TIDE, TAKE THREE
Three tidbits regarding top-ranked Alabama entering Saturday night’s game against No. 20 Southern California:1. Alabama and USC have not met since 1985, when the Crimson Tide thumped the Trojans 24-3 in the Aloha Bowl.2. The Crimson Tide have won 14 consecutive season openers, while the Trojans have won 17 straight.3. Alabama is among 11 bowl teams from a year ago on USC’s 12-game schedule, the one exception being Colorado.
Only four days remain until Alabama begins defending its latest national title in college football, and only two quarterbacks remain in the running to operate the controls.
Coach Nick Saban said during Monday’s weekly news conference that either redshirt junior Cooper Bateman or redshirt freshman Blake Barnett will get the first snap Saturday night when the top-ranked Crimson Tide face No. 20 Southern California at AT&T Stadium in the Dallas suburb of Arlington. Redshirt sophomore David Cornwell has been out of the mix for a while due to a nagging foot injury, and Monday’s announcement left true freshman Jalen Hurts on the outside looking in.
“Cooper Bateman and Blake Barnett are probably the two guys we’re getting ready to play in this game,” Saban said, “and that’s the way it’s going to be for right now. When we make this decision, it is what’s going to give us the best chance to win this game, but we also want to continue to develop guys who can compete at this position in the future.”
This is the third consecutive year in which Alabama has gone down to the wire in naming its top quarterback, with Blake Sims edging out Jake Coker in 2014 and Coker edging out Bateman last year. The previous uncertainty hardly hindered the program, as the Crimson Tide enter this season seeking a third straight Southeastern Conference title.
Bateman, a 6-foot-3, 224-pounder from Murray, Utah, is Alabama’s only quarterback with game experience and worked with the first team during Monday’s portion of practice that was open to the media. He has been the holder on special teams for 29 straight games and last season completed 37 of 52 passes for 291 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
“Cooper has a great knowledge of the offense and really manages things well when he’s out there because of his knowledge and experience,” Saban said. “He has continued to improve his passing ability, and we have a lot of confidence in him.”
Barnett, a 6-5, 198-pounder from Corona, Calif., was rated the nation’s No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the 2015 class by ESPN and the No. 1 dual-threat talent by Rivals.com before sitting out last season.
“In Blake’s case, he has been here a year and a half and has a little better knowledge of the offense,” Saban said. “He’s more confident in what he’s doing. He has gotten bigger and stronger, and he’s throwing the ball effectively. I feel that the receivers are a strength on our team, and we want to continue to try to have an offense that can create explosive plays through those guys.
“Blake has been an effective passer for us, and we want to continue to try and develop him.”
Hurts was rated the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback this past winter by 247Sports.com and enrolled early enough last winter to help out with playoff practices. The 6-2, 210-pounder from Channelview, Texas, led the only touchdown drive during April’s A-Day game.
Saban did not rule out the possibility of playing Hurts at some point this season.
“Jalen has a tremendous future,” he said. “He’s got great ability, and we are not giving up on that ability.”
Sophomores Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris are the top two tailbacks on Alabama’s depth chart that was released Monday, but Saban said freshmen B.J. Emmons and Joshua Jacobs could play as well. The biggest lineup shift occurred at center, where Bradley Bozeman takes over with Ross Pierschbacher moving to right guard.
Bozeman was spotted at center Saturday, and Saban said the switch is mostly about getting the best five out on the field.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes for us to put the best unit out there,” Pierschbacher told reporters. “If that’s best for the team, then that’s in my best interest, too.”
Releasing a depth chart continues to be one of Saban’s least favorite aspects of coaching.
“It used to be that we created the depth chart,” he said. “Now you guys create the depth chart based on what you think. That’s OK. Just know that what you think doesn’t count.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.