Opening statement
“I've been encouraged with the way our players have sort of started preparation for the first game. I know this time of year fall camp is always a grind, so there's always a lot of anticipation, a lot of energy and enthusiasm to play the first game. And I think the focus for us needs to be on playing the best, setting a standard for how we want to play, how we want to do things, how we want to finish plays, how we want to execute. You know, what is the identity of this team going to be?
“I think there's lessons learned from a year ago when we didn't prepare right, we didn't practice the way I think we need to practice to prepare. And we didn't always play really well. So to be a more consistent team in terms of our ability to prepare and execute, I think, is going to be critical for how play, not only in the opener but how we progress throughout the season.
“Utah State, Blake Anderson has a really good job there. This team can play really in any conference and do well. They ended up a Top 25 team a year ago. They won 11 games. Beat a couple of Pac-12 teams. Beat Oregon State in a bowl game. And they've got like 12 starters back. The quarterback's back, who's a really good player. They were one of the most effective passing teams in the country a year ago.
“These guys are very aggressive on defense. They create a lot of negative plays. They get a lot of turnovers. They've got their specialists back. They had a game...
“Got off to a little bit of a slow start but then played really well as the game progressed. This is really kind of about us and how we prepare to play and what we need to do against a really good opponent. So that's going to be the emphasis all week long for us.”
Tony’s take: This season’s roster features as much talent as any Alabama has assembled. With that in mind, one of the only things that can get in the Crimson Tide’s way is itself. Last year, Alabama dealt with several off-field issues as some of its younger players were unable to live up to the team’s standard and ultimately weren’t able to step up when called upon late in the year. The loss to Georgia in the national championship game appears to have lit a fire in this year’s team which should lead to a more focused approach.
For Saban, that begins with taking the first opponent seriously. Utah State struggled in its opener against UConn over the weekend and is currently a 40-point underdog against Alabama. However, that won’t matter to Saban, who pointed out that the Aggies have plenty of returning players while stating they shouldn’t be a pushover this weekend.
On what position he’s most comfortable with in terms of depth
“We're just trying to get as many guys to play winning football as we possibly can. So there's a lot of competition on our team right now, which I think really helps you develop the kind of depth that you need on the team, because guys are out there every day working hard. I think one of the things we've tried to emphasize to our players is, whether you're going to start or be a backup, you've got to prepare yourself to be ready to go when you get your opportunity.
There are a lot of guys that kind of slack off a little bit when they don't think they're going to play or they're not going to start or whatever their role might be. And then when they do get to play and they do get to be called on, they're not ready to go. We're trying to emphasize that so that we get more players on the team who can play winning football for us. We're going to continue to do that at every position.”
Tony’s take: You could make an argument for outside linebacker or running back being Alabama’s deepest position group. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter for Saban who is trying to build that same level of balance in every unit of his team. Once again he emphasizes the importance of every player being ready for their opportunity regardless of where they are on the depth chart. Following last season, expect that to be a common them for the head coach.
On how impressive the depth is at running back that Jase McClellan is a backup
“I think we feel good about the running back position. There's experience there, even though two out of the first three guys — or two out of the first four guys, however you want to couch it — are coming off injuries. They don't seem to be having any issues or problems and have had really good fall camps.
Jahmyr has been a really positive addition to the offense in terms of what he gives us. So I think we have five guys there who can play winning football and we're going to continue to try to develop all those guys. Obviously, based on what happened last year, this is a position where it's good to have a lot of depth.
Tony’s take: Even after moving freshman Emmauel Henderso Jr. to wide receiver, Alabama’s backfield features five former Rivals100 members. As Saban pointed out, all five have the talent to contribute this season. After going through an injury crisis at the position last year, the Crimson Tide knows it can’t have too many viable options.
On Terrion Arnold and the depth at cornerback
“Well, he’s played with a lot of consistency. He’s got a lot more confidence now. I think he’s a lot more comfortable with what he’s supposed to do, how he’s supposed to do it, why he’s supposed to do it that way. He’s played really well all fall camp. I’m really pleased with the progress that he’s made. Consistency in performance at any position is really important, but especially at the cornerback position where you really got to focus because there’s gonna be five or six plays in the game that you’re gonna have to make, but those five or six plays are going to be critical plays in the game. They’ll probably end up either being big plays or incompletions. So that consistency in performance is really, really important at that position because you’ve got to be able to stay focused and stay on your game, even though you may only get challenged five or six plays in the game. We’ll see who can do that the best.”
Tony’s take: Terrion Arnold has been one of Alabama’s breakout players this offseason. Despite not taking part in a single snap last season, the redshirt freshman has worked his way up the depth chart and is now listed as a co-starter with Khyree Jackson at one of the two cornerback spots. Saban's statement appears to indicate that the cornerback battle is still on. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see both Arnold and Jackson get a fair share of first-team reps during Saturday’s opener.
On Cameron Latu’s status and the tight end unit
“Cam’s gonna start practicing today. See how he progresses, see how he does. I don’t think anybody can make a prediction about that right now. He’s been on the treadmill and all that stuff last week. He’s never had an issue, never had a problem. So the next thing he does is start dry-land working, doing individual, seeing what he can do in practice. It’s kind of day-to-day with him. But I think the good news is because we have three young players at the position, they have gotten a ton of reps and made significant progress because of the ton of reps they’ve got in his absence. Robbie Ouzts has done a really good job at the position, but all three young guys have made significant progress and they’ll probably have some role in this game.”
Tony’s take: While it’s encouraging to see that Cameron Latu is returning to practice, Alabama will likely be without its starting tight end for the beginning of the season. The positive news for the Crimson Tide is that its young reserves all had plenty of playing time this preseason and appear to be showing progress. With Latu out, Robbie Outz is listed as the starter followed by junior college transfer Miles Kitselman and freshmen Danny Lewis Jr. and Amari Niblack. That should be enough to get the Crimson Tide by early on, but it’s unlikely the team will work out of many two-tight-end sets.
On the news of Brian Robinson Jr. getting shot as the victim of an attempted robbery
“Obviously, our thoughts and prayers are out to B-Rob and his family. I did reach out to him. I didn’t get him. So we texted him. B-Rob is doing really, really well. I think he’s doing well relative to the information that we have, even to the point where they think he may be able to come back and play at some point this season. We’re hopeful for that. We’ll keep our fingers crossed. We’re just glad that this is not something that is critical to his future or putting his life in jeopardy in the short term.”
Tony’s take: Brian Robinson continues to be in Alabama’s prayers after getting shot as a victim in an attempted robbery Sunday night. Fortunately, Robinson’s injuries are not deemed life-threatening, and he should be able to make a full recovery.
On JaCorey Brooks as a kick returner
“He’s probably gonna be the off-returner. But Ja’Corey is very competitive. I like his spirit, I like his energy, I like the way he works every day. And he’s had a really good fall camp. Whatever role we’ve asked him to be in -- whether it’s special teams, being a starter at receiver, he’s always responded in a really positive way and done a good job. He’s continued to do that throughout fall camp and I’d assume will continue to do that all season long.”
Tony’s take: Ja’Corey Brooks is listed with Jahmyr Brooks as Alabama’s top two kick returners. However, as Saban points out, the sophomore receiver will likely serve as more of a blocker while Gibbs handles most of the returns. Last season, Gibbs averaged 25.61 yards per return, including a 98-yard touchdown against Boston College.
On encouraging competition throughout the team
“No one's entitled to anything on our team. So the message to every player every day, regardless of what the competitive circumstances of his position is, you're trying to create value for yourself, you're trying to be the best player that you can be. There shouldn't be any external factors that determine how you go about that. And if you're really a true competitor, you don't need somebody to be competing for your job because you're competing with yourselves to be the best version of yourself that you can be relative to whatever you choose to do in your life. So it just happens to be football that you're playing right now. So hopefully, you're going out there every day and competing to play well. And in most cases, I see guys that I don't think aren't doing that. But somebody else that's the one way to get the message across that you're not entitled to play unless you do things the way you're capable of doing them.”
Tony’s take: This message from Saban is especially important on depth chart day when players can either be discouraged or overconfident depending on where they are listed. As he stated earlier, the head coach is reminding his players that they should always be preparing for their opportunities and continue to focus on improvement at all times.
On advantages/disadvantages of playing in week zero?
“Well, I think it's always a good thing to play a game. You always find out where you are, like they probably found out a lot of things about their team. Usually improve a lot from week one to week two. So from that standpoint, it's probably an advantage to have had a game but at the same time, sometimes when we have the game, they go well, some things don't go well. Sometimes you get guys injured. I don't know what the status of their team is after that particular game, in terms of how it might impact them and how they'll play the next game. So I don't think anybody can really answer that question. Because it's probably up to each individual on each team in terms of how they approach what they do, but I fully expect this team to come here and having played a game or not played a game and look at this as a tremendous opportunity to sort of, you know, say who they are as a team in terms of how they play and what their motivation is. I don't think it's going to be anything but stellar in terms of how they come in and look at an approach playing us here in Tuscaloosa.
Tony’s take: Assuming Utah State didn’t pick up any significant injuries over the weekend, Saban believes the Aggies' opener against UConn will help them when it comes to improving for Saturday’s game against Alabama. He also used this response to reiterate that Utah State shouldn’t be taken lightly.
On Jaheim Oatis?
“Well, look, the first thing about being a good defensive lineman at whatever position you play is you need to be hard to block. So if I was gonna say something simple without getting too technical, I would say he was hard to block. And if he can continue to not make mental errors and understand exactly what his role is up front, I think he can make a significant contribution in playing. How do you compare one player to another? I don't really think, you know, they both play the same position. We have the same expectation for what they need to do at that position. And you know, both guys are capable of doing it well, so I don't think comparing players is really a fair thing for me to try to do.”
Tony’s take: Freshman Jaheim Oatis was listed as a co-starter along with senior D.J. Dale at the nose guard position on Alabama’s official depth chart. Oatis made headlines this offseason by dropping roughly 70 pounds since his senior season of high school. Now it appears the mammoth defensive tackle could take on a sizable role in Alabama’s defense. Saban pointed out that Oatis has been hard to block this preseason. While the freshman still needs to polish his game, he could be a factor on pass-rushing downs.
“I've been encouraged with the way our players have sort of started preparation for the first game. I know this time of year fall camp is always a grind, so there's always a lot of anticipation, a lot of energy and enthusiasm to play the first game. And I think the focus for us needs to be on playing the best, setting a standard for how we want to play, how we want to do things, how we want to finish plays, how we want to execute. You know, what is the identity of this team going to be?
“I think there's lessons learned from a year ago when we didn't prepare right, we didn't practice the way I think we need to practice to prepare. And we didn't always play really well. So to be a more consistent team in terms of our ability to prepare and execute, I think, is going to be critical for how play, not only in the opener but how we progress throughout the season.
“Utah State, Blake Anderson has a really good job there. This team can play really in any conference and do well. They ended up a Top 25 team a year ago. They won 11 games. Beat a couple of Pac-12 teams. Beat Oregon State in a bowl game. And they've got like 12 starters back. The quarterback's back, who's a really good player. They were one of the most effective passing teams in the country a year ago.
“These guys are very aggressive on defense. They create a lot of negative plays. They get a lot of turnovers. They've got their specialists back. They had a game...
“Got off to a little bit of a slow start but then played really well as the game progressed. This is really kind of about us and how we prepare to play and what we need to do against a really good opponent. So that's going to be the emphasis all week long for us.”
Tony’s take: This season’s roster features as much talent as any Alabama has assembled. With that in mind, one of the only things that can get in the Crimson Tide’s way is itself. Last year, Alabama dealt with several off-field issues as some of its younger players were unable to live up to the team’s standard and ultimately weren’t able to step up when called upon late in the year. The loss to Georgia in the national championship game appears to have lit a fire in this year’s team which should lead to a more focused approach.
For Saban, that begins with taking the first opponent seriously. Utah State struggled in its opener against UConn over the weekend and is currently a 40-point underdog against Alabama. However, that won’t matter to Saban, who pointed out that the Aggies have plenty of returning players while stating they shouldn’t be a pushover this weekend.
On what position he’s most comfortable with in terms of depth
“We're just trying to get as many guys to play winning football as we possibly can. So there's a lot of competition on our team right now, which I think really helps you develop the kind of depth that you need on the team, because guys are out there every day working hard. I think one of the things we've tried to emphasize to our players is, whether you're going to start or be a backup, you've got to prepare yourself to be ready to go when you get your opportunity.
There are a lot of guys that kind of slack off a little bit when they don't think they're going to play or they're not going to start or whatever their role might be. And then when they do get to play and they do get to be called on, they're not ready to go. We're trying to emphasize that so that we get more players on the team who can play winning football for us. We're going to continue to do that at every position.”
Tony’s take: You could make an argument for outside linebacker or running back being Alabama’s deepest position group. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter for Saban who is trying to build that same level of balance in every unit of his team. Once again he emphasizes the importance of every player being ready for their opportunity regardless of where they are on the depth chart. Following last season, expect that to be a common them for the head coach.
On how impressive the depth is at running back that Jase McClellan is a backup
“I think we feel good about the running back position. There's experience there, even though two out of the first three guys — or two out of the first four guys, however you want to couch it — are coming off injuries. They don't seem to be having any issues or problems and have had really good fall camps.
Jahmyr has been a really positive addition to the offense in terms of what he gives us. So I think we have five guys there who can play winning football and we're going to continue to try to develop all those guys. Obviously, based on what happened last year, this is a position where it's good to have a lot of depth.
Tony’s take: Even after moving freshman Emmauel Henderso Jr. to wide receiver, Alabama’s backfield features five former Rivals100 members. As Saban pointed out, all five have the talent to contribute this season. After going through an injury crisis at the position last year, the Crimson Tide knows it can’t have too many viable options.
On Terrion Arnold and the depth at cornerback
“Well, he’s played with a lot of consistency. He’s got a lot more confidence now. I think he’s a lot more comfortable with what he’s supposed to do, how he’s supposed to do it, why he’s supposed to do it that way. He’s played really well all fall camp. I’m really pleased with the progress that he’s made. Consistency in performance at any position is really important, but especially at the cornerback position where you really got to focus because there’s gonna be five or six plays in the game that you’re gonna have to make, but those five or six plays are going to be critical plays in the game. They’ll probably end up either being big plays or incompletions. So that consistency in performance is really, really important at that position because you’ve got to be able to stay focused and stay on your game, even though you may only get challenged five or six plays in the game. We’ll see who can do that the best.”
Tony’s take: Terrion Arnold has been one of Alabama’s breakout players this offseason. Despite not taking part in a single snap last season, the redshirt freshman has worked his way up the depth chart and is now listed as a co-starter with Khyree Jackson at one of the two cornerback spots. Saban's statement appears to indicate that the cornerback battle is still on. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see both Arnold and Jackson get a fair share of first-team reps during Saturday’s opener.
On Cameron Latu’s status and the tight end unit
“Cam’s gonna start practicing today. See how he progresses, see how he does. I don’t think anybody can make a prediction about that right now. He’s been on the treadmill and all that stuff last week. He’s never had an issue, never had a problem. So the next thing he does is start dry-land working, doing individual, seeing what he can do in practice. It’s kind of day-to-day with him. But I think the good news is because we have three young players at the position, they have gotten a ton of reps and made significant progress because of the ton of reps they’ve got in his absence. Robbie Ouzts has done a really good job at the position, but all three young guys have made significant progress and they’ll probably have some role in this game.”
Tony’s take: While it’s encouraging to see that Cameron Latu is returning to practice, Alabama will likely be without its starting tight end for the beginning of the season. The positive news for the Crimson Tide is that its young reserves all had plenty of playing time this preseason and appear to be showing progress. With Latu out, Robbie Outz is listed as the starter followed by junior college transfer Miles Kitselman and freshmen Danny Lewis Jr. and Amari Niblack. That should be enough to get the Crimson Tide by early on, but it’s unlikely the team will work out of many two-tight-end sets.
On the news of Brian Robinson Jr. getting shot as the victim of an attempted robbery
“Obviously, our thoughts and prayers are out to B-Rob and his family. I did reach out to him. I didn’t get him. So we texted him. B-Rob is doing really, really well. I think he’s doing well relative to the information that we have, even to the point where they think he may be able to come back and play at some point this season. We’re hopeful for that. We’ll keep our fingers crossed. We’re just glad that this is not something that is critical to his future or putting his life in jeopardy in the short term.”
Tony’s take: Brian Robinson continues to be in Alabama’s prayers after getting shot as a victim in an attempted robbery Sunday night. Fortunately, Robinson’s injuries are not deemed life-threatening, and he should be able to make a full recovery.
On JaCorey Brooks as a kick returner
“He’s probably gonna be the off-returner. But Ja’Corey is very competitive. I like his spirit, I like his energy, I like the way he works every day. And he’s had a really good fall camp. Whatever role we’ve asked him to be in -- whether it’s special teams, being a starter at receiver, he’s always responded in a really positive way and done a good job. He’s continued to do that throughout fall camp and I’d assume will continue to do that all season long.”
Tony’s take: Ja’Corey Brooks is listed with Jahmyr Brooks as Alabama’s top two kick returners. However, as Saban points out, the sophomore receiver will likely serve as more of a blocker while Gibbs handles most of the returns. Last season, Gibbs averaged 25.61 yards per return, including a 98-yard touchdown against Boston College.
On encouraging competition throughout the team
“No one's entitled to anything on our team. So the message to every player every day, regardless of what the competitive circumstances of his position is, you're trying to create value for yourself, you're trying to be the best player that you can be. There shouldn't be any external factors that determine how you go about that. And if you're really a true competitor, you don't need somebody to be competing for your job because you're competing with yourselves to be the best version of yourself that you can be relative to whatever you choose to do in your life. So it just happens to be football that you're playing right now. So hopefully, you're going out there every day and competing to play well. And in most cases, I see guys that I don't think aren't doing that. But somebody else that's the one way to get the message across that you're not entitled to play unless you do things the way you're capable of doing them.”
Tony’s take: This message from Saban is especially important on depth chart day when players can either be discouraged or overconfident depending on where they are listed. As he stated earlier, the head coach is reminding his players that they should always be preparing for their opportunities and continue to focus on improvement at all times.
On advantages/disadvantages of playing in week zero?
“Well, I think it's always a good thing to play a game. You always find out where you are, like they probably found out a lot of things about their team. Usually improve a lot from week one to week two. So from that standpoint, it's probably an advantage to have had a game but at the same time, sometimes when we have the game, they go well, some things don't go well. Sometimes you get guys injured. I don't know what the status of their team is after that particular game, in terms of how it might impact them and how they'll play the next game. So I don't think anybody can really answer that question. Because it's probably up to each individual on each team in terms of how they approach what they do, but I fully expect this team to come here and having played a game or not played a game and look at this as a tremendous opportunity to sort of, you know, say who they are as a team in terms of how they play and what their motivation is. I don't think it's going to be anything but stellar in terms of how they come in and look at an approach playing us here in Tuscaloosa.
Tony’s take: Assuming Utah State didn’t pick up any significant injuries over the weekend, Saban believes the Aggies' opener against UConn will help them when it comes to improving for Saturday’s game against Alabama. He also used this response to reiterate that Utah State shouldn’t be taken lightly.
On Jaheim Oatis?
“Well, look, the first thing about being a good defensive lineman at whatever position you play is you need to be hard to block. So if I was gonna say something simple without getting too technical, I would say he was hard to block. And if he can continue to not make mental errors and understand exactly what his role is up front, I think he can make a significant contribution in playing. How do you compare one player to another? I don't really think, you know, they both play the same position. We have the same expectation for what they need to do at that position. And you know, both guys are capable of doing it well, so I don't think comparing players is really a fair thing for me to try to do.”
Tony’s take: Freshman Jaheim Oatis was listed as a co-starter along with senior D.J. Dale at the nose guard position on Alabama’s official depth chart. Oatis made headlines this offseason by dropping roughly 70 pounds since his senior season of high school. Now it appears the mammoth defensive tackle could take on a sizable role in Alabama’s defense. Saban pointed out that Oatis has been hard to block this preseason. While the freshman still needs to polish his game, he could be a factor on pass-rushing downs.
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