Bama punter JK Scott says he can improve upon All-America season

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama coach Nick Saban has a mind trick for all of his players, even star punter JK Scott.

As a true freshman last, Scott finished as a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, putting together an impressive season. But even the big-legged Scott leans on Saban to keep him even-keeled.

"Yeah, coach is there whenever I punt," Scott said Thursday. "He just tells me to keep it simple. He always compares my punting to his golf game. Just 'nice easy swing' is what he always tells me, not try to kill it. That usually does the job."

Saban is an avid golfer, who like everyone else, improves when he has the time to practice. And while it may seem like a stretch, Scott said Saban uses anything possible to motivate his players.

Scott produced the best season for a punter in Alabama football history as a true freshman in 2014. He received first-team All-American honors from Sporting News after leading the nation in punting at 48 yards per kick and net punting at 44.7 yard per boot.

"I'm not trying to kill it," Scott said. "If I try and kill it, I'm just going to shank it off to the right or left. I'm going to have less control. All I want to do is be really smooth, and that should be good enough."

For Scott, it's about maximizing opportunities. There were games like Florida Atlantic where he didn't punt at all. Then there were contests like LSU and Ohio State saw a lot of work, punting nine and seven times respectively.

"It's a spot on analogy. It's perfect," Scott said. "Like, that's exactly what it is. The mentality of a punter is kind of the same exact as a golfer. You don't have many chances. It's just one shot, and you've just got to do everything you can for that one shot."

Saban touched on Scott trying to be a perfectionist last fall.

"You know one of the biggest challenges I think for specialists, and we've gone through this with several of our guys, sometimes good enough is good enough," Saban said. "You don't have to keep trying to get better. When you're kicking every one of them 50 and 55 yards with a 5.0 (second) hang time, that's good enough."

Scott dropped 31-of-55 (56.4 percent) punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line last season, which was the best in the nation.

But he believes he can be better.

"There's always areas to improve on," Scott said.

"I always want to get stronger. "

That's the first thing. Consistency can always improve. Just overall controlling the ball and being able to put it where you want. Those types of things."

-- Contact Anniston Star Sports Writer Marq Burnett at mburnett@annistonstar.com. On Twitter:@Marq_Burnett.

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 9:26 PM with the headline "Bama punter JK Scott says he can improve upon All-America season ."