ATHENS, Ga. -- Alabama head coach Nick Saban isn't ready to say his Crimson Tide is all the way back to its pre-Ole Miss form, but Saturday's 38-10 victory over No. 8 Georgia was certainly a good start.
But in true Saban form, there's still a lot of work to be done.
"I think we've improved," Saban said. "I think we'e getting better. But it' one game. I think we have to show that we can play with consistency.
"I don't think we finished the game like we needed to, which is something we need to learn from."
With the win at a soggy Sanford Stadium, Alabama avoided going 0-2 in SEC play for the first time since Saban came to Tuscaloosa nine years ago.
The Tide (4-1, 1-1 in the SEC) scored just about every way possible.
Running back Derrick Henry led the Tide with 26 rushes for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Jake Coker turned in his most-efficient effort to date, completing 11-of-16 passes for 190 yards and accounting for two touchdowns, one on a 50-yard pass and another on an eight-yard run.
Alabama also blocked a punt for a touchdown, while strong safety Eddie Jackson returned an interception 50 yards for a score.
"It was a really good win," Coker said. "We came in feeling confident with the game plan that we had put together, but we are really excited to get the win. It was unbelievable. We had a lot of fun out there."
Alabama's offense wasn't the only part of its game that was clicking.
The Crimson Tide defense also did its part, harassing quarterbacks Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey, who combined to complete only 11-of-30 passes for 106 yards and three interceptions.
"They came in ready to play and we just did not did not execute," Lambert said. "There's no excuses."
The only consolation for Georgia came in the form of running back Nick Chubb, who despite a slow start, finished with 20 carries for 146 yards, tying Herschel Walker's school record of consecutive 100-yard games with 13.
However, Bulldog head coach Mark Richt wasn't in a celebratory mood.
"We got whipped," Richt said. "We all know it and we'e got to do something about it. We'll watch the film and face the truth and look at ways we can improve. We as coaches have to make decisions to do that."
The final score notwithstanding, neither team got off to a particularly fast start.
Alabama took a 3-0 lead on a 25-yard field goal by Adam Griffith with 4:05 to go in the first quarter before the Bulldogs (4-1, 2-1) finally started moving the ball, eventually tying the game 12:23 before halftime.
But that's when Alabama, pardon the pun, got on a roll.
Big time.
Over a four-minute stretch that started midway through the second quarter, the Crimson Tide scored three touchdowns to send the Bulldogs reeling.
First, it was Henry, rumbling in from 30 yards before a huge special teams mistake by the Bulldogs resulted in Alabama's second score.
After stuffing the Georgia offense on its next possession, Collin Barber went back to punt but never had a chance.
Minkah Fitzpatrick came through virtually untouched to block the kick and recovered in stride, scoring from one yard to extend the Tide's lead to 17-3.
"We scored in all three phases of the game," Saban said. "I believe in this team. We've just got to focus on getting better."
Alabama wasn't done.
After once again failing to move, Barber's short punt set the Crimson Tide up at the 45 and on the first play Coker went play-action and hit freshman Calvin Ridley in stride for a touchdown that gave Alabama a 24-3 halftime lead.
"The dam broke and unfortunately we didn't have enough counterpunches to get back in," Richt said. "First, give them credit for the job they did, but I'm disappointed for us as a team, players and coaches, but I know our fans are sick about it and I don't blame them."
NOTES: The parents of paralyzed Southern University player Devon Gales attended Saturday's game. Gales suffered paralysis in his lower body during a kickoff return last week against the Bulldogs. ... Saturday's victory gave the Crimson Tide three straight wins over the Bulldogs dating to 2008. ... Wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie of Georgia left Saturday's game after taking a hit while returning a punt in the second quarter. He did not return.
