HOOVER, Ala. – Landon Collins had to think for a moment.
Describing what went wrong for the Alabama football team at the end last season proved to be a challenge for the junior safety. The Crimson Tide were 11-0 and well on their way toward a third-straight national championship, then disaster struck.
Alabama’s Southeastern Conference title hopes were dashed when Auburn stole the division crown with Chris Davis’ iconic 109-yard field goal return to win the Iron Bowl. The Crimson Tide settled for a Sugar Bowl appearance against Oklahoma, but the Sooners erupted for 31 first-half points to create a deficit the defending champs couldn’t overcome.
Collins put it simply when he finished reflecting Thursday at SEC Media Days – Alabama just didn’t come out to play. However, senior wide receiver Christion Jones attributed the late-season meltdown to something else.
“The difference with the 2011 and 2012 teams was that even though we lost games, the leadership didn’t let the team die down,” Jones said. “That was kind of different with the team last year. There were a lot of small things the leadership let get by.”
Jones referred to the missed field goal against Auburn as one of the minor details that led to the Crimson Tide’s undoing. Alabama coach Nick Saban said his team will need to fix those mistakes and remake its identity heading into 2014.
“Our situation as a team is a lot different this year than it’s been the last couple of years when we were coming off successful seasons, championship seasons,” Saban said. “The challenges are so much different in terms of trying to deal with success and complacency. Having lost our last two games last year, I think it’s a little bit different mindset with our players.”

The Crimson Tide’s changing mentality will come in tandem with inexperience at key positions. Though junior transfer Jake Coker is the assumed successor to three-year starter A.J. McCarron at quarterback, Saban mentioned senior Blake Sims as a viable candidate for the position.
But Alabama returns three offensive lineman, three of its top four pass catchers and junior running back T.J. Yeldon, who rushed for 1,235 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Saban also brought in offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who coached a brief stint in the NFL before taking the helms Tennessee and Southern California.
“The more experience your staff has, I think the better they understand the big picture and have the kind of foresight that you need to have when you make changes,” Saban said.
The Crimson Tide’s defense experienced the most attrition during the offseason, losing six starters to graduation and the NFL Draft. Collins and senior linebacker Trey DePriest, the respective second and third leading tackles from last season, have stepped up into leadership roles for Alabama’s young but talented defense.

Collins was rated as the No. 1 safety in his recruiting class coming out of high school. The Geismar, La., native shocked Louisiana when he committed to Alabama instead of LSU, and Collins said he’s been receiving backlash ever since.
“Between me and my mom, it smoothed over in about a week or so,” Collins said. “But between the two schools, I don’t think it will ever happen because that was big day and a big loss for the state.”

Despite the questions marks facing the Crimson Tide, the media picked them to win the SEC championship by overwhelming odds. Alabama garnered 154 points compared to second place Auburn’s 75 points.
The Crimson Tide are a frontrunner to win the national championship for the sixth time in as many years, but their toughest opponent may be themselves.
“You basically need to check your ego at the door, all of us in our organizations – players, coaches everybody in our organization,” Saban said. “…It’s really about buying in and actually doing all that you can do to submit to the things that you have to do to have the best opportunity to be successful.”