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Around Campus => The Quad => Topic started by: Chechem on September 16, 2011, 05:07:17 AM



Title: "Nick Saban previews North Texas at No. 2 Alabama"
Post by: Chechem on September 16, 2011, 05:07:17 AM
Quote
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Nick Saban hosted his weekly radio show Thursday night at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Alabama's fifth-year head coach talked about several things including the second-ranked Crimson Tide's game against North Texas on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Here are some brief points Saban spoke about Thursday night:

* Saban talked about the opportunity to play at Penn State, and how pleased he was with the Tide's performance.

* Feels like we need an inside pass rusher on defense and for another skill player to step up on offense. Christion Jones has stepped up the most.

* Offensive line played a lot better last week, but Cyrus Kouandjio keeps pushing.

* Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix is going to play more on special teams.

* Alex Watkins helped with the pass rush at the end of last year, and could help this year. Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower do a good job on the ends. Saban wants someone in the middle.

* We want to push the pocket in the middle better than we have in the past two games.

* What is the No. 1 attribute you look at in a recruit? "Character."

* Saban doesn't like the NCAA rule that prohibits the head coach from recruiting on campus in the spring. He said it makes it a challenge to evaluate character.

* Quarterbacks. If you go from first week to second week AJ McCarron did as good of a job as anyone in terms of improvement from first week to the next.

* Saban asked fans if they prefer home-at-home such as the Penn State series the past two years, or the neutral site games such as next year's game against Michigan in Dallas. The fans cheered louder for the neutral site games. Saban said those games are better for recruiting. He also said it's better for a business standpoint in terms of making money for the program.

* Saban talked about Marquis Maze and his value on special teams.

* North Texas has one of the best kick returners and running backs in the country. Alabama has had good kickoff coverage so far.

* Saban spoke about turnovers. Alabama had five turnovers against Kent State, but none against Penn State. The Tide forced three turnovers against the Nittany Lions.

* Alabama did not make enough explosive plays. Saban said it's something that the Tide needs to do. Turnovers and explosive plays had a profound impact on the game.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/09/nick_saban_previews_north_texa.html


Title: Re: "Nick Saban previews North Texas at No. 2 Alabama"
Post by: Coach Hank Crisp on September 16, 2011, 05:12:11 AM
Quote
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Nick Saban hosted his weekly radio show Thursday night at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Alabama's fifth-year head coach talked about several things including the second-ranked Crimson Tide's game against North Texas on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Here are some brief points Saban spoke about Thursday night:

* Saban talked about the opportunity to play at Penn State, and how pleased he was with the Tide's performance.

* Feels like we need an inside pass rusher on defense and for another skill player to step up on offense. Christion Jones has stepped up the most.

* Offensive line played a lot better last week, but Cyrus Kouandjio keeps pushing.

* Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix is going to play more on special teams.

* Alex Watkins helped with the pass rush at the end of last year, and could help this year. Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower do a good job on the ends. Saban wants someone in the middle.

* We want to push the pocket in the middle better than we have in the past two games.

* What is the No. 1 attribute you look at in a recruit? "Character."

* Saban doesn't like the NCAA rule that prohibits the head coach from recruiting on campus in the spring. He said it makes it a challenge to evaluate character.

* Quarterbacks. If you go from first week to second week AJ McCarron did as good of a job as anyone in terms of improvement from first week to the next.

* Saban asked fans if they prefer home-at-home such as the Penn State series the past two years, or the neutral site games such as next year's game against Michigan in Dallas. The fans cheered louder for the neutral site games. Saban said those games are better for recruiting. He also said it's better for a business standpoint in terms of making money for the program.

* Saban talked about Marquis Maze and his value on special teams.

* North Texas has one of the best kick returners and running backs in the country. Alabama has had good kickoff coverage so far.

* Saban spoke about turnovers. Alabama had five turnovers against Kent State, but none against Penn State. The Tide forced three turnovers against the Nittany Lions.

* Alabama did not make enough explosive plays. Saban said it's something that the Tide needs to do. Turnovers and explosive plays had a profound impact on the game.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/09/nick_saban_previews_north_texa.html

The fans cheered louder for the neutral site games. Saban said those games are better for recruiting. He also said it's better for a business standpoint in terms of making money for the program.



Title: Re: "Nick Saban previews North Texas at No. 2 Alabama"
Post by: Hannibal Lecter, MD on September 16, 2011, 07:05:15 AM
Nice run down.  I almost feel like I listened to the show now.