Nick Saban: This Alabama team has ‘that edge that was missing’

Heather Dinich doesn’t believe Alabama has a heightened level of concern entering the 2023

Gathering information from the Crimson Tide at SEC Media Days in Nashville, Dinich revealed that she believes Nick Saban’s squad is simply “pissed off” regarding their performance last season, and we could see a difference in their play in 2023.

“I wouldn’t describe it as concern, having talked to some of these players coming through, they give more of a vibe quite frankly of being pissed off about what happened last year,” responded Dinich, asked about the level of concern for Alabama this season. “They want to play some smash mouth football. They want to run the ball like the Derrick Henry days. They want to win these games.”

Additionally, Saban told Dinich that this season’s team has a different edge to them, the pressure of last season’s expectations no longer weighing the Crimson Tide down.

“You know, Saban told an interesting story to us not too long ago, and he said last year at the Tennessee game, players usually sing a little song before they go out of the tunnel, and he said it was quiet. He said he turned around and he said, ‘What’s wrong with you guys?’ This year he senses, even though you heard him say this is a young team, they’ve got that edge that was missing,” added Dinich. “He said last year there were so many expectations because of Will Anderson Jr. and Bryce Young, that those expectations led to anxiety within the locker room, and ultimately disappointment. So this year the vibe is different.”

A renewed sense of style could be just what the doctor ordered for Saban and the Crimson Tide. It had to have stung watching Georgia win back-to-back national titles, and not even making it to the SEC Championship Game last season. That won’t be accepted by this season’s team.

While the aforementioned Young and Anderson are on to the NFL, Alabama still has a formidable bunch entering the 2023 season. With less hype than ever, perhaps it’ll be the perfect storm for Saban’s squad moving forward.

Time will tell, but it’s evident there’s something different about Alabama’s squad entering the 2023 college football season. It’s going to be fun to watch them get back to the standard in Tuscaloosa.