What Nick Saban said after Alabama’s Week 1 win over Mizzou

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.

SDS Staff

Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.