Interview With Nick Saban 12/14/05

[Maxman]

Miami Dolphins Head Coach Nick Saban 12.14.05

On where the team is headed now near the end of the season?

Obviously I think we've had the success that we've had because we aren't looking forward and we aren't looking back and are focusing more on who we are and who we're trying to become. Playing one play at a time, one game at a time, not being distracted by other things that can prevent us from getting it right the next week. We want to execute better with consistency as we go and we made some improvement in our ability to do that. And I've been pleased with the way the players have responded to trying to stick with the process of competing with a relentless attitude rather than worrying about the results all the time. I think that's helped us play a little bit better.

On facing Brooks Bollinger?

He's played extremely well. He did play at Wisconsin when I was at Michigan State and was very successful there and played very well against us. When he had an opportunity I think he's done an outstanding job taking over, managing the offense, managing the game, making pretty good decisions and moving the team. I think it's a real credit to him that he's been able to take his ability and his athleticism to make plays with his feet and use them to compliment his ability to throw the ball which has been pretty affective.

On RB Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown?

Well, a lot of people say, How do you manage that, and it's been really easy to manage. The two guys are great about it, they both have great attitudes, they both try to contribute to the team any way that they can. They both performed extremely well together. I think it's helped both of them preserve the season a little bit because they haven't had as many carries, although I'm sure both guys would like to have more carries. When we've been able to possess the ball on offense we've gotten more production from both guys. We'd like for them both to get about 20 touches in the game in some kind of way; sometimes we've been able to get that, but sometimes we haven't come close. They're both outstanding players, they've been good team contributors for us. We'd like to have them both on the field as much as possible, but it's kind of hard to play those guys together sometimes. So, we've alternated them and they've had a great attitude about it.

On John Abraham and what happened last time the Dolphins played the Jets?

Well I don't think there was anything going on that day. The Raiders had a hard time with him last week, too. He wrecked the game, creating two turnovers that really iced the game for the jets and I think he's a fantastic player. He's a great player, plays hard, great pass rusher. I think they do a nice job of using him in their scheme to feature his ability and his talents and give him opportunities to make plays. He certainly has responded well and is playing outstanding, as I think their whole defense is.

On Jonathan Vilma and a trend in the league with having smaller, but quicker, LB?

Well I think it depends on everybody's system and scheme as to what they would like to have in their players. But I think the way people spread you out now and the way you have to play pass defense, as well as the run, that it's difficult to play with a guy who cant move well and who has some speed and athleticism at that position. Vilma certainly does have that and he certainly doesn't play like a guy that's not big enough to play. So, like a lot of guys, he overcomes what some might see as a size deficiency. I certainly don't see that because the guy's a great football player. He runs extremely well. He's very instinctive, he's tough and he's a good tackler and he's got all the ingredients anyone would look for in being an outstanding LB. I think that it's a little harder to player with what I want to call a plugger-type LB- guys that can stand up and take the guards off, can't move, break on ball playing space because I think it's much more of a space game now than it used to be.

On Chris Chambers?

I think Chris has really gotten comfortable with this offense. I think his confidence has increased as he has gotten more comfortable with the offense. He's obviously had a tremendous amount of opportunities that he's taken advantage of to make plays in the last three games. He's played extremely well for us. We're happy to see that because earlier in the year people were wondering about him and we never had any doubts about it; dropped the ball here or there or whatever, we never had any doubts that the guy would be a fantastic player. And it's good to see that he's getting recognized for that relative to his performance.

On what he tells his team about the Jets 0-7 road record?

I think the Jets are very dangerous, I really do. I think that one thing I would say about them is that they are playing hard. They beat the Raiders, they could have beat NO, they could have beat SD, had opportunities to do that. So, they are playing as well as any team. If you want to look at the record and focus on that, I guess you could say that. But I think everyone in this league has the capabilities of making plays to beat you. Nobody that goes to medical school is dumb. Nobody that plays in the National Football League is not a good athlete and has the ability to make plays. If you don?t respect that then you are being foolish and if you do it more than once than you are probably a fool. So, hopefully, we don't have that mindset. We have a tremendous amount of respect for this team. We certainly haven't had the success we'd like to have against some of our division opponents and that would include them. We have a lot to be thinking about in terms of what we'd like to accomplish as an identity. We certainly have a tremendous amount of respect for the New York Jets.

[Big Dave]

On what he tells his team about the Jets 0-7 road record?

I think the Jets are very dangerous, I really do. I think that one thing I would say about them is that they are playing hard. They beat the Raiders, they could have beat NO, they could have beat SD, had opportunities to do that.

Well, in my opinion, most of these players were part of a team that was AFC Championship caliber last year. However, you are without Pennington and C-Mart. No matter how much Saban spins it, you can't possibly play as well without them.

[Maxman]

Well, in my opinion, most of these players were part of a team that was AFC Championship caliber last year. However, you are without Pennington and C-Mart. No matter how much Saban spins it, you can't possibly play as well without them.

Mawae

Ellis

Barton

Chrebet

Blaylock

They would stink with them. But they SUCK without them.

[PatsFanTX]

How come Saban didn't mention anything about "cherries on top" during his interview?

[AquaInferno]

Typical Saban, but he manages to not count his opponents out, like Brees did us saying "After we beat the Dolphins" in reference to the Colts game.

[T-ROCK]

I liked how Marty ShotZ put it in his interview the other day... basically he said that's the beauty of the NFL and why it's so popular... On any given Sunday ANY team can win... And there's not a huge difference in talent, it's all about execution... If not, how would we beat the hell out of the Broncos and then get shut out by the Browns??? It's all about executing... All the potential in the world means nothing...

[Welker83]

Saban is preparing like its a playoff game....

[faba]

I like Nick Saban as a coach- I think unfortunately Miami made a good decision to hire him-

He was political correct in all his comments about the Jets and our personnel

[The Gun Of Bavaria]

Saban is preparing like its a playoff game....

Playoff game?

We all know that the Jets/Dolphins game has been Miami's Super Bowl for the past 10 years.

[baamf]

I like Nick Saban as a coach- I think unfortunately Miami made a good decision to hire him-

He was political correct in all his comments about the Jets and our personnel

Totally agree. Now we have to see him and Belichick twice a year. Don't see Edwards outcoaching either of them too often....

Ugh.