Nick Saban evaluates the improvement in Alabama's run game

Alabama had one of their best rushing games of the season this weekend against Arkansas. A week after their worst such performance in that area so far, it was exactly what Nick Saban was looking for.

Saban spoke highly of the Crimson Tide’s efficiency in the run game versus the Razorbacks during his press conference on Monday. With all four backs averaging more than five yards a carry apiece, he saw it as a quality outing from that position.

“We did run the ball better in the second half,” Saban said. “To me? The way I sort of evaluate it is what is the efficiency in the running game? In other words, how many four-plus runs did you have versus less than four? That’s the efficiency that we continue to look for.”

It was just on the running backs, though. Saban also credited their offense for sniffing out the ‘Hog’s defensive strategy and Alabama’s offensive line for making the gaps that their rushers needed to be as successful as they were.

“It was a lot better in the second half. I think we got a hat on a hat, kind of knew exactly what they were doing formationally,” explained Saban. “I think the offensive line did a really good job in creating some holes. And the backs did a good job of running downhill.”

Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, Jam Miller, and Justice Haynes combined for 202 rushing yards. That’s one of the highest totals of the season as they averaged just a hair under seven yards a carry as a unit.

As an offense, this is the style that Saban was hoping to see. Now, he wants them all to build off this success and make it even more of a reliable identity for them on that side of the football.

“That’s the way we want it to be all the time,” said Saban. “We’ve just got to keep working at it so we continue to develop consistency in that part of our team.”

Saban on concern with sack numbers: ‘Hell yeah’

Alabama has had issues on the offensive line this season, particularly allowing too many sacks this season. Through seven games, Alabama has allowed 31 sacks or 4.43 sacks per game.

Nick Saban knows this is a problem for the offense. When asked if he was concerned about these issues, Saban gave a blunt response.

“Well, to answer the first part of your question, I would say, ‘Hell, yeah,’” Nick Saban said.

Saban also believes that the Crimson Tide are capable of fixing those problems mid-season. That’s because they’re more mental errors than physical ones.

“I do think we have guys who are capable. I think it goes back to that same attention to detail. There’s little things like, in certain protections, I know I have inside help. So, why would I get beat outside? Does that make sense? So, these are not all capability issues. Some of them are things that we could fix,” Saban said.

“When we’re sliding out, to block three on three, and a guy doesn’t slide out to block the third guy and he runs in and sacks the quarterback. That’s a mental error. That’s not a physical problem. So, it’s a combination of all those things that need to get cleaned up with better communication, better execution, and maybe the more knowledge and experience we get, the more we’ll be able to be more effective and consistent in those areas.”