🏈 Watch Nick Saban discuss 2013 season Game 1 vs. Va. Tech (Video)

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Watch as Nick Saban discusses the first game of the season against Va. Tech this Saturday during Monday's press conference - Video



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[TerryP]

Opening comments:

It's a great opportunity to show who you are. Are you going to be for real? Or are you going to be somebody that's just out there? Can you deliver in the critical time in the game? Or are you going to be a blinking light that can't really do the job on a consistent basis? Any player on our team, it's about how they perform in this game. Not what they did last year. Not about their girlfriend. It's not about anything but how they play in this game. It's all about how they perform in this game. Focusing on each play in this game. Nothing else matters. The goal has always been here is to focus on things we can control. Things that we can control is how we perform, how we prepare. The team has done a really good job of working to get themselves ready for the season. You never know for sure until you go out there and play the game.

We don't have any real updates on personnel injuries. Tana Patrick and Wilson Love will be limited today. But it should be just for today.

If I were you, I wouldn't make too much of the depth chart that we released. It's a chore for me to do that. I know it's important to you, so we wanted to provide you with something. Don't ask me questions it. The depth chart is for you. It's not for our team. It's for you so you can have it, write about it, talk about it.

I think we're playing a very good team. A team that has a lot of tradition. They have a great coach. They know how to win. They are a team that always plays really hard, lots of toughness. Really sort of old-fashioned when it comes to their principles and values and the kind of competitive character they play with. They've got six starters back on offense, nine on defense. Logan Thomas is an exceptionally talented quarterback. He's capable of taking over a game a game as a passer or as a runner. He's a big guy. Very athletic.

Their defense was very good last year. From what we've seen of their spring game, they were dominant at times.

This is also a team that has always made plays on special teams. We definitely have to pay attention to detail and not allow them to create an advantage for themselves. They've got good specialists returning,

On how many players UA will take to the game:

You can take an unlimited amount of players to a game like this. We haven't decided on how many guys we're traveling on this trip. But we usually take somewhere around 85 on this trip.

On VT quarterback Logan Thomas:

The quarterback is an outstanding player. He's shown that he's outstanding player in terms of making great throws as well as an ability to run the ball. He's a big guy. Very strong arm. Very strong runner. We see him as one of the challenges for our defense. If he's not going to play well, that's something we're going to have to contribute to by how we play. We know he's capable of playing well.

On defending Logan Thomas by disguising coverages and bringing pressure:

I think it's a combination of both. When you play defense, you're a little bit like a baseball pitcher. You can't throw a fastball every time. Sometimes you've got to disguise pressure and sometimes you've got to disguise pressure and cover. Sometimes you've got to play man to man and sometimes you've got to play zone. I think all of those things are critical factors.

On his relationship with Frank Beamer:

I've known Frank for a long time. He's a class guy and a credit to college football. He represents our game with class and integrity and the outstanding job that he has done as a coach in terms of the product he's put on the field on a consistent basis over a long period of time, 27 years is a long time. He's the kind of guy you like to emulate as far as the class person and the class program they've had for a long period of time.

On his assessment of the leadership and desire he saw from his team in camp:

I think that you can make any kind of predictions you want as to what you think you have, what you think you are, but [I don't think you know] until you've had a chance to see to see your team go and play a game and see how your team is going to respond, especially to the bad things that happen, because I think that's really the test to what kind of character and discipline that you have. I've been pleased with the way our team has worked. I've been pleased with the way the leadership has developed, but I think that's got to continue.I'm not disappointed with the way we've practiced. I'm anxious to see how it all comes together when we play a game.

On the competition at running back:

TJ is certainly a guy who has played a lot and has experience. Jalston Fowler is another guy who has played a lot and has experience. He's going to play a dual role in this game. He'll play some H-back, some running back. Dee Hart will have some situational playing opportunities in this game. I think they're [the freshmen running backs] are all good. Kamara got injured. He missed a a while. He will practice today. Tyren Jones did a good job in the last scrimmage. But really Altee [Tenpenny] and Derrick Henry gotten the most reps and they're most prepared to be ready to play. We have confidence in both of those guys that they can go in and play well if they need to.

On the offensive line:

When you have new players you're always anxious to see how those guys respond to the challenge, see how they take the bull by the horns. Can they be a guy who goes out there and delivers? Some players practice well and they get into the game and they don't play quite as well. Other guys practice OK, but they play a little better when they get in the game. You don't really know that, especially with guys who haven't played that much. The right tackle, left guard and center are all three new players. We have total confidence that all of those guys can do a good job at what they do. Do I expect this offensive line to play well in this game? Absolutely. Do I think they'll have an opportunity to improve and get better as they gain knowledge and experience and chemistry from playing together? I think absolutely.

On Jalston Fowler:

He's had a great camp. I didn't think that he one-hundred percent in the spring and there was some cause for concern about would he be able to get back to where he was prior to the injury. he had a great summer. He's really had a good camp. We've played him H-back, which is sort of like a fullback, a second tight end for us. He's also played running back. He's actually enhanced his opportunities to play multiple roles. We feel totally confident that he's one-hundred percent healthy and ready to go.