Football vs. WKU Postgame Quotes
9/10/2016 7:02:00 PM | Football
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban
Opening statement
"We usually improve a lot between the first game and the second game, and I was a little disappointed in some parts of our team today in terms of how we executed and what we did. Defensively, I thought for the most part we played pretty well. We gave up one really big explosive play on a flea flicker, which was a difficult play for us. For the most part, I think the defense played fairly well.
"We had way too many penalties offensively, and way too many inconsistencies. Too many penalties, too many times shooting ourselves in the foot getting behind on down in distance. We dropped some big plays and got a big play called back. We got a 70-yard play called back for holding. We just need to execute a lot better on offense.
"I thought special teams were okay. I thought Jalen (Hurts) did okay. He missed a couple throws, but we're going to have to keep building with what these quarterbacks can do.
"I'm really disappointed that we couldn't go finish the game on offense at the end of the game. We fumbled the ball and gave it back to the team when you're just trying to take the air out the ball. That's bad ball, and that's bad football. That's not the kind of football we want to play here, and that's not the kind of football team we want to have. I don't know that I've ever been this disappointed after winning a game maybe ever.
"We have lots of work to do as we're going to play a lot better teams. I didn't think we practiced very well this week, and I didn't think we prepared very well for this game. I don't think we respected the team that we played. Like I said before, when you're arrogant, it makes you complacent and it creates a blatant disregard for doing things right. If we don't start doing things right, we're not going to have the kind of success that we're capable of. So, we'll certainly focus on that. It's all my responsibility. We need to get the job done better. I'm almost embarrassed that I didn't do a better job for my team."
On Jalen Hurts' decision making
"He made some good decisions. He did some things where we had some guys open that he didn't hit. I think we have to get more comfortable in making those reads. They kind of played us to, 'We're not going to let you run the ball, so we're going to play middle of the field coverage the whole game. If the quarterback can beat us throwing it, well, that's the way it's going to be.' We had a lot of guys open and had some big play opportunities. Some we made, and some we didn't. We're certainly going to have to make those plays in the future if people choose to play that way against us."
On whether Jalen Hurts did enough to win the starting quarterback job
"I think we need to watch the film and make that decision. I think the people around him, whoever plays quarterback here, need to play better. We had too much pressure in the pocket, too many penalties, too many long yardage situations and too many dropped balls. We had a couple of guys open and couldn't get them the ball. We just need to do a lot of improving, and I'm focused on what we need to do to improve rather than who's going to be the quarterback right now. Whoever it is, they need to improve."
On the defense's performance
"Other than the one play we gave up – we stripped the ball out and had a chance to get on the fumble but we got out of it with a field goal – that's the only score they had until we turned it over. We had the twos in there trying to make it simple for them, and they got a touchdown on us. You're supposed to be able to finish the game on offense, but I thought the defense played pretty well. We had two picks, scored on defense, had a couple other opportunities where the ball was on the ground, and we didn't get it. We're going to have to do a better job in the turnover department."
#3, Calvin Ridley, WR
On how he felt about today's game
"I felt a little sluggish. I know we could have played way better as a team. We just have to come out and play a little faster, get started a little faster."
On how he develops trust with the quarterback
"We just have to practice with that quarterback every day, and it will come eventually. It all starts in practice, so we have to come to practice every day and play hard."
#4 Eddie Jackson, DB
On today's game overall
"It was tough. I'm not excited about how we played as a team. It's something we just need to work on. Like Coach Saban says, it starts in practice. Practice wasn't where it needed to be this week, so we have to get better next week."
On how his mindset changes from the time the ball goes into his hands
"When I catch the ball, I just try to turn to an offensive player and score a touchdown, make a big play for the team. I know it was a crucial turnover. We needed to score, so I tried my best to get into the end zone."
WKU Head Coach Jeff Brohm
Opening Statement
"Our hats off to Alabama. They're a great football team. We knew that coming in, and they played extremely well. They did a great job on defense like they normally do and was able to shut us down. We didn't have a whole lot of answers, but I thought our guys played hard. Our defense played well. They hung in there. They were on the field for a long time. I like the fight in our team. We have a lot of season to play for. We just got beat by a much better team today."
On quarterback Mike White leaving the game
"I think Mike will be okay. He got a little doozy on the unnecessary roughness penalty, when they threw him down after the play. Thought he could go, but decided after talking that he wasn't all where he needed to be, and we brought our other quarterbacks in."
On how their offensive game plan was derailed by Alabama's defense
"Well, we had to take some shots up the field, and unfortunately one-on-one matchups we didn't win. I thought our guys played hard, we competed, but when we went one-on-one, they did a great job against us. We had the one trick play early, but other than that it was hard to move the ball effectively and get yards. They don't give you anything easy, they make you earn it. They're going to cover you the entire route and they make you get open to make the play, and we didn't do that. We didn't have answers either. We tried to respond, run the ball a little bit, but still tough to run it against their front four and line backers, so you know it's a tough defense to go against. We'll learn from it and move forward"
#76 Forrest Lamp, OL
On impressions of Alabama's defense
"They were good – bigger, faster, stronger. They gave us a run for our money, obviously."
On plays that normally go for 30-40 yards, going for 0 today
"It's frustrating, but it's a non-conference game and all of our goals are still accomplishable."
#4 Joel Iyiegbuniwe, LB
On overall performance
"It felt good. We had an emphasis on making sure we were ready."
On containing Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts
"He's a good runner so it was important to know where he was. I think we did a good job, kept him from breaking out."
