Everything Nick Saban Said During First Spring Press Conference

Alabama held the first of 15 spring practices on Friday afternoon.

Opening statement

Well first of all, we're really excited about the offseason program that we've had, the attitude that this team has sort of presented, the work that we were able to get done, the conditioning level that we're able to achieve with a lot of the guys. I think the commitment has been good. So we had a really good offseason program.

I think the most important thing about the first practice is, I don't care what grade you're in, how long you been here, whether you're an early enrollee, whether you're senior everybody has got to focus on what they need to do to improve. So this is a good starting point for us.

We're not disappointed in where we are, but we're certainly not satisfied with where we are, where we want to go and how we're going to get there. But everybody has to have the ability to self assess, because I think that's the best way to improve. There's not one player out there that's playing for us right now that doesn't have something that they can improve on.

Obviously, you know, it's a new team, we're looking for new leadership. There's guys that have opportunities at several positions and there's competition at those positions, and it'll be interesting to see how some of that stuff, you know, shakes out for us. We got a couple of guys that are gonna be out for the spring. Ja'Corey Brooks is out for the spring. Darrian Dalcourt will be out for the spring. Keanu Koht, all those guys are out for the spring, whether they had injuries coming out of the season or whatever.

All the other players are doing some portion of practice and are making some progress toward being able to practice at some point in time in the spring. And those assessments will be made as they make progress throughout the spring.

I know you'll probably ask me about the early enrollees. I'm sure if you got to speak to them they'll tell you that there's a lot of anxiety, my first practice, my first practice as a college player. They're all sort of going through a different level of the learning curve that they have to go through. We're pleased to have them here. I think it's gonna be good for their development, and I think some of these guys will be able to contribute to our team.

We also have three transfers, all of which I think will create a role on the team for themselves. They were all impressive out there today. I'm talking about older guys who have played in this league or in the ACC and I think those three guys will be very helpful for us. I'm excited about the new coaches that we have. Every one of those guys have made a very positive contribution with their energy, enthusiasm, their knowledge, how they helped contribute to solving some of the issues and the problems that we sort of uncovered in self scout, in terms of things that we need to improve on. So we're excited about the staff.

We're excited about the new enrollees. We're excited about the transfers. Nobody likes it that you have guys that you know, can't go out there and practice. But we also have to think about how we're going to get these guys ready to play next season. So all in all, I'm very encouraged by the sort of the effort, energy and attitude that the players have had and it's a fun group to coach.

On new analysts:

Todd Grantham and Derek Dooley have worked for me before. I’ve known Zach Mettenberger for a long time. He’s Ken Whisenhunt’s son-in-law, and Ken and I are really good friends. Derek has worked for me in the past. He’s been an offensive coordinator in this league. He’s coached in the league. Todd’s been a defensive coordinator in college and this league for a long time. Those guys can add significant knowledge and experience to help solve some of the issues and problems that we have. I think Zach is a very, very good young guy who’s very bright and has a bright future. I’m sure he’s going to learn. He’s got a great work ethic. He’s been very committed and doing a good job since he’s been here.

On Kendall Randolph and the example he sets:

I really love it when guys like Kendall Randolph show great resiliency, perseverance to continue to want to try to develop as players, make a commitment to the team to do whatever you need to do to help the team be successful. This is one of the guys that I’m most proud of in terms of where he came from from when he was a young player to where he is now. To graduate, to become a leader, to set a really good example. To have sort of great goals and aspirations for what he wants to accomplish in the future and what his focus is and what his commitment is to it. I think this is a great example of what college football should be. He’s created a lot of value for himself here by what he’s developed into, and we’re really, really proud of him. And I’m really happy to have him back.

I think the first thing we’ve got to do Is let him compete for a starting job on the offensive line, which is going to be our first priority for him in the spring.

On tight ends coach Joe Cox only coaching one position:

Philosophically, I think we’ve had different blends of staff here. And we had six coaches on offense and Mike Locksley would walk around (during practices). To have the special teams coach be the tight ends coach still gave you 5-1/2 coaches on offense. As the staff transpired, we ended up with an extra coach on defense. So like last year, we were a little bit imbalanced and that’s the reason for making the changes that we made.

To bring a guy in, if we’re going to have a special teams coach on defense, let’s at least have five guys that are focused one very position on offense and not have what I call 4-1/2. One guy that’s on special teams trying to coach tight ends, too. So I think that can be overwhelming sometimes, depending on how many other guys you have on the offensive staff. I think it creates more balance for us.

I do think it’s a position now that requires a little bit more attention because a tight end used to be a guy that lined up in the C-area beside the tackle and put his hand in the dirt, and that’s where he played from. Now the guy plays off the ball. He’s playing like a fullback. He plays on the ball, he’s playing like an old-fashioned tight end. He flexes out, he’s playing like a wide receiver. So I think that for those guys to get a little bit more focused attention is probably really important, and I think Joe Cox is one of the bright young guys. I’ve been very impressed with his knowledge, and I think he’s going to help us.

Young tackles and progress from last season?

Well, we’ve had one practice, so I don’t know how I can assess anybody’s progress from last year to this year. I know they’ve worked hard in the offseason. I think they’re in better condition. I think they’ve improved their bodies. I mean, Damieon George had a really good offseason. So I think we’re encouraged by the progress he makes, whether he plays guard or tackle. We’re gonna see if Javion Cohen should be a guard or a tackle. We’ll see if J.C. Latham should be a guard or a tackle, Kendall Randolph to be a tackle. Tommy Brockermeyer has got a chance to compete at the position. He was kind of in and out a little bit, fighting some injury things in the offseason, but we think he’ll be able to make progress in the spring. There’s a lot of competition at the position and quite frankly we’re moving a lot of guys around to try see how we can get the best five guys to play. I’m not disappointed in the progress that any of them have made to this point.

Look to center to establish best line combo?

I think the center position is always important. We have two guys that started significant games last year that are both centers. Darrian Dalcourt played really well last year and so did Seth when he got the opportunity to play. Darrian is going to be out this spring but when he comes back, Seth is a good leader, he’s a tough guy. I feel really good about those two guys. It’s trying to get the other guys in the right spot and maybe who do we develop to be a third center, because that’s always an important spot to have somebody to fill if you lose a guy.