VIDEO
OPENING STATEMENT
"Not a lot of different feelings about the last game in terms of how we played after watching the film. I think a lot better in the second half than the first, but I think the question that I would ask is how much did the other team really stop us and how much did we stop ourselves? Whether it was a dropped ball, a missed assignment, not getting the ball out of our hand when we need to, get enough play on defense (Listened several times and think that's what he said), whether it's not the right run fit or gap fit or whatever. These kind of execution things, I think, are really, really important, especially when the whole emphasis needs to be we need to play better over and over again, especially when you play better teams.
"I think we had some outstanding performances in the game. I think our team is making progress, but I think we need to continue to do that and continue to work because every week in the SEC you've got a real challenge and a real testand that certainly won't be any different playing on the road this weekend against Arkansas, which I think has a really, really good team.
"The quarterback is playing great for them. They're very well coached. Got some really good skill players, wide receivers, a couple of good running backs. They've got eight starters back on defense and they're playing really well on defense. The punter's done a great job for them all year long. This is a really strong opponent who's only lost one game this year and certainly has shown an ability to finish games and win close games.
"We don't have any real injury problems. We have a couple of guys who will be out in black shirts today. ArDarius Stewart will resume practice today. We're hopeful that he'll be able to get through the week and make the kind of progress he needs to be able to contribute in this game.
"Really happy that Josh Jacobs got named SEC freshman of the week. It's a great honor for him and I think he did a fantastic job in the game."
How would you react to players interested in protest?
"I would first of all listen to what the players had to say and really try to understand their point of what they want to do and respect their opinions and what they need to do. Look, I've never been in a lot of these situations that are occurring now. The only situation I was ever involved in I was a student at Kent State and the National Guard was there and we had an unfortunate incident. How poeple respond and how people react to that is an individual thing. I would do the best I could to try to understand why a player would want to do that. I do think that everyone's entitled to individual differences and believing what they want. I really do. We have never used our team here to demonstrate that myself. You've never heard me comment politically on anything. We try to keep things to be team things and for guys to try to respect that."
Important for Jeremy Pruitt to gain some experience elsewhere as a DC?
"I think any time someone gains experience doing the job that they're now sort of in charge of, that knowledge and experience is always beneficial to someone. I don't think there's any question about the fact that being a coordinator some place else away from here probably gave Jeremy a lot of that experience. I think it helps him do a good job for us and he's done a really good job for us so far this year. We're going to continue to support him and help him do that."
Questions about evaluating high school quarterbacks?
"I think quarterback is one of the most difficult positions to evaluate. I don't think it's hard to evaluate the physical skills that are required to play the position. But I think some of the most important things in playing quarterback is decision-making, judgment, leadership, accuracy under pressure, and those things are much more difficult to evaluate until a player is actually called upon to do that in your particular system, even in some cases.
"This is probably why there are more mistakes made on quarterbacks picked in the first round than anything else in the NFL. I think you have to have the 'right stuff' to play the position. You're distributing the ball every play. And that 'right stuff' part of this requires physical ability but it also gets into the mental makeup and judgment, decision-making, processing information, making quick decisions, that go a long way to making the guy an effective quarterback."
Arkansas is a physical team. How does that challenge the defense, particularly the depth on the defensive line?
"This team probably has demonstrated this year that they have one of the best balanced teams we're going to play. They've run the ball for almost 200 yards a game and thrown for 200 yards a game. I don't think they're one-dimensional at all. I think they're a very physical team and they're going to run the ball and they're going to run it downhill and they've got good backs and a good offensive line to do that. But I think their quarterback is playing extremely well. They've got great play-action passes that go with their running game. They've made a lot of explosive plays with their skill players. I think it's a combination of those two things that really will challenge the defense not only up front but also in the secondary."
How was Cooper Bateman’s play in the backup QB role?
"He did fine. He was only in there for one series, but I thought he did a nice job of moving the team and executed well."
Cam Robinson, player of the week?
"I thought Cam was a little more aggressive in the game and certainly played physical in the game. We think Cam has played well all year long, but I think sometimes when you have an outstanding player like that you always have high expectations for what he does. He certainly did a good job of sort of fulfilling those expectations in this last game. We were able to get some movement on the line of scrimmage and have the kind of balance that we want to have on offense, as well."
Tim Williams, during the suspension in the first half and his production in the second half?
"Well, I wasn’t watching him. I was watching the game in the first half, which I think is what I’m supposed to do. I didn’t notice Tim at all. But when he got his opportunity to play in the second half I thought he played really, really well. He was excited about having the opportunity and hopefully, with the other things that we have him do, this will be a learning experience that will help him grow and develop … (inaudible) will be more beneficial to his future."
Was there a moment before the season that you knew Jalen had that mental makeup to succeed?
"I don’t think you ever really know for sure that a guy has that mental makeup until he sort of gets in there under fire, and see what kind of decisions he’s going to make under fire. I think the fact that Jalen fumbled the ball the first snap that he played as a college player and then came back and played pretty well in the first game, and went Ole Miss and got behind 24-3 and sort of worked his way back in the game and sort of played better as the game went on, I think even last week, we didn’t get off to a very good start offensively in the first half, he was not particularly, maybe ‘on target’ would be a good way to say it, but sort of rallied and played a lot better in the second half and made a lot better reads and a lot better throws. I think that those things he has demonstrated through his performance. It’s not something that … I thought he had the right disposition at the position, but you never know for sure until you get in the game and see how they respond when things go well and also when things don’t go well."
Austin Allen, Arkansas QB?
"He’s a very good athlete. But I’ve been very, very impressed with his decision making, his judgment and his ability to make – he’s got a really good arm – and he’s made a lot of throws to the field, throws down the field. Executes their offense extremely well. Does a good job of faking their play-action passes. He’s got the highest completion percentage, I think, of any quarterback in the league and probably one of the highest efficiency ratings, I would guess, as well, even though I don’t look at stats that much. He’s a very effective and efficient player."
Eddie Jackson’s vision with the ball in his hands on a return?
"Eddie’s a very instinctive player. He’s a very instinctive guy in just about all aspects of how he plays and what he does. I think when he’s back there returning the ball or he gets an interception he shows some of those same instinctive abilities to make the right cut, the right choice, the right decision. How to set up and use his blockers and those types of things. The thing that I – on the punt return part of it – that we have to do a better job of is we have to get the ball fielded all the time. There’s been too many balls that are fieldable that cost you too much field position. Regardless of who’s back there I think we need to do a better job of that. Eddie’s always shown great judgment, you know, to get that part of it done. But the No. 1 thing on punt return is possession of the ball. If you can make a first down with the return that’s great, change field position, we want to make explosive plays on special teams. But we also don’t want to give up field position because we’re not making good judgments and decisions about fielding the ball."
- After reviewing Kentucky film: "I think our team is making progress, but I think we need to continue to do that and continue to work. Every week in the SEC, you have a real challenge and a real test."
- On Arkansas: "The quarterback is playing great for them, they're really well-coached ... They're playing really well on defense. The punter has done a great job for them all year long. This is a really strong opponent that has done a really good job all year long."
- No major injury updates. ArDarius Stewart will practice today and they hope to have him get through the week and play in the game.
- Saban asked what he would do if players came to him and wanted to have some kind of protest like what other athletes are doing now: "I would, first of all, listen to what the players have to say and try to understand the point of what they are trying to do ... I've never been in a lot of situations like what are occurring now ... How people respond and how people react to that is an individual thing. I would do the best I could to understand why a player wanted to do that. I do think everyone is entitled to individual differences."
- How difficult is it to evaluate QB play: "I think quarterback is one of the most difficult positions to evaluate. I don't think it's difficult to evaluate the physical skills needed to play the position..." but other things, like accuracy, presence, poise, knowledge, is much more difficult.
- Asked about Arkansas' tendency to line up and run the ball straight ahead: "This team probably has demonstrated they have one of the best balanced teams we're going to play ... I don't think they're one-dimensional at all."
OPENING STATEMENT
"Not a lot of different feelings about the last game in terms of how we played after watching the film. I think a lot better in the second half than the first, but I think the question that I would ask is how much did the other team really stop us and how much did we stop ourselves? Whether it was a dropped ball, a missed assignment, not getting the ball out of our hand when we need to, get enough play on defense (Listened several times and think that's what he said), whether it's not the right run fit or gap fit or whatever. These kind of execution things, I think, are really, really important, especially when the whole emphasis needs to be we need to play better over and over again, especially when you play better teams.
"I think we had some outstanding performances in the game. I think our team is making progress, but I think we need to continue to do that and continue to work because every week in the SEC you've got a real challenge and a real testand that certainly won't be any different playing on the road this weekend against Arkansas, which I think has a really, really good team.
"The quarterback is playing great for them. They're very well coached. Got some really good skill players, wide receivers, a couple of good running backs. They've got eight starters back on defense and they're playing really well on defense. The punter's done a great job for them all year long. This is a really strong opponent who's only lost one game this year and certainly has shown an ability to finish games and win close games.
"We don't have any real injury problems. We have a couple of guys who will be out in black shirts today. ArDarius Stewart will resume practice today. We're hopeful that he'll be able to get through the week and make the kind of progress he needs to be able to contribute in this game.
"Really happy that Josh Jacobs got named SEC freshman of the week. It's a great honor for him and I think he did a fantastic job in the game."
How would you react to players interested in protest?
"I would first of all listen to what the players had to say and really try to understand their point of what they want to do and respect their opinions and what they need to do. Look, I've never been in a lot of these situations that are occurring now. The only situation I was ever involved in I was a student at Kent State and the National Guard was there and we had an unfortunate incident. How poeple respond and how people react to that is an individual thing. I would do the best I could to try to understand why a player would want to do that. I do think that everyone's entitled to individual differences and believing what they want. I really do. We have never used our team here to demonstrate that myself. You've never heard me comment politically on anything. We try to keep things to be team things and for guys to try to respect that."
Important for Jeremy Pruitt to gain some experience elsewhere as a DC?
"I think any time someone gains experience doing the job that they're now sort of in charge of, that knowledge and experience is always beneficial to someone. I don't think there's any question about the fact that being a coordinator some place else away from here probably gave Jeremy a lot of that experience. I think it helps him do a good job for us and he's done a really good job for us so far this year. We're going to continue to support him and help him do that."
Questions about evaluating high school quarterbacks?
"I think quarterback is one of the most difficult positions to evaluate. I don't think it's hard to evaluate the physical skills that are required to play the position. But I think some of the most important things in playing quarterback is decision-making, judgment, leadership, accuracy under pressure, and those things are much more difficult to evaluate until a player is actually called upon to do that in your particular system, even in some cases.
"This is probably why there are more mistakes made on quarterbacks picked in the first round than anything else in the NFL. I think you have to have the 'right stuff' to play the position. You're distributing the ball every play. And that 'right stuff' part of this requires physical ability but it also gets into the mental makeup and judgment, decision-making, processing information, making quick decisions, that go a long way to making the guy an effective quarterback."
Arkansas is a physical team. How does that challenge the defense, particularly the depth on the defensive line?
"This team probably has demonstrated this year that they have one of the best balanced teams we're going to play. They've run the ball for almost 200 yards a game and thrown for 200 yards a game. I don't think they're one-dimensional at all. I think they're a very physical team and they're going to run the ball and they're going to run it downhill and they've got good backs and a good offensive line to do that. But I think their quarterback is playing extremely well. They've got great play-action passes that go with their running game. They've made a lot of explosive plays with their skill players. I think it's a combination of those two things that really will challenge the defense not only up front but also in the secondary."
How was Cooper Bateman’s play in the backup QB role?
"He did fine. He was only in there for one series, but I thought he did a nice job of moving the team and executed well."
Cam Robinson, player of the week?
"I thought Cam was a little more aggressive in the game and certainly played physical in the game. We think Cam has played well all year long, but I think sometimes when you have an outstanding player like that you always have high expectations for what he does. He certainly did a good job of sort of fulfilling those expectations in this last game. We were able to get some movement on the line of scrimmage and have the kind of balance that we want to have on offense, as well."
Tim Williams, during the suspension in the first half and his production in the second half?
"Well, I wasn’t watching him. I was watching the game in the first half, which I think is what I’m supposed to do. I didn’t notice Tim at all. But when he got his opportunity to play in the second half I thought he played really, really well. He was excited about having the opportunity and hopefully, with the other things that we have him do, this will be a learning experience that will help him grow and develop … (inaudible) will be more beneficial to his future."
Was there a moment before the season that you knew Jalen had that mental makeup to succeed?
"I don’t think you ever really know for sure that a guy has that mental makeup until he sort of gets in there under fire, and see what kind of decisions he’s going to make under fire. I think the fact that Jalen fumbled the ball the first snap that he played as a college player and then came back and played pretty well in the first game, and went Ole Miss and got behind 24-3 and sort of worked his way back in the game and sort of played better as the game went on, I think even last week, we didn’t get off to a very good start offensively in the first half, he was not particularly, maybe ‘on target’ would be a good way to say it, but sort of rallied and played a lot better in the second half and made a lot better reads and a lot better throws. I think that those things he has demonstrated through his performance. It’s not something that … I thought he had the right disposition at the position, but you never know for sure until you get in the game and see how they respond when things go well and also when things don’t go well."
Austin Allen, Arkansas QB?
"He’s a very good athlete. But I’ve been very, very impressed with his decision making, his judgment and his ability to make – he’s got a really good arm – and he’s made a lot of throws to the field, throws down the field. Executes their offense extremely well. Does a good job of faking their play-action passes. He’s got the highest completion percentage, I think, of any quarterback in the league and probably one of the highest efficiency ratings, I would guess, as well, even though I don’t look at stats that much. He’s a very effective and efficient player."
Eddie Jackson’s vision with the ball in his hands on a return?
"Eddie’s a very instinctive player. He’s a very instinctive guy in just about all aspects of how he plays and what he does. I think when he’s back there returning the ball or he gets an interception he shows some of those same instinctive abilities to make the right cut, the right choice, the right decision. How to set up and use his blockers and those types of things. The thing that I – on the punt return part of it – that we have to do a better job of is we have to get the ball fielded all the time. There’s been too many balls that are fieldable that cost you too much field position. Regardless of who’s back there I think we need to do a better job of that. Eddie’s always shown great judgment, you know, to get that part of it done. But the No. 1 thing on punt return is possession of the ball. If you can make a first down with the return that’s great, change field position, we want to make explosive plays on special teams. But we also don’t want to give up field position because we’re not making good judgments and decisions about fielding the ball."
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