Alabama wide receiver Christion Jones (22) catches a pass for a touchdown against Georgia State.Alabama’s receivers last season consisted of Amari Cooper and his supporting cast.
It isn’t turning out that way this year.
With Cooper hobbled by foot and toe injuries, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban has turned to complementary veterans Kevin Norwood, Kenny Bell, Christion Jones and DeAndrew White. In last week’s 45-3 rout of Georgia State, redshirt freshman Chris Black led the top-ranked Tide with six catches for 54 yards.
“We have guys who are really good at the roles we want them to play,” Saban said this week. “We have enough speed guys and vertical guys and slot guys and tough guys who are good blockers. We have some guys who are really good possession catchers that you can count on in critical situations to get open. We have guys who are fast and vertical and can beat you deep and good slot guys who are catch-and-run-with-it guys.
“Sometimes you can have really good receivers, but if they all do the same thing — it’s almost like a basketball team. You can’t have all point guards, and you can’t have all centers.”