Alabama Football: Monday Player Interviews (Videos)

Prior to football practice Monday afternoon, Alabama made Austin Shepherd, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Amari Cooper available for the media. Check out the videos and highlights below.

Austin Shepherd:

• On going into the season’s first SEC game for the Tide: I love it and it’s what I came here to do. Awesome going against Florida, LSU, and Auburn.
• Feels like the team is in a good place execution wise but also, they have a ton they can work on.
• Says Florida runs a defense similar to Alabama’s but with some different spins so it will be somewhat normal to face them since they face the same type in practice.
• On Saban not paying much attention to the offensive line during the game: Only time you get noticed is if you give up a penalty or a sack. Shepherd laughs and says “It is what it is but I knew that coming in”.
• The intensity has definitely came up since it’s SEC week.
• Feels that Blake Sims has a lot more confidence now.
• Amari Cooper is a quiet guy and stays to himself.
• Respects Cooper’s talent and wishes he could be like him. He smiles and says he is “too big”.
• On specific things that can be done to improve the inside: The guards and center need to get more on the second level and stay there.

Dalvin Tomlinson:

• On if he’s looking forward to playing a team that runs more: Yes and no. Says he likes stopping the run but also likes to affect the quarterback.
• Preparation this week is no different than the past three. Atmosphere will change.
• Thinks the Tide is affecting the quarterback pretty well but there are areas that can be improved.
• Thinks that Florida’s offensive front is physical and believes Bama can compete up front.
• Pretty exciting to play against Florida after growing up in the south and hearing about all the powerhouses.
• Says Amari Cooper has opened up since arriving Tuscaloosa. He was shy at first. Fun to watch him play.

Amari Cooper:

• It’s going to be tough going into SEC play because you can’t by what you see on film.
• Cooper feels he handled his injuries last season in an immature way. Says you are gonna have nicks and bruises but you have to learn to play through them.
• Coach Saban told him that even when he’s hurt a bit and maybe not full go, what he has left may be enough to beat the other guy.  Says he matured a lot, learning from coaches and the older players.
• Says his routine of preparation won’t change this week. He is comfortable with it.
• Thinks the other guys will do well when they get a chance and has no trouble sharing the ball.
• On if he’s surprised that teams aren’t forcing Alabama to beat them with others in the passing game: Believes that since the Tide is such a good running team that teams put more in the box, which allows him to get open.
• On Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves: He is a ball hawk and goes up for the ball like a wide receiver.
• Blake Sims has been on the money for the past three games.
• Cooper: “I don’t believe that there is anyone that can cover me one on one”