BATON ROUGE — LSU head football coach Nick Saban addressed members of the media at his weekly luncheon held Monday afternoon in the fifth floor conference room of the LSU Athletic Administration Building.
Archived video is available to members of www.LSUsports.tv. Included below is a transcript from the press conference:
…Opening Statement
“Just to sum up the last game, I was pleased with the way that we created a little identity as a team in terms of the physical nature of the way we played the game, especially offensively. I think we ran the ball effectively. It was great to see Justin (Vincent) and Joe (Addai) both do a very good job, even Jacob Hester at the end of the game. I think our offensive line certainly took the challenge and did a much, much better job of being physical and aggressive and getting a hat on a hat.”
On the play of LSU quarterbacks against Arkansas State…
“I was pleased with the way our quarterbacks both played in the game, certainly executed a lot better. In the passing game, our young receivers played a little better, were a little more consistent, felt a little more confident and hopefully that group will gain confidence from that.”
“My view of the quarterback situation now is that both quarterbacks can be weapons for our team. I think the best advantage for our team is to use both quarterbacks in that regard. That is really all I really have to say about that. Both guys have ability to do certain things, and we’re going to try to plan it so both guys have an opportunity to do that.”
On the play of the LSU defense against Arkansas State…
“Defensively, I didn’t think we played like I’d like for us to play in the game. We weren’t as physical and aggressive against the run as I’d like for us to be. We gave up a couple of big plays and just didn’t play with the intensity that I would like to see, dome guys did and some guys didn’t. A lot of guys got to play. We got a chance to see some younger guys, and I think a lot of those guys certainly can gain and improve from the experience that they got.”
On the play of the special teams…
“I think we probably played a lot better on special teams in terms of the teams themselves. I still wasn’t totally pleased with the specialists, and we need to reevaluate the extra point. When you’re kicking extra points relative to my batting average when I was in high school, you’ve got problems. That’s something we will need to try to get fixed.”
On facing Auburn this week…
“I think the thing that this team needs to do is we need to keep focusing on improving. This is a long season, and I think every week every player has got to get better and better. This is an SEC game, you don’t have to tell me that. I know it is against a western division team. Every SEC game is important, and this game is important because it’s an SEC game and it’s against a western division opponent. We need to play these games one game at a time, and we need to become a better football team with every experience that we have. That will be the focus of what we try to do in this game.”
“Auburn is an outstanding team. Offensively, they have been very dominant in their ability to run the ball with two great running backs, which you know about Carnell (Williams) and Ronnie Brown both. Those guys are outstanding players, and they play with a lot of toughness. Their offensive line has done a great job of controlling the line of scrimmage in each of their two games so far this year. I think the passing game that they’ve implemented is something that suits the quarterback, and he seems to feel a little more comfortable in what he’s been doing.”
“Defensively, which is where probably they thought they might have some questions going into the season, they certainly have played outstanding to this point. I mean, they went through seven quarters and never gave up a score and have played extremely well in both of their first two games. I think they are very talented and solid on special teams, they’ve got good specialists.”
“This team plays extremely hard, and it is going to be a real challenging, difficult game. It’s always that kind of game when we play these guys. They’re a physical, tough football team, and you better be a physical, tough football player when you play against them.”
On LSU’s injury situation…
“A couple of guys are not going to practice today. (WR) Skyler (Green) we are going to hold him another day, and (DB) Mario Stevenson’s foot injury got a little swelling so we are going to keep him out for another day. Three guys that will be in red (jerseys) (WR) Craig Davis and (RB) Alley (Broussard) both because of getting hit in the head, and (RB) (Jason) Spadoni has an AC so he’ll be in a red shirt as well.”
On former Auburn quarterback Dameyune Craig being a graduate assistant at LSU…
“I am trying to make him a secondary coach. Talk about a double agent. He is five times a double agent. Dameyune Craig is an outstanding, outstanding person and is going to be a fantastic coach. The guy is very bright and understands football, which, most quarterbacks do; picks up on secondary stuff extremely well. If he ends up being a quarterback coach it will only make him a better quarterback coach because he knows a lot about what goes on in the secondary. He knows coverages and how to read them. I think it is important to have role models for our players to look up to, and he certainly has been an outstanding role model for all of our young players. He enjoys doing it and likes to do it. He is a people person; he is not one of those guys who is into himself and willing to help other people. I really like the guy.”