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Alabama v. Western Kentucky Post Game Quotes


Opening Statement
“We really did play like we wanted to play last week and this week. We started off the game with a three-and-out defensively, which was a real positive in setting the tone for the game. Then we had an 11- or 12-play drive for a touchdown, so we started the game out but, more importantly, we finished. We came out in the second half and had a long drive where we ended up settling for a field goal, but that’s what we wanted to accomplish when we came out to re-establish the tempo in the game. The goal in this game was to go prove that you can play to your capacity, to play your best football because of the competitive character that you have, and do it by going out and executing, do your job on every play, bring it on every play with the kind of attitude and toughness that you need to try to dominate competitively. Our team did that. We were pleased with it. We got to play a lot of players, which was a real positive for us. We can make some evaluations, and know what we need to do as far as our depth with some of the young players that got to play tonight, and go from there.”

About Alabama’s offensive balance tonight
“That (balance) is something we always strive for – to be able to run the football. We controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. I thought our defensive players did a really good job up front. We played with five guys in the box tonight. We played with six defensive backs a lot, and these guys run the ball pretty effectively with their offense. We did a really good job controlling the line of scrimmage, running it effectively, and we made some plays in the passing game. We made some explosive plays. That’s something we need to continue to do. We still had a few plays that were miscues in the passing game, which is something we need to clean up and not have those negative plays occur, but all in all I was really pleased with the balance that we had especially on offense in terms of run and pass.”

On Alabama’s offensive line play
“Well, we got them blocked. We didn’t get them blocked last week. We didn’t execute very well. I think there was a different style of defense that we played against tonight. They didn’t move around a lot, didn’t stunt as much, they didn’t run the linebackers through, which is what gave us problems in the Tulane game – even though we practiced it, we didn’t execute it very well. Tonight, we just did a better job of executing and were more physical.”



On the overall play of the defense tonight
“We played hard the entire game. At practice coaches let us know that we needed to do a better job of executing on defense. I think we did a lot better coming out and staying focused the entire game. We knew what they were going to do. There really wasn’t anything that they lined up in that was much different than we practiced against. We were really just ready for them.”



On the play of the offense
“The entire offense played a lot better than last week. It was good to come out and start the way we did. We were able to sustain the whole game. It was good to come out and execute the way we did and work hard.”

On spreading the ball around to multiple receivers
“A bunch of guys caught the ball which is good. It makes it hard on the defense when you can spread it around like that. You don’t have to rely on one person. The more guys that get touches, the better we are going to do as a team.”

On the play of the offensive line
“They really came in frustrated from last week’s performance, so tonight they really wanted to come in and establish the run. That really opened up the passing game as well. The whole game they were blowing off the ball and creating paths for the running backs.”



On the physical play and execution of the offensive line
“The preparation was better this week. We were really focused and paid attention to detail. We just really worked hard and focused on being physical from the first snap of the game to the last.”

“I felt like we dominated like we were supposed to. We just went out there and competed. We took proper steps and had proper footwork. We were just able to dominate pretty much all night.”



On his punt returns
“I had great blocking in front of me on those punt returns. It was me just doing what I do and reading my blocks. I was able to make the correct cuts and get up field.”

On the overall play of the defense and the secondary’s execution
“We practiced what we thought they were going to do and they did it. They did the things we thought and we executed. We knew what we had to do that’s why we were so successful.”


Head Coach David Elson

On the offense starting slow for the third straight game:
“First thing, our opponents are awfully good. We didn’t catch this game with really good timing with Alabama coming off the Tulane game and that got their attention so I think they were bound and determined to come out and play and that showed. When Alabama is playing at their best, they’re pretty good. We just got off to a slow start. We really wanted to run the ball and we tried and like I said they’ve got some guys that are awfully good so we’ll just try to take from it what we can and move on.”

What you can attribute the slow starts on offense to:
“I wish I knew. It’s just a matter of I think we’re playing some good teams and other combinations of things. We need to get better in all three phases of the game and playing well early in the game and getting off on the right foot.”

On if there is a lack of emotion:
“You’d have to ask them. I think our guys have been excited and ready to play. Don’t really have an answer to that one.”

On if the team is lacking execution or just playing good competition:
“I think it’s a combination of both. There are times when we block and we get beat. We’re pretty good about knowing mentally what to do, but we’re playing with the big boys. So we need to come ready to play and be more physical and it’s something we need to continue to work on.”

On not stopping third down conversions for Alabama:
“It hurts a lot. We got them in 3rd and 8 and 3rd and 9 and tried to come after them but they protected well and bottom line is they have a senior quarterback and just put the ball on the money. I thought we were close and just didn’t execute. If we could’ve stopped some of those we may have had a little more pep in our step.”

On quarterback David Wolke’s first start:
“I felt he was solid. Offensively we’ve really worked hard on getting communication with the crowd noise and being patient and I think we did a good job with that. He threw some really good balls and I don’t think he really made any bad decisions. He threw a ball high on a screen and got pressured and just couldn’t get the ball there sometimes, but overall I think he did a nice job.”

On trying to get momentum on their side:
“We got it to 24-7 and kickoff to them and feel like if we can get a three and out then Alabama goes down and gets a 51-yard run on the first play and ends up with a touchdown on the drive.”

On any positives the team can take from the game:
“I thought we competed hard and finished. They could’ve run it down our throats and scored a couple more touchdowns there at the end but we caused a fumble late. We’ll look at the film and see some positives and see some good things that we can build on.”

Free Safety Travis Watters

On long third downs:
“We had a couple of long third downs. At one point we did stop them but as far as the other ones go, it was just a lack of execution. A lot of times the quarterback just had a lot of time in the backfield and we had no pressure on him and I think if we get pressure on him, the outcome will be a little bit better than it was today.”

On the secondary having to come up on to help on running plays:
“It all starts on the front line. Whoever controls the line of scrimmage is going to get the win. Coming up from the secondary position to cover the run isn’t something we’re used to because we are supposed to be covering the receivers.”

Quarterback David Wolke

On starting slow offensively:
Alabama came out flying around the football, they’re a fast football team. We didn’t’ make plays and I don’t think were physical enough up front. They came out and did a really good job of holding us. We had a bunch of third downs that we didn’t convert on that we should have, but I’ll guess we’ll look at tape and see what that’s about.

On the toughness of Alabama’s front 7:
We had creases sometimes but I don’t know, sometimes it would just be one person or a couple of people there and it was real difficult to run on them and get down field but like I said I think we could have a couple of times and I think we did a couple of times but it was tough

On establishing momentum:
It was tough in the first half to get a break and get something rolling, we made a play in the third quarter but we have to make more plays

On keeping momentum
When we got the pick we had all the momentum going for us and I think that played a big role in us scoring. Anytime you get a bunch of momentum that’s what happens. Concerning the talk on the sideline about stretching the defense: There was some talk about it, but there wasn’t anything wrong with what we were doing, we just didn’t make plays.

On his first start of the season:
I felt fine; we’ve got to make more plays on offense

On sticking to the game plan:
I think when you have a plan for a game like Alabama, and when your plan isn’t really working out, it’s kind of hard for the momentum of us and the for the defense

On Derrius Brooks and Tristian Jones:
Brooks made some plays, Jones made that catch and broke a tackle and I think he played really well tonight; overall we have to make more plays

On the development of the passing game:
It is definitely there, whatever we’re doing, we get the play sand do our jobs, it’s as simple as us making plays and getting first downs and in the first half I don’t think we did that very well

On what to take away from the loss:
We just have to look forward and evaluate the tape and come out Saturday ready to play

Left Tackle Greg Ryan

On the size of the Alabama defense:
It wasn’t anything different than what we expected it to be. We went into the game knowing that #62 was 375lbs and the other guys averaged around 250, so we knew we were going to have to get up underneath them and move them out of there. One of the big struggles we had with it was concentrating too much on the inside guys and forgot about the second level so we didn’t sustain very many drives because our running couldn’t get past four yards.

On starting slow offensively:
I don’t know. As far as starting slow, it took us three quarters to be able to get the thing done. They brought their A game against us. We knew they were going to bring everything they had since they weren’t too happy about the Tulane game. They didn’t do anything extraordinary against us, they did the same stuff we were running during the week with the scout team, we just didn’t get it done.