- Saban said he didn't have a definitive answer on Blake Barnett. They spoke before practice today (Barnett came to Saban) about concerns over his status with the program. Saban said he was not aware of any decision being made for certain either way. Did not specify if he is currently with the team or not.
- ArDarius Stewart, Robert Foster and Damien Harris are considered game-time decisions, though they've all been at practice this week.
- Told a good story about him and a member of the Stoops clan arguing football at a bar on the recruiting trail years ago. The bar was robbed at gunpoint and the two were so involved in their conversation that they didn't even realize it.
- Talked a little more about some of the WRs trying to develop chemistry with Jalen Hurts and how they can encourage that in practice. It's a simple answer, really: Play WRs with the QBs they expect to be catching the ball from.
OPENING STATEMENT
"We've had a very productive week so far. I talked to you on Monday about how we wanted to try to build some momentum and continue to improve as a team as we get into SEC games here over the next stretch and we certainly have a challenging opponent this week in Kentucky. I like the way the players have responded. Their energy in practice has been good. They're working hard. I think everybody understands the consequences of every choice and decision that they make relative to how they prepare and how they practice, the decisions they make off the field. All these things contribute to who you are and how successful you can be and that's certainly something that I think the players have done a good job of this week, so we're happy about that.
"I know there's a lot swirling around about Blake Barnett. He did come to see me today before practice with some concerns about his future. Blake is a fine young man, he's done a great job with his program and we'd love to see him be a part of the program in a future but we also want him to do what's best for him. I don't have a final decision on that. Nobody has told me that. You may know more about it than I do so I can't make any more comments about it other than that.
"From an injury standpoint, Damien and Robert have both practiced. ArDarius has been running and doing some running. I can't really tell you who could or who couldn't play. I think these will all be sort of right-before-the-game decisions relative to whether these guys will be ready to go or not."
I know you said you couldn't say any more, but is Blake with the team or not with the team?
"What did I say? What does that mean?"
I still have to ask the question.
"Well, you asked and I already answered it."
Is he with the team or not?
"I don't know. We'll make a statement when we find out for sure. How's that?"
At receiver, the guys who are stepping in with the guys who have been banged up…
"Trevon Diggs and Cam Sims did a really good job in the last game. Dieter is still working and doing a good job. Robert has practiced some this week. All the guys, you know who's on the roster. They don't fall out of the sky. We're coaching the guys we have, they're doing a good job. That's our main focus and concern, the guys on our team, how can we make them better and how can they be more productive when the game comes, and they've been working hard to do that and we're happy about that."
When a player comes to you concerned about his standing or status with the program, how do those meetings go?
"I listen. I try to understand. I listen really closely about what the concerns are. Look, I understand that everyone wants to play. I understand that only one guy can play quarterback, although we've had a pretty significant competition at that position and both guys have played quite a bit and done good things at times. I try to make them aware of the consequences of the decision that they make and offer some experiences that we have in the past to try to get them to make the best value decision for their future. Sometimes we agree on that and sometimes we don't, but it's everybody's choice to make in terms of what they do. I try to do what's best for our team and our players on it. My focus has to be on the players that are on our team, who are committed to our team, who are going to work to help this team to be good and try to get better. The guys that put the team first are the most important thing for us right now in terms of us being a better team."
Mark Stoops talked about the story of you and his uncle in the bar when it was robbed and you having no idea. Can you expound on that?
"Talk of the Town. That was the name of the bar. Uncle Bob and I were sitting at the bar and we were talking football. He was the coach at South High School at the time. It was kind of a round bar, so it wasn't like you could see everything that was happening. We were talking football and we were arguing about something, I don't know. We were drawing up stuff and a guy comes in with a shotgun and holds the place up. Well, we keep arguing and we keep talking. The police come and they ask us about the robbery, and we say 'What robbery?' So that was kind of the story. The place got robbed and we didn't even know it. I don't know if we were that focused or if we were just having that much fun talking about football."
Some of the receivers talk about getting more reps to develop timing with the quarterback. Can you create that?
"We try to share the reps in terms of how guys are going to play. Receiver is a position where you like to play multiple players so guys don't get wore down in a game or as the season progresses. We thought that was a position we had pretty good depth at this year. Lo and behold, you lose two guys for a game or two and all of a sudden, you're not as deep as you thought. But this has offered other guys an opportunity and I was really impressed with Cam Sims. Trevon Diggs is making a lot of progress at the position. Dieter has played a lot of football for us. Some other guys have got to play because of this. Hopefully we'll get these guys back quickly and we'll be better than we were before because of the experience they gained. However we're going to play a guy in the game, if we're going to rotate a guy at right receiver or left receiver, we try to do that rep-wise with the quarterback they'll end up playing with."
Keith Holcombe?
"Keith Holcombe has done an outstanding job for us. He's one of our core special teams guys. He's really overcome a lot to be a part of the team. He's had a lot of injury issues this year that he's played through and played with. He got to play in the last game and was the player of the game in terms of his production points. We think he's a really good player and we're excited about his future and the contribution he's made to the team. He's done a really good job for us."
