Saban trusted Tide players to find their way to New Orleans

December 28, 2008

By Ken Rogers

Nick Saban didn’t lose any sleep asking Alabama players to report in New Orleans on Saturday. Players traveled on their own, rather than leave as a team from Tuscaloosa. This gave them an extra day at home and also gets them more time at home after the game.

“I trust our players, you know what I mean?” Saban said in advance of the Christmas break. “They go home all the time. We let them go home. Some live five hours away. Some of them live in New Orleans. Do I worry about every guy every time he goes home? I worry about my kids when they go out and night, I worry about our players doing the right things and making good choices and decisions.

“These guys are pretty responsible people that can get in an airplane on their own and fly where they’re going and get off and get a taxi cab. I hope they can. Because part of what we want to do is teach them how to be successful people. And if they can’t manage this trip, they’ve got no hope. No chance. They got no chance in this world, responsibility-wise. So, at what point do we trust them to do that? Some of them are graduating and going to be working for somebody.”

Tide focuses on Utah in Sunday practice

December 21, 2008

By Ken Rogers

After a four-day minicamp that focused on fundamentals and an early spring training session, Alabama’s Sugar Bowl preparations started for real Sunday with a two-hour indoor practice.
Alabama’s undefeated opponent in the Jan. 2 Allstate Sugar Bowl is Utah, which has a spread attack similar to Florida’s. Urban Meyer left Utah for Gainesville four years ago.
The Utes are one of two unbeaten teams in the nation, along with Boise State. They average 37.4 points per game. They also have an underrated defense that gives up fewer than 300 yards per game (18th nationally) and 17.25 points per game (12th in the nation).
The Crimson Tide works Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning before Christmas break. They will meet again on Saturday, Dec. 27 in New Orleans.

Tide guard Johnson says Gator defense will be tough

December 05, 2008

By Ken Rogers

ATLANTA—Alabama left guard Mike Johnson said Florida’s defense is fast and tough and tries to confuse the offensive line.
“Their guy in the middle (linebacker Brandon Spikes) is good and they like to move 8 (defensive end Carlos Dunlap) around a lot and show a lot of different looks,“ said Johnson, part of Alabama’s vaunted left side of the line, along with tackle Andre Smith. “They’ll work around the blocks. They do a really good job with their scheme. You can tell they’re really well-coached.“
Because of that, Johnson doesn’t expect a lot of unusual steps to overload that left side.
“Florida’s a great defense. They have no reason to try to gang up on the left side,“ Johnson said. “Our right side they’re equally as talented over there and they can get it done, also.  Hopefully we can run the ball effectively this week.“
The guard said it will be assignment football this week.
“We have our keys and stuff like that, but it’s a matter of knowing your assignments and taking your correct stance and getting your head in the right place,“ the guard said.