Coach Sabans press conference | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Coach Sabans press conference

(on the quarterback situation) I think that’s something we need to continue to evaluate. The entire preseason, whichever quarterback has played second has played best. This is two weeks in a row that we’ve given Gus [Frerotte] and A.J. [Feeley] has done a nice job in both those games in the second half and that’s certainly something we need to evaluate as a staff.

Is Saban being honest?
 
Yes, Saban is being honest, both have only played well when against the 2nd and 3rd teamers of opposing defenses. Even then, they only played really well once each, we have a serious problem at that position, neither quarterback is even "serviceable." Everyone knows that's our major weakness, even more so than the offensive line, which is improving. The quarterback situation is just, well, not good.
 
I can't get it from where I'm at.

Would one of you be so kind to update me on some other stuff Nick says? Particularly injuries??

Thanks.
 
here you go dolphin devil

HEAD COACH NICK SABAN
OPENING COMMENTS: It’s good to play at home. It really was. Seems like we’ve been playing and practicing a long time, never to have a home game, and it certainly was nice to be at home. There were a couple of things that we were trying to get accomplished in this game, and I think some of them we made some progress toward. We’ve been talking about trying to establish an identity as a team. I thought we played a little better of the line of scrimmage as an offense, we were able to run the ball more a little more effectively. The other thing we wanted to do with our players was, improvement was what we were after, but one of the things that I didn’t think we did a very good job of last game was overcoming mental errors. We let it affect us. The real thing today was not to worry about the mistakes but to play the next play. We certainly made some errors; we probably had too many penalties out there. We had a lot of holding calls, especially in the second half, but I was pleased with the way we were able to run the ball. A.J. [Feeley] did a pretty good job when he was in there in the second half. We scored some points. The first defense played pretty well in the first half, giving up only three points, and Jason [Taylor] had two sacks, and got a couple of turnovers, and those things lead to points in one instance.

There were a lot of good things, some things to build on. I think we want to build on the identity, I think we want to build on the attitude that we want our players to play with in terms of overcoming adversity in games. I thought Ricky [Williams] ran the ball well. Ronnie Brown got popped one time and fumbled, but I thought for his first time he did a pretty good job. There were some good things. Great first drive, good to take the ball down the field and score the first time we got it. I think that sets the tempo for the game. I was a little disappointed that we couldn’t keep that consistency going. I didn’t like the way that we came out in the second half, I told the players that. We were a little flat, that got them [Tampa Bay] back ahead in the game. We didn’t play real well in the first series on defense or on offense, but this is the first opportunity these players have had to come out and play in the second half. All in all, I think we made some improvement as a team. I think it will be interesting to evaluate some of the back-up players who got to play out there in the second half and see how they did. We certainly need to add to the depth on this team if we’re going to be a good football team. You always need to have good depth to be a good team. As I’ve said before, it’s the bottom half of the squad sometimes that determines how good you can be late in the season as much as it is the top and that’s something we’re trying to develop right now.

(on the quarterback situation) I think that’s something we need to continue to evaluate. The entire preseason, whichever quarterback has played second has played best. This is two weeks in a row that we’ve given Gus [Frerotte] and A.J. [Feeley] has done a nice job in both those games in the second half and that’s certainly something we need to evaluate as a staff.

(on the offensive line stepping forward in this game) I think the offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage much better in the game. When you run the ball for five yards a carry that’s a good job and we had a lot of between five and ten yard runs out there. We had pretty decent protection for the most part for the quarterbacks so I thought we did a much better job from that standpoint.

(on being pleased with the changes to the offensive line) We evaluate every situation. Just because we won the game, if we had lost the game by three we’d be talking completely different. We’re not in a winning or losing mode right now, we’re in evaluating our team, trying to improve our team and develop our team. I haven’t watched the film, so I can’t comment on changes that are going to get made just yet, but we’re certainly going to evaluate that tomorrow and give you more information about it tomorrow afternoon.

(on the play of Jason Taylor) Jason has had a great camp and has done a great job in every regard, not only as a player in terms of making plays; he’s been a very good leader. His leadership is affecting other people and I think he’s affected a lot of other guys on our team. I think he’s made some of the newer players feel at home in the system, in the scheme that we’re playing. He’s done a good job of adapting to it and he’s probably one of the guys that have had a lot more to learn because he’s never really played that position as a professional player. He’s playing a combination of two positions right now, but he’s doing an outstanding job of adapting. He did a nice job of covering a guy on a diagonal take off and he didn’t look like a defensive end doing that. He has ball skills, too. I was hoping he might pick it off, but maybe next time.

(on the team’s readiness for the regular season) We still have a lot of areas we need to clean up and improve, and I think consistency is probably the big one, and I think to continue to develop an identity as a team. I think that at times we have the kind of characteristics competitively that you like to have to be able to play consistently. Other times we look like we lose it a little bit. We need to continue to build and develop and improve as a team. I don’t think we’re where we need to be; I don’t think we’re where we can be. I think we want to continue to focus on improving and not so much on the results right now so we can continue to improve for the future.

(on the play of David Boston) He’s done an outstanding job. He’s played very well in each one of these games. We’ve tried to limit his reps. He’s been very mature about how he’s handled that situation in practice. He’s worked hard in practice, but he hasn’t put himself in harm’s way in terms of getting so much work that he has to miss a day or two here and there. So, we’ve been pleased with the progress that he has made and he has made plays in every one of the games that we’ve had at this point. He’s certainly been impressive to me in terms of the presence that he has on the field and his ability to make plays.

RB RICKY WILLIAMS
On the game tonight and the play of the offensive line:
“Coming into tonight, it was important that the team play well and show improvement. Coach Saban really stressed that this week. So, I think it was good to see the way we played and particularly that we were able to come back and get the win. I think the offensive line really stepped up tonight and improved. I think they were challenged this week in practice and so it was really nice to see them respond the way they did tonight. The guys stepped up to the challenge.â€Â

On his individual play:
“Really I think it was more of the same. I showed improvement in some areas.â€Â

On the amount of rust that is left on his game:
“I really wouldn’t say its rust. Training camp is a process and these games are simply part of the process. The way I feel now is the way I would normally feel at this stage of the process, its not really any different than training camps in the pastâ€Â.

On what he has left to work on the remainder of training camp:
“I wouldn’t say anything in particular. Like I said, it’s a process and you just have to work through it.â€Â

On whether the competition at tailback is a motivating factor for him:
“Not really because I don’t view it as competition. We’re all friends and we all get along and we’re trying to help the team win. I don’t really don’t have the attitude that it is competition.â€Â

On the importance of getting a win tonight:
“Oh, I think it was really nice and big step for us confidence wise. It shows progress and that the hard work from practice is starting to pay off.â€Â

On the offensive sets where both he and Ronnie Brown were in the backfield:
“I think it’s a good look. We’re both tailbacks and so that formation can definitely give defenses some matchup problems.â€Â

On catching a number of passes out of the backfield tonight:
“Well, catching passes out of the backfield is something I’ve always felt comfortable doing and something I enjoy.â€Â

QB A.J. FEELEY
(On being effective in his second straight game) “I am trying, like I said before, to make the most of my opportunities. You can’t worry about what is going on. You just have to go forward and make the most of itâ€Â

(On if he is familiar with the offense) “With this new offense and the more reps I get, especially in practice and games, I feel more and more comfortable with this offense.â€Â

(On if he was trying to prove anything to Coach Saban) “I just wanted to go out and give Coach Saban a win and now we can build on that for Denver. Regardless if this is a preseason game or regular season game, you always want to get wins.â€Â

(On if he thinks that he helped himself with the touchdown pass) “You like to have completions. One of my completions was a touchdown. We moved the ball down the field and put points on the board and that is what we wanted to accomplish. You can’t worry about what is going on. Those types of things are out of my controlâ€Â

(On if he thinks there is still competition for the starting quarterback spot) “There is always competition at every position regardless of who you are. If you are a ten-year starter or rookie, there is always competition. That is the way you have to approach it and that is the way it is.â€Â

(On how comfortable he was coming in third quarter) “It’s tough, but it is our job to do that. You are a professional and regardless of the situation, if it is the third, fourth or a two-minute drive, you came to come in their with a sense of urgency. We did that a little bit. The guys that I played with can be proud and we can build on that.â€Â

DE JASON TAYLOR
On the improved play of the team…
“This is the first opportunity for the first team to play more than we have in previous weeks. We are trying to create an identity around here, I’m sure we are going to bring it, and we moved a step closer to that tonight.â€Â

“It was a better night thahad the previous ones, I think we did some good things, we made some strides, we still have things we need to correct though.â€Â

On covering RB’s downfield and deflecting a pass…
“The more you can do the longer you’ll stay around. I can do a couple of things and they are giving me an opportunity to do it.â€Â

RB RONNIE BROWN
On how it felt tonight…
“It felt pretty good out there, first game; I got a little more comfortable out there as the game went on.â€Â

On being nervous before the game…
“I was more excited than nervous, I was anxious to be on the field, I hadn’t played a football game since January.â€Â

On the fumble…
“They just made a good tackle; he put his head on the ball and got it out. His helmet got it loose.â€Â
 
The Franchise said:
Yes, Saban is being honest, both have only played well when against the 2nd and 3rd teamers of opposing defenses. Even then, they only played really well once each, we have a serious problem at that position, neither quarterback is even "serviceable." Everyone knows that's our major weakness, even more so than the offensive line, which is improving. The quarterback situation is just, well, not good.
Click to expand...

No I didnt make myself clear. I meant do you believe that Saban is going to honestly evaluate the QB position or has he had his mind made up from the beginning
 
no injury report

it was pretty brief.

he says he like how boston is coming around and he has a presence on the field

he said both O and D came out flat in the 2nd half

liked aj

it had a positive tone to it.

he seems to think the team is going to keep improving as the season goes along
 
adamprez2003 said:
No I didnt make myself clear. I meant do you believe that Saban is going to honestly evaluate the QB position or has he had his mind made up from the beginning
Click to expand...

I think he is.

I mean if u read between the lines it is almost as if he is saying that he has given Frerotte 2 weeks now and has done nothing where as Feeley has atleast come in and played well.

It sounds like he is acknowledging that Frerotte hasn't taken the bull by the horns.
 
I love the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) shots Saban takes at the press.
 
adamprez2003 said:
No I didnt make myself clear. I meant do you believe that Saban is going to honestly evaluate the QB position or has he had his mind made up from the beginning
Click to expand...

Neither is going to be a huge part of Miami's future. Saban is going to look elsewhere and if any quarterbacks get cut (the Nall/O' Sullivan battle in Green Bay for instance, Lorenzen, Kingsbury), or are there any quarterbacks available (Couch) to look at, then we'll give them a look.

The problem is we only have one preseason game left, but I would definitely look elsewhere. I'm not suggesting any of those are going to be even better than what we have, but I'd look because what we have isn't good. I would even like to see one of our other QB's get a start with the first team and if they don't do well, ok, go back to Frerotte/Feeley.
 
This is two weeks in a row that we’ve given Gus [Frerotte] and A.J. [Feeley] has done a nice job in both those games in the second half and that’s certainly something we need to evaluate as a staff.

That right there does it for me, I see AJ starting against Atlanta, no doubt.
 
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