One of the more talked-about injuries around college football has improved recently, according to Alabama coach Nick Saban.

Saban on the SEC coaches media teleconference said that QB Tua Tagovailoa has been fairly well protected as the Crimson Tide has allowed just 10 sacks in 10 games, which leads the SEC. Tagovailoa has dealt with a right knee injury since the Missouri game, but it was also hit last week against Mississippi State.

“How banged up can he be? We do the best to protect him but he got hurt earlier in the year, he’s over that now,” Saban said. “I think the focus needs to be on everyone else so we can limit the hits on the QB.”

Saban was also asked about his criticism of the offensive line.

“Could the offensive line have done better? Yes. Where they responsible for all the sacks? No. Sometimes it’s a back or tight end, sometimes it’s on the QB. It’s a combination of things but it involves all the players,” he said.

With Citadel set to visit Alabama this week, Saban was asked about how much input he has on the schedule, and how those decisions are made.

“Anytime you have a team that has some carry over to a team you will play, sometimes that’s beneficial,” he said. “Sometimes the offense changes after you schedule, that’s happened here. I don’t think people realize how tough it is to get people to play, it’s tough.”

Saban admitted that Alabama will have a challenge in Citadel’s rushing attack. The SEC doesn’t typically present speed option attacks, though there are various types of options, he said.

“You have to stop the inside run as well, but this one is on a whole ‘nother level,” he said.

Given their success in the NFL, Saban was asked about former Alabama wide receivers Julio Jones, Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley.

“All talented guys, they all have intangibles,” he said. “All were some of the hardest workers on the team. They tried to be the best player on the team. They improved on a daily basis.”

For his part, Saban believes the SEC is the best conference.

“I’ve always felt that way,” he said. “It’s not just the top but the bottom. Mississippi State, Texas A&M, LSU, Auburn, just in our division, you have four or five good teams and we haven’t played the East, but Georgia is a good team. If you go through the conference, that’s how you figure it out.”