TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nick Saban spoke to reporters Thursday in his last press conference before Saturday’s A-Day scrimmage. Here’s a transcript of what he said as well as my takes on what it means.
Opening statement
"All in all, I think spring practices, we’ve made a lot of progress. We’ve had an opportunity to get a lot of guys a lot of reps. Most everybody has made some progress, some guys more than others. But there’s a lot of challenges in the spring. There’s a lot of opportunity for guys to show they can overcome adversity. They can compete and play even when things don’t go the way they want them to. A-Day is an opportunity for that to happen. We split up the squads in A-Day so we get maximum reps for most of the players, which does not really mean the entire first team is on one team and the entire first team is on the other team. It means if we have certain guys at certain positions, we can manipulate them around to get reps for those guys by playing more of the game because we split the squads up that way, then that’s the way we do it. We have where we try to play the first teams against the first teams and the second teams so it’s a competitive game. We had a draft yesterday for all the staff. Coaching staff, support staff, recruiting staff, training staff. Everybody got picked. You got your team for steak on Monday or you got your team for beans and paper plates and plastic forks and spoons. You want a tablecloth? You want a steak? You want a baked potato? You want a dessert? You’ve got to win. That’s what’s at stake here."
Tony’s take: As A-Day tradition has it, the winner gets steak and the loser has to settle for pork and beans. Generally, Alabama splits its team to where the first-team offense and second-team defense face off against the second-team offense and first-team defense. However, as Saban points out, it isn’t an exact science when it comes to determining a depth chart.
It’s interesting that Alabama has a draft to determine how to divide its coaching and support staff. I feel bad for whoever had to be the last man picked.
More on A-Day
"We hope to have a big crowd for this game. This is one thing I think that … we have an iconic brand, and this is one of the reflections on our brand that we have so much interest that we get really, really good crowds for the A-Day game. It also is something that really inspires the players because they know they have a lot of people that support them. It’s the one way that all spring long for 15 practices, we’re out there grinding, going through practice, banging on each other. Now they have an opportunity to get some positive reinforcement by going out and playing in front of a group of people. This is something that they really look forward to. It will be interesting to see how everybody responds. Obviously we’re going to have quite a few guys who won’t participate in this game. The emphasis to the players is, I don't care what team you're on. Can you play winning football at your position? We need guys who can play winning football at their position. It doesn't matter what team you're on. First team, second team, whatever. That's what's going to help us be successful as a team and that's what going to help you create value for yourself if you can go out there and play winning football and impress people by the way you compete and the way you play and the way you can go out there and be accountable to do your job. This is what everybody should be focusing on. Shouldn’t be looking over their shoulder at anything else that might be happening in the world. Focus on what you’re doing and what you have to do to play winning football. That’s kind of what we need our players to do."
Tony Tsoukalas: Alabama will have several recruits in town for A-Day, and Saban is calling for a strong showing from fans to set a good impression. Assuming the weather holds up, there should be a good attendance. A quarterback battle always creates interest, and this will be the only time we get to see Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson duke it out before the start of the season.
On the cornerbacks and Alabama’s depth at the position
“We’ve got a long ways to go. I’ve been pleased with Kool-Aid and Terrion have had really good springs. Both those guys have some experience, so I think that really helps. We’re really young after that. We need to make a lot of progress. I think we’ve got guys who have ability to do it, but they have not developed the consistency or the confidence at the position they need to be able to play the way we want them to play. I think they’re very capable, but it’s going to be a work in progress for us in this game as well as the summer as well as fall camp.”
Tony’s take: Hearing Saban say the cornerbacks have “a long ways to go” is likely more than a little unsettling for most Crimson Tide fans. However, it shouldn’t be too unexpected. Outside of returning starters Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold, the Crimson Tide doesn’t have any other upperclasmen at the position.
After Jahquez Robinson and Tre’Quon Fegans entered the transfer portal this week, Alabama’s younger options could take on bigger roles this fall. Fortunately for the Crimson Tide, while it lacks experience, it has plenty of talent in the unit.
On how the mid-year additions have done this spring
"As a group, I think they benefited from the offseason program. I think they benefited from spring practice. I think there’s a group of those guys, if they continue to improve, they could contribute to the team. In some cases, they have an opportunity to be starters. In some cases, they have an opportunity to play on special teams and add depth. I think I’m pretty pleased for the most part with how those guys have developed, how they’re progressed and the kind of character and attitude they bring to trying to learn and develop as players."
Tony’s take: All but four of Alabama’s 28 signees joined the team over the winter. That allowed them to get acclimated with the program while taking part in spring camp. While every freshman won’t get a significant role this fall, the ones who do should be more prepared due to their extra time with
On if he has a message to players considering the portal
“No, I mean, we don't want anybody to get into the portal. We'd love to keep everybody on our team on our team. I think sometimes ... my experience with this is a little bit like free agency in the NFL. NFL players kind of know they're expendable. I think some college players sometimes think the portal is a one-way street, but it's really not, because we have an opportunity to bring guys in and replace them, too, if we choose to do that.
"We'd rather make it work with the guys that understand the culture in our program. But that's just another, you know, resource that you look at players and see if there's any way you can help the team and strengthen your roster.”
Tony’s take: First off, Saban has to say he wants to keep every player from the portal. In reality, Alabama needed players to transfer in order to get down to the 85-man scholarship limit this fall. Still, the head coach is right about one thing — the transfer portal is a two-way street. While it might seem like players hold most of the card when it comes to transferring, Alabama often comes away better when the dust settles from all of the offseason comings and goings. In short, Saban isn’t worried about where his roster stands at the moment.
On Justin Egboigbe and how he’s handled his injury
“He's been very mature about it. He's done everything that he needed to do to rehab to get himself back and get cleared and be able to go play. I think we sort of weaned him into it slowly when he was cleared to play. I think that helped him gain confidence that he can play. He's really done very well and really added tremendous maturity from a leadership standpoint to the defensive group.”
Tony’s take: Earlier this week, Justin Eboigbe detailed his journey back from his season-ending neck injury last year. One of the things the redshirt senior defensive lineman noted was a message from Alabama director of sports medicine Jeff Allen, who told him the setback was season-ending, not career-ending.
Eboigbe took those words to heart, focusing on his recovery while taking the necessary steps to get back on the field this season. The lineman’s dedication should serve as an example for other players who are hit with similar adversity. While Alabama will be happy to have Eboigbe back on the field, the veteran presence he brings to the locker room this fall will be arguably just as important.
That discipline should serve as a good example to younger players who
On the pressure his players face when playing in front of fans
“I think the game should be fun. I think people should have fun competing. I think they should go out there, have fun, play hard, be confident and knowing their job, and go out there and try to create value for themselves and their brand by how they play. Show that the team is meaningful to them and they want to do everything they can to help the team.
"I think it should be fun. I don't think there should be any pressure on anybody. I don't think we're going to lose. I mean, I don't think this gets us in or out of the playoffs or any of that. It's not a bowl game as far as I know, but it is a good experience. It's good to get in game-like situations. It's good for the coaching staff to work together, even though we'll have a very watered-down version of defense and offense and be a pretty simple game. But you do like to see how guys compete. It should be fun. You should have fun when you compete.
"You might get beat on a play, but having the maturity to not waste a failing and be able to play the next play and learn from the mistake that you made. That's important, too, because it might happen in a game. But I don't feel any pressure, and I don't think any players should feel any pressure. I think they should have fun. They should feel like they prepared, they practiced 14 practices, to go out there and be able to do well, compete, have fun, and create value for themselves.”
Tony’s take: For those counting at home, Saban used the word “fun” eight times in his response. As he points out, the outcome of Saturday’s scrimmage doesn’t matter. Instead of worrying about performing under pressure, he wants his players to play freely and focus on their individual jobs on the field. However, that’s easier said than done for younger players who are looking to work their way up the depth chart and may not be used to playing in front of big crowds
On his confidence in his quarterbacks and what he wants to see from them on A-Day
“We have confidence in the guys that we have in the program. They've worked hard all spring. They've had very, very good moments where they've shown some consistency and ability to make plays. And there's been obvious situations where we have work to do and things to work on.
"I'm confident in the guys that we have. I'm confident that they're going to work hard and be dedicated and committed to continuing to improve so that they can go out there and play winning football at their position.”
Tony’s take: As rumors continue to swirl about Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke potentially transferring to Alabama, Saban continued to express confidence in his current passers. As Saban said last weekend, Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson have had good moments while also undergoing growing pains this spring. Overall, Saban seems satisfied with his team’s situation behind center. However, he’s always looking to improve his roster and could still look to add from the portal if he feels he can lure in a potential difference-maker.
A good follow-up to this question would be whether or not Saban feels Milroe and Simpson are capable of playing “winning football” at the moment. I guess we will figure that out over the next couple of weeks.
On freshman safety Caleb Downs
“He's done great. He's got lots of maturity for a young guy, smart, understands football. Really conscientious about making sure he knows what to do and going out on the field and doing it. So he's had a really good spring and really has added a lot to the secondary with the way he's played. He's a good player.”
Tony’s take: The praise continues to roll in for Alabama safety Caleb Downs. The five-star freshman has been working with the first-team defense and is poised to see the field early this fall.
It’s hard enough to break into Alabama’s defense as a freshman. It’s even more impressive that Downs has done so at the safety position where players need to know Saban’s system well enough to make calls to the rest of the secondary.
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