Fitzpatrick likely to move to safety

Challenge accepted.

That was Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick’s response after meeting with head coach Nick Saban last week.

Following Eddie Jackson’s season-ending injury, Saban needed someone he could turn to fill the senior’s role at safety. It had to be someone with experienced knowledge of Alabama’s system, a film junkie that wasn’t afraid to make the calls on defense.

Fitzpatrick ticked all the boxes.

“Minkah is one of the smartest defenders on our team,” Alabama linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton said. “He watches a lot of film, so a lot of times out there on the field, he can see something before it happens.”

During his news conference Monday, Saban didn’t announce the move, stating instead that the team will “continue to work and see how it develops.” However, Fitzpatrick has been working with the safeties during practice and even played the position some in high school.

Fitzpatrick says his familiarity at safety helps him a little bit but admits playing at the high school level is a totally different challenge than the one he will face in college. Fortunately, his time playing Star in the Tide’s nickel package has also prepared him for the switch.

“From Star it is not too much different because you have to know a lot,” Fitzpatrick said. “But from corner and regular you don’t have to know as much as safety, and you have to pay attention to a whole lot more and more discipline with your eyes and that’s about it really.”

Jackson’s vocal leadership in the secondary will also need to be replaced. While Fitzpatrick has stepped up as a leader in his sophomore season, he doesn’t believe filling Jackson’s vocal role is a one-man job.

“Eddie was the oldest one, so he kind of talked the most, but we all kind of talk to each other before the game, get each other focused and make sure we know what we’re doing,” Fitzpatrick said. “I don’t think anybody has to completely do something they’re not used to.”

Fitzpatrick will not be the only person moving into a new role in Jackson’s absence. The sophomore hinted that Tony Brown will see some action in the secondary this week, especially in the Tide’s dime package. Brown has experience at Star and could step in for Fitzpatrick when he slides over to safety.

Brown has been working with the cornerbacks after spending time at both corner and safety in practice earlier this season.

"I think that with every player that you put out there and you give an opportunity to play, you want to know that you can trust a guy to do what he's supposed to do,” Saban said. “That would be no different with Tony and any other player that we put out there on the field. You know what your assignment is, you know what your key is, you know what your read is, you're going to go do those things and we can trust you to do your job.”

No. 1 Alabama will need to settle in on its plans soon as it faces a trip to Baton Rouge, La., to take on No. 15 LSU on Saturday.

“It’s kind of like the next man up,” Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen said. “The next man up (has) got to know that he has a standard to uphold. We have all the most confidence in whoever is going to be able to take Eddie Jackson’s spot.”

This story was originally published November 2, 2016 at 7:37 PM with the headline "Fitzpatrick likely to move to safety."