VIDEO/TRANSCRIPT: STETSON BENNETT, NAKOBE DEAN AND JORDAN DAVIS INTERVIEWS – NOVEMBER 29, 2021
On how he’s grown in taking care of the ball…
“Knowing that incompletions don’t kill you. You don’t have to win the game on every play, because you can’t win it on every play. Our defense and the players we have, focusing on them and the strengths of the team, not trying to do it all yourself.”
On what makes him tick as a quarterback…
“It’s a delicate balance. You’ve got to rep it enough in practice to where it becomes second nature. You can’t go out there and think, ‘be careful here,’ because that’s how you play not-to-lose instead of playing-to-win. Those million reps you have in practice with the mindset of protecting the ball and being a ball player. It comes over time.”
On how Darnell Washington and Brock Bowers have helped him as a quarterback…
“Anytime you’ve got those players they’ll make you a better player. It makes it easier to throw it to them, they make the offense better.”
On how the offense helps the defense…
“I feel like we complement each other well. No matter what they do out there, we have their back. From a mental standpoint, if everything isn’t going the right way, we always make sure to reiterate to them that we have their back and they do the same for us. They tell us, we got y’all. To have an offense and defense that work together like that definitely helps us a lot.”
On the program’s growth since the 2019 SEC Championship…
“I was a freshman. Me personally, I have grown into more of a leadership position. Now we are more so of a player-driven team. A player-led team. There aren’t a lot of things the coaches can say that the players already haven’t reiterated to the other players. Back in the day the coaches handled and dealt with the problems on the field, and when practice wasn’t going the way it needed to. The coaches kind of took it by the reigns. Tried to get us right. Now, the leaders try to lead and get everybody right. Get everybody’s mindset right. The coaches don’t have to do anything, just worry about coaching.”
On playing Alabama in the SEC Championship…
“We had a goal, and we wanted to get out of the East. Unfortunately, last year we didn’t reach that goal, but it’s good to be back and I am excited to play. It doesn’t matter who.
On the Iron Bowl…
“I watched bits and bobs of it. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve sat through an entire college football game unless we are playing in it, but I saw bit and pieces of it. Obviously, when we watch film, I will see more about it. You hear about it, but you can’t let that get to you. They are a dangerous football team – it doesn’t matter who because every dog has its day. Alabama is one of those [programs] you have got to be ready for.”
On creating pressure on Alabama offensive line…
“It’s about the game plan. We have to scheme right. They have a big offensive line. We have a big defensive line, so it’s about being concise. It is a challenge for us, and we just hope we bring the pressure on them.”
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