TUSCALOOSA — Nick Saban usually scoffs publicly at sacks. He speaks often of just “affecting the quarterback,” chiding his players for worrying about the number of sacks they compile or reporters for using the statistic as a crutch.
Still, his defense has 14 sacks in its last three games. Nine in the last two, both of which were against a freshman quarterback.
“Him being a young quarterback,” Saban said Saturday of Arkansas’ Cole Kelley, “we wanted to not just let him stand there and be able to pick out people and play coverage all the time.