Alabama's defense 'too soft' late in loss to Tennessee

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Alabama's defense played too soft late in the game when it allowed Tennessee to drive the ball 45 yards in 13 seconds and win the game.

Tennessee fans tore down the goal posts after Chase McGrath kicked a 40-yard field goal, and Alabama coach Nick Saban had to be escorted into the visitors' locker room by police officers.

Alabama allowed the most points and committed the most penalties in a game over the course of the last eight years.

I was very disappointed in the loss. We didn't reply to the bell. There is a lot of work to be done Too many fines. Gave up some really good plays. A major mistake on special teams led to a score for them.

They have to be given a lot of credit. They did well with their offense. We didn't execute right.

Young, who missed last week's game against Texas A&M due to a shoulder injury, threw for 455 yards and two touchdown. He said his arm didn't hurt.

He was happy to be with his teammates. I love the game and I love them. We didn't win at the end of the day.

Alabama took a seven-point lead with 7 minutes left in the game. Tennessee scored 10 points in a row.

Young played well, but we didn't get it done on defense when we had the chance, according to Nick.

Jalin Hyatt set a school record for touchdown catches in a game when he had five in Tennessee's game.

The game-winning kick was set up by Hooker's 18 and 27 yard passes.

Heupel said that Hooker is playing at an unbelievable level. I think it's smart." It's tough. The person is competitive. Is it possible to be Decisive? The football was accurate with it. When he had to, he used his feet. He's the one who makes us leave.

Heupel said that it wasn't pretty in the second half but the kids continued to believe.

The defensive tactics of Alabama were wished back by the coach.

He said that they played too soft at the end to allow them to go down the field. Our players need to learn from this experience so that they don't help the other team.

In the locker room, he told the team what he had said.

He said that they could accomplish every goal they had at the beginning of the season. There isn't room for error in the west. We have a chance to go to the SEC Championship if we win out in the west.

You have to learn from these experiences. Mistakes you make have to be learned from.

The team has a lot of work to do, according to the coach.

This is a difficult lesson to learn. We are going to look at the tape and figure out what we can do better.

Tennessee snapped a 15-game losing streak in the rivalry with a win over Alabama. The 101 combined points were the most in the rivalry and tied for the most in a top 10 game.

Heupel acknowledged that he downplayed the Alabama game during the week, but said he understood the enormity of the rivalry and the win.

Heupel said that they came out with the win for everyone. It was a great night and I think it just speaks to the mentality, the growth and the progress of the individuals inside our locker room and collectively as a team It talks to our coaches.

There is a lot of time left in the season. Tennessee will play Kentucky, Georgia and UT Martin after the UT Martin game.

Heupel said the journey was just beginning. Good teams improve throughout the season.