Nick Saban

(Mary Kay Cabot/cleveland.com)

MOBILE, Ala. -- Alabama coach Nick Saban, who's like royalty in these parts, dropped by the Senior Bowl on Monday to watch some of his players, and praised Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who's become a good friend.

"I have a lot of respect for Gregg,'' said Saban during the South practice Tuesday. "He's done a good job in a lot of places. He's a guy that I've visited with quite a bit through the years and you only really visit with people that you have a lot of respect for and you kind of see some things that they're doing -- kind of the cutting edge, so to speak, of what's happening and how to defend the changes of the game."

During his introductory press conference, Williams said that both Saban, the former Browns defensive coordinator, and Bill Belichick, the former Browns coach, are good friends.

Saban and Belichick have remained close, and have incorporated best practices from all over, from high school to college to the pros. Saban is fresh off another national championship game and Belichick is headed back to the Super Bowl.

Jackson is eager to work with Williams after getting a taste at the Senior Bowl.

"I can tell it's going to be exciting,'' he said. "It will be a lot of fun. He's very competitive like I am and I think that's what good teams have. They have guys that compete against each other, which ramps up practice a lot. The players compete and we've just got to continue to that. He's one of the best there is and that's why we brought him in."

He said he and Willlams are already on the same page.

"He's outstanding that way,'' he said. "This guy's seen so much football, there's nothing I'm going to surprise him with or bring to the table as far as schedules or anything like that. Again, this is the Senior Bowl and it's a chance for us to get out there but me and him, we have a lot of work to do between now and getting our team back and getting our team where it needs to be.''

He stressed that Williams will play a large role in evaluating defensive players in the draft such as pass-rushers Myles Garrett of Texas A&M and Jonathan Allen of Alabama. For the lowdown on Allen, Williams will know right where to go.

"Oh, yeah. He'll be huge," Jackson said. "Our coaches, they're important because we're going to coach the team and we have a voice just like our executives have a voice, and this is a collaborative deal. We all work together.

"You've heard so many reports about just listening to [the Super Bowl-bound] Atlanta [Falcons], how they've gone through their process. They really work together, sameness in thought. We're trying to do the same.''