Nick Saban's Week 6 presser: Chatting about Georgia win, Arkansas game
Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide had a huge 38-10 win at Georgia last week. Alabama will play at home against Arkansas this week.
Here were some highlights of his comments at his weekly presser on Monday:
- Opening statement on rainy win at Georgia: “Our players did a really good job in some tough circumstances … really proud of the statement they made in the game.”
- Saban said that it was only a big win if they carry that type of effort into future games.
- Saban said there were a few guys nicked up who may miss Monday’s practice, but no major injuries to report from Saturday’s game.
- Called Arkansas an “efficient, effective” passing team to go along with a “great” running game.
- Saban stressed his team need for consistency. Called it a “human behavior we all struggle with every day.”
- Expressed that he was pleased with the way his defense has been getting off the field on third downs.
- On the state of special teams: “I think the kicking game was probably best in the last game in spite of some difficult circumstances.”
- On RB Kenyan Drake’s dud of a game against Georgia: “He can’t make a home run every time he gets the ball. He’s got to trust the plays and the way their designed and trust that a three or four yard gain is a good play.”
- On QB Jake Coker being at his best against Wisconsin and Georgia: “I think we probably ran the ball a little more effectively in those games, which helped in the play action passes and helped with the third down chances.”
- Saban gave compliments to DL Jarran Reed for his production, attributed it to being better shape.
- Saban said he believes RB Derrick Henry seems to get better as the game goes along and the more carries he receives, so that’s something they plan to keep in mind as the season moves along.
- Saban said he’s not mad at his team for the pregame scuffle with Georgia, but said he used it as an opportunity to make sure his team was focusing its energy in the right direction: “I can’t talk trash and focus on what I’m supposed to do. But I don’t know, maybe I’m not a trash talker.”
- Saban got a little fiery with reporters toward the end of the press conference when asked about if he was worried about what the media says about the team would impact his players. “It really doesn’t matter what you think and it really doesn’t matter what you say.” He said the media had the team “buried six feet under” before last week’s game, and he sure wasn’t listening to them then, so why would they listen now?