ALABAMA FOOTBALL: All eyes on wideouts today in scrimmage

By Ken Rogers

Published: April 4, 2008

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama’s receiving corps will be monitored closely when Alabama returns to Bryant-Denny Stadium today for its second scrimmage of the spring at 1:30 p.m.

Last Saturday’s initial scrimmage produced a mixed bag — a couple big plays but a number of dropped passes. Coach Nick Saban also said the seven interceptions his defense recorded in that 125-play practice wasn’t all on the quarterbacks.

“Overall, we probably dropped too many balls,” Saban said, noting that Nikita Stover and Will Oakley had little or no playing time with hamstring injuries. “If you’re going to throw the ball consistently, you’ve got to be able to catch it consistently, throw it where they can catch it and protect it well enough so that we don’t get negative plays when we get sacked.

“After five practices before the sixth day of practice for a scrimmage, I’m not disappointed where we are but we’re certainly not where we need to be, certainly not where we want to be and we’re going to continue to work on that.”

That work will continue today. Earl Alexander, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, is eager to show improvement.

“The first scrimmage, the offense kind of struggled a little bit,” Alexander said. “We basically didn’t make enough plays. The defense played lights out. It all boils down to making explosive plays.

“Explosive plays are going to decide ballgames — explosive plays and turnovers.”

Alexander knows the opportunity to establish himself is now.

“Basically, being a receiver, you have to catch the ball,” the former Phenix City-Central standout said. “I’m just trying to focus on catching every ball thrown my way. Being a complete player — blocking, getting in and out of my breaks faster, I’m just working on everything I can possibly work on to become a complete player.

“They’re trying to see who’s going to be the core going into the fall. The spring is a great time to open the coaches’ eyes and become a complete player.”

It’s particularly a great time for this receiver corps. DJ Hall, Matt Caddell and Keith Brown are gone. And, face it, Julio Jones and several touted freshmen playmakers aren’t in Tuscaloosa yet. So guys like Alexander, McCoy, Oakley and Stover hope to take advantage of the opening.

Another name keeps coming out when talking to defenders and receivers. Redshirt freshman Darius Hanks is showing he can be a playmaker at receiver.

“Darius Hanks, he’s a baller, man,” Stover said of the 6-foot, 190-pounder from Norcross, Ga. “He’s just the complete package. He’s getting into his blocking, he runs great routes, he’s got great hands.”

Hanks caught three passes for 40 yards in the first scrimmage. McCoy, who made four receptions for 43 yards, said, “That boy going to be something special, something special. ... I mean, he’s the right size to be in the slot, a lot of mismatches. He’s complete. He’s going to surprise a whole lot of people this year.”

Tide cornerback Javier Arenas sees Hanks from a different vantage point, but he’s equally impressed.

“He’s swift,” Arenas said. “When I was covering (LSU’s) Early Doucet or DJ (Hall), he has a lot of those characteristics. He comes off the ball real well, he runs nice routes, and he’s going to snatch the ball out of the air. When you’ve got to compete for the ball in the air, he knows how to get position on the defender.

“That’s what a lot of those guys out there are missing. He’s doing it at such a young age. It’s kind of shocking, and also very impressive.”

Saban is much more toned down in his assessment, likes the fact that Hanks has been consistent in practice.

“(He’s) has had a pretty good spring so far and is probably been a guy that has done a pretty good job at receiver,” the coach said. “A young guy that hasn’t played much that looks like he has the ability to make some plays.”

McCoy likes the way Hanks fits into the offensive scheme tweaked by coordinator Jim McElwain.

“I mean, me and Earl, pretty much, we play on the outside since we’re the taller guys,” McCoy said. “Hanks is in the slot and (can) get a mismatch on the safety.”

Alexander has worked on adding strength in the offseason. His weight is up to 217 from 209. Arenas said it’s working.

“That dude is super physical,” the cornerback said. “Most of those guys like Darius or Mike, they release and try to make a move off the ball.

But Earl will try to flatten you. He’s going to run over you.

“Me and Kareem and all the other DBs out there, our technique is to make them go around us, but he’s going over us, literally. So we line up and just try to jump into his chest.”