Nick Saban reflects on recruiting Tyler Steen out of the transfer portal from Vanderbilt
Alabama opens up their SEC schedule this weekend as they take on Vanderbilt at home on Saturday. There will be a familiar face lined up across from the Commodore’s defensive front in offensive lineman Tyler Steen, who transferred from Vanderbilt to Alabama this offseason. Alabama head coach Nick Saban reflected on recruiting Steen from the transfer portal and went through what traits enticed him and the Crimson Tide to sign him.
“Well he’s a very athletic guy, he’s got really good power for his size, and he’s a good pass blocker, very smart guy; understands how to play fundamentally, use his hands, and has played pretty consistently for us in the three games that he’s played,” Saban said.
Steen was definitely a major contribution to the Crimson Tide offense, starting in the first three games of the season for them. Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and Jase McClellan have run the ball effectively behind Steen, and he’s also been successful at protecting the blind side of star quarterback Bryce Young from his left tackle position.
“Certainly not disappointed us in any way, shape, or form, he’s got a lot of experience which I think helps,” Saban said. “We’re very pleased that he’s here.”
Steen has already shown his value to the Crimson Tide offense, but could possibly take it to another level this week and give the Tide some inside information on what to expect from Vanderbilt’s defensive front, as the Tide look to sustain their 22-game win streak against the Commodores.
Nick Saban addresses speeding up the offense, going tempo more
Alabama‘s offense was extremely effective in their 63-7 victory over Louisiana-Monroe Saturday, as they dominated in the air and on the ground. The Crimson Tide offense picked up their pace from time to time last Saturday, as well as in a few other instances this season, utilized some tempo mainly in two-minute situations. Saban was asked about their offensive potency when they do decide to go up-tempo.
“We have been an effective tempo team, that’s something that’s been good for us,” Saban said. “It’s something that we work on that you really got to get the players to get up and down, get ready, and go.”
Saban certainly has the quarterback to run a high-speed offense in Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young, who’s more than proven he can distribute the ball from sideline to sideline, down the field, and make quick, decisive throws.
“I think Bryce likes it when we do that, I think it’s also beneficial when we spread the other team out and do that,” Saban said.
It’s unclear if Saban will increase the volume of their uptempo attack, but he seems to have weapons on offense that cater to that style of play. The Crimson Tide open up their SEC schedule this weekend as they take on Vanderbilt at home, and we’ll see how often they decide to pick up the pace against the Commodores’ defense.
“So we just gotta keep working on it and hopefully continue to make it an asset for us in the future in terms of how fast we play and how we execute,” Saban said.