Alabama Football: Nick Saban on Tide, Canes QB and more

Alabama Football fans are searching for answers about many aspects of the Crimson Tide. Other than the few updates from Nick Saban, practices closed to the media have allowed little Crimson Tide news.

Nick Saban spoke to the media again Wednesday and he talked about his team in general and specific terms. Saban discussed a few Crimson Tide players and also talked about Miami’s quarterback, D’Eriq King.

General Saban comments on his Alabama Football team

Speaking about “purpose-driven quality” Saban said,

"… people can’t be overwhelmed by their circumstances.  You get overwhelmed by constantly talking about negative things — how I feel, how tired I am, whatever it is. Fall camp, practice at this time of year without playing a game every week is very challenging. When you talk about that stuff all the time, it just creates an epidemic of the ‘poor me’s.’ The season is going to create tremendous challenges, challenges in every game. We’ve got lots of losable games we play. Lots of challenges out there whether we play at home or on the road.You’ve got to have resiliency to be able to overcome difficult circumstances."

The message clearly meant for his team, is not new. It is an old Saban theme, made no less valuable by the numerous variations of it and the season after season re-telling.  What it tells fans is that Nick Saban is still developing, in many young and less experienced players, a championship mindset. It is what Saban calls a ‘work-in-progress.’

As Miami, Head Coach, Manny Diaz said Wednesday, preseason and early games are about fundamentals.

"… season openers I don’t think normally are dominated by scheme. It’s going to be about tackling, it’s going to be about protecting the football and turnovers because of the limited times that we’re allowed to scrimmage"

Nick Saban would agree with Diaz and when he talks about players being resilient, he wants the same attention to detail Diaz is looking for in the season opener. Saban, of course, wants it not just every practice session, but every drill and every rep. The starters against Miami will be the Alabama football players who have attended to details the most consistently in the preseason.

Nick Saban on Mimai QB, D’Eriq King

Saban praised the Miami signal-caller.

"He’s a very good player. He’s a very athletic guy. Great feet, good quickness. Very good runner, can extend plays. He’s a good passer. So, it’s a lot of problems. They go fast. He does a really good job of operating their up-tempo type offense."

Saban talking about specific Tide players

The Crimson Tide is no closer to naming a starter at center. Saban reported Chris Owens and Darrian Dalcourt are still competing. He also said, cornerback Jaylin Armour-Davis has been “nicked up” while multiple young cornerbacks have done well in practice.

Responding to a question about the new three-conference Alliance, Saban said he had not given it any attention. He’s been too busy preparing the Alabama Football team for the season.