Alabama Football: Nick Saban with new stories and old lines

Alabama Football completed its fifth practice of the spring on Thursday. Afterward, Nick Saban provided a media review of the Crimson Tide’s progress this spring.

Predictably, Nick Saban talked about the importance of players taking full advantage of improving in the spring sessions. Most predictable, was when the Alabama football head coach talked about the team overall, his favorite phrase was used.

"… it’s just a work in progress that we’ve gotta keep grinding through each and every day."

It is fair to say that Nick Saban has done more to demand and instill the value of ‘plain hard work’ than any coach in college football’s modern era. As he says often, there are no shortcuts.

Speaking more about the team’s progress, Saban said,

"We’ve got a long way to go. We’ve got a lot of guys that don’t have a lot of confidence in what to do, don’t have a lot of confidence in how to do it and don’t have a lot of understanding in why it’s important to do it that way. But that’s why we need to practice, and hopefully, we can focus on what we need to do to develop and improve and not be so concerned about the outcome that we have."

Saban also did some reminiscing on Thursday, paying tribute to former Alabama Crimson Tide player, coach and Athletic Director, Mal Moore. It is well known, had Moore not gained an alliance with Terry Saban, Nick might have never left Miami for Tuscaloosa.

Saban talked about the support he received from Moore and also how he learned from him as well. One example by Saban was when he shared a concern with Moore that he couldn’t get Mark Ingram to carry the ball with the correct arm. Moore’s response was he once had a problem with a quarterback’s throwing motion and he mentioned his concern to Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant. Moore shared that Bryant’s response was a direction to not mess with the QB. Moore was Bryant’s QB coach at the time. So Saban decided to not mess with Ingram.

Saban only talked in general terms about the Crimson Tide’s 2023 quarterbacks. The gist of what he said is the plan to run the ball effectively and use play-action more; and doing that successfully, would mean the magic Bryce Young brought to the position would not be so needed. Specifically, Saban said,

"… if we have better balance, I think it’ll take a little pressure off the quarterback. I think the offensive line has done a good job so far. I like where we’re heading and what we’re doing. I think the scheme that we have to run the ball is well tied together. Hopefully, between that and play-action passes, we can make a few more explosive plays and not just rely on dropping back all the time."

Note: All the Saban quotes in this post were provided by Charlie Potter of BamaOnLine

An Alabama Football Practice Video

A glimpse of Jalen Milroe making a precision throw to Ja’Corey Brooks should give Alabama football fans some comfort. Watch closely in the video below.

What a sweet throw, connecting with Brooks despite excellent pass defense from Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Next up for the Alabama Crimson Tide is practice No. 6 on Monday, Apr. 6.