Alabama Football: Nick Saban talks and Tide fans need to listen

It is time for Alabama football to move past the LSU loss. Tide fans will do well to listen to Nick Saban’s words and consider his perspective.

Alabama football coach, Nick Saban spoke to the media ahead of practice on Monday. The schedule is part of Nick’s routine. The circumstances, following the loss to LSU were not routine. Saban has only had one undefeated Alabama football team, the 2009 National Champions. The losses rarely happen at Bryant-Denny.

The long win streak against LSU went back to the 2011 season, after a regular-season loss to the Bengal Tigers in Tuscaloosa. Since then the Crimson Tide had only lost two games on its home field; Texas A&M in 2012 and Ole Miss in 2015.

So – we Alabama football fans might need to take a collective deep breath. Or perhaps consider the message Nick Saban shouted into A.J. McCarron’s ear a few years ago. We will skip a quote but a deep breath and Nick’s admonition are basically the same – calm down.

The Alabama Crimson Tide lost a football game. It has more to play. Its immediate future includes a never to be taken lightly,  SEC road game. Playoff participation remains in reach.

Most importantly, the game of college football has not left Nick Saban unsure or less capable of success. That the 2019 team has weaknesses has not suddenly become known. Going back to losing Dylan Moses, we have known inside linebacker and defensive leadership would be an issue. If Moses had led the Tide defense Saturday, the Tide would have won.

Moving forward is all that matters now and Nick Saban knows what is wrong. As he pointed out Monday, the Crimson Tide missed 25 tackles in the open field against LSU. That is a glaring and inexcusable flaw. It must change or further losses against elite offenses will follow. It will not be solved in post-LSU recriminations. Rest assured it will be addressed on the Tide practice field every week for the remainder of the season.

On Monday, Nick Saban did not want to talk past Mississippi State. He is correct all focus must be on going back to work. The Alabama football team does not control its Playoff destiny. What it does control is the ability to correct flaws and get better as a team.

Saban’s good news on Monday was the post-game medical analysis of Tua Tagovailoa.

Saban also provided updates on LaBryan Ray and Dylan Moses. It has been reported Ray is out for the regular season and the post-season. Saban did not confirm that and stated Ray has not been “medically cleared to return to practice.” Tide fans were excited to see Dylan Moses was suited up on Saturday. Saban explained Moses asked to do so “to be part of the team,” but there was and is no plan for Moses playing this season.

Alabama football fans should not ignore what Nick Saban said about LSU. The Crimson Tide lost to what Nick described as a “very, very good team” that “played really well.” Saban does not dispense such praise lightly.