Lengthy TD runs proving patience is paying off for Alabama’s Gibbs

Alabama Athletics photo / Alabama junior running back and former Dalton High standout Jahmyr Gibbs breaks free for one of his two lengthy touchdown runs during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 49-26 win at Arkansas. Gibbs was named Monday as the Southeastern Conference offensive player of the week.
Alabama Athletics photo / Alabama junior running back and former Dalton High standout Jahmyr Gibbs breaks free for one of his two lengthy touchdown runs during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 49-26 win at Arkansas. Gibbs was named Monday as the Southeastern Conference offensive player of the week.


Alabama junior running back Jahmyr Gibbs had two touchdowns totaling 148 yards during the fourth quarter of Saturday's 49-26 win at Arkansas.

Gibbs showed speed, strength and vision on his 72- and 76-yard scoring runs, but the biggest ingredient to his success was patience. The former standout for the Dalton High Catamounts headed right on his first long-distance run and headed left on his second, waiting for the right opening in which to pounce.

"I think that's the sign of a really good running back," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said Monday. "You help the offensive line by how you stretch the play, press the hole or whatever it is so that you lead them to their blocks. Then when people overplay the blocks or get hooked, you stick your foot in the ground and hit it.

"That's what he did on both of his runs, and that's what he does very well, whether it's an inside run or an outside run."

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound junior used the two long scores to cap an 18-carry, 206-yard performance that on Monday yielded Southeastern Conference offensive player of the week honors. Gibbs averaged 11.4 yards per carry and added two receptions for 29 yards.

So what does he attribute his knack for letting plays develop?

"I think it's just watching film and having a lot of experience doing it," Gibbs said.

The transfer from Georgia Tech has made quite the splash in Tuscaloosa, rushing 43 times for 378 yards and 8.8 yards a pop. His two touchdowns at Arkansas were his initial rushing scores of the season, but he also has 19 receptions for 207 yards and three scores.

Gibbs leads Alabama in both carries and receptions, and he also has 93 yards this season in kickoff returns for 678 all-purpose yards through five games, an average of 135.6 a contest.

"It feels good, but I'm really happy for the team," Gibbs said. "We had adversity, and we overcame it. We went into halftime up a lot. They came back, but we talk a lot about winning the fourth quarter, and that's what we did.

"We held up our four fingers like we always do, and we stayed calm."

Alabama built a 28-0 lead against the Razorbacks before having it sliced to 28-23 early in the fourth quarter. With Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young out with a shoulder injury, backup Jalen Milroe was inconsistent at times before reeling off a 77-yard run that ignited their closing surge.

Saban discussed Young's status in regards to this week's game against visiting Texas A&M.

"It's not a long-term type of injury," he said. "He's going to be day-to-day as far as when he can get back to throwing, and we'll just have to evaluate it day-to-day, so I can't tell you if that's going to be today, tomorrow or the next day."

The Crimson Tide countered Young's loss with what Saban described as the best performance all season by his offensive line. That included redshirt sophomore center Seth McLaughlin, who did not allow a sack, quarterback pressure or a quarterback hit and had the key block on the first Gibbs touchdown.

Gibbs, of course, knew what to do from there.

"That's part of being a good back," Saban said. "It's not just taking the ball and running it. You have to understand, 'How are we blocking this play?' and, 'How do I set these blockers up so that they have the best chance to succeed at their blocks?'

"Those plays were well-blocked, and he did a great job of running those plays -- stretching, finding the seam and cutting."


Lesson learned?

Saban was asked about the play in Saturday's second quarter that resulted in Young's injury.

"The only thing I would tell Bryce is, 'Don't put yourself in a bad position,'" he said. "He could have thrown the ball away before, and he could have just let the guy tackle him. In either case, he probably wouldn't have an issue, but putting himself in the awkward position of trying to throw the ball on his way down and landing the way he did -- just try to avoid those kind of circumstances and situations for any injury.

"It's not a criticism. It's a teaching moment that players have to learn. Competitors always want to make a play and will go to the last degree, but sometimes you've got to know when no play can be made."


Tide tidbits

Alabama is 29-0 under Saban in October games at Bryant-Denny Stadium. ... Saban said junior defensive back Brian Branch wasn't expected to practice Monday but should be fine later this week. ... The Crimson Tide are 19-2 in rematch opportunities under Saban, losing consecutive times only to LSU (2010-11) and Ole Miss (2014-15). ... Saban is 26-2 against former assistants, which includes last month's 20-19 topping of Steve Sarkisian and Texas. ... Senior defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe has a neck injury and will not play unless he's cleared by specialists.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.


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