Alabama head coach Nick Saban batted in the heart of the order on Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference. Below is the full transcript of what Saban said as the fifth head coach on the teleconference during the Crimson Tide’s first game week of the 2018 season.

“Well, this is obviously what we’ve been working for all year long, and it’s a great opportunity for our team to sort of create an identity for this team. Nothing that’s happened in the past is going to help us in this game. Louisville has a really, really good team. Coach (Bobby) Petrino is a great coach and has done a great job with that program there. A very good offensive coach and very difficult to defend, so it’s going to be a very challenging game for our players.

“I think after fall camp, players are always looking forward to the first game, and I think the first game really comes down to how many mental errors do you make, how many mistakes do you make, how well do you tackle, how well do you take care of the ball and how well you execute. So, I’ll like to see where we are.”

Question: I know there’s a newness to every season, and especially every season opener. With so many new assistant coaches and given the time you spend in practice with the secondary, does it feel even more so this year given those dynamics?

“Well, we have a lot more changes. I think we have a lot more new players than what he we typically do in the past, especially probably on defense. So, there’s a little more transition than normal, which I think that is a challenge for me to continue to try to help the people do things the way we’d like for them to do them. But it’s a work in progress, and we look forward to the challenge.”

Q: In your history with season openers, when the game kicks off and all the adjustments have to start being made, do you get more concerned with what the other team is doing? Or maybe what you guys are not doing?

“Well, most of the time it’s about what you’re doing or not doing, as you put it. You have to adjust technically to what the other team’s doing, especially if they’re doing something that you didn’t prepare your players for. But most of the time, it’s about what you’re doing out there and how you’re doing it that really has an impact on the outcome of that particular play.”

Alabama head coach Nick Saban

Q: You obviously have some young linebackers who are going have to grow up and, hopefully for the team’s sake, rise to the occasion. What have you seen from those guys as they know they’re going to have to play some sort of role?

“I don’t know who you’re really referring to, but Mack (Wilson) and Dylan (Moses) have some experience and have played and started in some games. I think their experience is going to be helpful for them in this particular game. I think most of the backups that are behind them are guys that we really are working hard with to try to help them develop the consistency in their play. But they can go out there and play winning football. They work very hard at it, they want to do well, but sometimes there’s no substitute for knowledge and experience. And it’s going to take time for those guys to get some of that.”

Q: Coach, I’m just wondering what went into your decision to hire Dan Enos? And what do you like about Dan? What’s he added to your team?

“Well, I’ve known Dan since he was a player at Michigan State and always liked him. I thought he was a bright guy. Certainly, when we played against them, they did a really good job when he was at Arkansas and we played them and he was their offensive coordinator. I’ve always liked his character and his demeanor as a coach. He’s a great teacher, he’s a very smart guy and he’s done a really good job here helping our quarterbacks develop. So, we’re excited to have him on our staff.”

Q: Coach, what do you remember about Jawon Pass from the recruiting process? And just what kind of challenge do you feel like he poses for you guys?

“Oh, I think he’s an outstanding, talented player. Very, very good in high school, has got great size, very good arm talent, very good athlete. He’s kind of a Cam Newton-looking type of guy out there and when he had the opportunity to play last year, I thought he played very well and showed a lot of poise. They’ve got a very experienced offensive team, so I’m sure that that experience is going to help him and his confidence playing in that first game.”

Alabama outside 'backer Eyabi Anoma

Q: Also, how has Eyabi Anoma come along for you guys? And do you think he’s somebody that can contribute early on for you?

“Well, we’re working with a lot of young players right now, and Eyabi’s one of them. I think he certainly has a lot of talent and a lot of ability. And we need to keep working with him so that he develops the confidence and comfort level to go out there in the game and play and do his job well. I think that’s the challenge with a lot of young players. It happens when it happens. It’s not something that you can make happen, but we’re going to keep working with him and try to get him to be able to feel comfortable in what he’s being asked to do.”

Q: You were quoted last week of describing this year’s team as a different kind of team, elaborating a little bit on how you may need to score more teams. What does that say about your expectations for this year’s defense coming into the season?

“Well, we expect to play well on defense. I just think we have a really talented offensive team, and my comment was really more to challenge them. Our defense has got a lot of new faces, a lot of new players, a lot of good players that have not played a lot and don’t have a lot of experience. But I’m hopeful that as these guys learn and grow and play together, they can become a very, very solid unit.”

Q: Just kind of a fun question for you. I’m sure you follow West Virginia and play Tennessee, so I’m wondering how you see this game between those two playing out? Or how do you think it will go?

“Well, I don’t really know that much about it. I’m worried about Louisville. I know West Virginia’s got a good quarterback and they’ve had a good team in the past and they probably have a really good team this year. And I know Jeremy Pruitt’s working his tail off at Tennessee trying to improve their team. But I really don’t know enough about them, and I’ve kind of got other issues I’m trying to (deal with) right now in terms of the challenges that we have with our team and the team that we play.”

Saban will speak again tonight at roughly 6 p.m. CT following Alabama’s Wednesday practice.

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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