Tuesday, September 19, 2006
All the offensive pieces may be in place by the time UAB's football team welcomes Mississippi State to Legion Field Saturday night.
But all the pieces won't necessarily be in place during practice this week, and that concerns UAB head coach Watson Brown.
UAB's injury list isn't particularly long, considering two of the games have been on the road at Oklahoma and Georgia, but it is potentially harmful to the Blazers' ability to run the ball. Running back Corey White twisted his right ankle in Saturday's loss to Georgia. Running back Dan Burks walked off the field but did so with a swollen foot. Running back Marculus Elliott left Athens with a banged-up shoulder.
And that's just what happened on Saturday. Wide receivers Willie Edwards (hip flexor) and Norris Drinkard (knee) are still slowed by injuries suffered in the first two weeks of the season.
"We think they'll be full speed on Saturday, but we're getting into this mode where people aren't practicing and it shows in the game," said Brown.
It appeared Saturday that White's injury could be the worst of all. He was helped from the field and went to the locker-room on crutches after the game.
"It's not near as bad as we thought," Brown said. "That's the good news. He got back on Sunday and (his foot) wasn't swollen near as much as we thought it would be."
If White can play on Saturday, the injury with the biggest impact could be Drinkard's. He jammed his right knee into the ground at the end of a 25-yard reception in the second quarter of the East Carolina game.
Brown said Drinkard will see limited practice at best this week and his status for Saturday is unclear.
"I'm concerned about Norris," said Brown. "We'll have to look at him this week and either just hold him out or try to get him well. I don't know the answer."
The answer if Drinkard can't play includes increased roles for sophomore Sylvester Mencer and true freshman Rashad Slaughter and possibly the debut of true freshman Mike Jones. Mencer had his best day as a college player on Saturday - catching three passes for 21 yards while replacing Drinkard.
The toughest decision for Brown concerns the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Jones, who was headed for a redshirt season had the receiving corps been healthy.
"We're trying our best to hold out Mike Jones," Brown said. "I don't want to have to play Mike, but we're one sprained ankle from pulling off the redshirt."
If Jones plays he'll become the third true freshman to play wide receiver this season, joining Slaughter and Courtney Smith. Smith, who has three catches for 19 yards, moved up the depth chart as the backup to Edwards when senior Nick Coon was lost for the season with a shoulder injury during fall camp.
"Every time we have one of these (injuries at wideout) it becomes a younger bunch," Brown said.
All the offensive pieces may be in place by the time UAB's football team welcomes Mississippi State to Legion Field Saturday night.
But all the pieces won't necessarily be in place during practice this week, and that concerns UAB head coach Watson Brown.
UAB's injury list isn't particularly long, considering two of the games have been on the road at Oklahoma and Georgia, but it is potentially harmful to the Blazers' ability to run the ball. Running back Corey White twisted his right ankle in Saturday's loss to Georgia. Running back Dan Burks walked off the field but did so with a swollen foot. Running back Marculus Elliott left Athens with a banged-up shoulder.
And that's just what happened on Saturday. Wide receivers Willie Edwards (hip flexor) and Norris Drinkard (knee) are still slowed by injuries suffered in the first two weeks of the season.
"We think they'll be full speed on Saturday, but we're getting into this mode where people aren't practicing and it shows in the game," said Brown.
It appeared Saturday that White's injury could be the worst of all. He was helped from the field and went to the locker-room on crutches after the game.
"It's not near as bad as we thought," Brown said. "That's the good news. He got back on Sunday and (his foot) wasn't swollen near as much as we thought it would be."
If White can play on Saturday, the injury with the biggest impact could be Drinkard's. He jammed his right knee into the ground at the end of a 25-yard reception in the second quarter of the East Carolina game.
Brown said Drinkard will see limited practice at best this week and his status for Saturday is unclear.
"I'm concerned about Norris," said Brown. "We'll have to look at him this week and either just hold him out or try to get him well. I don't know the answer."
The answer if Drinkard can't play includes increased roles for sophomore Sylvester Mencer and true freshman Rashad Slaughter and possibly the debut of true freshman Mike Jones. Mencer had his best day as a college player on Saturday - catching three passes for 21 yards while replacing Drinkard.
The toughest decision for Brown concerns the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Jones, who was headed for a redshirt season had the receiving corps been healthy.
"We're trying our best to hold out Mike Jones," Brown said. "I don't want to have to play Mike, but we're one sprained ankle from pulling off the redshirt."
If Jones plays he'll become the third true freshman to play wide receiver this season, joining Slaughter and Courtney Smith. Smith, who has three catches for 19 yards, moved up the depth chart as the backup to Edwards when senior Nick Coon was lost for the season with a shoulder injury during fall camp.
"Every time we have one of these (injuries at wideout) it becomes a younger bunch," Brown said.
