Notebook: Nick Saban looking at options on how to replace Eddie Jackson

BIRMINGHAM | Replacing an All-American candidate is never an easy chore, particularly eight games into the season. But it’s something Alabama must now do with the season-ending injury to safety/punt returner Eddie Jackson, who suffered a fractured leg in the fourth quarter of the 33-14 win over Texas A&M.

However, Jackson’s future isn’t at risk, UA coach Nick Saban said Monday afternoon while meeting with reporters before speaking to the Monday Morning Quarterback Club in Birmingham.

“The good news is is Eddie’s going to be fine,” Saban said. “This is not gonna be something that’s going to affect his career in any kind of way, shape or form. He’s obviously gonna be out for the season, but if there’s anything that’ll heal and he won’t have problems with, it’s a broken bone.”

The pressing question for Saban and defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley is how they shuffle the secondary around to account for the loss of Jackson.

During Saturday’s game, Ronnie Harrison moved to safety in the dime defense and reserve defensive back Tony Brown came into play the Money position. Saban said he would meet with the players to help determine the plan of action.

Brown brings versatility to his game, with the ability to play cornerback, Star or Money, positions he’s worked at this season. But he’s not particularly seasoned at any of those positions because he moves around from position to position.

“Tony’s doing fine,” Saban said. “Tony needs to continue to work to improve. We’ve moved him around a lot. He’s played corner, he played Money last week when Eddie went down in the game. Ronnie (Harrison) went back to safety and Hootie (Jones) moved over to the other safety. He’s played Star, he’s playing corner, so he’s got a lot of hats that he’s wearing right now, which is difficult to get a guy that many reps at any one position when he’s playing three. But he’s handled it pretty well so far.”

There is also the possibility of moving Minkah Fitzpatrick, the team’s second corner who more regularly plays Star with the defense being in the nickel formation so much.

“I don’t know exactly how we’ll manage that, you know,” Saban said “We want talk to some of the players today.“We hate losing (Eddie). He’s a great leader, he was a really a great player for us in the secondary. He’s a great person on our team. But it’ll create an opportunity for somebody else, and hopefully they’ll be able to take advantage of it.”

Primetime

Get ready for another late night in Tiger Stadium.

Alabama heads to Baton Rouge for its annual SEC West clash with LSU and the kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. (CST) on CBS, the league office announced Monday afternoon.

It is the sixth straight year the game will be played in primetime.

Great hit

Count Saban among those who had no issue with the legality of true freshman Mack Wilson’s special-teams hit on Speedy Noil on Saturday, a hit that many deemed to be targeting.

Saban didn’t see it that way.

“It was a great hit,” Saban said. “I know some people made something about that it was targeting, but it’s not unprotected player. The guy’s running with the ball.

“We always tell our players we want you to lower your target and see what you hit even when you tackle so that we don’t get in those situations, but that wasn’t a foul because it wasn’t an unprotected player.”

POTW

Senior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen had a monster game against Texas A&M, including a sack, four quarterback hurries, six tackles and a 30-yard fumble return for a touchdown, his second score of the season.

For his efforts, Allen was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week.

Allen is second on the team in sacks on the season with six.

Nine Alabama players were honored by the coaching staff for their games against the Aggies.

Center Bradley Bozeman, running back Damien Harris and left tackle Cam Robinson were chosen from the offense while Allen, senior linebacker Reuben Foster and cornerback Marlon Humphrey were the selectees on defense. Keith Holcombe, JK Scott and Mack Wilson represented the special teams.

Time for a breather

The bye week comes at an opportune time for the Crimson Tide after eight straight games, including four consecutive conference opponents, three of which were ranked in the Top 20 at the time of the game.

The gauntlet of physical SEC games can catch up to any team, even the No. 1-ranked team in the country.

“I think after eight straight games and four really tough games in the SEC, probably mentally and physically it’s probably a good time for us to have a little bit of a break,” Saban said. “We’ll see how we respond to it and see how we react.

“You certainly can’t fall in love with what you’ve done in the past. You’ve got to look forward to what you need to do in the future. We’ve got a lot of tough games coming up. We’ve got to try and get ready for them and use this week to help ourselves improve.”

Watch list

Sophomore defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick was one of the 16 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Aware, the organization announced Monday. The award is given annually to the nation’s top defensive back.Fitzpatrick leads the team with three interceptions and five pass break-ups.

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.