The lone chance to interview Alabama's defensive coordinator this season.
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The one shot at interviewing Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding comes Saturday morning as part of the annual local media day event. The highlights of Golding’s time at the podium scheduled to begin around 10:20 a.m.:
-- Golding said this is his favorite time of the year getting back on the practice field.
-- Coming out of summer, there is a good feeling with this defense. There are several key players to replace when there was depth. They have to continue to develop.
-- There are some upperclassmen who are stepping into vocal leadership roles, which he calls “critical.”
-- Golding said Nick Saban always was “an icon” to him and he’s always studied Alabama’s program.
-- Josh McMillon is smart enough to get the defense in line better than some of the guys who are better athletes at the position. His ability to affect everyone in a positive way is the biggest thing he brings to middle linebacker taking the spot Mack Wilson held last year.
-- Talking about the defensive rotation at the defensive line, Golding said they want to use as many bodies as they can but they have to be ready to see the field. You can’t force it.
-- Is depth a concern? Golding said that’s what fall camp is for. It’s all about teaching. The goal is to get the players ready to the point where they don’t have to think on the field.
-- Anfernee Jennings is the kind of player that works harder than everyone else. They’ve had that kind of player before but they aren’t always as talented as Jennings.
-- Golding saw a lot of progress from the young players. That includes the freshmen who just arrived. They have the talent to play the job, it’s about getting them conditioned to be ready to play. The vets in the room have helped “relieve some of the anxiety” of the newcomers.
-- Josh Jobe “made some big strides” last year and played well against Clemson in January.
