After Tuesday’s practice did not meet his expectations, Nick Saban felt much better about the focus Alabama showed on Wednesday. The session was moved indoors as the Crimson Tide continues to work on basic fundamentals during its bye week.
Per Saban, the players will begin game planning for Texas A&M on Thursday as it travels to College Station, Texas next week.
Quite a few guys are being rested by the coaching staff, seeing how the Tide is trying to get individuals back healthy.
A pair of offensive linemen – Chris Owens and Jedrick Wills – a defensive lineman and a kicker were all held out from participating on Wednesday.
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Saban addressed the local reporters, in stating how the team is taking things ‘day-to-day’ with a couple of players.
When asked about Will Reichard, he said the true freshman ‘should be ready’ for next week. A three-star kicker, Reichard suffered a hip flexor versus Southern Mississippi and was held out of the meeting with the University of Mississippi last week.
“We are holding him out this week, until Monday,” Saban said of Reichard. “These things are all day-to-day. Nobody can predict how something is going to heal up. We’ll find out on Monday.”
The cause for Reichard’s hip issue came on an ensuing kickoff, following his second made point after touchdown attempt. His right leg hit both the kicking tee and the ball, which created some tightness in his hip. Reichard didn’t return to the game and Saban said he was ‘questionable’ for the next matchup.
He has made four of seven field goals and missed one extra point in 22 tries.
As for DJ Dale, the true freshman at defensive tackle was taken in the locker room after sustaining a knee injury versus the Golden Eagles.
He did not register a tackle against Mississippi and has missed a couple of practice. The four-star suffered a strained patella tendon; however, Saban did not think it was too serious. Dale should also be ready to go for next week.
“He practiced one day and we didn’t practice him today,” Saban said on Dale’s work load during the bye week. “We’ll probably practice him either tomorrow or Friday.”
He is not trying to put too much on the players, but hopefully the Tide will have more hands-on deck for its meeting with the Aggies.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
