TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ The competition for a University of Alabama starting job may be reaching an important juncture, although it’s not at the position fans are following.
Senior Leon Brown, who sustained a foot injury before the start of training camp, has again been taking first-team reps at right guard this week even though sophomore Alphonse Taylor started there last Saturday against Florida Atlantic.
“Leon is getting better and better every week,” Coach Nick Saban said. “I think he played a lot better in this game than he did the last game. Shank, we’re trying to improve his consistency.
“Hopefully someone is going to give us the kind of performance at that position that we need to be able to play well in the offensive line with the rest of the group, and I think that’s improving.”
Brown filled in at the position during the Sugar Bowl in January when Anthony Steen needed shoulder surgery and maintained the role through the spring. Taylor, nicknamed “Shank,” replaced him with the first unit in camp right up until Alabama opened the season against West Virginia in Atlanta, where Brown was named a last-minute starter.
After Brown was flagged twice for holding on the same possession, and also had a false-start penalty, coaches platooned them.
“I couldn’t really tell any difference because all the guys that are new,” senior right tackle Austin Shepherd said. “For every game I’m like, ‘Remember guys let’s just treat this like a practice, there’s nobody out here. Don’t worry about the 100,000 people.’
“I know that sounds weird but just don’t worry about that because as soon as you get out there you’ll block it out. I feel like they all do it well.”
Saban didn’t announce a starter for Saturday’s home game against Southern Miss (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2), but did comment on the other offensive linemen coaches hoped would challenge for a regular role during camp. However, Dominick Jackson, a junior-college transfer, sustained a high ankle sprain during the first scrimmage of camp.
“He’s a tough, physical, emotional guy,” Saban said about Jackson’s debut against FAU. “He played with a lot of toughness. He was very physical, but he didn’t always do the little things you need to do correctly, footwork wise, missed a couple, whiffed a couple because he didn’t do those things right.
“I think it’s going to be a work in progress to get him to understand how important when you’re going against good players to do the little things, paying attention to detail, understanding exactly how doing what you’re supposed to do can help you be successful.”
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
