NEW ORLEANS—T.J. Yeldon and Amari Cooper faced high expectations coming off stellar freshman campaigns at running back and wide receiver. Those expectations became great over the offseason and, at times, too great.
Both players contributed in big ways during the 2013 season, but as sophomores were never quite able to live up to what they built for themselves as freshmen.
Yeldon was considered by some to be one of the preseason favorites for the Heisman trophy after rushing for 1,108 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman behind Eddie Lacy. This year as the featured back, he just about mirrored those numbers, with 1,163 yards and 13 touchdowns, a fine season by most metrics, but not the world-beating type that some thought he was capable of as the No. 1 option.
But offensive coordinator Doug Nussemeir said Yeldon has grown in other ways that don’t jump off the stat sheet.
“T.J. is a guy last year as he came in had instant success early, and one of the things that people see when you talk about the running back position is they see what the player does with the ball in his hands,” Nussmeier said. “But there’s so much more to playing the position. I think T.J. has really grown in that aspect, his attention to detail and protections, his understanding of the overall scheme, the blocking schemes and how we’re doing things up front to create holes for him. He’s really grown in that way this season.”
Yeldon echoed his coordinator’s sentiments.
“Learning the game, understanding more of my blocks, running blocks, and picking up the blocks,” Yeldon said. “If you can’t pick up blocks and learn the running schemes, you’re not going to be able to play with this team.”
Normally a quiet and reserved guy, Yeldon could need to step up next year off the field with senior quarterback AJ McCarron ending his Crimson Tide career.
“It’s all about maturing,” senior wide receiver Kevin Norwood said. “One day it will hit him. He’s got to mature, and he’s got to become a leader for this team. It’s gonna hit him. Hope it don’t hit him hard, but it’s gonna hit him.”
Cooper, meanwhile, regressed statistically. After putting up 1,000 yards last season, he currently sits at 615 on the season with one game to go, and his touchdowns have slipped from 11 to four.
He was hampered by injuries during the middle of the season, but came on strong down the stretch, including a 99-yard touchdown in the Iron Bowl that gave Alabama a late lead.
“Kind of frustrated, yeah. Not the numbers. The injuries were frustrating to me. I didn’t want to be injured. I had high expectations coming into the season,” Cooper said. “Hopefully I get to reach some high expectations next year.”
A gamebreaker on the outside, Cooper’s injuries didn’t let him consistently make big plays this season.
But again, Nussmeier credited Cooper with learning the finer points of being a wide receiver.
“He’s really worked at mastering his craft,” Nussmeier said. “Worked at releases and getting off the line of scrimmage versus press and making sure he’s at the exact right depth and all those things that come with being a great, great receiver. He’s really continued to develop that way.”
Norwood had a piece of advice for the young receiver, who next season could be one of the best in the country.
“I don’t think it was the type of season that he wanted to have, that he expected to have,” Norwood said of Cooper. “But he’s a hard worker, he’s definitely going to bounce back. He just works really hard. I see it with my eyes. I think he’s more mature this year. I think he kind of realized it’s going to be him, main guy next year.”
