'Hell yeah' Nick Saban is concerned about Alabama's 31 allowed sacks

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Is Nick Saban concerned by how many sacks Alabama has allowed?

“Hell yeah,” Saban said on Monday afternoon.

The Crimson Tide has given up 31 sacks through seven games, which is 130th nationally or the fourth-most in the country behind only Colorado (35), Old Dominion (33) and South Florida (32). For comparison, Alabama only allowed 22 sacks over 13 total games a season ago.

Arkansas sacked quarterback Jalen Milroe five times in Week 7, including four times in the first half. According to ESPN Stats & Info, it marked the fifth consecutive game he has been sacked four-plus times, which is tied for the longest streak in the FBS in the past 20 years.

The Alabama offense has allowed 71 pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus, and freshman left tackle Kadyn Proctor has been responsible for 18 pressures and seven sacks in seven games, which leads the team. Proctor has been rotating with Elijah Pritchett over the last four weeks, but the position – and unit – as a whole has struggled this fall.

“I do think we have guys that are capable,” Saban said. “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? 

“These are not all capability issues. Some of them are things that we could fix. When we’re sliding out, to block 3-on-3, and the guy doesn’t slide out to block the third guy and he runs in to sack the quarterback, that’s a mental error. That’s not a physical problem. 

“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’ll get, the more we’ll be able to be more effective and consistent in those areas.”

Alabama has little time to clean up its issues with Tennessee coming to town on Saturday, Oct. 21. The Volunteers are tied for fifth in the nation with 24 sacks heading into the Third Saturday in October rivalry. Tennessee also has two players who rank among the top 10 in the SEC in sacks in defensive ends James Pearce (6.0, T-2nd) and Tyler Baron (5.0, 6th).

With another stout pass rush on deck, “it’s very important” for UA’s pass pro to improve.

“It’s been important all year,” Saban said. “It’s something that we have to do a really good job planning-wise, and we have to fundamentally play better. It’s a combination of both. Both of those things are coaching and teaching things that we need to do better. 

“Guys need to get set better, hand placement has to be better, footwork has to be better, and we have to make sure whatever scheme it is that we’re trying to use that players are capable of doing it without putting themselves in a bad position.”

Despite the struggles, Milroe and Alabama’s offense remain optimistic going into Week 8.

“We’re going to have a lot of fun,” Milroe said. “We don’t care about none of that. It’s another opportunity for us to have fun. We get to play in front of our fans this weekend, so we’re excited for that. A lot of energy will be floating in the air with playing a great opponent, and it’s going to be a lot of fun this weekend. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

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