- Injuries: BJ Emmons sprained a foot and is out indefinitely. Bo Scarbrough is ill and considered day-to-day but it's not serious. Alphonse Taylor did some individual work the last 2 days but is still limited. Calvin Ridley was not mentioned.
- Said Tony Brown has done a nice job this week with a bigger role: "Tony Brown has done a good job for us. He’s working hard. He’s a really good competitor. The challenge is to stay focused on the things that you need to do to do your job well. He’s done a pretty good job of that this week."
- Was effusive in his praise of Dalvin Tomlinson as a person. I'd second this, by the way. One of the nicest, most helpful players I've encountered in my line of work. "He always seems to make the obstacle the way to get better and improve," Saban said. "As fine a person and as fine a young man as you're ever going to find. I don't think in all the time he's been here, he's ever been in my office for anything that he's ever done wrong or disrespectful in any way, shape or form."
- Likes what he's seen recently from Cam Robinson against players like Derek Barnett and Myles Garrett: "This (LSU game) will be another test for him, but I think he’s done fairly well against some pretty good players so far this year."
OPENING STATEMENT
"I've talked a lot about how when you get in this part of the season you really want to be trying to play your best football as a team. Obviously, the way you practice, the way you prepare, the way you can stay focused on not only what to do, but how to do it and knowing why it's important to do it that way, which is all about technique and fundamentals, which I think at this time of season, the way you practice, you change game plans every week, you change plays, you change defenses, you play different kinds of offenses, you play different kinds of defenses. Those things are the things that have to stay with you. They have to help you play good football at this time of year.
"It's another opportunity for our team, for a great competitor. You love games like this. We have four games where we play really good teams in our division. This is obviously one of the best teams in our league as well and will be a real challenge for us. But it will still come down to who can sustain and play with consistency, blocking, tackling, doing their job? Not give up big plays, making big plays, taking care of the ball. All those fundamental things all contribute to having success or being unsuccessful.
"We do have an injury report. B.J. Emmons sprained his foot and he's out indefinitely. Bo Scarbrough was ill today but we don't think it's something that is real serious. But we'll take it day-to-day."
Do you feel like Tim Williams has had a fire lit under him since that suspension?
"Well, I don't know about that. I think that Tim has really played well for us all year long. I think he played well before that and I think he's played very well since then. We're just trying to get Tim to be able to play outside linebacker effectively, which he did at Arkansas when we had to play against regular people, so he can be an every-down player and do a good job of that. He's made significant progress at that and hopefully he'll be able to do it well in this game because that will be what have to play against quite a bit of the time."
How has their quarterback taken their offense to another level compared to last year?
"I'm not making comparisons but what he has done well to me is, I think he's a really smart player. I think he does some check-with-mes at the line to get them in the right plays based on the defense that they're playing against. Probably run to run, maybe some run to pass. I think he plays within himself very well. They've made a lot more explosive plays because they've hit on because of his ability to pass the ball and they have very good skill players that can make big plays down the field. That balance with their great running game, and their ability to do that makes it very difficult on defensive teams and I think he's the guy that makes it work for them."
This defense is kind of built to protect against faster teams or teams that are spread out. How prepared are you to face a group that will run right at you?
"Well, I think Arkansas was a similar team in terms of how they try to run the football. Probably not as good of an offensive line as what we're going to see here. I don't think anybody has as good of running backs as we're going to see. So it'll be a real challenge for us. It'll be a real test for us. I think Reuben has played physical and been pretty good in block protection which I think is critical in this game and so has Shaun Dion. So it'll be really important for him to do it this game as well."
With it being Dalvin Tomlinson's last season, what have you seen out of him achievement-wise and growth-wise since he first got here?
"Dalvin is one of those guys that has been through a lot personally here, family-wise. He also went through a lot himself in terms of two knee injuries that set him back. You're talking about a guy that is a great example of perseverance. He always seems to make the obstacle the way to get better and improve. As fine a person and as fine a young man as you're ever going to find. I don't think in all the time he's been here, he's ever been in my office for anything that he's ever done wrong or disrespectful in any way, shape or form. He's certainly represented the program in a first-class way. He got bigger and stronger and was very productive for us a year ago and he's been even more productive for us this year. We're really pleased with not only the player but also the person, the student and how he's represented the institution."
How has Cam Robinson played against some of the more talented defensive ends he's faced recently?
"He’s done a good job, and [they were] certainly challenging. So he’s going to be challenged in this game. No. 49 for them, Arden Key, is a really, really good player, really good pass rusher. They’re very athletic up front. Very athletic at linebacker. So they present some challenges for both of our tackles and also our inside guys in terms of the way they can rush. This will be another test for him, but I think he’s done fairly well against some pretty good players so far this year."
Alphonse Taylor update:
"He’s at practice. He’s just not able to do a whole lot. Until he feels like he doesn’t have any issues, relative to being able to do a little bit of activity – he does do individual drills –and we kind of take it from there. He’s still day-to-day, and will stay that way until the medical staff feels that he’s ok to come back into the lineup."
How has Tony Brown done stepping in this week?
Tony Brown has done a good job for us. He’s working hard. He’s a really good competitor. The challenge is to stay focused on the things that you need to do to do your job well. He’s done a pretty good job of that this week. I think he appreciates the opportunity that he has and wants to make the most of it. We’re doing everything we can to help him do that.
Timing in passing game improved?
I think that timing is very important in the passing game. I think it’s important for us to get more out of the good skill players that we have in terms of their production and ability to make big plays. I think it’s going to be important for us down the stretch here, in this game and every other game we play, that we can do that a little better than what we’ve done in the past. I think we’ve made some progress over during practice and this bye week. This is probably, arguably, one of the most athletic secondaries that we’ve played against, and they’re going to play a lot of close coverage. I’m certain it’ll be a challenge for both our receivers and quarterback, as well as the athletic front that they have and the challenges that they present in the pass rush. This is going to be a real test for us from that standpoint.
Your team did a lot for this community in 2011. Have you thought about what LSU's players have gone through this year?
Well, we did a lot, I think, and I’m really proud of our organization, our program here, our people and our state did what they could to help support those folks in Baton Rouge and also Lafayette and some other areas that were affected. Some of those kinds of things are really about people. They’re not about teams, rivalries, games. That’s the one thing we always want to have compassion for and do as much as we can to help. I was really pleased with the way our community has responded to that. But now it’s time for the game. Our players have worked hard all year, just like their players have, to try and make something significant our of their season. This is another step in being able to do that with both teams and I’m sure that’s the major focus for all of us.
