Football vs. Miami Postgame Quotes
9/4/2021 7:55:00 PM | Football
NICK SABAN: Well, it was so great to play a game with fans. And I would really like to thank the fans. You all make college football really special for the players.
I was really proud of our players today in terms of the way they competed in the game today. I thought we came out and did a really good job on offense. Scored the first, you know, three or four possessions.
Got some stops on defense. I think as the game went on, I think we got a little bit sloppy. Which is something that we can learn from.
The one thing the game always does is shows you very clearly where you are, who you are, what you need to work on, what you can improve on and what you did well.
And we, obviously, did a lot of really good things well. I thought Bryce played really well for his first start. You know, Metchie was really good, Williams was really good.
We got to play a lot of players. The defense competed well in the game. We had a couple stops in the red zone, which just was a sign of how they competed in the game.
Got to give a lot of credit to Miami. I have a lot of respect for, you know, their players and their quarterback. You know, they got really good skilled players on offense. So I was really excited.
And I'm sure that when we watch the film, we'll see a lot of things that are a lot -- way too many penalties. There's a lot of things that we can go through that we would like to get better.
But those things happened more in the second half when the game got a little bit sloppy for us. And so we'll work on trying to correct those things.
The one thing that was really nice out there: You know, Trey Sanders has been through -- and Lez Frank missed the whole year. Got in a car wreck, missed another whole year.
And there's probably nobody on our team that has had more adversity and more things to overcome. So I was as happy as all get out to see him score a touchdown today.
Most people don't know how hard this guy's worked to try to get back as a football player. So anyway, I was really, really pleased about that.
Q. Yeah, Coach, a little bit more about Bryce's performance, first career start. I think he had nine different targets. And how he looked back there to you?
NICK SABAN: Oh, I think Bryce did really, really well. You know, he's smart. Most people just look at the stats and say he was whatever he was, for whatever he was for this many yards.
But, you know, he redirects the protection, he plays like a veteran out there. And, you know, we had the one, you know, sack fumble which was something that we don't really want to have. But, really, not all his fault that he doesn't get protected.
But I was really impressed with the way he played in the game, the poise that he played with, the command that he had. He kind of took what the defense gave. And really directed the offense in a really positive way.
And when we had opportunities to make plays on third down and a couple other explosive plays, he certainly did a great job in getting the ball to the right guy in the right time in the right place. So I was really pleased.
Q. You had mentioned during the week that Miami likes to be aggressive on defense with the eyes coverage. How many of those looks did you see and how were you able to take advantage of them?
NICK SABAN: Well, we saw them all. And especially at the end of the game when we were just trying to, like, take the air out of it and run the ball. And, you know, they were shooting the gaps and, you know, getting -- making it pretty difficult.
But what I alluded to before, we saw all those things in Bryce because his great preparation. Smart, recognized them.
You know, got the protection set the right way. So he gave himself a chance to make plays and we were able to take advantage down the field.
Q. Coach, just to see if you have an update on guys like Chris Allen, Henry, and Brian --
NICK SABAN: I really can't hear you.
THE MODERATOR: Speak up a little bit.
Q. Guys like Chris Allen, Henry To'oto'o, and Brian Branch --
NICK SABAN: Yeah, Chris Allen's got a pretty significant foot injury. And they'll further evaluate. But it looks like he may not lost for the season.
Henry hurt his elbow, but he'll be okay. I don't think anybody else has got a significant injury. Got some guys beat up, got some guys that got cramps. We got some guys that needed IVs. But I don't think we have anybody else that is serious in terms of a long term injury.
Hopefully, we'll get some guys back. Damieon George, an offensive lineman. Hopefully Labryan Ray will be able to come back. I think Demarcco Hellams will be able to come back.
So I think we are hopeful that we'll get some guys back. But they dressed today, but they couldn't play. They weren't ready to play. And hopefully they'll be ready.
They actually warmed up and went through pregame warm up. But it was by design that we wouldn't play them today. And hopefully they'll be ready for next week.
Q. Were you pleased with what you saw from your offense on third down and also from your defense? At least in the first half, it looked like both sides of the ball played well on third down.
NICK SABAN: Well, we played really well in the first half. We had good energy, we had good enthusiasm. We did a good job executing things. We affected the quarterback on defense.
They gave us a lot of stuff. They did a lot things, a lot of formations. All the receivers over on one side. A lot of stuff that we were constantly adjusting to.
And probably limited a little bit what we did because, you know, we were trying to make a lot of adjustments. So we were trying to make it simpler for the players.
But I thought we did a pretty good job in the first half, both sides of the ball on third down. Really did a nice job on offense. I mean, what, did we score the first five, four possessions?
I was really pleased with that. With having eight new starters, you know, on offense, three new starters on the offensive line. Not great experience at tight end. Basically, all new runners.
You know, and, obviously, Williams didn't play for us, but he has played a lot of college football. And Metchie and those two guys did a nice job today. We got to play a lot of players.
Q. It seems like a guy like Cameron Latu sets the tone physically. How does he do that for you guys so for and today as well?
NICK SABAN: You know, Cameron came to Alabama as an outside linebacker. And, you know, we had a need for tight end.
He also played tight end in high school. So I think before last season, you know, I said, You know, I think you have a lot better shot to be a tight end. You got good hands, you got great size, you're a good athlete. And he bought into it.
And it's taken a little bit of time for him to develop and feel comfortable and confident at the position. But I was encouraged.
And I think the success that he had today will build confidence. And I think that's really important, especially when you have a lot of new players that have -- don't have a lot of experience.
When they get in the game and they have some success, that really helps their confidence. And, you know, hopefully it will help them continue to develop and improve.
Q. Hey, Nick. What did you see from Drew Sanders? And just how confident are you in moving forward, especially with the absence of Chris Allen?
NICK SABAN: Yeah, Drew's a good player. And we've rotated those three guys, you know, all through camp and all through the spring as starters.
Chris Allen is a fantastic player, though, and he's a really good pass rusher. And really was a luxury to have him and Will on the edges as outside backers.
But we have confidence in Drew and, you know, we have a couple other young players that are going to have to -- you know, Dallas Turner and, you know, some of the younger players that we have are going to get an opportunity to play now at that position as well.
Q. Coach, how would you evaluate the offensive line, specifically, the center position? How do you think they did?
NICK SABAN: Well, it's hard for me to tell. I thought we ran the ball fairly effectively until the end of the game when they were blowing everybody in the gaps and we really didn't want to throw it. We were trying to play slow and get the game over.
But, you know, I thought we were fairly consistent at the running game. I thought the pass protection was good for the most part.
It was an RPO that we had the sack fumble on, so that really wasn't a protection issue. So I thought they did a good job.
It's really hard when you're watching a game from the sidelines to -- you know, when we watch the film, we'll know a lot better.
Q. Hey, Nick, follow-up on the offense. Earlier in the week, you referred to the offense as a work in progress. Did you feel like tonight reflected that or was this maybe better than you expected?
NICK SABAN: No, I was very pleased with -- you know, when you have that many guys that haven't played that much, new quarterback and all that, you really never know quite for sure how they're going to respond in a competitive situation. But I thought they did a great job in the game and I was very encouraged.
Q. Will and Phil, the defense today the pressure you put on D'Eriq can you take us through that and the success you think you had in the first half.
WILL ANDERSON, JR.: I think it was as we game planned this week. We stuck to our game plan saying we had to contain him and we had to rush together and rush as a unit and nobody can be selfish. And we all just have to play as a team and play up front as a team and just hold our gaps and be responsible to do our job.
PHIDARIAN MATHIS: The same thing. You know, we came out and did what Coach told us to do. That's the most important thing. I just think we've got to take from this game is keep working together, keep growing as a defense.
Q. Cameron, can you just talk about your big day today. Just talk about the whole receivers and how you all played. And also take through your touchdown catches as well.
CAMERON LATU: It felt -- touchdowns felt great, but it felt even better knowing that I helped my team gain a victory and I know we're going to build off this week and get better for next week. And receivers played great and we're just going to get better.
Q. Take us threw those the touchdowns what you were seeing.
CAMERON LATU: Down in the red area they had blitz zero, so I knew I had to get in my route, my first touchdown, I had to get in my route quick, knowing the ball was going to come around quick.
And the second one they just -- yeah, I just caught the ball and ran. That's all. That's all I've got to say.
Q. Against the defense did Miami do what you were expecting them to do offensively? Was there a plan? I know in the second half they put up some yardage. What do you think changed -- what was successful to that point?
PHIDARIAN MATHIS: I think we've just got to finish. That's going to be a big thing for us in the future is finishing. Our four quarters we've got to finish the whole game out. I think we kind of let up and laid back towards the end and that's something we've got to fix quickly.
Q. I've got a question I'm hoping everyone can answer: Last year was really weird, there were no fans or limited fan attendance. This game there were fans and the stadium was full. What was it like for you guys?
WILL ANDERSON, JR.: It was cool. When you're on the field, like, I don't know for me, as for me when I'm on the field I kind of zone all that stuff out and focus on the job I have to do to help my teammates and lock in on getting the call and doing my job. But it was cool having the fans there just supporting us and loving us and just the noise and all that. It was good.
PHIDARIAN MATHIS: You really got to lock in. There's a lot of noise, so you've got to lock in and get the call and communicate. That's also something else we've got to do well. And I'm glad the fans back me. It brought a lot of excitement to my game and I feed off of it. I know Will do too.
Q. For Will and Phidarian, can you talk about the fourth down stop and then just kind of what a boost, it seems like Miami maybe had something going there down by the goal line. And obviously for the offensive guys turning into a 94-yard touchdown a couple plays later?
WILL ANDERSON, JR.: I think it goes back to that team chemistry we've been building, and everybody locking in and doing their job. And not one person being selfish but everybody, all 11 on the field playing the same play, same call and getting the job done. I think that's what it went back to.
PHIDARIAN MATHIS: Same thing, had to lock in and get the play call and everybody on the same page. It all started with communication and it got us where we needed to be.
Q. For Will and Phil, sorry -- my apologies if you've already been asked but thoughts about Chris Allen how tough that is for him losing him this early in the season, and how does this defense go forward without him?
PHIDARIAN MATHIS: For the season? My boy is going to be back. We going to be good.
WILL ANDERSON, JR.: Yeah, we good.
Q. Bryce, just curious was there a touchdown that felt the best to throw today?
BRYCE YOUNG: No. Not at all. Any time you can help the team put points on the board that is our goal as offense. So there wasn't any touchdown that was better. Whether it was a passing touchdown, a rushing touchdown every touchdown any time you put points on the board it's a good thing. That's obviously the goal of every drive. So they're all the same for us.
Q. For Bryce and Cam, I guess you first Bryce: Seems like you have a pretty good connection with Cam just from the offseason and then today, what is that like? And I guess the same question to Cam, what is your chemistry like with Bryce?
BRYCE YOUNG: Yeah, it's a lot of work in the offseason. A lot of reps in practice, a lot of reps after practice with us getting on the same page. And I think that's the key with any good offense, making sure everyone's on the same page. We've been working to build that connection. Obviously me and Cam been doing it, rest of the receivers, everyone on the offense has been working this offseason to build that connection.
CAMERON LATU: What? Oh. Yeah, I say we got good connection but it just all comes from the hard work that we do day in and day out. Everybody usually does, is a piece of that on the offense and just repetition. That's it.
Q. For Bryce, after all the talk in the offseason and all the pressure, how good did it feel to get out there and play today not only play but to play well?
BRYCE YOUNG: It felt great. It felt great. Obviously any time there's offseason there's a lot of anticipation and, you know, you start to get a little anxious. But for us to get the first win out of the way, did some good things there's some stuff for us to improve on. You know, we get to put it up on tape, learn from it. Good start to the year but we know we have to keep working week in and week out.
It's definitely fun. It's fun always being out there with my guys. So it's definitely a lot of fun but we have a lot of growth and a lot of improvement left to do.
Q. For you, Cam: Coach Saban just talked about your transcription from outside backer and you buying in. Can you describe how that situation went and how fulfilled you may feel tonight after a couple of the touchdowns and a big game.
CAMERON LATU: I came in as a outside linebacker and a year later we was just low on tight ends and they just wanted to see if I could fit into that scheme on offense and see what I could do to fill a little void from having less tight ends, and it was a pretty deep outside linebacker group. So I just took a chance and trusted the coaches and just put in the work day in and day out and it just was good.
Q. Bryce, just want to ask about your first throw. The first play call, you were throwing deep. They weren't asking you to throw a screen pass or a get-to-know-you kind of play. How did that feel? What was that moment like being on the field for the first time as a starting quarterback?
BRYCE YOUNG: Yeah. That really just getting that trust from OB from Coach Saban that speaks volumes as a quarterback. Especially me who I know prior -- technically I hadn't taken a starting snap but for him to trust me and knew it a little bit from the plan going in, but to know we were going to take a shot early and for him to trust me and not try to hold back or changing the play calls, that means a lot. And I felt like that was trust I was trying to build and establish in the offseason. But having that trust from Coach Saban and OB, it means a lot to me.
Q. Bryce, for people who haven't known who you are for a while, you've been kind of at the top of the food chain from IE Ducks all the way to Mater Dei. And now you're here. People kind of expected you to have a feeling out period but is it sort of I guess a confidence builder that you are who people thought you were and even though there were so many questions like can you handle it? Can you take the mantle of this national champion ship program?
BRYCE YOUNG: That's a good question. I'd say I didn't feel too much of that. Really, for me, external pressure is something that's always going to be there. It's not really something that I'm focused on and we're focused on as a group. For me, it was just trying to do my best to help the team. That's what it's always been. That's what it's going to be for all season. It's just doing what I can to execute the game plan, us coming out, working during the week and then executing on the weekends.
So I'm not really a big, broad, big picture type guy. It's what week are we on, who are we preparing for. And that's all I was focused on. And, really, I got a lot of confidence and a boost from my teammates on both sides of the ball. Everybody just -- I'm blessed to have the team that I have. And a lot of confidence came from enemy and the work we've put in. But I've just been focused on this game.
