Alabama is off to a 1-0 start in 2020 winning comfortably (unless you bet the point spread) 38-19 at Missouri.

After the season-opening victory, Nick Saban addressed reporters via Zoom for a press conference. He discussed the overall performance, playing in front of a limited-capacity crowd, as well as some big-name individual performances such as Mac Jones, Dylan Moses and Bryce Young.

Here are the highlights of what Saban said:

  • He thought “team did a lot of good things” but, did not maintain the same intensity in the second half.
  • “From a team standpoint, when you play a first game you figure out who you are and where you are. And then you figure out what to do to get better.”
  • “We had far too many penalties. Especially pre-snap penalties which has been an issue we have worked so hard on but really didn’t show up tonight.”
  • “Bryce needed to get a little playing time and I think it will help his learning curve.”
  • “There’s a lot of things that we can improve on, but I’m proud of our team.”
  • “I think every guy on our team has a lot of maturity at what they need to do to get better.”
  • On limited attendance “It didn’t feel normal…”
  • Saban said Jones’ performance came as “no surprise.” “I was very very pleased with how Mac played.”
  • On the absence of safeties coach Charles Kelly, who did not travel: “We wish Charles and his family good luck in getting well and we’ll hope that he gets back soon.”
  • Mike Stoops stepped in Kelly.
  • On Dylan Moses: “Dylan played well. I think he’s very confident.”
  • More on Moses: “I think he helps everyone play better.”
  • Saban was “really encouraged” by the way the defense played in the first half.