Tide notes: Andalusia's Nico Johnson gets first start for Alabama

Alabama’s defense had a new starter in the lineup. Get used to him.

Nico Johnson, a true freshman from Andalusia, played the Will linebacker spot. That was Dont’a Hightower’s position before he went down with a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago.

Last week, Alabama shuffled its linebacker corps, but Tide coach Nick Saban didn’t like the results.

“We really thought after last week that with moving everybody around we ended up worse in three spots,” Saban said. “Not that everybody didn’t do a good job — everybody did a good job in what they were doing — but Cory (Reamer) was better at his position, (Erik) Anders was better at his position.”

Saban said last week’s move bought the staff time to get young linebackers Johnson and Tana Patrick more reps in practice.

“Nico did a pretty good job out there today,” Saban said. “We were pleased with that. We still didn’t play him in nickel. We let Cory play nickel, but that works out OK for us.”

Johnson finished with 2 1/2 tackles and forced a fumble on a kickoff, although Ole Miss recovered the loose ball.

Offensive lineman Mike Johnson said Nico Johnson has come a long way in a short period of time.

“Nico has progressed so much since camp and since he got here in the summer,” the senior said. “Obviously, (the coaches) felt it was time for him to get a little playing time this week. It’s great for him because he’s going to be a great player for us.”

Middle linebacker Rolando McClain said the freshman played well.

“It was his first game to start,” McClain said. “First-half jitters, just tried to calm him down. I think he played very well. He did what he was supposed to do. Every play he got he took advantage of.”

Road tested
The three points Alabama gave up are the fewest points Ole Miss has scored against the Tide since a 37-0 victory in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 19, 1996.
Alabama has won six straight SEC road games, dating to a loss at Auburn on Nov. 24, 2007. The Tide has defeated Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, Kentucky and Ole Miss since that defeat.

Julio’s day
With so much attention being paid to Julio Jones’ declining production, the Tide wasted little time trying to get him involved. He dropped Greg McElroy’s pass on the first play from scrimmage Saturday.

Still, Jones finished with four catches for 42 yards. That tied him for the team lead in receptions with Marquis Maze, who had 48 yards receiving.

Tiffin doesn’t miss
Placekicker Leigh Tiffin made five field goals, the second-most in a single game for Alabama. Philip Doyle kicked six field goals against Southwestern Louisiana on Oct. 6, 1990.

Tiffin’s kicks, which came from 31 yards and in, give him 67 in his career. He is now second on the career field goals list behind Doyle. He moved past Michael Proctor (65 from 1992-95).

Tiffin’s 16 points against Ole Miss lifted him past his father, Van Tiffin, into third place on the career scoring list. He has now scored 317 points. His dad finished with 312. Doyle scored 345 career points, and Proctor finished with 326. For his career, Tiffin has made 67 field goals and 116 PATs.

Early fake
Alabama faked a punt on its second series, using punter P.J. Fitzgerald’s arm to convert on fourth-and-2 from the Tide’s 42. Bama lined up in punt formation and Fitzgerald threw a short pass to Mark Barron near the center of the line. Barron picked up a 7-yard gain to the 49.

Rebels stay at home
This was only the second home game of the season for Ole Miss, but the Rebels now play only two more road games the rest of the season — at Auburn on Oct. 31 and at Mississippi State to end the regular season on Nov. 28.

UAB, Arkansas, Northern Arizona, Tennessee and LSU all must visit Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in the coming weeks.
The Rebels have now lost four straight SEC home openers.

Bama-Ole Miss series
Alabama leads the all-time football series 46-9-2. The Crimson Tide has won 20 of the last 23 on-field meetings and six straight since the Rebels’ last victory in Oxford in 2003. Alabama forfeited its 19-14 victory in 1993.

What’s next
Alabama returns to Tuscaloosa for homecoming and an SEC game against South Carolina.
The Crimson Tide is 74-13-1 on homecoming and is 11-2 vs. Carolina. The Gamecocks are the first of three consecutive home games. Tennessee is next on Oct. 24. After an open date, LSU returns to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 7.

By the numbers
2 — The number of completions Jevan Snead had in the first half — for a total of 14 yards. That’s also the number of interceptions Alabama recorded in the first two quarters.
3 — The number of points Alabama scored in the first quarter. That’s a modest total, but those were the first points given up by Ole Miss in the first period all season.
34 —Alabama started a drive or a play at its own 34 on four of its first five possessions.
62,657 — Saturday’s attendance was the largest in the history of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.