Alabama coach Nick Saban mentioned his protection’s struggles had him questioning if Ole Miss knew the Crimson Tide’s indicators throughout his group’s 63-48 win on Saturday evening.
Saban projected calm on the sideline for a lot of the sport, however inside he mentioned he was “boiling and effervescent” watching his protection reel, giving up 647 yards.
“It appeared like all the things we did although they’d a solution for,” Saban mentioned. “I do not know if they’d our indicators or what. That is not something uncommon. It appeared like each time we known as one thing, they’d the most effective play that they may have in opposition to it.”
He added: “We did not do something effectively. We did not cease the run. We gave up some performs on the again finish. … Simply did not play very effectively.”
Ole Miss’ 48 factors have been essentially the most Alabama has allowed to an opponent within the AP period (since 1936).
Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses mentioned he “undoubtedly” believes that Ole Miss had discovered their defensive indicators, pointing to Lane Kiffin’s data of this system relationship again to his time as offensive coordinator from 2014-16.
“They’d a solution for all the things, what we have been lined up in,” Moses mentioned.
Saban, who took duty for the protection’s play, mentioned there are “numerous alternatives for us to study and develop from this recreation.”
“We have by no means performed this fashion on protection,” he mentioned. “It is definitely not what we aspire to attempt to be as a defensive group, and we will work exhausting with our gamers.
“I imagine in our gamers. And I believe we’ve got to get our gamers to play higher. I believe we’re able to it.”
Alabama and Ole Miss’ 111 mixed factors was essentially the most ever in a regulation recreation in SEC historical past. The Crimson Tide’s 723 yards of offense ranks second in SEC historical past.
Vast receiver DeVonta Smith tied a college document with 13 receptions and have become the primary Alabama participant prior to now 20 years to have 150 receiving yards and a dashing landing in the identical recreation.
“I’d have by no means guessed you’d see an SEC recreation with these stats right here,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin mentioned. “Three punts in your complete recreation. Most factors within the historical past of an SEC regulation recreation, particularly in opposition to coach Saban and that protection.”
Requested why scoring throughout the convention is up, Kiffin mentioned, “Possibly COVID?”
“Lacking spring ball, lacking the tackling in that and fundamentals has one thing to do with it,” he mentioned. “I’d have by no means guessed this. I joked with [Saban] afterwards, I talked to him: ‘I assumed they performed protection within the SEC.’ Simply joking as a result of he was form of laughing concerning the protection. That is three video games in a row like this. I’d not have thought this.”
Alabama, which improved to 3-0, hosts No. 3 Georgia subsequent Saturday.
