Alabama limits Derrick Henry's workload

Alabama coach Nick Saban knows what he has in Derrick Henry, and he isn’t about to risk an injury with his star player. That’s why the Tide’s coaching staff didn’t give Henry much work in Saturday’s scrimmage. Six carries from Henry was enough for Saban.

“I’ve seen him carry the ball enough not to make him go out and prove himself in a scrimmage that means nothing to no one,” Saban said. “Kenyan Drake, if he would have been playing today, I wouldn’t have wanted to see much from him.”

That goes for all of the Tide’s running backs. With the team focused on finding a quarterback, Saban said he “didn’t really want to see anything from the running backs” on Saturday.

Young players received the bulks of the practice snaps during the scrimmage.

“Damien Harris, we got to see him and he did some good things,” Saban said. “I think he learned today what it takes to play college football which is a good thing and he had some production. Ronnie (Clark) same thing. Some of the young guys really got an opportunity and I think that’s a good thing.”

While their workloads may have been lightened, Saban said Henry and Drake are working hard and having good camps.

“Nobody can complain about (Henry’s) work ethic and how he’s playing, he’s doing a fabulous job,” Saban said. “Kenyan was doing great too before he tweaked his hamstring.”

This story was originally published August 15, 2015 at 10:33 PM with the headline "Alabama limits Derrick Henry's workload."