Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!








Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

By Brandon Foshee Alabama is a team that has been deprived of quality depth at numerous positions on both sides of the ball over the course of the last few seasons...

Alabama Fall Position Preview: Running Backs and Half Backs.

by CrimsonTusks.com (Columnist)

1

438 reads

Opinion

July 18, 2008


By Brandon Foshee

Alabama is a team that has been deprived of quality depth at numerous positions on both sides of the ball over the course of the last few seasons. The arrival of Nick Saban kick started a talent influx like the Crimson Tide had not seen in years, so the depth deficiencies are slowly but surely starting to dry up. One position that is looking very good from a depth standpoint going into this season is that of running back. The Tide has several guys that are more than capable of handling the job, some are veterans, and others are talented newcomers. Most all of them will be fighting each other for valuable playing time. Saban has always elected to use a rotation of backs in his career, when the talent allowed him to do so. With the quality of depth this year, it is certainly possible that three or four guys will find themselves in that steady rotation, with all of them getting a similar number of carries.

The returning workhorse from last fall, and the favorite to lead the backs out of the stable this season, is sophomore Terry Grant (5-10, 188). Grant has great speed and elusiveness, while also being a sure handed receiver out of the backfield. He isn’t big enough to be as productive between the tackles, but he’s a tough kid who likes the ball in his hands. Last season the speedy back rushed for 891 yards on 180 carries (4.9 average), and scored 8 touchdowns, both of which were records for freshmen running backs at Alabama. He displayed his receiving ability by hauling in 26 passes for 176 yards and 1 touchdown. Look for Grant to compliment the bigger more powerful backs this year, but still get numerous carries himself when all is said and done. He had surgery to repair a sports hernia during the winter, an injury that plagued him nearly all of last season, but he proved that he had recovered fully this past spring.

A player that has a good opportunity to earn a significant amount of carries this season is junior Glen Coffee (6-2, 197)

Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article

1 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. ...

    Good Article!! I'm anxious to see the new offensive scheme.Curious to see which of the freshman RB's will have the most impact this fall!! Roll Tide!!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    ...

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )
    ...

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

  • Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »



    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.