Crimson Red Sports

— All of Alabama’s healthy players were once again practicing aside from the two players who have already decided to sit out the Citrus Bowl — Terrell Lewis and Trevon Diggs.

— I didn’t see defensive tackle DJ Dale, whom Saban classified as doubtful for the Citrus Bowl due to the knee injury he sustained late in the regular season.

— Tight end Miller Forristall, who is working back from a throat/voice box injury, was once again practicing.

https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2019/12/alabama-practice-report-freshman-db-still-not-practicing.html

 #+ I am glad to Miller back practicing the throat thing can be really bad. RTR!

Heard Mac Jones say the other day the defense really got after the offense.

It is about time. I like the idea of the new arrival practicing with the team even though he won't play in the bowl game. Shows a will to succeed. RTR!

https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2019/12/a-few-notes-and-an-injury-from-alabama-practice.html
The practice routine rolled on Friday afternoon for the fifth workout of the week in Tuscaloosa.

...
-- The sharp eye of Charlie Potter at BamaOnline saw starting offensive lineman Deonte Brown go down in the second period of viewing. Head athletic trainer Jeff Allen attended to him and the run-blocking specialist walked off the field “gingerly,” ...

-- Defensive end LaBryan Ray was on the field again in a black non-contact jersey. He hasn’t played in a game since Week 3 against South Carolina with a foot injury. Nick Saban hasn’t updated his status in a while.

-- With CB Trevon Diggs and OLB Terrell Lewis missing the bowl game, a few younger players will get an opportunity to audition for next year. At cornerback, Josh Jobe is getting the first-team reps while Chris Allen figures to get the nod on the edge.

-- Starting CB Patrick Surtain likes what he’s seen from Jobe in practice this week. “He’s handling it well,” Surtain said Friday morning. “He’s brought a lot of fire to the defense when he’s on the field. It’s not new to him, he’s been out there before. I expect nothing less than great from him.”

...

Gosh the injury bug strikes again. I just can't believe our players get hurt so much. Brown is our best run blocker. RTR!

Let's hope it's minor. At least he came off under his own power.

AND he has a week & a half to heal up...

https://rolltide.com/news/2019/12/22/alabama-football-holds-final-on-campus-practice-prior-to-citrus-bowl.aspx

The Alabama Crimson Tide held its final practice prior to the holiday break on Sunday, working in a brief morning session at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility.

Sunday's practice was the seventh and final bowl practice in Tuscaloosa before the holiday break and one of 12 practices overall prior to Alabama's matchup against No. 14 Michigan in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The Crimson Tide will face the Wolverines on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, with the game airing live on ABC at 12 p.m. CT. Dave Pasch and Greg McElroy will call the matchup from the booth while Tom Luginbill will work the sidelines...

No mention of any additional injuries, so that's good news.

Very few details.
I'm thinking we're switching to the wishbone.
 :tinfoil:

 :lol:

We could switch to the 'single wing' and still beat Michigan.  :lol2:

From Florida practices:

-- Asked about Dylan Moses (torn ACL) and LaBryan Ray (foot), who were both seen rehabbing at practice Friday in non-contact jerseys, Saban noted that other injured players such as Tua Tagovailoa (hip) and Joshua McMillon (torn ACL) also made the trip. Tagovailoa was sick Friday and stayed in his hotel room. “Those guys are all in rehab programs,” Saban said. “They’re here with the team doing what they can to contribute to their future with the team in every way. ... They’re not going to play in this game. I don’t want to mislead you in thinking that. They do have futures as players and this is part of their rehab program. ... Most of them are dry land, doing something now, so they’ve progressed to that. They’re just not ready to be cleared to play football again.” Ray has not played since Sept. 14 at South Carolina. He was spotted at practice last week in Tuscaloosa, as was injured freshman running back Trey Sanders (foot), who also remains in rehab and not game preparation mode.

-- Asked about Mac Jones’ progression since taking over for Tagovailoa, Saban said Jones “doesn’t have anything to prove” and needs to “do his job well” so others can make plays around him. “He doesn’t have to try to live up or be anybody but himself in terms of what he does as a player,” Saban said. “That’s what we’ve tried to get him to stay focused on. You don’t have to press, you don’t have to prove. You just have to do your job. He’s done a pretty good job of that so far.”

-- Asked about freshman cornerback Scooby Carter -- who entered the transfer portal in November, re-joined the program earlier this month but was later out of practice -- Saban said the door remains open for Carter to return. “Scooby can have another opportunity to be on the team,” Saban said Friday. “If he wants to start with the team next semester in school, we’ll give him another opportunity at that time. He did OK in school and we’re trying to be supportive and helpful to do the things that he needs to do to be successful as a person, as a student and as a player.” ...

Pretty disappointing about all the rehab players we have, and none will be able to play, but I guess that's to be expected.

People are talking about Bama being dead when we’ve got five guys who would be the best player on about 110 NCAA teams who never saw the field or missed most of the season.

I like the perspective that Saban uses in this sentence.  "Person" 1st, "Student" 2nd, and "Player" 3rd.  It shows that Coach Saban truly cares about the most important things while recognizing that playing football is not the most important part of who the kids are.  Wish I could give Coach Saban an e-cred...

I would like to see us get through next season without all these injuries and see just how good we can really be, if we get a good defensive coach. Especially on defense. Our offense if we get everybody back we be #1 to #3 in the nation next year. RTR!

You may have just figured out what our problem was Preacher.  Maybe we've had a defensive coach on special teams or offense all year...

 :lol: :lol: :lol:

Just kidding...  ;)

No argument there. I think we'll stomp Michigan with the players we have, but I'd love to see some of those guys on the field.

I would love to see Bama put 66 on Michigan and hold them to 0. RTR!

I'd love to see Bama/Michigan match SC's score prediction...  ;)

With all the players who could have skipped the game to protect their future income playing, it feels like this team is playing to prove something. It may not be 98-0, but I sense a wood shed game is coming.

It feels like 2010 Michigan State to me.  :popcorn2:

Sunday practice:

https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2019/12/alabama-practice-report-notes-from-citrus-bowl-prep.html


Alabama practiced Sunday afternoon, its third practice session since arriving in Orlando for the Citrus Bowl.

...

— Cornerback Patrick Surtain was back at practice after missing Saturday’s practice.

— Josh Jobe continues to work as the other cornerback with the first-team defense.

...
...

— It was the Crimson Tide’s final media viewing period of the season.