Nick Saban discusses need for running backs to play with instinct

There are lots of things that Nick Saban prioritizes in a running back. But one things he’s learned he loves in his backs above almost anything else is an instinctive running ability.

All the Alabama running backs needs to play with good pad level, get north and south and do all the other things a running back needs to do. The ones that stand out to Saban are the ones who manage to blend all those attributes naturally on the field.

“Well, I think you want people to run north and south, you want them to get their pads down, you don’t want them to dance in the hole. But, I think runners that are good runners are instinctive in when they should make cuts, when they should make lateral cuts, when they just need to burst through the hole when they have an opening,” Saban said.

The four running backs that will take most of the carries for Alabama this year — Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, Jam Miller and Justice Haynes — are all what Saban would consider an instinctual runner.

And he’s not sure how much that innate feel for the position can be coached.

“And I don’t know if you can overcoach that, but if you’re going to run the ball effectively, guys gotta know when to get the pads down and get north and south so you can have a four-yard play and not, maybe, a negative-yard play because they’re trying to make something where there’s nothing. And I really think that our guys, all four of them, do a really good job of that,” Saban said.

Saban commended his running backs for their pass blocking ability, too

Saban discussed his confidence level in the unit’s ability to pass protect on Saturday, revealing a minor injury to someone in the unit in the process.

“Jase does a good job, Roydell does a good job with it. Jam does a good job with it,” Saban said. “Justice didn’t practice today, he’s been out for a few days, quad contusion. So I think all of them can do it.”

The confidence Alabama will have in its ability to drop back to pass will be much improved based on the running back unit’s ability to pass protect.

There’s really only one player who is still working to get acclimated to pass protecting at a high level, and that player is a true freshman. So it’s perfectly normal to be a little behind in that regard.

“I think Richard Young is probably, having not been here, doesn’t have as much confidence in understanding the protections and all that kind of stuff,” Saban said. “But all three of those guys do a good job.”