Lackluster Special Teams Play Continues

A special start to the season for Alabama could be threatened if lackluster special teams play continues.

Alabama’s huge 31-0 halftime lead over then-No. 3 Georgia dwindled thanks to some dramatics in the kicking game.

“The special team errors in the game were huge, monumental, in terms of field position and allowing the other team to get back into the game,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said.

* P.J. Fitzgerald had a punt partially blocked, setting up a Georgia touchdown late in the third quarter.

* Prince Miller returned Fitzgerald’s next punt 92 yards for a touchdown.

* A 41-yard kickoff return set up Georgia’s next score.

* The Bulldogs then recovered the onside kick and scored again to make it 41-30.

Saban stressed that there isn’t a common thread to the errors.

“They are all things that are correctable,” the coach added. “Two weeks in a row we have made mental errors in punt protection. ... This week it cost us a blocked punt. Kickoff coverage has been good sometimes and bad sometimes. We need to fix that.”

Tide focused on improving special teams play