What Saban said and what (we think) it means: Tuesday

Reviewing some comments and an attempt at reading between the lines following Alabama head coach Nick Saban‘s press conference on Tuesday.

Saban on defensive back Terrion Arnold: “I think anybody that gets experience playing, which he got some experience last year, I think he’s much more confident. I think he has a better understanding and probably a little more maturity about what he needs to do to go out there and perform well. And there’s competition at the position. He, Kool-Aid [McKinstry], Trey [Amos] are all doing a pretty good job out there so I think that’s good for everybody in terms of their improvement as well.”

What we think it means: I’ll go ahead and say it: Amos is what Eli Ricks was supposed to be a year ago.

He may have come from the “other” Louisiana school, but Amos showed up more starter ready than Ricks (and, yes, the injury that accompanied Ricks to Tuscaloosa should be taken into account).

As for Arnold, at the time it felt like he won the job (in part, at least) because Ricks and Khyree Jackson either couldn’t or wouldn’t take it. From there, play at the spot opposite McKinstry was up and down at best.

A year later, the situation feels a good bit different. Instead of going with a default option, one gets the sense that Saban views Arnold and Amos of starter caliber. That’s obviously the case with McKinstry, a likely first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Meanwhile, Arnold and Amos are coming off seasons that saw them start a combined 17 games. In terms of the critical factors coveted by Saban, at 6-foot, 196 pounds and 6-foot-1, 197 pounds, respectively, Arnold and Amos check the boxes.

What the arrival of Amos allows for is the possibility of playing Arnold at star in the nickel and dime packages. At a minimum, the presence of Amos paves the way for the next wave of corners to develop at a reasonable rate.

A byproduct of Alabama potentially being corner heavy in its sub packages for the first time in several year is that competition at safety (home to four of UA’s six defensive backs in the dime the last three seasons) ratchets up a notch or two.

In other words, one move could impact no fewer than three positions in the secondary — and that’s before a drill down into the safety position, which added UAB transfer Jaylen Key to a mix that includes Malachi Moore, Caleb Downs, Kristian Story and DeVonta Smith, is spelled out.

Saban on quarterback communication with coaches during practice/scrimmages: “You know, what I tell the quarterbacks, it’s not up to the coaches. You’re looking over your shoulder to see if the coach is going to do this or that. How about you forcing me to play you, force us to play you. When you get your reps and you get a chance to play, you play so good we don’t have any choice but to play you, rather than worrying about all this other stuff. That’s the only way I can answer your question.”

What we think it means: Take away every reason why a coach won’t play you and you can live with the outcome. If you’re not doing that, you’re essentially making the decision for the coach.

During their respective athletic careers, my kids got tired of hearing that after about the eighth or ninth time. Why? Because there’s not much worse than real talk from a parent when you’re 14 years old.

Especially when you know he and/or she is right.

Saban on tight end Amari Niblack: “He’s doing great. He’s gotten bigger, he’s gotten stronger, he understands the offense a lot better. He is a mismatch player to some degree in the passing game. And he’s done a really good job, and he was very productive in the first scrimmage. And he is blocking better. And I think that he can be an impact player for us if he continues to grow and progress. We’re excited about his future.”

What we think it means: Change out the names and this could have been Jahleel Billingsley two years ago, right?

Given his physical attributes, Niblack flourishing in the passing game doesn’t come as much of a surprise. That’s why Saban’s comments in regards to the sophomore’s growth as a blocker are probably even more encouraging.

After all, mismatches work both ways. What might be to UA’s benefit when it goes to the air could switch places when it’s time to dig out an edge defender or inside linebacker in the run game.

This isn’t to say that Niblack needs to be Michael Williams 2.0 in that area. Still, even if he lines off the ball more than in line, Niblack will need to hold his own when coming across the formation on split zone runs and/or inserting between the tackles.

Sounds like he’s now equipped to do that (and perhaps more) with greater effectiveness.

Saban on return game: “We got Kool-Aid back, who averaged like 16 yards of punt return last year. And we’re trying to develop some other guys at that position. Isaiah Bond. Caleb Downs can catch punts. Cole Adams can catch punts. So we’re working with more and more guys to be able to do that. Kickoff return, K-Law [Kendrick Law] did it last year some. [Emmanuel Henderson] did it some. We’ll just have to see how that part of it develops, but I think we’ve got enough good skill guys that we should be able to come up with some pretty good return guys.”

What we think it means: History tells me that if Saban refers to you by a nickname, you’re probably in a pretty good place with the best to ever do it. Not that we didn’t already know it, but consider the “K-Law” reference to be even more confirmation of the place Law occupies in Saban’s ticker.

Speaking of Law, sign me up for him as the off guy and Henderson as the primary option on kickoff returns. With rule changes, opportunities are tougher to come by these days. Would be fun to watch when they do get a chance, though.

Regardless of how it shakes out, Alabama’s returners should be a strength for this team. Eliminating the penalties and mental lapses put forth by coverage and return unit personnel from a year ago is of far greater concern.

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