Gus Malzahn transcript
Opening statement…
"It's Iron Bowl week. Obviously, a big week. We're playing the No. 1 team in the country. Since I've been the head coach here for eight years, I think they've either been No. 1 or No. 2 in the country every time but one. I think that was last year, and they were No. 5. Offensively, they're No. 1 in our league in scoring offense. Defensively, they're No. 1 in our league in scoring defense. Their head coach – probably one of the best to ever do it. So it's the same old story. We're excited to go there and play. I know our kids and our coaches are really looking forward to this."
On making quick adjustments when coaching against Nick Saban…
"You've got to assume if you do hurt them with something, they're not going to let you hurt them with it again. Like I said, that's one of the things that's always stood out to me, just how well-coached his teams are."
On Bo Nix's progress…
"We talk (about that) every week. In our league especially, the head coaches and quarterbacks have to be extremely close. It was a tough go, but when he bounced back, we talked about it. He bounced back just like I knew he would. He's been playing extremely well right now. I think you've seen him grow and get better each game. He's still learning. A new coordinator. A new offense. You've seen him grow. I think he's in a good spot to finish this season out."
Who is the next man up for the offensive line?
"Jalil Irvin. After that, it would probably be by committee. Obviously, it's no secret that we've been beat up, up front, offensively. We'll see if we're able to get our tackles back. I don't know at this point. We already lost Brandon Council earlier this year, so you're exactly right. It's next man up. They'll have to step up and get the job done. That's our mindset."
How has Mac Jones improved since last year's game?
"You can tell he has more experience. I think he did a solid job last year, especially when he had talent. He's really confident. I'll tell you what, their offensive line is probably one of the best I've seen in our league. They're really good with the run block and protection. When they're able to run the football and they do their play-action, they do a great job protecting. The thing that really stands out to me is the rhythm and the timing and his throwing with his receivers. You can tell he's more experienced."
On shutting down opponent's top receivers…
"DeVonta Smith is one of the best. There's no doubt about that. Up to this point, our defense has done a really good job at least controlling the top receivers. I want to do that again. They've got some other really talented guys around him, but there's no doubt he's an elite guy and we need to know where he's at."
With uncertainty this season, how much does it mean to play this game?
"There are definitely no certainties. It's been a bizarre year in a lot of different ways. The good thing is we're playing this thing the same week that we normally do. That's about the only thing that's normal as far as everything in the league goes."
On any similarities in Auburn's Iron Bowl wins…
"You look at the times we have won, and our guys have made plays to win games. When we have won, we have done extremely well in the fourth quarter so that's probably the key."
Does Auburn take on an underdog mentality against Alabama in recent years?
"One of the reasons you come to Auburn is to play in the Iron Bowl. Our guys get extremely excited, and this is game what our guys think about 365 days a year. That's really the simplest way to put it."
Status of Kilian Zierer…
"Kilian is getting better each week; I think he is getting healthier. He had his knee surgery in the offseason, and he has gotten better. He has gotten quite a few reps and is in the mix. We have new guys that are in the mix this week. They will need a good week of practice and be prepared to play."
Who are some of those guys who could play on offensive line?
"Avery Jernigan is playing center primarily right now. Tate Johnson is a guy that has played center and guard, and Kamaar Bell has also gotten some reps."
On what Kevin Steele specializes in to frustrate opponents…
"First of all, he does a great job in preparation with our players trying to take away what the opponent's offense does best. The thing about Kevin is that we have been really good at tackling and just the basic fundamentals of defense that a lot of times get overlooked these days because people worry more about schemes. I think he does a great job in those areas."
Why is the Iron Bowl different?
"This isn't a normal game. This is the Iron Bowl. I first coached in this game in 2009 as a coordinator. People would tell me what it was like. You've got to experience it to fully understand it and get a grasp of it. It changes you. I know after that first year it changed me. This is something that here at Auburn – I know me personally, I think about it 365 days a year."
On defense in the red zone…
"It's very important. I think we're one of the better red zone defenses in the country. You just said it, we've had three interceptions in the end zone. Two of them were taken back 100 yards for a touchdown. One was called back. But we've been very opportunistic down there. Our defense, as the field condenses, has done a super job. So we have to continue that."
On Bo Nix's Iron Bowl performance last year…
"I think that was a real growing point. When you've got a freshman quarterback, it was learning for him as you go. He ended up playing one of his best games in the Iron Bowl. Sometimes at home, especially for young players, there's more pressure than even if you're on the road. So the way he handled that, running the football, protecting it – he made some big-time throws, made some plays. Outside of the system, he really played well. I think that was really a growing point for him. He grew up Auburn, his dad was a great player here, so he understands. He fully understands what the Iron Bowl means and everything that goes with it. So we're glad that we have Bo Nix leading us to the Iron Bowl."
Consistency of Anders Carlson since last year's Iron Bowl…
"He was huge. You know the one (field goal) right before half right there on the whistle field goal. They actually changed the rule after that play, that's how impactful that play was. Then, I guess it was in the third quarter, he kicked a long field goal. They jumped offside; that may have actually taken three points off the board. We didn't end up scoring a touchdown. He still had to come back and kick another long one and he made it. He was huge. He was one of the MVPs last year. You look at what he did last week. He understands this rivalry very well, too. He's got family with this. I am glad he's our kicker going into this Iron Bowl."
On the tackling ability of the defense…
"I've been very pleased. We've tackled well, especially with not going through spring. That's one thing that we work on every day, that the defensive staff spends time on when a lot of people this time of year probably just go straight to scheme. I think that really helps."
Memories of the 2010 Iron Bowl…
"Oh, wow. I remember that we faced major adversity. That's what I remember. That first half was really something, just the fight that our guys showed to come back. You could feel the momentum switch. Just like other times we've won, the fourth quarter we played well. You could feel it. You could feel the momentum switch. It was just one of those things that our guys made plays and found a way to win. That was a huge win, probably one of my favorite games to ever be a part of."
Status of K.J. Britt…
"K.J., he won't play. He still hasn't been cleared."
Importance of putting pressure on Alabama's QBs…
"As far as putting pressure, I think that's a huge key. What they do well – when they can run the football well, which they've done every game, it makes it a challenge on their play action, putting pressure on them. (Mac Jones) is extremely accurate. Like I said earlier, it's very impressive to watch on film the timing he has with his receivers. That'll be a big challenge, but that's part of it. We have to find ways to make him uncomfortable."
Status of Tank Bigsby…
"Tank's still questionable. Obviously, he couldn't return last week, so we'll see how he progresses this week. Hopefully towards the end of the week we'll have an idea whether he'll be able to go or not."
What do you like most about your team?
"First of all, the character that our team has. The closeness that our team has. I really think our team understands what it means to play Auburn football, to be an Auburn man. Then the adversity they've overcome. This has been a year, we've said it numerous times, but this has been an interesting year, the ups and downs. For our guys to play their best game against LSU and not get to play for 21 days and still find a way to beat a talented Tennessee team even though we didn't play our best, this group has persevered. We lost K.J. Britt, one of our best players, a First Team All-SEC player. We lost him. He was our team leader. One game against Arkansas, we played without three of our four team leaders. We lost our most talented offensive lineman four or five weeks ago. We've played without some people and for our guys, it's been next man up. It's got to be that same type of mentality this week with the injury situation we have."
