WATCH: Nick Saban speaks Wednesday of LSU week

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On Wednesday evening, Alabama coach Nick Saban addressed the media for a third time ahead of the upcoming game against a top-10 LSU team. He continued to drive home players maintaining their intensity and attaching themselves to the right things.

Other topics included ways of combating playing tight, how he thinks the offense has utilized the speed at wide receiver and a whole lot more. Below, you can find the entire video and an entire transcript of Saban’s media availability from Wednesday evening.

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Opening statement…

“Well, I think the thing that we’re trying to focus on is ‘how do you maintain intensity?’ Whether you maintain your intensity in practice, whether you maintain your intensity in a game. But everyone’s going to lose their intensity every now and then, so really when you get into situations, you’ve got to pound your chest or do whatever you’ve got to do to regain momentum, regain the mental focus you need to do to sustain, maintain intensity because that’s really the only way that you can sustain performance.

“So even days like today, it’s a little warmer. We’ve had good practices all week. It’s a challenge for guys to maintain their intensity and it’s a choice that everybody has to make. Nobody chooses to win. Nobody really chooses to lose. But you do have the freedom to choose what you want to do and how you want to do it. And I think that’s the most important thing that players can do, and everybody has a choice to do that in whatever they do in their life. So that’s what we’re trying to get out players to do so we can sustain and maintain intensity throughout the season. Obviously, ’cause… rivalry game, playing on the road, good team. So it’s going to be really important that we can do that.”

On if there’s a way to combat being too tight…

“No. I mean, not at all. I think it’s what you attach yourself to. I mean, people attach themselves to winning, but if you attach yourself to winning, you’re actually attaching yourself to outcome, which can actually create anxiety. I’d like for the players to attach themselves to ‘what do I have to do to play my best to prepare the best to be ready to go and play with confidence and understanding of what I’m supposed to do, how I’m supposed to do it, why I’m supposed to do it that way’ and go play fast and do that one play at a time. And then, that helps you get the result that you obviously want. So attaching yourself to doing the things you need to do to be a productive player is, I think, much more effective and even more fun. When you’re a competitor and you go out and play that way to try to, you know when you say ‘dominate your box,’ you do it one play at a time. So that’s really why it’s important to maintain focus and intensity that way.”

On how effectively has the offense been able to use the speed at wide receiver…

“I don’t really think that it’s fair to assess anything that the offense has done because we’ve been a little bit left-handed ever since Bryce got hurt in the Arkansas game. He basically hasn’t been able to practice for however many weeks, three weeks, and played pretty well in two games. But the continuity of what you do and how you build confidence and timing has been a little bit distorted.

“Now, the good news is I think it was really been beneficial to the two backup quarterbacks. I think they’ve got a ton of reps, and I think that’s helped them. But it’s not really fair to see how we’ve sort of developed offensively because probably the most important guy on the team, any team is the quarterback. And most importantly on our team because of the quality of player that Bryce is. So we’ve been a little bit out of sorts. I really challenge the players to be able to do things better, whether it’s run the ball, run routes better, make more explosive plays, whatever that might be. But I think it’s a little bit unfair to judge anything that’s happened in the last couple of weeks.”

On what things have helped the LSU offense reach another level…

“They got good players, really good players. Quarterback’s playing really, really well. They’ve got great balance. They’ve got three really good running backs that all share the load. They’ve really got talented skill guys outside, and they’re very efficient and effective in the way they’re executing the offense and the things that they do. They present challenges, and I think they’ve got some young players playing on offense that have gotten better and better and better. Two freshmen tackles, tight end. You know, Jason Taylor’s son. Those guys are playing better and better all the time, too, and making plays and are being productive. So this is a really, really good team, all the way around. And now they’re starting a new system, offensively, lots of new players. They’re starting to get confidence and believe in exactly what they’re supposed to do and how they’re supposed to do it, and they’re playing really effectively.”

On if the response after the bye week was what he was looking for…

“Yeah, it’s been very good. The response with the players has been very good. We’ve practiced well all three days this week. So we’ll see how we play, but we seem to be preparing the right way.”

On the development of Alabama OT JC Latham…

“JC’s done a good job for us. You know, I think consistency in performance for all of us is what we’re sort of striving to improve on, and I think if you were to ask any player on the team, that’s probably the thing that we all need to do. I think that’s true in the offensive line, and I think that’s true for JC. But we’re really pleased with the way he’s sort of developed and played for us this year.”

On what’s helped Alabama WR Ja’Corey Brooks have more consistent success…

“Well, the guy’s a real competitor. I mean, he plays great for us on special teams. I don’t care what you ask him to do, what role he plays on whatever team, he does it fast, he does it hard. He prepares well. I think he’s attaching himself to the right things, and I think that’s sort of showing in his production and performance and the consistency that he’s played with.”