WATCH: Trio of Alabama players speak ahead of Miss State

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 6 Alabama has started its season 6-1 (3-1 SEC) under Nick Saban. On Monday, the media spoke with the longtime Crimson Tide head coach, as well as junior outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and sophomore wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks, ahead of the Mississippi State game.

Then on Tuesday afternoon, another trio of players were made available, including defensive lineman Byron Young, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry and offensive lineman Javion Cohen. Below, we’ve included everything those guys said during that media availability.

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DL Byron Young

On Alabama’s team discipline in practice…

“I think it looks like a lot of small things people don’t think about. Think it looks like having your shirt tucked in, having the correct socks on, having all your pads in, small things like that that boil over to become big things.”

On how he felt Alabama’s pass rush did against Tennessee…

“I think we had some success. I think we could’ve obviously been better, but right now we just gotta focus on the small things, focus on getting back to the technique that we gotta use. Being down pact with our plays, our stunts and stuff like that. I think there’s always room to improve.”

On the puke moment with the Tennessee player…

“We were actually talking right before he threw up. I don’t remember what we were talking about but then he looked away for a second and he just threw up and he looked at me. I just told him he was nasty. I just looked to the sideline all it was.”

On what what pre-puke conversation was…

“I really don’t even remember.”

On getting the younger guys to do the little things…

“It started before this week just trying to get everybody to do the little things just really started last year. After we lost last year and I think that was one thing we got away from last year that led to us losing to Georgia. I think it’s kinda been a continuous thing and getting everybody to do the little things. Kinda what we focus on all summer and it’s still kinda what we’re focusing on now.

“It’s just making sure they know what the little things are cause some things, they could be so small you might not even think about it. But for me, it’s something that I’ve been here for four years so now I know exactly what I’m looking for. I know exactly what everything is supposed to look like. It’s something I just try to show them what it looks like.”

On Alabama’s defense being angry…

“I think there would be anger on defense after giving up 52 or even giving up seven. I think every week we go in with the goal to not allow any opponent to get anything. So I think whenever we give up anything at all you know there’s a little bit of anger that comes with it.”

On who Alabama’s team leaders are…

“It’s a lot of the upperclassmen, me, Will Anderson, DJ Dale, Darrian Dalcourt, Jordan Battle, Bryce (Young). A lot of guys that’ve just been here and done that. Most of the guys have everything down pact but sometimes people may forget. I don’t think it’s anything that people are intentionally not doing, I think it’s something that people just might not think about.” 

On Mississippi State, hearing about Alabama’s defense owning the Bulldogs…

“I wouldn’t say, for either of us, it’s bigger than any other game. I think, for me especially, every game that I’m about to play is the biggest game that I’m gonna play until the next game. Just speaking about we’ve dominated them on defense, I haven’t talked to many people from home about it. But I know that we look to dominate every team on defense so if it’s them, they’re just next team on the schedule we gotta prepare for.”

On Mississippi State’s passing game versus running game…

“Personally, I wouldn’t say (run game) it was lackluster. I think they have really good running backs. I think they do, they obviously throw the ball more than they pass the ball but I think they still have a really good running game.

“They check to their running plays most of the time based off of what we might be in on defense so I think that’s something we obviously gotta be alert for and we gotta respect and we gotta know really when they’re gonna run. I think like we always do we start with stopping the run. I think that’s still gonna be what we start with and then knowing they’re gonna throw the ball, we gotta get prepared to stop the pass as well.”

On Alabama freshman DL Jaheim Oatis…

“The thing that’s really impressed me the most has just been his growth. Being as far along as he is cause I tell him all the time he’s 10 times better than I was when I first got here. I was, I wouldn’t say I was awful but I wasn’t where he is. He’s impressed me just with his maturity and work ethic.”

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CB Kool-Aid McKinstry

On what he’s seen out of Mississippi State’s offense…

“Started looking at them yesterday. We feel like they are a good team. We just learned what we are going to do to face them and execute the game plan.

On what Tennessee did to be so effective in the passing game…

“They did what they do well. They did it best. We’ve just got to execute the game plan.”

On how much emphasis there’s been on not allowing explosive plays…

“That’s a big part of our defense, not allowing explosive plays. That’s a big part of our defense. Coaches say it all the time: you’ve got to execute.”

On Mississippi State WR Caleb Ducking, who is 6-5 with 7 TDs…

“Facing anyone as a DB you have to rely on your technique and what you’ve been coached to do in the moment.”

On pass interference being subjective, but what you can do to avoid them…

“To eliminate the penalties we have to rely on our technique, do things the right way, do things the way we’re coached.”

On how frustrating it was to see his interception get called back…

“I didn’t see the flag. The ball bounced my way and I caught it and ran.”

On Alabama LB Will Anderson saying guys are taking little things more seriously…

“I think guys are more locked in, doing the little things like Will said. I have been noticing the little things. It’s only been one day, so more today on the little things.”

On if he’s seen teams shy away from him recently…

“I just play, play-after-play to see what I can do for the team.”

On the short punt he couldn’t get to and resulted in a fumble…

“Just have to make Peter call to get away from the ball.”

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OL Javion Cohen

On having Alabama QB Bryce back…

“It was wonderful. It’s always great to block for him. He’s obviously the leader of our offense, one of the leaders of our team, a very special player. I mean it was great having him back out there giving the signal calls and everything. When Bryce gets out there, you always expect a great performance, and it looked like the shoulder was pretty healthy.”

On how active Bryce Young is at changing plays, blocking scheme at the LOS…

“Very. I think he’s picked up a lot from last year because he’s learned the offense a lot more, and he’s more of that general front that he brings to us. I mean, he’s seeing very different looks during the game, and he came and checked the protections for us a couple times. And that’s very valuable as offensive linemen who—we  have our head down looking at the front, looking at the ‘backers. He can see the safety rotation, or he can see a corner starting to press and bring a cat and wants to flip the rotation, so it’s important for us, and we appreciate it.”

On the progression of the offensive line…

“We’re going there. We’re going there. We haven’t knocked off all the goals that we wanted to obviously, giving up a few sacks here and there and trying to keep the running game keeping going.  But we’re progressing each week. Coach Wolford is on us very hard in practice to continue to keep up the effort. We’re just trying to go out there and give our best and play to the Alabama standard each week.”

On any pride in being fourth-least in sacks allowed this season…

“I’m pretty sure we all prefer zero sacks. You know, that’s a special player.  He’s one of the main reasons why we are where we are today. It speaks a lot of volume for us and the work we put in this offseason, the trust the coaches have put in us to go out and perform on a daily basis. I’d like for it to be zero, but it’s better than 41.”

On what ways the OL needs to improve…

“Just continue to keep a strong mentality, bringing physicality to every fight. Of course we’d like to run the ball a lot more  and continue to open up the offense for our skill players to go make plays. But continue to protect the quarterback, continue to open up lanes for our skill players, and that’s about it.”

On bouncing back after a loss…

“We’ve been in this spot before. That’s one thing that we all know. We all of course did not want to lose Saturday, but we’ve been in this spot before. There’s the 24-hour rule, so once the 24 hours are up, we’re on to the next week. It’s Mississippi State this week. We want to focus on getting back to the Alabama standard and playing as hard as we can.”

On opening up about mental health…

“It was wonderful. It wasn’t difficult that much because of the support system I had around me. I want to give a lot of props to Coach Saban and the entire staff that have supported me and allowed me to take that time off for my health. That was wonderful. And it wasn’t difficult at all sharing because I believe that’s something that we all should pay attention to in our day-to-day lives. It’s important to pay attention to your mental health and put that first.”