Alabama won’t arrive at SEC Media Days until tomorrow, but the success of the defending national champions remains a topic of discussion among their peers.

Mississippi State linebacker Richie Brown said he enjoys playing the Crimson Tide, but the team in Tuscaloosa seems to be a stumbling block for his team lately. Brown said Alabama’s running game last season stood out as one of the toughest challenges his team faced.

“Some of them [the best offenses I’ve seen] have been pretty recent, Derrick Henry was a really tough one, [as was] Leonard Fournette,” Brown said. “They are really good. They are kind of freaky guys that are so big you don’t expect them to move as fast as they do. Players like that can really stress a defense.”

Henry ran for 204 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries in Alabama’s 31-6 victory over Mississippi State. Brown’s teammate, Mississippi State wide receiver Fred Ross, said the Crimson Tide has one of the best secondaries he has faced to date.

“I don’t know if it’s something in the water, but coach [Nick] Saban does a good job at Alabama with what he does and his schemes,” Ross said.

On Monday, Florida coach and former Saban assistant Jim McElwain said he thought Saban could coach forever. Georgia coach Kirby Smart, a former Saban assistant himself, said his old boss can do so because of his drive to be the best.

“After spending 11 years with him, the things I’m able to take are countless,” Smart said. “I’ve learned so much for him as a coach, as a person, as a man, as a leader. But the — he will coach for a long time. I do believe that. Because he likes it. He’s passionate about it. He’s very healthy. He takes care of his body. He hadn’t slowed down a bit. I promise you that.”