WATCH: Trio of Alabama players speak ahead of A&M game

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 1 Alabama has started its season 5-0 (2-0 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 junior running back Jahmyr Gibbs, ahead of the Texas A&M game.

Then on Tuesday afternoon, another trio of players were made available, including outside linebacker Dallas Turner, defensive back DeMarcco Hellams and offensive guard Emil Ekiyor Jr. Below, we’ve included everything those guys said during that media availability.

OLB Dallas Turner

On his memories from last year’s trip to College Station…

“I mean, actually when we went to Texas A&M last year, that was my first start as a freshman. So, I feel like it was a game that we have to learn from, and coincidently it was my first game as a starter. So it was kind of rough at first, but it was a learning part for the team, and I feel like I learned from that experience.” 

On what he’s learned since that first start…

“Honestly, just understanding the game of football on both sides of the ball, offense and defense. Figuring out offensive schemes and also figuring out defensive schemes as well that we run as a defense. I just understand it. The more time I put into it, learning it, getting the repetition at it as well, I feel like kind of elevated my game a lot more mentally.”

On the challenges of going against Jalen Milroe in practice and how it make him better…

“Practicing against J-Mil in the pocket as a pass rusher, it’s kind of hard even just trying to tap off Jalen. Just his explosiveness and his athleticism, it kind of makes it a lot more difficult in practice, and I feel like that prepares us for the game when we play against a guy who likes to run a lot.”

On Alabama’s secondary giving pass rushers more time to get to the QB.. 

“The secondary plays an important role in the back end of the defense, covering guys and not letting guys make a catch as quickly. The amount of time we get as pass rushers from the secondary, from the coverage, I think it gives us a lot better chance to affect the quarterback and pressure the quarterback.” 

On what he’s seen from Jaheim Oatis and advice he’s given him…

“Jaheim, he has like a lot of talent. He’s very physically gifted, the size he has and the speed he has as well for his size. I talk to him a lot about just focusing more line on defense and stuff like that because things like that will elevate your game to the next level. And him being a freshman and having the opportunity he has to start and play the way he has now, he’s starting to pick up. His last game he had good a production, and so I feel like it’s a lot more things that he can do on the field to improve on to make him the best player possible.” 

On preparing for two different quarterbacks… 

“I mean, I feel like we see everything in practice from the guys we have in our QB room. So I feel like we have just a consistent hard work in practice and a lot of game film that I can see a lot of keys and stuff like that I can use on Saturday.”  

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DB DeMarcco Hellams

On the motivation from Alabama’s loss to Texas A&M last season…

“Last year was a hard-fought game. We lost it. It left a really bad taste in my mouth, other guys on the roster’s mouths. It’s something we definitely remember from last year and it’s definitely helped in our preparation for those guys this year.”

On why Alabama’s third-down defense has been so good…

“Being on one call, making sure everyone has the same call, everyone on the same page. Executing what Coach Pete (Golding) calls. He’s done a great job in putting us in great situations on third downs and we’ve done a good job so far executing.”

On the challenge of facing off against Jalen Milroe in practice…

“Milroe may be a quarterback, but he’s always going to be one of the best athletes on the field. He’s fast, he can throw. He’s definitely a challenge for a defense to contain because he brings a great aspect on the field throwing and running, so he’s definitely a problem in both those.”

On Kool-Aid McKinstry showing off his versatility by playing Star…

“Preparation. Kool-Aid does a great job of preparing. Even though he doesn’t play star normally, he still knows star. It shows how much guys on our defense, guys in our secondary, we know everyone’s job, and that helps us be prepared for whatever goes on on the field.”

On Alabama LB Deontae Lawson…

“D-Law, he’s a great linebacker. He’s young, but he doesn’t approach the game young. He prepares just like everyone else would and he’s done a great job this year of being prepared whenever his name is called.”

On the emphasis in Alabama’s defense forcing turnovers…

“It’s something that we emphasize, getting the ball back for the offense in best situations possible. We work on things as far as turning the ball over every day in practice. When we go into the games it’s something we’re always looking to do, get the ball back for our offense.”

On the emotion he felt after recovering the fumble against Arkansas…

“I was fired up about it because I work on it in practice. We do drills for that. I saw my opportunity and I took the opportunity to get the ball back for our team. It was a great moment for me seeing the preparation we put in in practice show in the game.”

On if preparing for two A&M quarterbacks is difficult…

“It doesn’t matter. We’re going to prepare for whoever is out there on Saturday. It’s really about what we do. We’re not really concerned about who they have it quarterback. It’s more about how we’ve prepared for the Texas A&M team.”

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OL Emil Ekiyor Jr.

On how Alabama’s OL has improved from Game 1…

“I think the single biggest thing is probably consistency. We had little stretches where we did good things at times, but just the overall consistency of our play, having about 10 rushes that got six to nine yards and breaking those long runs at the end of the game, there’s more consistency in our running game. Our pass protection, too. We only gave up one sack, and it was kind of like on the scramble. Just continue to focus on those things throughout the week, being consistent with our technique and stuff. It’s paid dividends the last couple weeks.”

On blocking for Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs…

“It’s awesome blocking for a guy like Jahmyr. He can make a lot of things happen on his own, but we just get a hat on a hat, give him a little crease, he can make some things happen. That’s pretty much our goal. Cover people up in the run game, give him as much room as possible to do what he does best.”

On Nick Saban challenging the OL to be more physical…

“It’s something everybody in the offensive line room took personal. I think it just starts in practice, developing those habits throughout the week. Making sure we’re practicing hard at all times, being physical at all times, even if we are on the (Inaudible) field. Even if we don’t feel like it.  Changing our mindset throughout the week of practice and having that dog mentality approach going into the game. It’s shown these last couple weeks. We definitely took that challenge seriously and we improved on it good.”

On Alabama OL Seth McLaughlin…

“I think something special about the o-line we have in general is we’re really deep. Ones and twos, everybody is a really good player and could be a starter anywhere in the SEC. It just shows how deep we are for Seth to come in. He doesn’t play like a backup guy. He’s more like a 1B instead of just a 2. We knew Seth would do some really good things when he got in. He had experience playing in the national championship game before. We have all the confidence in the world in Seth and nobody is surprised by the things he did in the game. It’s awesome. I told him afterward, ‘Man, you’ve got some great football IQ.’ He just does some good stuff out there.”

On Tyler Booker’s big block, what the freshman brings to the table…

“In the o-line room, we always count the amount of knockdowns we have. After the game, when coach sends out the grades, we see who had the most knockdowns and kind of just compete for that. There’s competition among the room. It’s definitely encouraged and we try to be as physical as possible. Book, he’s done a great job just doing that. His mentality for the game and his preparation as a freshman is beyond his years. We’re really excited about how he’s brought that mentality to the o-line and it just shows again how deep we are that anybody can come in and contribute and do a really good job.”

On blocking for backup QB Jalen Milroe…

“I think it just puts more emphasis on finishing. You’ve got to really finish your blocks, stay with your guy, don’t have a clock in your head. Sometimes the ball is thrown in three seconds but with a guy who makes things happen and playmaking is his skill, you’ve kind of got to hold onto your blocks a little bit longer and stay attached to those guys. Just finishing is pretty much the biggest thing.”

On the first things he learned when he got on Alabama’s campus…

“I guess just how much different college football and just playing for Nick Saban in general was, and anything else I’ve done in my life. Just the amount of discipline it requires and the long hours, you’ve really got to be dedicated to it. Just finding out how much love you have to have for the game of college football to really be good and consistent.”

On his confidence in Milroe…

“As an offense, we fully support everybody who is out there, no matter who it is. Jalen, we all see him make plays in the game, make plays in practice, we expect him to do the same thing while he’s out there. Everyone on the offense has the utmost confidence in Jalen, all the coaches have the confidence in Jalen. That’s what’s so great about Alabama. One great player goes down, another great one comes up.”