'Bama's backfield loaded with options

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Terry Grant used to be the man in No. 4 Alabama's backfield, a shifty, speedy back who had perhaps the best freshman season of any running back in school history.

Now he might be a fourth-teamer for the Crimson Tide, which once again is loaded with tailbacks. Alabama (2-0) barely missed a beat when normal starter Mark Ingram was limited by the flu and top sub Roy Upchurch was hobbled by an early ankle injury against Florida International.

"If you have three backs that can play at all times, I think you should feel fortunate," coach Nick Saban said Monday. "We feel like we have four, and (No. 5 back) Demetrius Goode didn't do a bad job when he was in there.

"Hopefully we can keep those guys healthy. I think that's going to be important because that is one of the strengths of our team is the collective group of running backs that we have."

Upchurch's status for Saturday's game against North Texas is uncertain because of that high ankle sprain, which Saban said could keep him out for a few days or a few weeks.

If anything, this group could be deeper even with Glen Coffee having headed to the NFL after rushing for 1,383 yards last season.

Ingram had only 10 carries against FIU but still ranks second in the Southeastern Conference in all-purpose yards. Upchurch is averaging 9.7 yards on his 11 carries. Freshman Trent Richardson, the most heralded recruit of the bunch, was a pretty terrific third option.

He ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns against FIU.

"We have all the talent in the world," receiver Mike McCoy said of the running backs. "They are all talented and I would hate to be on the other side of the ball against them."

He's had interesting experiences blocking for them, too, because of Grant's speed and Richardson's moves.

"I remember I was running across the field and he just got smaller and smaller. It's amazing," McCoy said of Grant's 42-yard touchdown run last weekend. "I remember one time I was waiting on Trent and Trent caught a pass out in the flat, and as he was coming I was fixing to block one of the guys and he made a move and both of them fell.

"So I was just standing around looking for somebody to block."

Saban said he expected Richardson to fashion a role in the backfield this season "whenever the opportunity presented itself." That time has apparently come.

The coaches had Grant working some at receiver last week trying to find a way to get him on the field, but the transition was slowed with Ingram missing three practices with the flu.

Grant has been the forgotten man since rushing for school freshman records 891 yards and eight touchdowns two years ago. (Ingram broke the latter record with 12 TDs last season).

"We want Terry to have success because he has certainly given his all to the team," Saban said. "For a guy who was a star player a couple of years ago, and has had a minimized role for the last year and a couple games - it started out due to injury - he has been a positive force for his teammates. We keep trying to develop him a role at receiver."

The Tide has run for 543 yards and six touchdowns through the first two games. Ingram's seven catches leads the team.

Quarterback Greg McElroy also praises the backs' less noticeable contributions, like picking up blitzes.

"What those guys are doing as far as protection is really outstanding," he said. "If you go back and look at a couple of the clips (from the FIU game), you see Roy Upchurch just clean the clock of a couple of guys in the first quarter. That's really pleasing for quarterbacks. Guys that are willing to sacrifice themselves and knowing that they're getting the runs they are, I can't help but be happy for them."

TIDE TALK: Redshirt freshman DL Damion Square is out for the season with a torn ACL and is scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday, Saban said. ... WR Julio Jones is day-to-day with a bruised bruised right knee. "There's no way to determine how long this is going to take but it shouldn't take more than a few days," Saban said.

lays good football and they played good football again tonight when they had to win the football game."