Bo Scarbrough steals show in Alabama’s scrimmage
With weather and inexperience hampering the Alabama football team’s passing attack in Saturday’s scrimmage, sophomore running back Bo Scarbrough took another step toward replacing Derrick Henry as the centerpiece of the Crimson Tide’s offense.
The scrimmage was closed to reporters, but according to statistics provided by Alabama’s athletics communications office, the 6-foot-2 back rushed for 132 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries, a 14.7 yard-per-carry average.
“I certainly think he’s capable of doing all the things we need him to do,” Tide coach Nick Saban said after the scrimmage. “I think part of it is confidence, knowledge, experience. Having confidence in what he’s supposed to do, how he’s supposed to do it, why it’s important to do it that way. I think when he understands that he plays fast and he’s very effective. So those are the kinds of things that we can improve on. I like his work ethic, I like his toughness.”
The Crimson Tide’s quarterbacks were held back by a crosswind and spotty execution, Saban said. After two offensive drives to open the scrimmage, Alabama turned inconsistent, while the team continues to search for its timing and a solid offensive line. No passing statistics were provided.
“They made some good throws today,” Saban said. “There were some inconsistencies in the passing game. When I say that, I’m not just talking about quarterbacks throwing the ball. I’m talking about the protection, the receivers running the right routes, the timing, all those things.”
This early in the spring, Saban said, the team isn’t trying to force a fit at quarterback, rotating every player in and out, waiting for someone to win the team. While he praised junior David Cornwell’s passing, he said freshman quarterbacks Blake Barnett and Jalen Hurts “made some plays,” Saban said no player has been put in a position to win the team’s confidence yet.
“I think the big thing they need to is, each and every one of them can’t be thinking about where I am on the depth chart, what my position is and worry about that,” he said. “They need to worry about what they need to do to be better, so they can play winning football at the position and do the things that they need to do to become a really good quarterback.”
Saban said the team is still searching for its best combination on the offensive line, with starting left tackle Cam Robinson still out with a shoulder injury. While Robinson worked in a non-contact jersey during drills, Saban said freshman Jonah Williams played that role with the first team in the scrimmage. Highly-rated sophomore Lester Cotton continued to move around the line, playing at every position but center, where Ross Pierschbacher has been starting.
“We’re working hard to get the best five guys on the field,” Saban said. “The young guys, we’ve had some of the freshman guys who have made progress. ... I feel better about the number of guys that we have to coach and develop on the offensive line. We need to see what we need to do to get the best five guys out there.”
According to provided statistics, Hurts rushed for 57 yards on 10 carries, while running back Damien Harris had 36 yards on 12 carries.
ArDarius Stewart led the receivers with seven catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Calvin Ridley caught three passes for 50 yards.
Defensively, Dalvin Tomlinson made eight tackles and two sacks while breaking up two passes. Rashaan Evans had eight tackles and a sack.
Reuben Foster had seven tackles and an interception he returned for a touchdown, and Ryan Anderson added seven tackles and one sack.
This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 6:56 PM with the headline "Bo Scarbrough steals show in Alabama’s scrimmage."