Arenas leaves competition behind

TUSCALOOSA | The moment University of Alabama junior Javier Arenas realized he had a good shot at earning a starting job at cornerback came just a couple of weeks before spring practices began, when the Crimson Tide started conducting seven-on-seven drills. Arenas was lining up with the first-team players.

“I would never jump to conclusions, nothing like that,” Arenas said. “I feel confident and feel pretty good that I’m on the verge of [starting]. That was one of my expectations because I knew what I was capable of. I just have to show them and make that progress.”

At the midway point of spring practices, with Wednesday being the eighth of 15 workouts, it appears that Arenas is running away from the competition much like he does to defenders on special teams. He’s still lining up opposite sophomore Kareem Jackson in the secondary, and Saturday he had two interceptions during the Crimson Tide’s first of three scheduled scrimmages.

“Javy is doing a real good job,” Saban said. “He’s doing a good job at corner. He’s also doing a good job at star, playing the fifth defensive back slot. He’s been effective at the return game so far. We’re very pleased and happy with him. He has a lot more confidence in the defense. We’ve always liked his ability.”

The knock on Arenas, much like it was with Anthony Madison (now with the Pittsburgh Steelers) a couple of years ago, is his height. While most coaches don’t hide the fact they would ideally like to have tall cornerbacks to match up with the tall receivers who seem to fill many SEC depth charts.

Arenas is listed at 5-foot-9.

However, there are ways to compensate.

“Getting my hands on the receivers, the initial coming off the ball, I like to jam them, get my hands on them and control them,” Arenas said. “If I was in their shoes I wouldn’t want a defensive back putting his hands on me because we have timing routes out there like [John Parker Wilson] taking a shot drop and throwing a curl route, and if I’m holding him up for a second it’s throwing him off.”

So what does Arenas expect?

“I think the deep ball, obviously because of my height,” he said. “But at the point I’m licking my chops when they go deep. My speed -- I feel as though it’s increased and I can run with those guys step for step. Sometimes I can just cut them off so there won’t even be a jump ball. I can eliminate that factor.”

As for the two interceptions Saturday, Arenas said he made the first pick by jumping a slant route, and the other deflected off a fullback and landed in his hands.

Arenas also had a couple of impressive returns on specials teams.

“The first one, I scored on it,” he said with a grin. “Dude wasn’t going to catch me on it.”

Arenas averaged 24.3 yards on kick returns last year and 15.4 yards per punt return. The punt returns ranked second in the SEC and sixth in the conference on kick returns.

“He’s been looking great,” senior safety Rashad Johnson said. “He’s come and filled the spot that Simeon Castille left, and he’s been doing a very good job. The year he got to play behind Simeon and learn more, you can tell he knows a lot more about what’s going on than in the fall. That’s really helping him out and he’s becoming a leader on defense.”

As for whether Arenas can handle the extra duty, last year’s LSU game might have shed some light on the possibilities. Against the eventual national champions, Arenas racked up a career-high 237 all-purpose yards, including the 61-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Tide the lead. He also played extensively in the secondary.

“I was tired, but when you’re in the game you want to win,” Arenas said. “It’s just another day out there.”

Those performances have caused some to wonder if the Tide might try Arenas sparingly on offense, but he said he’s not ready for that. And he doesn’t really want to be the next Charles Woodson.

“Nah,” he said. “I’m going to be the next Javier Arenas.”

Tide-bits

The Tide reached the midway point of spring practices by holding the eighth of 15 workouts Wednesday afternoon.

“We had a good week this week, we’ve made a lot of progress,” Saban said. “Today’s practice -- interesting how many guys had the mental toughness to persevere. This was probably one of the warmest days we’ve had since we’ve had pads on. It’s interesting to see how some of the more mature players have the mental toughness and perseverance to be able to sustain, and it doesn’t affect their performance.”

Junior fullback Baron Huber got a look at linebacker. Saban called it an “experiment.” Defensive lineman Brian Motley, wearing a cast on his hand to protect a broken finger, got some work in with some offensive lineman.

Junior Scott Deaton lined up at second-team right guard. He had previously been the backup left tackle, a spot currently occupied by senior Charles Hoke.

During the brief time period reporters were allowed to watch practice, there didn’t appear to be any new notable injuries.

Also, at linebacker junior Cory Reamer was backing up senior Jimmy Johns with sophomore Charlie Higgenbotham in the second-team middle spot. The two first-team outside linebackers remain junior Brandon Fanney and sophomore Chavis Williams with freshman Alex Watkins and junior Eryk Anders behind them, respectively.

Wearing black, signaling no contact, were sophomore defensive lineman Brian Motley (finger), junior running back Glen Coffee (shoulder), senior wide receiver Nikita Stover (hamstring), senior cornerback Lionel Mitchell (back), redshirt freshman offensive lineman Patrick Crump (knee), sophomore defensive end Milton Talbert (shoulder) and redshirt freshman long-snapper Paul Silvey (knee).

Earlier Wednesday, the university released academic information for the fall semester. The football team compiled a 2.64 GPA and the freshman class posted a 3.098. Seven players had a 3.0 or higher. Sixty percent of the team increased its cumulative GPA and 77 percent passed 12 or more semester hours.

The football program had 21 student-athletes named to the SEC’s Fall Academic Honor Roll: Antoine Caldwell, Evan Cardwell, Jamie Christensen, Matt Collins, Josh Curry, Drew Davis, Trent Dean, Preston Dial, Hampton Gray, Terry Grant, Bobby Greenwood, Charlie Higgenbotham, Charles Hoke, Mike Johnson, Rashad Johnson, Charlie Kirschman, Greg McElroy, Darren Mustin, Taylor Pharr, Chris Rogers and Brian Selman.

Saban called the canceling of the Gridiron Bash “a little disappointing,” but thanked Alabama fans for “outselling everyone, probably three to one. That’s something I appreciate.”

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0196.