WATCH: Alabama duo speaks on Monday of Austin Peay week

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 9 Alabama (8-2, 5-2 SEC) is back at home this Saturday taking on Austin Peay for one of two final regular season contests. After that, the Crimson Tide will once again play host, but this time, it’ll be the Auburn Tigers coming in for the annual Iron Bowl.

On Monday, two Alabama standouts spoke to the media. First, we talked to junior defensive back Brian Branch. Then, sophomore right tackle JC Latham followed him up. Below, we’ve included everything those two guys said during Monday’s media availability.

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DB Brian Branch

On the final play for Ole Miss…

“It was a big, huge stop. They had trips. Three was on the ball. We were playing cut. We had two high safeties. He was only going to run two routes in my head. It was either a corner or middle read. If he would’ve run a corner, then I would’ve gave it to my safety. But he ran a middle read, and I was able to play underneath. 

On Alabama’s defense forcing more turnovers…

“Just keep trying to get takeaways in practice. Keep on taking shots at the ball the best we can, and hopefully it’s going to come in these last few games. I think it will. As one comes, a lot is going to come after that. So we’re just going to keep working on it. 

On Alabama WR Tyler Harrell…

“Tyler is very fast, probably one of the fastest receivers we have here. It’s very hard to defend. Being able to go against him in practice makes us better. And just watching him run like that is very scary for opposing defenders to guard.”

On if he’s ever ever been blocked like Emil Ekiyor wiped out that Ole Miss DB…

“Emil has tried to do that to me in practice, but it doesn’t go like that. I’ve seen it happen before. Emil’s a strong offensive lineman, and that would be scary for any defensive player to see an offensive lineman pull, especially a DB. 

On how he avoid it…

“Can’t avoid it. Got to go meet him.”

On what’s going through his mind when a big guy is running at him…

“Like I said, you gotta go get him before he gets you. That’s the best way to put it. It’s football. Stuff like that’s going to happen. And you work out for a reason.”

On any thoughts to Ole Miss guy who took the hit…

“That’s Emil for you.”

On Alabama DB Terrion Arnold…

“That was big, especially coming from Terrion. Terrion was hurt, I believe, the game before that. Seeing him get his opportunity and take advantage of his opportunity just shows that he prepares during practice, and he’s ready for when his name is called. 

On what he has learned from Alabama playing close games…

“You’ve just got to fight to the end. We work hard for a reason. And in situations like that, that’s when our preparation has to kick in. So you just have to keep preparing and taking practice more seriously so that situations like those happen, you’ll be ready for it.”

On if he got a finger on the ball on the last play…

“Yeah, I got a little finger on it. Hopefully, it would’ve been a better thrown ball and probably could’ve gotten more fingers on it, but I’m just glad he didn’t catch it.”

On when he’s trailing in man coverage, does he still look at the QB…

“I was able to look back at the quarterback because I was in phase, but usually if I’m not in phase, I can’t look back at the quarterback. Just have to play the man through his hands.

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OL JC Latham

On Alabama finding the motivation to finish the season the right way…

“That’s a great question. I was just talking to Bryce about that last Monday. Really just taking it one day at a time, understanding that there’s a lot of games to be played, lot of practices, lot of opportunity, really. Just understanding that we go out there and we’re still playing for the team, still playing for the name on the jersey, name on the back of the jersey as well as Byron [Young] stated earlier. There’s still a lot of important things we can do as a team, and finishing strong is a really important emphasis. “

On going up against Alabama DL Byron Young in practice… 

“I like going against Byron because he’s a great player. I definitely think going against him is kind of unique with him and his physique. He’s a lot bigger at the edge. So going up against him in pass protection, as a tackle, you’re used to going against guys who are a lot faster and maybe like a lot more loose or whatever it may be — how you can describe it. But Byron, he’s a lot stronger and bigger than natural guys coming off the edge. He’s got that sudden burst of speed coming also, so getting your hands on him isn’t like the least of your worries. You’ve got to also be ready to move with him and then sustain because it’s going to be a lot of power. I think that’s one thing that kind of helps me get better throughout the year is going up against guys like him and then mixing it up against guys like Will and Dallas. We have a lot of versatility at that position.”

On Emil Ekiyor’s block…

“That definitely gave us a lot energy. I knew Emil had the capability of doing that since I’ve met him. We were just talking about that in the hotel Friday night. We were talking about plays like that. He said he was watching a lot of Trent Williams videos, just running through guys. He was telling me, he was like, ‘If I get the chance, that’s what I’m going to do.’ I told him I believe in him. I know he’s going to go out there and do it. Seeing him make that block, I was just real proud of him at that moment.”

On if he saw Ekiyor’s block in the moment…

“I actually didn’t. I had the hinge, so when he left, I had to seal my guy off. I’m not facing the other direction, but my eyes are kind of right here. After the game, I just see CBS and like everybody tweeting out the video of Emil’s block. I just see it and was like, ‘He blew him up.’ I can’t swear, but yeah.”

On if he ever had a hit like that…

“I don’t know if I had a hit just like that. I’ve had a lot of great hits, but that was an incredible hit. That’s the dream at O-line, just to be able to run through somebody like that, especially with it being right in front of the running back so he can go off you and potentially score.”

On his first year as a starter…

“I feel like ultimately, I’ve done a lot of great things, but I feel like I’ve grown the most as far as my maturity goes, understanding the game. Nothing beats in-game reps. As high-intensity as practices are, you can’t really replicate the game experience. I think that the one thing that I did improve on is just understanding when you get into the game, just slow it down a little bit, play loose and just play like you’re comfortable playing.”

On carryovers from the second half of Ole Miss…

“Just coming out and just playing physical up front and being more consistent in the running game. Understanding that [if] we have a big explosive play, get ready for the next one. Just keep going and stacking plays like that so we can keep the run game consistent and helping out on the pass as well.”

On how difficult it is to block Alabama QB Bryce Young’s scrambles…

“Bryce, obviously, he loves to extend the plays, and scrambling is one way he does it. At first, when you come here you might see see it as, ‘Oh scrambling.’ It might scare you a little bit. But when you really look at it, it kind of gives you… How I see it, it gives me a great opportunity to showcase my pass-protection ability cause if he’s scrambling around, that means he’s going to hold the ball a little longer than most quarterbacks. So if I can hold onto protection longer, it actually shows why at our position we do what we do and how good we are.

“And then it just also helps overall in the play. He’s able extend plays, that helps our offense just keep going and moving the ball.”

On how aware of Bryce Young he is during scrambles…

“Understanding the play. It just depends if the play is meant to be like a quick pass or whatever the case may be or if the play is meant to be a longer chunk-shot type of play, understanding that is the first thing you’ve got to do. Also, just mirroring the defender. If he’s looking — like obviously most defenders are looking at the quarterback instead of the pass rusher — so if he’s looking at the quarterback and he’s trying to go inside, he’s trying to go outside, obviously Bryce is probably out there. I wouldn’t see a defender like going outside when Bryce is stepping up in the pocket. So just trying to stay in between him and the quarterback at all times and doing your best ability to just make sure he doesn’t get to the quarterback.”