Alabama is in a bye week this week and Coach Saban spoke to the media this morning (Wednesday) about those preparations. Alabama will be going over fundamentals once again today, and then will begin installing the game plan tomorrow for the LSU game.

Coach Saban said one of the things that Alabama tries to do in a bye week used to do first rest and then improve individually. It is also important to get together and improve the team chemistry during this time. They especially want to get all the players working together. 

After playing eight weeks in a row it is good to have a break, players were pretty banged up hidden into this bye week.

In fact, Alabama is reporting more injuries this week than pretty much any other previous week. Linebacker Alex Watkins has a broke arm, and will be out for the LSU game but will be back within 2 to 3 weeks. Also, Alabama lost backup offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio for the season following the Tennessee game. In recent weeks, backup running back Eddie Lacy has been gimpy with a turf toe. However, hopefully the rest will help him recover from that.

The offensive line's depth could be the biggest issue with the star freshman Kouandjio being out of the rotation. Coach Saban said that the line's continuity should do the same with the starters intact, but it does "affect our depth."

The good thing is that Anthony Steen is coming back from his concussion and will get to play against LSU.

Also, Alfred McCullough is essentially the utility infielder of the offensive line and will be able to fill in for a number of offensive line positions of necessary.

“When you have guys like that, especially in the offensive line, it makes it so much easier to be able to get your best guys out there,” Saban noted. “He is really helpful because he can play so many places.”

Coach Saban also spoke some on the improvement of LSU's quarterbacks over their career. He said it seemed like a long time ago that Rashaad Johnson intercepted Jarrett Lee 3 times, but Lee and Jordan are much improved and do a great job this year for LSU at quarterback. With their styles been a little bit different, with one guy been more of a runner (Jordan Jefferson), it makes it difficult to defend.

The team is working on fundamentals today and will start installing the gameplan for LSU tomorrow.  Will keep you posted.

Coach Saban Audio Vids:
These are videos from earlier this week, we dont have today's video yet but Coach Saban talks about pretty much the same things..

Alabama Products For Sale: