Alabama Football vs. LSU Postgame Quotes
11/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
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Head Coach Nick Saban
Opening statement: "I was really proud of our team - the way they competed in the game today, they really did everything we ask them to do. We ask guys to go out and dominate their box, win the one-on-one battles and matchups. [We tell them] go do your job, be disciplined and execute and do what you need to do. We didn't play perfectly, but I thought it was really important that we could control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. We did a really good job with that in terms of being able to run it and keep the ball away from their offense because they have some very explosive players. We did a good job up front on defense in stopping their running game. They did hit a few big play passes on us. In the first half, they quick snapped us a couple times. They were kind of messing with the substitutions and we were getting in late and not getting lined up and they hit a couple big plays on us. Other than that, it was really a well-played game by our team. It was a great atmosphere out there. Our fans were fantastic in this game, and I think they really helped our players and affected the game to some degree and it was a huge advantage for us. [I ] can't say enough about Derrick Henry. Nobody feels worse about the fumble at the end [than he does]. They were really ripping at the ball. That gave them a score. It was a great drive to take the clock at the end of the game when we got the ball at around the eight-yard line, and went down the field and even overcame a holding penalty. I thought our offense did a fantastic job of running the football and throwing it just enough to keep them off balance. Jake [Coker] did a good job and I was really pleased with the offensive line. It was really a great team win. Special teams were really good today too as the field position on some of the kickoff coverages was really good. I think when you play an offensive team like that, it really affects them. They have a really good team, they have some really good players, and they're really well coached. I'm just really proud of our team for what they were able to accomplish out there on the field today. It's a great team win and it's great for our players. They worked hard to earn this opportunity to play in games like this, so it's great that they were able to take advantage of it and I'm happy for each and every one of them."
On how special Derrick Henry's performance was: "The guy's having a great year. He had a great game today. It couldn't have happened at a better time against a very good defensive team. But I think he'd be the first one to tell you that the offensive line did a really good job today, and I think it was the whole offensive team being well prepared for what they did and going out and blocking their [defensive] front. He did a great job of carrying the ball, so it was special."
On the defense's performance against LSU's running game: "It was very good. The last run after we fumbled the ball and Leonard [Fournette] ran down to the five, we didn't read run/pass in the secondary, so we had no run support when the ball bounced outside and we were really in a good defense for it. But I was really, really pleased - I always get a good feeling in a game when [the other team] runs that first zone extra and they don't get anything. That's when the nose [guard] flatheads the center, and the five technique knocks the guy back and the linebacker fills. That's [LSU's] bread and butter [offensive formation]. So to be able to control that with our front seven was really good, and those guys did a great job. The secondary support was good for the most part except for a couple big plays that we gave up. We certainly didn't want to do that. But as the game changed, we changed a little bit with it - especially with the way they were substituting - so our players could get lined up, get the calls faster, and have a better chance to execute.
#2 Derrick Henry, Running Back
On the tonight's win: "Man, the offense did a great job! Everybody did a great job - tight ends, receivers, just everybody did a great job. We had success and we played physical. That's what we did all week, that's how we practiced all week. How we wanted to play was to come out here and do what we just did."
On how big it was to see Kenyan Drake have a big game: "Kenyan did a great job. Kenyan can play like that every week, but you sometimes have some bumps in the road and you have adversity. But he overcame adversity tonight, he had a great game and did a great job for us to have a successful offense.
On his reaction to Alabama's defense: "Phenomenal. They work hard every week, they are physical when they finish. They play tough, and that's the type of play they play with. They took pride and held them under 100 yards (rushing) and just knocked them down playing physical."
#25 Dillon Lee, Linebacker
On first interception: "They ran that play in the first half, and I was late getting out there and I was expecting to get out there. So, when they ran it again in the second half, I just turned and ran as fast as I could to get underneath the throw."
On how the defense was able to shut down Leonard Fournette: "It really just comes down to, like Coach has probably said all week, just dominating our box. Everyone just went on their one-on-one battles. Once everyone was winning their individual battles, we were all together as a defense. Our gap control was really sound tonight, and they were always backed up on third down."
Head Coach Les Miles
Opening Statement: "Congratulations to Alabama. They played very well and worked very hard. We couldn't get on track offensively. The first half defense, I thought they played pretty hard. We go to 10-10 and they come back and get a field goal just before half. At that point, we want to take the second half kickoff and go down and score. This is a kind of game we don't expect. Again, the opening of the second half and the turnover on the opening play. If [sophomore quarterback] Brandon Harris would have just ran the edge, that's a different play. I think that's some growth there that needs to take place on offense. Defensively, in the back half, I think the opponent had the ball 10 more minutes than we did, about twice the number of plays. Our defense was on the field for the whole second half virtually. We have to improve. We can't take those kinds of events. This football team is much better than they showed tonight."
On the offensive line: "I think that the administration of the offense, in turns of snap count and procedure, suffered a little bit tonight. I think that the offensive line faced a very talented and capable defensive line in Alabama, so they were tested. We have to function better rather than have five yard penalties because we were out of time. It's just maybe not being on the road as often as we have been in normal seasons considering the South Carolina game was back at home. I didn't prepare them as well as I could of for the road."
On Alabama's short passing game and long runs: "In the first half, we weren't getting enough with the run. They went to their screen and perimeter game and they didn't throw down the field much. Then, after the half they started producing more yards and in the second half they just wanted to eat the clock up because they had the lead."
#33 Jamal Adams, Safety
On Alabama's offense: "I mean, we just didn't execute. Some of the times the ball just didn't roll our way. They threw a lot of formations at us. They executed and we didn't."
On Derrick Henry: "We missed a lot of tackles. As a defense, we have to get better. That's no excuse. He's a big back (and) a great back as we see. We have to rally."
#74 Vadal Alexander, Offensive Tackle
On Alabama's defense: "It's nothing we haven't faced before. The good news is we have another game next week and we've got time to improve."
On what caused the line's struggles: "To be honest with you, I couldn't tell you specifically. A lot of plays fell through. We couldn't get yards at times. All I have to say is that we have to watch the film, but I couldn't tell you right now."
