Nick Saban spoke to the media for the second time since the start of Alabama football’s fall camp on Sunday.
Here is everything he said at the Crimson Tide’s head coach and coordinator media day.
Opening Statement: “How are we doing today? Good. Obviously, the number one purpose of fall camp practice is, you know, to create good habits. Obviously bad habits have a cost, good habits have a price, but you got to pay the price for these good habits up front, which is obviously what you do when fall camp comes along. This is a time when you have to sort of embrace the grind. We’ve got some players who’ve been blessed with talent, but it only comes to fruition if you can embrace the grind and you can’t view the circumstances as an obstacle but an opportunity to focus in difficult circumstances and difficult situation so that this will be an advantage to you to be able to sustain, you know in the future. I think the acclimation process that we go through right now for players is probably a real positive, you know, for the players. Couple days in helmets, couple days in shells and then you put pads on. So, it’s a good transition for players. I think it’s been a good practice for us so far. I see progress in every practice. There’s obviously a lot of areas that we need to improve on. There’s individual players who have new opportunities to contribute to the team in various ways, and, we want them to develop the kind of habits that are going to allow them to play winning football on a consistent basis so they can get the results that they’d like to get. Pleased with the staff, new leadership, whether it’s Kevin Steele or Tommy on offense. Those guys have both done a good job. I think players have responded very well to them so far. There’s a lot of teaching, There’s a lot of installation. This is the most condensed period probably of how much do we throw at players to learn in a short period of time as any time during the season. But this also gives them the foundation that they need to make the adaptations and adjustments that they need to make throughout the season. So far the attitude has been good and the players have been good and, we just want to be able to sustain that, which I think is the biggest challenge in fall camp.”
Question: Can you tell us a little bit about the speakers you’ve got lined up for the players this camp?
“Well, we try to get the best speakers that we possibly can that will address issues that we’re facing in college football, as well as people who, sort of can help create a mindset that’s going to help you be more consistent, so that you can get the results that you want relative to the commitments that you make. I think we have a really good blend of all those you know, types of people. You guys know what the issues are if you look at players that are suspended for whether it’s gambling, drugs and alcohol, what, whatever. So those are all things that we’re trying to educate players on relative to consequences of good and bad behavior cause and effect because we don’t want anybody to suffer negative consequences that might impact and affect their brand, and that all goes to the choices and decisions that they make, and if we can impact those through education with good speakers, that’s the goal of what we try to do throughout the year. But as it’s the same thing, it’s more condensed in fall camp.”
Question: What have you seen from Chris Brasswell so far this camp?
“Chris Braswell has made an impact when he is had the opportunity to play. Now, he is got the opportunity to be a full-time starter. He’s a mature player He’s gotten bigger and stronger. He is a good pass rusher. We expect them to do well this season and have a great year, and we want to do everything we can to help him do that.”
Question: When you’re looking at the left side of your offensive line, what have you seen from the guys that are competing at left tackle and left guard?
“Well, I think you mentioned it. How are they competing and what’s their maturity level relative to, they have ability, how can they sustain the grind of not making mental errors, staying focused on the things that they need to do to improve, whether it’s fundamental technique or knowledge of assignment. That’s what we want to continue to focus on. I think both those guys have ability.’
Question: What does it say about the competitive competitiveness of the guys in the quarterback room that you already had that when you brought a transfer in in the spring, that they all decided to stay and compete for the job?
“Well, I think they all have an opportunity to compete for the job, but you know this job that you all talk about at quarterback, I have told our quarterbacks this is not, fall camp is not the beginning of the end. You got an opportunity to separate yourself and show that you can play with consistency and play winning football at the position, but the competition goes on and on and on, and we need all of the quarterbacks to continue to improve and continue to compete far beyond the time we name the starter. We have had circumstances around here where quarterbacks have changed during the course of the year. You know what they are and you understand the history of what has happen at this place. That’s going to be the way this situation is. Somebody needs to separate themselves and then I want all the players to continue to compete, so they can improve, so if they do get an opportunity to play, their going to be ready to play and play well.”
Question: How have you seen Devonta Smith develop over the last couple of years at safety?
“Devonta is a really good athlete. He is a hard worker. He has gotten bigger and stronger. He has really good speed, been a very good special teams player for us in the past. I think his knowledge and experience is starting to sort of come to fruition in the secondary. He’s very conscientious and not making the mental errors that have been a little bit of a Achilles heel in the past. So, we’re very pleased with the progress that he’s making.”
Question: How would you assess the receivers so far early in fall camp?
“I don’t know. You have a specific guy that you’d like to ask about? I mean, we’ve got like 15 receivers, some good, some okay, some need to improve, some have experience, some need to gain experience. I think they’re all working hard, but I do think attention to detail is probably one of the biggest things in route running, timing in the passing game that. They all need to sort of focus on. So you know, you asked me a general question. As a whole group, nobody’s disappointed. I think we have some guys that have talent there, and if we can get them to play to that level, I think we’ll have a chance to have some guys that can make plays at that position.”
Question: How good was it for you to see the fans back inside the stadium for a fan day and open practice for the first time in a while?
“Yeah, well I think that fan day has always been something that is a good thing for fans, for them to be able to see a practice as well as spend some time around players and coaches to get autographs and things like that, which I think are important and to condense that time for them is also good for us so that we can stay focused on really what we are trying to accomplish and what we’re trying to do. But it was great. I enjoy it. I get to meet a lot of people and makes you realize to some degree how important Alabama football and Alabama athletics are to a lot of our fans.”
Question: You mentioned in the fall it’s when a lot of information gets thrown at players. Is there a time where maybe some of those early kind of lapses and mental mistakes kind get forgiven compared to maybe later in the season where those would be less tolerated and players aren’t learning as much?
“Well, mistake is a mistake. Alright. And you know, what did I say? You know, bad habits have a price they cost you And now’s the time to develop good habits. I don’t think we’re never going to play perfect. Every player’s going to make mistakes. How much we can minimize those mistakes and the degree of those mistakes relative to how it impacts and affects the outcome of the game. I think we’re trying to get guys to stay focused on the process of how they have to focus on that particular play in that particular moment. So, they have the best chance to be able not to make, you know, a mistake that’s very disruptive to whether it’s offense, defense, giving up a big play, making a big play, you know, and everybody has a responsibility and obligation and accountability to everybody because as soon as one of us makes a mistake, including me, it impacts everybody on the team. So, I don’t know that that’s ever something that you used the word forgive. You try to learn from those mistakes so that you can improve in the future. So, they’re all opportunities, teaching experience, teaching moments, whatever you want to call them because you never want to give up a failing.
Question: You mentioned there being four really good running backs in the unit. Is there a challenge of getting them all opportunities during this time, you know, spreading the ball around?
“I think everybody has to sort of show how they could be used in a positive way. I think that’s position where those guys have been really good special teams players, and I think they can contribute in special teams as well as we’ve had as many as three guys have really strong sort of input into how they’ve been able to impact the team at one time. I think that’s a position we can do it. Hopefully, we will be able to stay healthy at that position, but there’s a competition and the best guys are going get the most opportunities and I think those guys can all contribute in a positive way to our team.”
Question: Not sure if you got a chance to see it, but Eli Drinkwitz kind of talked a lot yesterday about conference realignment and teams going from the East Coast to West Coast and how it might affect not just football, but you know, the other sports at schools and student athletes. I was wondering your opinion on that?
“Look, I did not hear what anybody’s comments have been about this. Look there’s a lot of traditions that we’ve had for a long time in college football, and I think we’re in a time of evolution for whatever reasons. Some of those traditions are going to get sort of pushed by the wayside I think, and t’s sad, whether it’s good, bad or indifferent for college football, I guess you have to define what is good, bad, what is good and bad for college football. I think one thing I would just hope that we would keep in mind and all the choices and decisions we make relative to what we do in college athletics is the student athlete. They’re here to get an education, want to try to help them develop careers on and off the field. Hopefully some of the choices and decisions that we make for college athletics in the future will impact them in a positive way. I hope that we can keep that as a priority in terms of whatever we decide to do in the future of college football and college athletics.”
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