[Tuck4Bama]

Alabama Tailback Competition Heats Up Last Edited: Wednesday, 11 Apr 2007, 5:26 PM CDTCreated: Wednesday, 11 Apr 2007, 5:26 PM CDThttp://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/photo_s...002&isP16=trueUniversity of AlabamaTUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- For Alabama fans waiting to see who the
starting tailback is, Glen Coffee has some advice.
Be patient.
Coffee is among the contenders to replace Kenneth Darby as the
Crimson Tide's top runner but said it's possible the starter will
remain unknown "until the first play of the first game."
Coach Nick Saban said after last Friday's scrimmage the race was
"wide open," and there are several potential winners.
Jimmy Johns, Darby's top backup last season, returned to
practice Tuesday after missing two workouts, including the
scrimmage, for academic reasons.
Johns, who remained unable to participate in full-contact work
with a wrist injury, rejoined Coffee, Terry Grant, Roy Upchurch and
freshman Jamar Taylor in the backfield.
Saban has not made Johns available to the media this spring.
"I'm happy he's out there," Coffee said. "I'm glad he's got
his situation settled. He's playing good and he's going to be all
right."
Coffee and Grant both said they like having all the competition.
"When you have no No. 1, everybody's going to play as hard as
they can play," Coffee said.
"We're all trying to be impressive, just to get on the field,"
Grant said. "We're all competing for the same job so somebody's
got to show in order to start."
Johns isn't the only candidate to have battled injuries.
Grant expects to receive a medical redshirt after missing most
of last season with a shoulder injury. He had a big performance
during his first scrimmage last August, gaining 148 yards on 13
carries.
Upchurch had season-ending ankle surgeries the last two years.
Coffee missed last season with a knee injury sustained in fall
camp.
"Of course I got down," he said. "You just keep praying about
things like that. It's football.
"Anybody who stays injury-free, they're thankful. But if you
get injured you have to keep fighting and keep rehabbing to get
back."

[Stoney]

It is quite possible that Saban might have a 1-2-3-4 punch a different RB every down. Talk about wearing out a defense, man o man if the O-Line just performs up to expectations Alabama will be back to playing Smash-Mouth Football again.