Nick Saban explains Mac Jones’ biggest hurdle, pinpoints when it all changed
By Keith Farner
Published:
Nick Saban has watched Mac Jones ascend to the top of the sport as a national champion at Alabama, and now a successful quarterback in the NFL for the New England Patriots.
But to get there, Saban said Jones had to improve his demeanor, and the mental part of the game.
“That was probably Mac’s biggest hurdle as a player,” Saban said this week, per On3. Was being able to control his emotions. Especially playing the quarterback position. To not get so upset when he threw a bad ball or made a bad read or whatever.”
Saban then shared a story about when he realized the change in Jones’ body language.
“We had one day where we had to go in the indoor. Sometimes, I’ll sit in the weight coaches office and look out the window,” Saban said. And looking out the window, I can only see half of the field, so Mac was on the other side of the field. I could see Mac, but I couldn’t see the defense and I couldn’t see his receivers. So every time he would throw the ball, I would look at Mac, and I could tell if it was complete or incomplete based on his body language. I told the film guy to film this. I think that may have been the turning point for him.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
