Some storms in Tuscaloosa sent the University of Alabama football team indoors for its Wednesday practice, the final media viewing periods of the week before the trip to South Carolina for a 2:30 CBS game against the Gamecocks.

 – The Antonio Alfano saga continues: the freshman defensive lineman was not at practice today. UA coach Nick Saban said after the New Mexico State game that Alfano is, “going through some discipline things with me.”

 – With both Chris Owens and Emil Ekiyor Jr. at practice today, the first-team offensive line was, from left to right: Alex Leatherwood, Landon Dickerson, Owens, Evan Neal and Jedrick Wills Jr. Saban said on the SEC teleconference earlier today that both were back from their respective injuries but Owens was closer to full-go; Ekiyor Jr. will be a game-time decision.

 – The first-team secondary in its Dime package was as follows: Patrick Surtain II and Trevon Diggs as the outside corners, Jordan Battle and Jared Mayden as the deep safeties and Shyheim Carter and Xavier McKinney as the specialist defensive backs, Star and Money. The only notable difference from the lineup from the New Mexico State game is the absence of Daniel Wright, but he and Carter were more or less on equal footing.

 – I noticed an interesting concept the quarterbacks and wide receivers were working on. A red zone situation where they want to throw, they attack the back right pylon by running a wide receiver from the left slot right at that pylon all the way. I assume the right side of the play would have some sort of diversion or maybe a pick of some sort for that crossing receiver, but you usually see back pylon moves in fades or corners from the same side, not so much going at it from the far side.

With the speed Alabama has at receiver, it’s possible they can beat defensive backs this way, especially when the right side of the formation is schemed correctly. It’s just another way to diversify the red zone offense.

– Saban addresses the media after today’s practice.

Reach Brett Hudson at 205-722-0196 or bhudson@tuscaloosanews.com or via Twitter, @Brett_Hudson

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