PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

October 16, 2018 at 10:03 pm.

GAME BREAKDOWN

KEY MATCHUP: Alabama, due to injuries, debuted a new-look secondary last week — with Saivion Smith stepping in at cornerback — at a dangerous time — against Missouri and potential first-round QB Drew Lock. The Tide allowed only 10 points, intercepted Lock twice and held him to 13-of-26 passing for 142 yards. This week, Alabama gets Tennessee QB Jarrett Guarantano, who earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors after a career effort in an upset win over Auburn. The redshirt sophomore set personal bests for yards (328), completions (21) and attempts (32).

As for how his secondary played last week, Tide coach Nick Saban said:

“They played together, communicated better. Obviously there are some things we need to continue to work on, but I think the big thing is we have to get more guys ready to play winning football. So that’s a real key to the drill based on the depth that we have right now that more guys are willing to step up and prepare and be ready to play so that we can continue to play at a competitive level on the back end.”

DRAFT SLANT

–DL Quinnen Williams was considered a Week 7 draft riser by NFLDraftScout.com’s Rob Rang, who wrote that Williams’ “combination of quickness and power is almost unfair for a player less than three years removed from high school.” Rang also compared Williams to ex-Tide star Da’Ron Payne. “Like Da’Ron Payne — the 13th overall pick of last year’s draft (by Washington) — Williams’ stout frame and fantastic weight-room strength make him a virtually immovable object in the middle at nose guard. Williams is quicker than Payne, however, incorporating some of the initial burst and flexibility that is helping another former Alabama teammate, Jonathan Allen, stand out after the Redskins nabbed him with their top choice in 2017.”

ROSTER REPORT:

–DL Raekwon Davis could have his playing time affected after an incident against Missouri when he repeatedly punched a Tigers offensive linemen. Davis appeared to take exception with the way the lineman took down teammate Mack Wilson, a linebacker. Coach Nick Saban said Alabama will “handle that internally” and that “I think it should affect his playing time in the future.”

–RB Damien Harris last week moved into 10th place on Alabama’s career rushing chart with 2,617 yards.

–CB Trevon Diggs, a starter, is out indefinitely because of a fractured foot.

–CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, a freshman who was the fifth cornerback on the depth chart, is out for the season because of a knee injury.

–S Daniel Wright, a sophomore, is out for the season because of a shoulder injury.

–OLB Terrell Lewis suffered a torn ACL over the summer during a workout and is working to get back this season. He was limited to four games because of an arm injury last season and was expected to be a key part of the OLB rotation.

–OLB Chris Allen, a sophomore, is out for the season because of a knee injury.

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