Crimson Red Sports

TUSCALOOSA — Coming from a running backs coach at any level, the command sounds strange. Yet it makes perfect sense.

“I want you to fall flat on your face,” Alabama assistant Burton Burns yelled at a recent practice.

With that, Trent Richardson took the first swing at the drill: simply described, a bunny hop over short barriers with the ball tucked high and tight.

Considering this year’s makeup of the Crimson Tide backfield, the objective is fitting — it’s all about balance for an Alabama lineup that carries contrasting styles.

The practice drill is rooted in one of last season’s dark moments when Mark Ingram lost his balance — and eventually the football — just as the Tide was primed to put away arch-rival Auburn.

“I hate to bring up a situation like for the Auburn game when they punched the ball out at the end, (but) it’s to keep the ball tucked and to keep our balance,” said Richardson, the bruising half of the Alabama running combo. “Even my freshman year when we were against North Texas and I had a long run and I could feel it near the end, someone just hit my feet. We get our feet up it’s better for us, to keep our balance.”