PRACTICE REPORT: Preparation for week one begins

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CW / Hannah Saad

James Benedetto, Assistant Sports Editor

The countdown is on for the matinee match between Alabama and Duke at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. With four days left until kickoff, here are our observations of Alabama’s first practice of the fall:

Redsahirt freshman Xavier Williams was at practice but did not participate in individual wide receiver drills during the media viewing period. Williams was seen with medical tape along his left calf. With Williams not participating, junior Henry Ruggs III and redshirt sophomore Tyrell Shavers were the only two receivers to take reps from their outside spot.

The offensive line stayed the same asAlex Leatherwood, Evan Neal, Chris Owens, Landon Dickerson, and Jedrick Wills Jr. all went first during group blocking drills against the scout team. Matt Womack was spotted with the second team at right guard. While practicing against the scout team, the tight ends began to fill in at their spots along the edge of the offensive line. Giles Amos and Cameron Latu worked with both the first-team and second-team offensive lines with Amos taking most of his reps at the H-back position.

Toward the end of the media viewing period, the team once again worked on its dime package. Junior Dylan Moses was paired with Anfernee Jennings in the linebacker spot while Josh Jobe, Patrick Surtain II and Trevon Diggs were in their normal spots in the secondary. Xavier McKinney, Jared Mayden and Shyhiem Carter were all also used in the dime package.