Malachi Moore praises ESPN's Nick Saban for 'putting a little bit of rat poison out there this week'

Malachi Moore is seeing Nick Saban in a different light at SEC Media Days, as the Alabama defensive back is in Dallas this week, along with his former coach, who’s now part of the ESPN contingent.

While it’s evident Moore thinks the world of Saban as a coach, he’s a believer that the former Crimson Tide leader is adjusting to his new role just as well. Moore even harkened back to one of Saban’s favorite one-liners, when speaking on the job his former coach has done this week.

“I think Coach Saban did a good job of putting a little bit of rat poison out there this week,” Moore said, speaking with SEC Network’s Alyssa Lang, regarding Saban’s job as a member of the media. “But nah, he’s been doing good.

“This is the time I’ve definitely seen him smile, the most I’ve ever seen him smile. Yeah, I’m glad Coach can kind of relax a little bit.”

If there’s anyone in college football who deserved to stop and smell the roses for a bit, it was Saban, and it’s evident he’s enjoying his retirement. From the golf course to the ESPN airwaves, the former Alabama leader is still a presence, even in this next chapter of his life.

He’ll be watching from a far, as Malachi Moore looks to lead Alabama to success, under Kalen DeBoer’s tutelage now. We’ll see if there’s any more rat poison thrown the Crimson Tide’s way by their former coach over the next couple of months.

Paul Finebaum: Kalen DeBoer, Alabama are CFP or ‘bust’ this season

Meanwhile, Kalen DeBoer has a lot of pressure right off the bat, according to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum. After making the College Football Playoff last season with Washington, DeBoer must do the same with Alabama.

Upon the retirement of Nick Saban, and a CFP appearance last year, DeBoer has to keep the train rolling. He certainly has the talent to do it. But that doesn’t mean there’s any less pressure, according to Finebaum.

“It is enormous Greeny,” Finebaum said on Get Up. “And I know he’s coming up here in a few minutes and I’d rather not have you show this to him, but he better get to the playoffs. It is that simple. He didn’t take this job to go 8-4 and get a nice Florida bowl trip. Alabama is used to playing in the national championship game. So iv Kalen DeBoer doesn’t make it to the playoffs this year, it’s a bust.”

While there’s a lot of pressure on DeBoer, Finebaum praised how the coach handled the transition from Saban, arguably the greatest coach of all time.

“Kalen DeBoer has done a spectacular job of succeeding the GOAT. For a day or two, it was iffy, and then he put a great staff together, superb people in line,” Finebaum added. “In some ways, I think his offensive coordinator is better than what he had last year, which wasn’t very good. And you can ask Nick about that later.

“But in terms of recruiting, he has been outstanding, elite — Nick Saban-like recruiting. He’s in control of this program and I think Alabama is very well-primed to go back to the playoffs.”

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.