Nick Saban discusses how Alabama is embracing mistakes during fall camp

One could make the case that undisciplined play and mistakes are what cost Alabama the most last fall. Even so, Nick Saban is perfectly fine with the mistakes that the Crimson Tide are making this offseason and already in fall camp.

During Alabama’s media day on Sunday, Saban went in-depth on ‘Bama’s mistakes. He wants to see his team making them right now because now is the time of the year where you create the good habits that help them to avoid those blunders.

“A mistake is a mistake,” Saban said. “What did I say? Bad habits have a price. They cost you. Now is the time to develop good habits.”

“We’re never going to play perfect. Every player is going to make mistakes,” said Saban. “How much we can minimize those mistakes? And the degree of those mistakes relative to how it impacts and affects the outcome of the game?”

In order to minimize Alabama’s errors, Saban wants his players to bring a new level of focus to the field. He needs them to understand that one mishap, just one, could lead to another or, even worse, change the outcome of a game in a way that is not in their favor.

“I think we’re trying to get guys to stay focused on the process of how they have to focus on that particular play in that particular moment so they have the best chance to be able not to make a mistake that’s very disruptive, whether it’s offense, defense, giving up a big play, making a big play,” Saba said. “Everybody has a responsibility, an obligation, and an accountability to everybody. Because as soon as one of us makes a mistake, including me? It impacts everybody on the team.”

Saban’s viewpoint on mistakes was about as coach-speak as it gets. That doesn’t make it false, though, as he hopes Alabama learns from how they may have erred already so that they don’t do it anymore by the time kickoff comes in September

“You try to learn from those mistakes so that you can improve in the future. They’re all opportunities, teaching experience, teaching moments. Whatever you want to call them,” said Saban. “You never want to tolerate mistakes but you also want to learn from the ones that you make.”

Saban says it’s time to embrace the grind as opener inches closer

Alabama is hitting the ground running in fall camp this season. With new faces spread across the Crimson Tide offense, defense, and coaching staff, Nick Saban has just a few weeks left to put it all together.

Saban detailed the expectations he has for his squad during the final weeks of the offseason. It’s no surprise that he’s holding his team to a high standard entering the new season.

“The No. 1 purpose of fall camp is to create good habits. Obviously, bad habits have a cost. Good habits have a price. But you have to pay the price for the good habits up front, which is what you do when fall camp comes along,” Saban said during Alabama’s media day. “This is a time when you have to embrace the grind. We’ve got some players that have been blessed with talent. It only comes to fruition when you embrace the grind.

“You can’t view the circumstances as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to operate under difficult situations.”

After another wave of proven stars moved on to the NFL in last April’s draft, Saban is now calling on younger talent to step up ahead of the new college football season.

“There are individual players that have more opportunities to contribute to the team in various ways. We want them to develop the habits to allow them to play winning football on a consistent basis so that they can get the results that they would like to get,” Saban said. “There is a lot of teaching, a lot of installation.”

“This is the most condensed period of how much we throw at players to learn in a short period of time. It gives them the foundation they need to make the adaptations and adjustments they need to make throughout the season.”