Live Updates from Alabama Coaches Monday Press Conference Before Oklahoma Game

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TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— Alabama football remains tied atop the SEC standings with unbeaten Texas A&M following another win. The program now has only three regular season games left this season after its tilt with LSU.
The No. 4 Crimson Tide defeated LSU 20-9 on Saturday night at home, locking up its eighth consecutive victory (8-1 overall) and making it to 6-0 against SEC foes. Alabama has still not fallen in Bryant-Denny Stadium during Kalen DeBoer's tenure, with another home test coming this Saturday in the form of No. 12 Oklahoma (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC). The Sooners defeated Alabama last November.
BamaCentral will provide updates throughout Monday's press conferences, followed by full transcripts and press conference video after the interviews' conclusion.
Live Updates:
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- DeBoer says every year has noise, but this year has brought so many types of outside noise, and the Crimson Tide has become good at pushing that out and focusing on what's ahead.
- On Conor Talty, DeBoer says any field goals he may have missed haven't really affected him at all. He added that Talty has been able to respond and come back when things don't go his way. "We're gonna be aggressive... We're gonna play to win at the right times."
- DeBoer says that the Crimson Tide has to make sure it does its best to change things up in response to a question about the Sooners' ability to gather intel.
- On his friendship with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, DeBoer said he went to watch a Dodgers game a couple of years ago with his daughter, Alexis, and met Roberts afterwards. He was blown away by how much time Roberts gave him during their meeting in the clubhouse and stayed in touch. "He finds a way to have a role for each [player]." He said he feels there are similarities in their styles and he was glad to have Roberts out at an Alabama game.
- On Kam Dewberry's status, DeBoer expects him to be ready to play against Oklahoma.
- DeBoer says the players who experienced last season's Oklahoma loss "certainly better remember." That loss all but eliminated Alabama from College Football Playoff contention. "Our experiences help us be better the next time around."
- "Nikhai's punch om the ball was phenomenal," DeBoer says about Nikhai Hill-Green's forced fumble.
- On former players being around the program, DeBoer says he loves it. "This is their program... They're the ones that built this, made it what it is." He hopes they're proud of where the program is right now.
- DeBoer begins by saying he feels as though there are things Alabama can continue to improve on, but he's proud of his team's resolve and the players finding a way to win. Adds: "Our special teams did a nice job."
- Last up will be Kalen DeBoer.
- On the message to the offensive line (Oklahoma leads the country in tackles for loss), "Our communication has to be elite."
- On Oklahoma's ability to gather signs, Grubb says it has been taken into consideration and that Alabama's signs will be changed but adds that everything the Sooners have done has been within the rules.
- "We've just gotta stick to the process," Grubb says on blocking in the running game. "We've got good players that are committed to the process."
- Grubb adds that the downfield passing game is an area where the team has executed in practice time and time again, and that completing the open looks in the game is the key to taking the next steps.
- On the Oklahoma defense, Grubb praises Brent Venables and says he will look to attack Alabama's weaknesses. "He's got a specific game plan for each offense... They create different pictures for you."
- Grubb says he doesn't think the issues in the running game are down to a mental issue.
- Ryan Grubb is up next.
- On Oklahoma's perfect red-zone conversion rate, Wommack says quarterback runs are a big factor. "They also have a great RPO system." He adds his admiration for Brent Venables, with both being defensive minds. "He's doing a tremendous job of it [play calling]."
- "Effort always creates takeaways," Wommack says about swarming the football. He reminisced on facing Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle when Arbuckle was at Western Kentucky and Wommack was at South Alabama. "We got our ass kicked... I needed a little edge this morning."
- Wommack says the defensive front (Tim Keenan III, James Smith, London Simmons, Edric Hill) all practice well with position coach Freddie Roach. "If there's one guy that has a hot hand... you want to make sure that dude is available in the fourth quarter." He mentioned the South Carolina game where the team rotated in a lot of players.
- On the inside linebackers: "I think those guys are doing a good job." Adds that he thinks Deontae Lawson is playing some of his best football. "I thought Nikhai Hill-Green probably played his best game of the season so far."
- Wommack begins speaking about Oklahoma by complimenting quarterback John Mateer's skill set in both the run game and the passing game. "That's something that we've gotta do a great job of," he says in regard to having all 11 defenders swarming to the football.
- Kane Wommack is up first. He says there's a swagger that Alabama is playing with right now and that all the reps from the offseason and the regular season have been making a difference.
- Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, defensive coordinator Kane Wommack and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb are scheduled to meet with the media beginning at 11:30 a.m. CT. The coordinators are due up first, followed by DeBoer.
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Will Miller is the primary baseball writer for BamaCentral/Alabama Crimson Tide On SI. He also covers football and basketball. Miller graduated from the University of Alabama in December 2024 with experience covering a wide array of sports.
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