Alabama coach Nick Saban hasn't won six national championships with the Crimson Tide by developing the best 15- or 30-minute teams in college football.
Saban isn't planning on taking that route this year, either, despite early appearances to the contrary. In Alabama's 31-29 escape of Florida in the Swamp this past Saturday, the Crimson Tide built a 21-3 bulge before holding on for their 32nd consecutive victory over a Southeastern Conference Eastern Division foe.
"We played really, really well for the first 20 or 25 minutes of the game," Saban said Monday afternoon on his weekly Zoom call. "We had three straight scoring drives and got some stops on defense. We executed fairly well, and then we sort of stalled on offense three series in a row by going three-and-out.
"We started making some mistakes on defense, and they scored and got back in the game. The momentum of the game changed, and we became kind of an ordinary team. There are a lot of lessons to be learned from this situation."
Saban is hopeful those lessons can be put to use beginning this Saturday night against visiting Southern Miss.
Alabama grabbed its 21-3 lead before the first quarter expired, racking up 188 yards to 75 by the Gators. The Crimson Tide would manage just 143 combined yards in the final three quarters, while Florida amassed a stunning 365.
"Defensively, we haven't played for 60 minutes yet," sophomore outside linebacker Will Anderson said. "This was a real eye-opener. We need to get our stuff together in order to live up to the Alabama standard, and we need to play to the Alabama standard. We had some lulls in the game after we got up and got a big lead. We can't look at the scoreboard, and I think that's something that this team is working on."
Said right guard Emil Ekiyor: "Obviously we have to do better, and that starts with practice and just finishing plays and competing until the whistle blows. We need to be relentless for 60 minutes. Hopefully we can get it turned around."
Alabama had a stretch late last season struggling at the start of the second half, and the Crimson Tide roared out to a 41-3 lead midway through the third quarter earlier this month against Miami before easing up in what was still quite a resounding 44-13 win.
So how are Crimson Tide players expected to play with such intensity for a full 60 minutes?
"I think you train yourself to do that," Saban said. "You have to train yourself in practice. You can't hold back. You can't take yourself out. You've got to put yourself in the situation that you're going to be in during the game so that you feel that, and when you start to feel a little tired in practice, you can keep on keeping on and continue to have the kind of spirit and energy that you need to finish.
"So you've actually trained yourself to do that, but it's a conscious decision that every player makes."
Assessing receivers
Alabama's receiving contingent heading into this season essentially contained veterans John Metchie and Slade Bolden, Ohio State transfer Jameson Williams, and a slew of heralded freshmen.
Saban was asked to assess that position Monday.
"We want to develop more consistency, and I think we need to keep on working to separate on man-to-man coverage, which is always what you need to do as a receiver," he said. "When people play zone, it gives you free access, and you're running into areas and getting in holes. That's not nearly as challenging as when you have to beat a guy in man-to-man.
"I think that's something we need to continue to work on. I think we have good players to do it, and I think we're capable of doing it. We just have to be a little more consistent."
Tide tidbits
Alabama will be seeking its 100th consecutive triumph over an unranked team, a streak that began with an Independence Bowl win over Colorado to cap Saban's first season in 2007. ... The Crimson Tide are 37-5-2 lifetime against USM and have won seven straight series meetings since a 21-0 loss in 2000. ... Alabama's home game next week against Ole Miss will be televised by CBS with a kickoff shortly after 3:30 p.m.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.