Jake Coker is expected starter again for Alabama

Alabama is expected to have Jake Coker back as its starting quarterback this week against Louisiana-Monroe.

Redshirt sophomore Cooper Bateman got his first career start Saturday night in the 43-37 loss to Ole Miss, completing 11 of 14 passes for 87 yards and an interception. Coker, a fifth-year senior who began his career at Florida State, came off the bench against the Rebels and completed 21 of 44 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns, but he was intercepted twice.

Coker started the opening wins over Wisconsin and Middle Tennessee State.

"When Jake came in the game, he played with some passion and showed great leadership and energy," Tide coach Nick Saban said Monday in a news conference. "At this point, providing he does the things he's supposed to do, I think we'll start him in this game."

Coker was intercepted by Tony Bridges with 2:36 remaining and with the Crimson Tide trailing 43-37. When Alabama got the ball back with 31 seconds left, Coker threw four straight incompletions.

Alabama's offense racked up 503 yards and 29 first downs against a defense that has been solid the past year and a half, but it wasn't nearly enough to please Saban.

"We've got to throw the ball to the right place at the right time," he said. "We can't throw it to the other guys. That's the number-one issue, and then we've got to execute and do the things properly relative to how they're coached to do it. We've got to do a better job of teaching and executing."

The Crimson Tide passing attack will be without sophomore receiver Robert Foster for "a good while," according to Saban. Foster, who had 10 catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the first three games, is having to undergo shoulder surgery.

True freshman Calvin Ridley is expected to pick up the slack in Foster's absence.

Though Alabama was its own worst enemy in turning the ball over five times against the Rebels, Saban did appreciate the resiliency his team showed. The Crimson Tide trailed 43-24 early in the fourth quarter, the largest second-half deficit they've faced in Saban's nine seasons.

"I think our players had tremendous energy in this game," he said, "but we have to learn to channel our energy and focus into the right places so we can get better execution on a more consistent basis. That starts with me and us as coaches in terms of doing a better job through the course of the week in preparing guys to be able to go out there and execute better.

"The focus is to improve our team. We're looking forward, and there are many lessons to be learned from the last game."

Saturday will mark the first meeting between the Crimson Tide and Warhawks since ULM pulled a 21-14 upset in 2007.

"We just have to put more emphasis on taking care of the ball," sophomore left tackle Cam Robinson said. "Obviously when you have five turnovers - that kind of killed us."

Tide tidbits

Redshirt junior kicker Adam Griffith from Calhoun, Ga., was among six players honored Monday honored by coaches, joining tailback Derrick Henry, receiver Richard Mullaney, defensive linemen A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed and cornerback Tony Brown. Next week's game at Georgia will be televised by CBS at 3:30.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.