Rewinding Saban updates status of Bryce Young, injured LB
The Alabama-Tennessee week is starting to round the corner as Nick Saban meets with reporters after Wednesday’s practice.
Here’s a rundown of what he said.
— The emphasis has been on self-assessing. Are they playing to the right level of respect? The basic fundamentals are important to being successful.
— He said the players have looked good in practice this week. If they’re good competitors, they’ll be ready.
— Saban said Bryce Young is on a pitch count in practice so they hope to get more out of him Thursday. More on this coming later.
— The experience of two road games in hostile environments, Saban hopes, will have this Alabama team better equipped to handle a Tennessee crowd that figures to be hostile.
— Saban said the three outside-LB package isn’t something they use in anything but passing situations. “We have a breakpoint where we put them in the game,” Saban said. The speed of Tennessee’s offense adds a challenge to that dynamic.
— Linebacker Jaylen Moody has been practicing this week without issues and should be good to go against Tennessee, Saban said after the starter missed the Texas A&M game with a kidney injury.
— On third-down defensive success, Saban said affecting the QB has been a big part of it. They’ve done a good job of disguising the look on the back end of the defense that makes life even harder on the passer.
— Saban said they have confidence in Will Reichard and he doesn’t want him to press or feel any anxiety after missing two kicks against Texas A&M.