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Alabama coach Nick Saban had a rough Saturday, losing to Ole Miss (43-37) for the second season in a row.
The Crimson Tide moves on to play Louisiana-Monroe in Week 4.
Here are the highlights of what Saban said during his weekly presser on Monday:
- Reflections on team after Ole Miss game: “I was really pleased with the effort that our players gave in the last game … They showed resiliency to keep coming back.”
- On causes for the loss to Ole Miss: “It would be easy to sit here and say that the turnovers were the issue, but we need to have better fundamental execution of what we’re doing. To me, to many negative plays on offense and too many big plays on defense.”
- WR Robert Foster is going to be out: “He has a shoulder injury that will require surgery.”
- On Foster’s timetable for a potential return: “Unless he has a miraculous recovery, he’s going to be out for a while. A good while. I’m not the doctor, I can’t tell you that … he’s out.”
- Calvin Ridley was a name Saban mentioned to take some of Foster’s snaps. “We’re going to give lots of opportunities to lots of guys. There’s going to be some young players getting opportunities.”
- LS Cole Mazza is out for medical reasons. When he is able to return, he’ll be back on the team.
- Saban said he doesn’t believe the offense has found an identity yet. “I thought we had some identity in the first game and were moving in the right direction, but the last two games have been scattered.”
- Saban got a little bit cantankerous with reporters when asked multiple questions about quarterbacks. Said they simply need to executive better.
- Saban said fundamental execution would have prevented the tipped ball touchdown for Ole Miss: “The defensive backs are never going to recover that ball, so they should have covered their guys. Somebody didn’t cover their guy.”
- On coming back to have an opportunity after 19-point deficit with 10 minutes remaining: “We’ve never been in that situation before, so you never know how you’re going to respond. I like the resiliency we showed.”
- Saban passed on an opportunity to rip fans for leaving the game early: “I was really happy with the fans. I thought they helped keep the players in the game with their energy and enthusiasm.”
- Saban said that Ole Miss did not sustain many drives on the defense, but blamed a lack of “fundamental execution” that allowed big plays for the Rebels to score on.
- He did not believe the 2014 and 2015 losses to Ole Miss were comparable, thought 2014 team lacked ability to finish the game, while 2015 team trailed most of the game.
- On if this team could rebound from Ole Miss loss to win SEC like last season’s team did: “Depends on how they respond to the loss. That’s all I can tell you. We’re going to try to do the right things.”
- Saban joked that he’d use the Coke bottle on his podium as a crystal ball to see if QB Jake Coker could carry his energy from the Ole Miss performance to the next game.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
