WATCH: Trio of Alabama players speak Tuesday of Iron Bowl week
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 8 Alabama (9-2, 5-2 SEC) is back at home this Saturday taking on the Auburn Tigers for its final regular season game of 2022. After the Iron Bowl, we’ll have to play the “wait and see” game to see who the Crimson Tide draws for its bowl matchup.
On Tuesday, three more Alabama standouts spoke to the media. First, we talked to offensive lineman Javion Cohen. Then, kicker Will Reichard and cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry followed him up. Below, we’ve included everything those guys said during Tuesday’s media availability.
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OL Javion Cohen
On what Alabama’s OL can improve upon against Auburn after last year…
“Definitely protecting Bryce. Being able to scheme the right game plan and opening lanes in the running game to give us a balanced offensive attack. We’re all coming into this week trying to get back to the Alabama standard and finish 1-0.”
On Alabama OL Amari Kight…
“That’s big bro right there. Kight’s one of those guys who are even-keeled. He works hard every day in practice. I’ve been able to take a couple reps with him, especially earlier in the season. So I’ve got all faith, all trust in Amari Kight. I know that he’s an excellent player, and he’ll go in and execute whenever his number’s called.”
On how he’s grown as a player from being part of big games like the Iron Bowl…
“I think growing as a player, playing in those types of games, just being able to look at yourself and be able to keep the same emotions throughout each and every drive and each and every play. A lot of the time, you can look at a game and get a little anxiety behind it, but at the end of the day, it’s football – the same thing we do out there on that practice field every day. So you’ve just gotta hone in on your training and, like Will (Anderson) said, go back home to momma.”
On the significance of the Iron Bowl as a former Auburn commit…
“It’s a huge game, not only for me but for this entire facility, for the entire state of Alabama. Everybody knows the implications of this game, regardless of the record, regardless of where we are. We all know this is a game that you wanna win. This is a resume game. And I plan on fighting as hard as I can and trying to help me and my teammates get back to the Alabama standard this week and finish 1-0.”
On Alabama RB Jase McClellan’s performance, running game in general…
“It’s something that we’ve been trying to get together all week – all year, actually. Jase is a great, great running back. Excellent vision, is a heavy ball carrier. But yeah, that’s something that we wanna get back to. It’s something that we always look forward to is running the ball and allowing him to hit them lanes and do what he does best.”
On his memories of Iron Bowl interactions…
“It’s a great time. Definitely because the game was one of those that we needed to propel us to where we ultimately wanted to do that season was have a shot at the national championship. It was a great game. It’s a spirited rivalry. I remember heading into overtime, we were all on the sidelines, us and Auburn, and they played some music in the stadium, and I just remember our entire leadership group bringing that energy to the sideline. Those are the type of things that you look to when you see a rivalry, and this game, I expect to be no different.”
On if he remembers the song…
“I think it was some Waka Flocka, for real, for real. I don’t know. I don’t even remember. I just remember my legs behind tired from jumping for two minutes and then having to go right out. Yeah, that wasn’t a good plan.”
On Auburn defensive linemen Derick Hall and Colby Wooden…
“Two great players, great pass rushers. Definitely leaders on the defense. They know the scheme that they have there. We’re familiar with them, they’re familiar with us. It’s gonna be a great competition.”
On what it’s like as an OL to impose your will on a defense…
“It comes in all forms of different types of things. But ultimately, just having the offense clicking on all cylinders, and we all know that that starts with us up front. Whether it’s opening lanes for the running backs, protecting the quarterback, play action, whatever it is, it starts with us. That was something that we wanted to show last week, obviously, rushing for 250, and we want to continue to carry that throughout the rest of the season.”
On his favorite memory of Alabama QB Bryce Young…
“There’s too many to count, gah. Bryce is just such a great person. If I was a GM in a front office, no doubt, the No. 1 overall pick for me. A great guy, a team guy. It’s nothing too big for him, nothing too small for him. He doesn’t put no one over himself, and he’s always for other people. Probably my greatest memory, I’d have to say I came back Arkansas with a broke wrist and we came up with a new celebration. It was nice, it was nice. Y’all should check the film on that.”
On how much he embraces the rivalry of the Iron Bowl…
“Like I said before, it means a lot to a lot of people, it means a lot to everybody in this facility and a lot of people over the state. The history in this rivalry is something that’s gonna continue to carry on whether I’m here or gone, and that’s just a part of it. Showing some sportsmanship would be advised, of course. This is a new year, a new season, and I’m just ready to finish the week 1-0.”
K Will Reichard
On being Alabama’s all-time leader in points scored…
“Definitely means a lot. Definitely a goal I had coming in. It’s not just a testament to me. There are a lot of guys who helped me out definitely have success. It’s not just an accolade for me. It’s an accolade for everyone who has ever snapped and held for me. Thomas Fletcher kind of started it off with Tua (Tagovailoa) and Mac (Jones). Then we’ve had a bunch of guys who have held for me. Paul, James, Charlie Scott for a little bit. They did an outstanding job making my job easier. Anyone who has ever blocked for me, big testament to them as well. They’ve done a fantastic job. Big appreciation for them as well.”
On his process before attempting a field goal…
“A lot of times, I’ll test the wind and see what the wind is looking like. I do a lot of visualization before the games and then as well as running out on the field, seeing myself in my brain making the kick I think helps a lot as well.”
On the importance of the Iron Bowl…
“I grew up in Alabama, so I know how big it is. You have everybody in the state of Alabama. I think our entire team knows how important it is to our fans but it’s also really important to us. I’m really excited. We’re really excited to go out there, play and try to get the win.”
On how he’s approaching the possibility of this being his final game…
“We still have the Iron Bowl and then a bowl game obviously. It’s not anywhere near my mind right now. I am focused on doing what I can to help our team win this week.”
On if he has a favorite Iron Bowl memory growing up…
“Not really. Honestly, I didn’t grow up an Alabama fan. I grew up watching the Iron Bowl. It’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest, rivalries in college football. I don’t really have a favorite memory besides when I’ve been playing here.”
On who he grew up rooting for…
“I actually grew up a big Tim Tebow fan. My dad was from Florida. We grew up Florida fans and kind of when I got to middle school, figured I might have a chance to play somewhere. Didn’t really go for anybody at that point and just kept my options open.”
On what’s been working for him recently after recent success…
“I think really, my mindset has always been one kick at a time. Like I said when I talked to y’all in fall camp, whether it’s a good or bad kick, I always move onto the next one. I think that has helped me through the highs and the lows. To be able to bounce back from a missed kick and to continue to put consecutive kicks in a row, I think it’s important to take it one kick at a time.”
On Nick Saban being a big fan…
“It’s been outstanding. I honestly didn’t think he was going to say those types of things, but it’s definitely an honor. He’s obviously the greatest coach of all time, so anytime he can praise somebody, it obviously means a lot to the player.”
On if there’s been any evolution with his game…
“There’s definitely a bunch of different styles. Different kickers. Everybody is kind of unique in their own ways, everybody does different things just with the way people’s bodies are made and stuff like that. There are definitely things you can pick up from guys who are doing it at an elite level in the NFL. Lots of studying. I’m sure kickers all over the country are doing it as well. You can definitely learn from guys that are really successful.”
On who he likes to take after…
“Justin Tucker. He’s the greatest of all time. It’s hard not to look at a guy like that and try to take things away from his game.”
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
On what he remembers about the Iron Bowl last year and that final play…
“That play, it was a big play in the game. Got the stop and led on to (John) Metchie eventually score the game-winning two-point conversion, to win the game. The game was just a game to be a part of, and just glad to be a part of that game.”
On what he learned from that game and how it helps him today…
“Being in that game, I just learned that playing here, everyone’s gonna get your best. It was the game that was very hard-fought by both teams. I learned that you just got to keep playing, play after play, no matter the situation that you’re in.”
On external factors and telling the younger players what the Iron Bowl is like…
“Yes, I kind of told them. Today will be a day I really get to talk to them a lot about it and let them know what’s going to happen and what’s going to go on, and how to not let it affect you. And how to not let it affect your play.”
On what impresses him about Alabama WR Jermaine Burton in practice…
“Jermaine is a good player. Practices hard, he’s a speedy guy. Runs good routes and knows how to get open, and he understand what the defense is in to know how to get open.”
