Chiefs defensive back Javier Arenas has referenced his college coach, Alabama's Nick Saban, on a number of occasions leading up to the draft and then here in Kansas City after the draft. He says Saban's background as a defensive backs coach, along with the defense as a whole at Alabama, he's really gotten a feel for what it takes to play, maybe not in the NFL, but on a very high level.
The Gadsden Times (as pointed out by GenericBrand) recently had some words from Arenas after he had spent the day at an autograph signing.
For his part, Arenas feels prepared to make an impact. He said the three years he spent with Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban in the Alabama defensive backfield were invaluable in helping prepare him for the pro game, where he will work for head coach Todd Haley, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel and secondary coach Emmitt Thomas.
"He instilled responsibility within his players so he could depend on them to go out and win games," Arenas said of Saban. "Watching him coach and get us prepared for the games, you pick up a lot of things from him."
That's why I've gone out on a limb and said before Arenas will be the best Chiefs rookie in 2010. You get a real sense of maturity from him and throughout OTAs he was solid at the nickelback job. Assuming he can hold off Maurice Leggett, he could see significant playing time in 2010.
This isn't the first time Areans has referenced Saban. He's talked about him on a number of occasions since coming into the league.
By the way, the first line in the Gadsden Times story says Arenas expects to be in camp. (Once he gets a new agent)