Alabama is going from one FSU to another this week, but with four fewer linebackers.
The top-ranked Crimson Tide are 43.5-point favorites to dismantle Fresno State this Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, but they will be spending this week likely shuffling a linebackers group that lost Christian Miller (torn biceps), Terrell Lewis (torn elbow ligament), Rashaan Evans (groin) and Anfernee Jennings (sprained ankle) in this past Saturday's 24-7 defeat of No. 3 Florida State. The injuries to Miller and Lewis are season-ending.
"It means what it means," coach Nick Saban said Monday in his weekly news conference. "When you lose two guys, the next two have to step up. It creates opportunities for other people in the program, and we're going to have to take some of the younger guys we have and try to develop them more quickly.
"We hate it that we lost these players. They're both good players who made significant improvement, and they both played well in the game."
Saban was uncertain about the return of Evans and Jennings, but they are out for this week's game against Jeff Tedford's Bulldogs, who opened their season with a 66-0 win over Incarnate Word, a Championship Subdivision school from San Antonio.
The multiple losses could mean more playing time for redshirt junior outside linebacker Jamey Mosley, a former walk-on, and they also could result in redshirt junior Keith Holcombe, sophomore Mack Wilson and/or freshman Dylan Moses shifting from inside. Redshirt freshman inside linebacker Ben Davis and true freshman outside linebacker Chris Allen also could be in the picture.
"We'll see who develops and who can help us the most," Saban said.
He was asked Monday to assess the play of sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts, who completed 10 of 18 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown against the Seminoles. Hurts had 53 of the yards on a second-quarter touchdown pass to Calvin Ridley.
"There were times when he stepped up and made some really good throws, and there were other times when I think he instinctively maybe took off a little sooner than we like," Saban responded. "I thought his overall performance for a first game was good, and I thought some of the issues in the passing game were not quarterback-related totally.
"We had some protection issues that created negative plays."
Saban also was asked about kicker Andy Pappanastos, who made field goals of 35, 25 and 33 yards Saturday night but missed from 42 and 41 yards out.
"We don't ever expect anybody to miss a field goal," he said. "Andy's accuracy inside 40 yards is very good, and he made all of those. A couple of longer ones he didn't make, and I think he is capable of being more consistent than he was in that game."
Tide tidbits
Alabama and Fresno State have never met in football. ... Saban said Trevon Diggs and Levi Wallace would continue to play at the cornerback spot opposite Anthony Averett. ... Saban said sophomore tailback Josh Jacobs (hamstring) will practice this week but is questionable for Saturday.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.