After a less-than-stellar performance against Colorado State, the Alabama football team is looking to move forward as it hosts Ole Miss this week in its SEC home opener.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban stressed consistency Monday.
“We have to do a better job of not making mental errors, playing better fundamental technique and then being able to take that to the game by having very good preparation by the way we practice and the way we mentally prepare for the game,” Saban said.
Quarterback AJ McCarron was especially ready to move on after a slow start from the offense. The offense only scored 17 points in the first three quarters and didn’t convert its first third down until its last drive of the game.
“Last game was last game,” McCarron said. “I want to move on and talk about Ole Miss. It’s going to be a challenge for us, so I’m ready for that.”
After the game Saturday, McCarron cited a lack of communication as something the offense struggled with. Center Ryan Kelly elaborated further on Monday.
“That’s one of the big things that coach has been preaching to us last week and probably this week too,” Kelly said. “When the offense and everyone knows what they’re doing, we’re hard to beat. But I think it showed against Colorado State sometimes when we don’t communicate all the time there are errors in there and if one guy messes up and didn’t get a call or didn’t make a call, it can have a serious impact on the offense. But when we’re all together and we practice that during the week, I think we’re hard to beat.”
Last year, Ole Miss had early success against Alabama, especially on offense. The Rebels gave Alabama its first deficit of the season running a hurry-up, no-huddle style offense.
“Ole Miss has a really, really good team,” Saban said. “They’ve got a lot of starters coming back.”
Injured players back
Saban announced the five injured starters who sat out Saturday’s game against Colorado State – wide receiver Amari Cooper, wide receiver Kevin Norwood, guard Anthony Steen, defensive back Jarrick Williams and cornerback Deion Belue – would all practice Monday.
Saban said the team would make a long-term decision on Nick Perry, a reserve safety with a shoulder injury who also didn’t play Saturday, Monday as well.
PGA pro visits UA
Zach Johnson, a professional golfer who has ten victories on the PGA tour, including a Masters championship in 2007, was in Tuscaloosa on Monday visiting with the UA golf team. He also took time to meet with Saban.
Saban said Johnson gave him tips that he can apply to football.
“He said, ‘There’s three parts to this: the mental part, the physical part and the technical part,’” Saban said. “And that’s so right in his game, our game, whatever.”
Saban assured reporters he wasn’t working on his golf game.
“I’m not working on anything except Ole Miss,” Saban said. “Not that my short game doesn’t need it. But I don’t have to worry about that until March.”
