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”