA coaching staff had decisions to make at linebacker, in the secondary, on the offensive line and with kicking specialists. Outside linebackers were tried inside, guards were tried at tackle, and among a cast of inexperienced defensive backs, injuries required perhaps the most creativity of all. [More]

Roll Tide!

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