Nick Saban outlines key matchups vs. Georgia, what he likes about the Bulldog offense
By Keith Farner
Published:
One of the most-watched matchups this week in the Georgia-Alabama game will be the Alabama wide receivers against the Georgia defensive backs.
On the SEC coaches media teleconference on Wednesday, Alabama coach Nick Saban called it a challenge for the Crimson Tide.
“I think their secondary is very, very good,” Saban said. “That’s why they’re one of the best in the country in terms of pass efficiency defense. You know, they got good players are really well coached. They mix things up they disguise things well, they get good pressure, you know, a problem with our pass rushers. So it’s going to be a challenge. No doubt for us. Not just for it relative to their secondary but you know all 11 guys defend the past so we got the efficient and effective at every position.”
The same goes for the Georgia pass rush.
“Well they do play a lot of players, which is in this day and age of football I think is a really good thing,” Saban said. “You know, it’s great for the players to have the opportunity but it’s also helpful in keeping everybody fresh. I do think they have some guys that can rush you know #13 #19. They got a lot of team speed. So even when they do their simulated pressures they’ve got defensive backs and other people rushing them. You know, so they do a really really good job of pressure on the quarterback, a lot of times with just four guys rushing. And they use some alternative pressure to do it but I think their pass rush is really really good.”
He also has a lot of respect for the Georgia offense.
“I think that they do everything pretty well and they got, they have great balance, which I think is always an indicator of whether you’re got a really good offensive team,” he said. “They can run the ball effectively they got really good backs quarterbacks very efficient and effective and when he does I got really good to go players outside, and the offensive line does an outstanding job a very physical so I think I’m trying to sit here and think if you ask the question in a different way what don’t they did well, and have a hard time answering that.”
Saban isn’t concerned about his 21-0 record against former assistants, as he said Georgia coach Kirby Smart has been there for five years, and, “he’s built one of the best programs in the country. A lot of those wins came when they took over new jobs but that doesn’t matter. I have a lot of respect for the job a lot of these guys did.”
By that same token, Saban shared his thoughts on keeping his message fresh every year.
“I think that’s a challenge,” he said. “What I try to do is research different approaches, we use different people that use psychological aspect of approach… fresh ideas on how to say things. It’s all about helping people be the best they can be.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
