Alabama Practice Report 11/2: Dominick Jackson, Ronnie Harrison Return to Practice
Perhaps it’s not Alabama’s biggest rivalry, but many might agree that it’s been annually their biggest game in recent years.
On Monday, the seventh-ranked Crimson Tide began its preparations for No. 4 LSU outside on the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields on an overcast day in Tuscaloosa. Players wore shells (helmets, shoulder pads and shorts) as they went through position drills.
Last week, during its bye, Alabama said they would not begin preparations for LSU until this week. The team still practiced three times – Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – but said they were focusing on their own needs for improvement after eight consecutive games to begin the season.
Observations:
- Both right tackle Dominick Jackson (ankle) and safety Ronnie Harrison (ankle) returned to practice Monday after missing all of last week (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) with due to ankle injuries. Jackson, whose left ankle was taped, participated in the blocking sled portion of drills but not in actual contact drills.
Alabama coach Nick Saban said during his Monday noon press conference earlier in the day that he expected their returns but said they we need to be evaluated on a “day-to-day basis.” Last week, Saban casted some doubt about Jackson’s ability to return in time to play against LSU. Both players left the Tennessee game with these injuries.
- Junior Brandon Greene, who had been working as the first-team right tackle in Jackson’s place last week, worked in Jackson’s place when he did not participate in drills. In the next period of practice, Greene put on a No. 89 jersey, the number he wears whenever he works as tight end. (He wears No. 58 when in his primary position as an offensive lineman.) His overtime reception in last year’s game against LSU set up the game-winning touchdown in the 20-13 win:
- Safety Eddie Jackson (sprained knee) practiced Monday, as he did all of last week. Like Dominick Jackson and Harrison, Eddie Jackson was injured against Tennessee, though he eventually returned. He also continues to sport a brace on his right knee, likely for precautionary purposes.
As is customary on any game week practice, numerous Alabama players wore scout-team jerseys to emulate key LSU players. Here is a list of a few at a couple of different position groups:
- At running back, Ronnie Clark and Derrick Gore wore sophomore running back Leonard Fournette’s No. 7. Another running back wore No. 5 for freshman running back Derrius Guice.
- For the wide receivers, Derek Kief and Deionte Thompson wore No. 15 for sophomore wideout Malachi Dupre. And again, while he is officially listed as a wide receiver, freshman running back Xavian Marks wore sophomore wideout Trey Quinn’s No. 8.
- In the secondary, freshman safety Shawn Burgess-Becker wore junior safety Rickey Jefferson’s No. 29, junior walk-on Nate Staskelunas wore sophomore safety John Battle’s No. 26 and walk-on junior Blaine Anderson wore junior cornerback Dwayne Thomas’ No. 13. Both Jefferson and Thomas are starters in the LSU secondary.
- Of the inside linebackers, Walker Jones wore sophomore Donnie Alexander’s No. 48, freshman Keaton Anderson wore senior Deion Jones’ No. 45, freshman Adonis Thomas wore junior Kendell Beckwith’s No. 52 and walk-on Gussie Busch wore junior Ronnie Feist’s No. 22.
Next:
Selected players will speak to the media at 1 p.m. Tuesday, followed by practice at 3:40 p.m.