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Alabama coach Nick Saban spoke to the media after the team’s second spring practice on Monday.
Here are the highlights from what he had to say, including a player that’s stepping up at center, another that’s thriving after a move to inside linebacker, a battle brewing at the running back position and more.
First off, he felt his team practiced much better than it did on March 11, the team’s opening practice before going on spring break.
#Bama CNS: Everybody made it back. Had a good practice. Had more guys doing it right than we had the practice before (spring break).
— Ken Rogers (@DEBamabeat) March 21, 2016
Saban: What will it take for you to become a complete player is what I ask the players.
— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) March 21, 2016
Saban: "You can't be casual when you approach spring practice. Spring practice is like a project, man.It's like we're building a new house."
— Alex Byington (@_AlexByington) March 21, 2016
Sophomores Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough are battling it out at the running back position.
#Bama CNS: Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough both more ready to compete at RB this year. Both have looked good through 2 practices.
— Ken Rogers (@DEBamabeat) March 21, 2016
Saban on Rashaan Evans' move to inside linebacker: "We were looking where he could develop to have an every-down position the best."
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) March 21, 2016
Saban talked about the expectations he has of his players on spring break. While he doesn’t check in on the players, he still has a good eye for whether they did as he suggested.
#Bama CNS: We tell players when they go on spring break, we would like for you to work out 4 times. We'll know the players who worked out.
— Ken Rogers (@DEBamabeat) March 21, 2016
Saban on working out: The one thing I've been really encouraged about our players here, when we encourage them to do something, they do it.
— Alex Byington (@_AlexByington) March 21, 2016
The team is trying to replace former Alabama center Ryan Kelly, a First-Team All-SEC player last season. Former offensive guard Ross Pierschbacher, a redshirt sophomore, is being groomed at the position and is responding nicely.
Saban said Ross Pierschbacher has been tested out at center in two practices and has done a nice job there.
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) March 21, 2016
#Bama CNS: We run zone blocking, gap blocking and man blocking. Center is important part of any of those schemes. Center is leader of front.
— Ken Rogers (@DEBamabeat) March 21, 2016
Saban said redshirt junior receiver Robert Foster learned a lot while being sidelined for all but three games with a shoulder injury last season.
Saban said WR Robert Foster (shoulder) is "doing a good job. … He's doing everything everyone else is doing."
— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) March 21, 2016
Another pass-catcher is coming off the best game of his life on the biggest stage of them all. Saban said he’s thrilled with tight end O.J. Howard’s decision to return for his senior season.
#Bama CNS: OJ Howard's an outstanding player. There are things he can improve and there are things we can improve to better utilize him.
— Ken Rogers (@DEBamabeat) March 21, 2016
Saban also talked about senior LB Reuben Foster, giving him praise for his effort last season but also making it clear that he expects everyone to improve and play up to a certain standard. However, he may have mentioned the wrong basketball player when making his analogy.
Saban on Reuben Foster: He played well for us last year. We don't have any player that doesn't need to get better. We have no Seth Currys.
— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) March 21, 2016
Born and raised in Gainesville, Talal joined SDS in 2015 after spending 2 years in Bristol as an ESPN researcher. Previously, Talal worked at The Gainesville Sun.
