SECMD23: Saban, players looking for return to physical style of football

Alabama head coach Nick Saban takes questions from the media during Wednesday’s edition of SEC Media Days in Nashville. (Graham Dunn)

By GRAHAM DUNN


NASHVILLE - Joyless Murderball.

The term made its appearance along with the University of Alabama contingency on Wednesday on the third day of SEC Media Days at the Grand Hyatt.

While it seemed as though the media was focused on who would win the quarterback battle, a few saw a number that stood out that was so un-Bama, it was somewhat hard to believe.

“I think that’s the one thing we didn’t do very well. We emphasize that every week in practice,” head coach Nick Saban said. “Every turnover turned out to be worth 4.3 points last year. They understand the importance of it. We have to do a better job of attacking the ball, being physical, better effort to the ball, second guy in attacking the ball so that we do get more turnovers.”

“I think the game makes it more difficult to be the old fashioned, physical because you are so spread out and trying to negate explosive plays. It makes it harder to be this dog-tough physical defense that I like to play.

The Alabama defense was minus-2 in turnover ratio a year ago, the worst in that category in eight years.

If it is to get results, the Tide will do it without its top edge rusher in Will Anderson, a slew of defenders that went high in the NFL draft and a new defensive coordinator.

“All five guys that left were drafted,” Saban said, “so challenging to replace all those guys, but again, I'm pleased with the young people that we have in the program that can develop, even though they may lack some experience. I think there are properly guys that can do a good job for us.”

“The expectations, Joyless Murderball, pre-season, of course,” added linebacker Dallas Turner. “There's a lot of guys on the defense that can run around, fly around, make good plays.”

Kevin Steele gets his third go-round with Alabama. He replaces Pete Golding, who was often criticized for not having players in the right position in key plays.

But Turner refused to compare the two only to say he has respect for both.

“They're both very good defensive coordinators,” Turner said. “I'll say that first and foremost. Kevin Steele, he has more experience, I would say that. With Alabama, he understands the standard, he knows what we supposed to be doing as a defense. Being under Coach Saban, just being there for a long time.

“Also, he's been a defensive coordinator for a very long time, just been in the game for a very long time, as well.”

How much will a lack of experience affect how good Bama’s defense will be? Saban, who is used to losing several players to the draft, didn’t seem worried.

“Well, I think experience matters, I really do, but I also think that when you have young players who are hungry and have great energy and enthusiasm, that's helpful to the team chemistry as well,” Saban said.

“When you have as many people that go out for the Draft early and I'm not complaining about that. I love it when we have players that are good enough to go out for the Draft. You're going to sort of always have a young team because you have four or five starters who would be coming back that all of a sudden are not back.”

Steele is one of two new coordinators for the Tide with Tommy Reese taking over the offense. Saban had high praise for his young coach.

“Tommy Rees is a bright young guy who has done a really, really good job, players relate well to him. He relates well to them. He's a good presenter. He's very bright and understands the game conceptually very, very well and has done a really good job of implementing our offense and adding to it things that I think will benefit us in the future,” Saban said.

For most, the main question is who will start at quarterback. Jalen Milroe has more experience than sophomore Ty Simpson and transfer Tyler Buchner (at least as far as starts is concerned) but Saban isn’t looking for a quarterback to win games. He wasn’t leadership.

“All of those players are getting better, and it's important for us that all those players get better,” Saban said. “I don't think anybody has actually separated themselves yet to this with the and I don't think it's something that we are trying to rush.

“I think we have to sort of let this develop and make sure we let the cake bake until somebody separates themselves and all the players are working hard. They all have a good attitude. They are all competing well.”

Watching Georgia celebrate another national title in January was certainly motivation for 2023 but it didn’t take much after losing two games by a combined four points.

“Yeah, it definitely motivates me,” stated offensive lineman JCLatham regarding Georgia. “I've watched that game time and time again. I know our guys, we can compete with them. Just seeing them win, just understands, like, I'm not disrespecting them at all. I think they deserved to win. They've worked really hard.

“I know our guys deserve to have that platform as well. Just seeing them take the stage and take the opportunity that we knew was up for grabs, that we could have taken, just fuel to the fire.”