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BAMA WEEK: Nick Saban on Texas, Steve Sarkisian, Bijan Robinson, and more

Eric Nahlinby:Eric Nahlin•09/05/22
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During Alabama head coach Nick Saban’s weekly press conference he mentioned a number of topics tangential to Texas and the upcoming game this weekend in Austin.

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Saban, of course, is uniquely qualified to opine on Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s ability as a play caller. The last time those two were on the field together they were winning a national championship against Ohio State in convincing fashion.

On Alabama’s opening 55-0 win versus Utah State:

“After reviewing the game I think we showed elements of Alabama football in terms of how physical we were, the toughness we played with, the intensity that we had. And, for the most part, the discipline to execute was pretty good, especially early in the game.”

Initial impressions of Texas:

“The measure of your team, what is your growth from week one to week two, even though you had a pretty good start, can you build on that and make progress for the future, because we’re going to need to do that playing against a really good opponent this week. Texas has, you know, Sark’s done a really good job there, he’s a very good offensive coach. They have a great system and scheme on offense. They’ve got some really good players on offense. B. Robinson is an outstanding running back. Worthy is a great receiver. Ewers is a very good quarterback, great arm. Very talented guy. They have seven starters back on defense. Played much better last week on defense than some of the times last year when people scored points on them. This is a very improved defensive team to me. They do a really good job on special teams; played with great effort. You know, blocked a punt last week and Worthy’s a really good punt returner.”

On Bijan Robinson’s all-around ability:

“He can do everything. You know he’s got speed, he’s got power. He’s a very instinctive runner, he sets up his blockers and has a burst. He’s got great hands, he’s a good receiver. They use him in the passing game. This guy is as good of an all round back as there probably is in the country. Or he’s certainly one of the best in the country and his production shows that.”

On his former offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian as a play caller:

“Well I think he’s a very bright guy. He’s very well organized. He did an outstanding job when he was here. He’s got a good system, he understands defense, he likes to see what you’re ‘in’ if he can so that he can run a play that’s going to be an effective play against that particular look to give his players the best chance to be successful. I think all those things and a combination of those things and good preparation make you a very good play caller. He has a really good understanding of defense. He has a really good understanding of what he wants to do on offense against certain things on defense and he tries to implement those things in a game whether it’s formational, using motions, adjustments, eye candy, whatever you want to call it, to sort of get the look he’d like to have and then run that particular play against it.”

On playing games in fertile recruiting territory:

“I think that any time you get exposure in an area that obviously helps recruiting. It doesn’t matter where you play, whether we play in Atlanta, whether we play somewhere in Texas, I think that exposure makes people in that area more aware of your program, who you are, players on your team, so I do think these things have an impact in recruiting and it’s a great opportunity for us to have a chance to play a school like Texas that’s great tradition and has a really good team.”

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