Videos: Alabama Football Players Monday Press Conference

Check out the videos and highlights from a few of the Alabama football players’ Monday press conferences before they hit the practice fields to begin to prepare for Southern Miss this Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

Austin Shepherd:

• The main focus this week was to go out there and try to get better communication.
• Seeing Blake Sims congratulating Jake Coker on his touchdown pass just explains what kind of a guy Sims is.
• Says its rare to see the relationship between Coker and Sims from guys competing for the same job.
• Sims is an uplifting teammate. Always has something to say and very vocal.
• Reporter asks about Coker getting “coached” on national TV and was wondering how he took it. Shepherd laughs and says “I’m assuming he took it well.”
• The offensive line likes the no huddle part of the offense because they can just get up and go. Noticed last week against West Virginia they were hardly ever blitzed when they went no huddle.
• It’s great to have Sims’ ability to extend the plays. Don’t ideally want to use that because that would mean the line wasn’t doing their job.
• Amazed everyday on what Amari Cooper can do on the football field.

Jonathan Allen:

• Definitely happy with the way that they played. Focused on getting better for next week.
• Always have to fight not looking ahead to the bigger games with the non-conference games but if you go back and look at the film, they see things they need to improve on.
• Can get better on effort, hustle, and knowing your opponent better.
• In a non-conference game, the team concentrates on establishing their identity as a tough and physical opponent to prepare for the tougher games ahead.
• Communication is one of the most important factors to be a good defense. Trey DePriest coming back helped the communication issue.
• The team feels effort will help the defense against the fast ball offenses.
• Eddie Jackson did well on his return. Happy to see the depth at many positions.
• Take a lot of pride in shut outs.
• Would have liked to see the Florida Atlantic game finish so that some of the younger guys could see some playing time.

Reggie Ragland:

• The defense wanted to get better this week as a whole and getting DePriest back helped.
• Great to have DePriest back because he is the leader of the defense and helps guys get into the right position.
• Ragland says with him out there, he can be more calm and learn as well.
• Doesn’t matter if you are young or old. With communication on the field, it gives the whole team a calmness and allows them to play more freely.

Brian Vogler:

• There’s a few things the offense would like to get back from the Florida Atlantic game, like losing the ball on the one yard line. There’s a lot of bright spots but things they can improve on, too.
• With Sims’ and Coker’s relationship, the transition will be easier whenever Coach Saban makes his decision for a starting quarterback.
• Doesn’t see it as a problem with those guys competing for a starting spot. Vogler says if it was a higher level that it could be but they are all in college and good friends.
• All the skill players have a great relationship with both guys.
• The maturity level of both quarterbacks is helping in the competition as well. Both have their own type of experience that helps them.
• Sims is the type of guy that is always trying to make you smile. It’s the same way with Coker. He came in not knowing a lot of people but has opened up.
• Both guys are “next play” type guys. They don’t dwell on what happened and learn from their mistakes.
• When you have great players on the outside like Amari Cooper, it’s hard to not turn to him. The tight ends are ready when their number is called but it’s hard to turn away from Cooper’s production with how he is playing.
• The team is not trying to get a faster pace when they go huddle. It’s to get guys lined up better and the verbiage is easier on everyone.