Alabama coach Nick Saban watches the first half against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.Alabama football coach Nick Saban has a fabulous punter in freshman JK Scott, who leads the Southeastern Conference with a 46.7-yard average.
Saban also needs a really bad one.
Two short punts by Arkansas in the first quarter last Saturday night resulted in two disastrous plays for the Crimson Tide. Veteran return specialist Christion Jones decided to pounce on a 35-yard Sam Irwin-Hill punt 90 seconds into the game, resulting in a fumble that the Razorbacks recovered at Alabama's 31-yard line.
In the final minute of the quarter, a 36-yard punt by Irwin-Hill bounced and hit an unaware Maurice Smith, resulting in a fumble the Razorbacks recovered at Alabama's 39.
"When we practice punt return, we obviously have to practice some bad punts, and maybe that's something that we haven't done enough of," Saban said this week in a news conference. "When our punter punts, he doesn't punt the ball 25 yards, so we need to get somebody to punt the ball 25 yards so it's rolling around and we can give the signal for everybody to get away from it. Guys respond to that better.
"To make a decision when the ball hits the ground to try to jump on it when there are seven guys around? That's just a bad judgment and a bad decision. That's like swinging at a ball over your head when you're playing baseball. It's a bad judgment, so you just have to do more batting practice."
While Alabama's offense stalled to a season-low 227 yards in last week's 14-13 escape of the Razorbacks, it didn't turn the ball over. Those mistakes instead were reserved for the special-team units, which normally are sound but have been turbulent this season.
Cyrus Jones fumbled away a kickoff return at a critical stage in the 23-17 loss at Ole Miss on Oct. 4, and he fumbled a fourth-quarter punt in Arkansas that was recovered by teammate Trey DePriest. In the third quarter at Arkansas, Landon Collins fumbled a third-quarter kickoff return that also was recovered by a teammate.
"We've practiced special teams the same amount of time we've always practiced them," Saban said. "Last year we were first in the SEC in special teams overall, so I think we just have to make a better point of emphasis with our players, because the problems are judgment and decision-making. That's something that's hard to create.
"We've had these same people in these positions before and they have not made these kinds of choices and decisions. So what creates that? I'm not sure. I think we have some guys on our team that might play with too much anxiety. They need to relax and compete."
There has been a more concerted effort this week in defending spread-out punting formations that don't always result in punts that can be caught. Saban believes his players are more aware of those situations now and will be better prepared in the future.
Should Alabama correct its return woes and reverse the recent trend of sophomore kicker Adam Griffith, who has missed four of his last five field-goal attempts, perhaps more attention could be bestowed upon Scott. The newcomer from Colorado ranks fourth nationally and has surpassed 50 yards on eight of his 19 punts.
"He's done a really good job all year long," Saban said. "He's changed field position on numerous occasions, even in the first game against West Virginia. When you play on a bad day like we did last week, field position can be really, really important.
"I think he's done an outstanding job. He's very talented."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.