Saban still high on Titans’ Henry, Evans
Two critical pieces of the Titans’ 2018 puzzle hail from Alabama, where they developed under the tutelage of Nick Saban.
Speaking with “Jared & The GM” on 102.5-FM at SEC Media Days on Wednesday in Atlanta, the Crimson Tide coach shared his thoughts on former pupils Derrick Henry and Rashaan Evans.
Saban said he’s kept in contact with Henry, who is poised for a featured role in the Titans’ backfield alongside Dion Lewis, since the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner left Tuscaloosa.
“I’ve been talking to him for two years to be patient, your time will come,” Saban said. “So hopefully he’ll take great advantage.” Saban thinks he will. “Derrick Henry is a great competitor. Really tough, physical guy,” he said. “He’ll bring a mindset to your team that will affect everyone in a positive way. He’s obviously a very talented guy and I think he’ll do great. I know he’s been chomping at the bit to get this opportunity.”
As for Evans, Saban offered a largely positive scouting report of the linebacker — “(He) can run, he can rush, he’s a very instinctive player,” Saban said — but did make sure to mention one caveat.
“I think the No. 1 thing you don’t want to do with him is if you make (him) a signal caller and bog him down with a lot of different things, it slows him down a little bit,” Saban said. “If you could just put that guy with somebody that just lets him play, he’ll make a tremendous amount of plays.”
A lot of that, Saban said, stems from Evans’ versatility.
“He can do a lot of different things,” he said. “He can play nickel. He can be a rusher in nickel. He can (be) a buck, a move-around guy. He’s not as big as (former Tide linebacker and current New England Patriot Dont’a) Hightower, but he can do a lot of things that Dont’a can do as well.”