Nick Saban didn’t need long to explain what happened when Alabama fell to Tennessee on Saturday.
Speaking Monday at the Monday Morning Quarterback Club in Birmingham, the former Crimson Tide head coach pointed to one thing above all else: Tennessee was tougher at the line of scrimmage. The Vols handled Alabama 26-10, leaning on a physical style that wore down the Tide as the game went on.
Saban said Alabama’s issues started with being unable to establish the run and with Tennessee’s defense controlling the flow of the game. He also noted that missing key players can matter, though he didn’t speak to anything happening internally with the team.
“I can’t speak to internally what happens on the team,” Saban said. “I know sometimes when you get some key players that aren’t out there that can make plays, that has an impact ,on you.
But I think Tennessee’s a good team, especially on defense. I mean, they were physical.
We couldn’t run the ball. Jim Knowles is a really good defensive coordinator.
They played a good scheme. Covered most of the time, and they ran the ball.
The back is really good, number 18, and, you know, Tennessee’s winning a different way. You know, they used to win wide open explosive plays outscoring you.
Now it’s play good defense and run the ball, shrink the game, and they’re pretty damn good at it.”
Alabama now turns to Texas A&M on Saturday after back-to-back losses, looking to get back on track.
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