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Saban wants TE O.J. Howard to be more involved in passing game
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ Fans clamoring for the University of Alabama’s tight ends to get the ball, Nick Saban agrees with you.
“O.J. Howard is a guy that we need to get more involved in probably what we’re doing,” Saban said during the weekly SEC coaches’ teleconference with reporters on Wednesday morning. “I think he has some capabilities to make plays that we need to take advantage of. He has been open a few times and we just haven’t gotten him the ball.
“But I also think he needs to continue his development as a complete player at his position in terms of doing the other things, whether it’s blocking or whatever, so that he can continue to progress.”
Neither Howard nor senior Brian Vogler has a reception yet this season. The only pass to a tight end was to newcomer Ty Flournoy-Smith, a 4-yard gain late in the game against Florida Atlantic.
Vogler did sustain a high ankle spring during training camp, but it hasn’t kept him out of any games.
“I haven’t had any problems with it since the season started,” he said. “There’s been nothing wrong with it at all. I feel great.”
Meanwhile, Saban also said that even though he’s been practicing some this week senior wide receiver DeAndrew White (shoulder) isn’t expected to play Saturday against Southern Miss (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
“We said in the beginning would be out for two weeks, and that’s still last week and this week,” Saban said. “He actually is running and doing some things but we don’t think he’s ready to play this week. Hopefully we’ll be able to see how he progresses next week and make a decision late in the week on where he is next week.”
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
