Nick Saban calls LSU's Harold Perkins 'one of the most dynamic players in our league'
Nick Saban knows the Alabama blockers will have their hands full attempting to slow down LSU linebacker Harold Perkins. The Tigers defender has been one of the top players in the SEC at getting in the backfield this season with eight tackles for loss and three sacks so far.
Not only that, but he’s already forced two fumbles, one interceptions and has five passes defended to go with 40 total tackles. With a matchup looming against LSU on Saturday, Saban explained what makes Perkins such a difficult player to stop and how he can impact the game in multiple different ways.
“He makes plays all over the place,” the Crimson Tide coach said. “This guy’s a really, really good athlete. Really good player. Very explosive. Sometimes they play him out in the apex. He’s a great blitzer. He can play star and reroute people and make plays in the passing game. Sometimes he plays in the box. Sometimes he plays on the edge.
“He’s got great first-step quickness. He’s a great pass rusher. That’s why he has so many tackles for loss and sacks and things like that. I think this guy is one of the most dynamic players in our league.”
Perkins arrived in Baton Rouge last season as a five-star freshman and immediately made an impact. He finished out the season with a team-high 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles to earn first team All-SEC as well as freshman All-American honors.
Perkins has picked up where he left off so far this season and will aim to disrupt an Alabama that ranks just eight in the conference with 30.6 points per game. As Saban puts together a game plan to prevent that, he faces a challenge in finding players on his squad who can replicate the impact Perkins has.
That has led to a “good on good” approach with the coach calling on some of his best players to attempt to prepare.
“I don’t think you can simulate (what Perkins does),” Saban said. “Players gotta watch the film. If we had somebody that could play like him, they’d be playing. They wouldn’t be on scout team. So we do the best we can and I think our guys do a really good side on both sides of the ball trying to give a good look to the defensive players. But it’s hard to simulate. It’s hard to be that deep on your team and be able to simulate.
“It’s one of the reasons that we go good on good some in practice. So now the good guys are playing against the good guys so hopefully you’ve got somebody playing star that is explosive whether it’s Caleb Downs or Malachi (Moore). Whoever is a little faster, a little quicker and can be challenging.”
As the team goes throughout practice this week, Saban wants his players to understand the reason why he’s taking that approach. Although nothing can perfectly simulate the impact Perkins has on a game, they’re doing the absolute best they can.
“Our players need to understand and respect why do we go good and good,” he said. “It’s to help each other get better. You’re gonna play against a good player on Saturday so you get a chance to play against a good player in practice. Challenge yourself to do things the right way and I think it helps you get better. But we don’t have somebody here on the scout team that can simulate what No. 4 does. The guy’s a phenomenal player.”
Alabama will hope its plan to slow Harold Perkins down is successful when it kicks off against LSU at 6:45 p.m. CT on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.