PROGRESS REPORT
Saban likes Tide’s improvement in second scrimmage
Alabama changed offensive coordinators earlier this year and is trying to develop sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts into more of a passing threat, but that doesn’t mean the Crimson Tide will be slowing their pace under Brian Daboll.
They held their second and final preseason scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with coaches wearing headsets to better emulate game-day routines.
“We’re very decisive about what we’re doing,” head coach Nick Saban said in a news conference, “and I think we play better tempo-wise offensively when we go fast, which may be a good thing for us. We did both today.
“The organization and communication was good. We didn’t have issues. We didn’t have problems — no delay-ofgame or substitution penalties.”
Saban said Daboll would work from the sideline, which predecessor Lane Kiffin occupied the past three seasons before becoming the new head coach at Florida Atlantic.
Saturday’s 125-play scrimmage was interrupted by a 22-minute rain delay and was closed to the media, and statistics were not provided. Saban said the offense moved the ball early but either stalled or committed turnovers in the red zone.
Junior tailback Bo Scarbrough did not participate in the scrimmage and did not practice Friday.
“Bo has been ill for two days — pretty sick,” Saban said. “I’m talking ill enough to be in bed. I don’t think this is a serious illness or anything like that, but it is something where we didn’t want him to be in a position where he wasn’t resting.”
Sophomore tailback Josh Jacobs remains out with a hamstring injury and is “day to day,” Saban said, so the carries Saturday afternoon went to junior Damien Harris and freshmen Brian Robinson and Najee Harris.
“I’m really kind of encouraged by the progress we made,” Saban said. “There was a lot of improvement between scrimmage one and scrimmage two. A lot more guys were able to execute.”
When asked about the kicking situation, Saban said senior punter JK Scott made a 51-yard field goal, fifth-year senior and Ole Miss transfer Andy Pappanastos went 3-for-3 on attempts and freshman Joseph Bulovas went 1-for-2.
Saban all but named Tua Tagovailoa the No. 2 quarterback behind Hurts and fellow freshman Mac Jones the No. 3. He said Tagovailoa has progressed nicely and had a good scrimmage, and he added that it’s time to start working with two quarterbacks and to “bring Mac along the best we can.”
Tide tidbits
Senior receiver Donnie Lee injured a knee in Saturday’s scrimmage and will undergo an MRI. … Saban said he planned to watch Monday’s eclipse on the Weather Channel. … Alabama will practice Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before potentially turning its attention to the Sept. 2 opener against Florida State in Atlanta.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.