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What Nick Saban thinks will be 'really important' in Alabama at Georgia

1918632_10206777287683070_1367905321192383146_nby: Charlie Potter23 hours agoCharlie_Potter
Kirby Smart and Nick Saban
Kirby Smart and Nick Saban (Gary Cosby Jr. / Imagn Images)

Alabama will open SEC play on Saturday, September 27, at Georgia, and former Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban shared what he believes will be significant in the marquee matchup.

“First off all, I think the line of scrimmage is gonna be really important,” said Saban on his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. “When Alabama has struggled, especially on the road with some of these games last year and this year at Florida State, they had a hard time stopping the run. Kirby’s gonna be stubborn about running the ball, because he doesn’t want to put his quarterback in situations where they can tee off on him.

“But I also think that Ty Simpson has played really well for Alabama. They’ve made a lot of explosive plays since the Florida State game. So, I also think who can affect the quarterback? Who has the kind of pass rushers? Who can create the situations where you can affect the quarterback? That’s gonna be huge in this game. 

“Can Alabama run it? Can they make the explosive plays? Can Georgia affect the quarterback? But I think it’s gonna be very similar for Georgia, as well.”

Saban coached Simpson for the first two years of the latter’s college career in Tuscaloosa. But the former is also familiar with Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton, who Alabama offered as a 4-star recruit out of Rabun County (Ga.) High School but ultimately landed in Athens.

“I’ve always liked Gunner, because he’s a great competitor,” Saban said. “People can talk about, maybe he’s not the classic passer. But he’s a great athlete. He can beat you with his feet. I think he’s smart. I think he makes really good, instinctive decisions. And I think he’s gonna do nothing but get better and better. And that game two weeks ago against Tennessee, their last game, is going to do volumes for his confidence.

“I think the team loves him. Now, I think the team believes in him.”

This week’s Alabama-Georgia game is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT and air on ABC.

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