Nick Saban Postgame Press Conference After Win Over Middle Tennessee State [VIDEO]

It wasn't the cleanest game, but it wasn't the worst either.

And so, as you could expect, Alabama coach Nick Saban was only half-pleased at best after the Crimson Tide's performance in its 37-10 win over Middle Tennessee State Saturday.

“I think when you play games like this, I told the players that if you don’t have the right intensity and the right focus, you’re going to get exposed," Saban said. "These teams that you play are all good enough to expose you if you don’t have the right focus and intensity on what you’re doing to go out there and execute and do the job and finish."

Unlike after last week's win, the postgame topic wasn't almost exclusively on the seemingly ongoing quarterback competition between Jake Coker and Cooper Bateman, though that, too, was still an area of discussion.

"I think both guys really need to improve," Saban said.

To watch Saban's full postgame press conference, watch the above video provided by AL.com. For a full transcript of his comments, scroll down below.

Opening statement:

“Well, you know, we did some good things out there today. Defense did a great job getting turnovers, we got four turnovers. We played better as the game went on on defense. They did a lot of things that we weren’t very well prepared for, and we had to make a lot of adjustments during the game, but I thought the players did a really good job of that. I thought we made some plays on special teams, blocking a punt, had a couple of positive returns.

“We still have a lot of things that we can improve. Offensively, we moved the ball at times, very inconsistent, especially in the passing game. We threw a couple of interceptions and didn’t finish drives like we need to. Never really seemed like we were ever really in sync, playing like we really wanted to play on offense. We made some explosive plays, but there has got to be more consistency and execution.

“I think when you play games like this, I told the players that if you don’t have the right intensity and the right focus, you’re going to get exposed. These teams that you play are all good enough to expose you if you don’t have the right focus and intensity on what you’re doing to go out there and execute and do the job and finish.

“We obviously didn’t do a good job getting that point across, because I don’t think we finished like we needed to. We didn’t finish the game like we wanted to. It was good to have the opportunity to play a lot of players, but we really wanted to improve and play better this week than we played last week, and I’m not sure we accomplished that in all areas. There are some areas that we did improve, but there’s many more things that we need to do a lot better.”

(1:48) On the Middle Tennessee offense and the adjustments Alabama’s defense made:

“I can get into it technically but you wouldn’t understand it and nobody else would understand it, just take my word for it. They were empty a lot, they were reloading a lot. Some things we just didn’t practice, and our players had to adjust to it.

As the game went on I thought we did a good job of adjusting to it, so until they intercepted the pass at the end, we had played pretty well for a couple quarters, getting off the field on third down better, which we really didn’t to a good job in the beginning of the game. We had a lot of respect for their coaches and their team and their scheme and what they do, and I think they did a really good job today.”

(2:35) On getting turnovers:

“It was really, really good to get four and block a punt. You know, that’s what we have been working on. That’s what we have been trying to get. Both interceptions that we threw were bad decisions by the quarterback. The ball should probably not been thrown, so we obviously have to do a better job of taking care of the ball and making good choices and decisions about that.”

(3:09) On quarterback play:

"Well, I think both guys (Jake Coker and Cooper Bateman) really need to improve. I think that, offensively, we started to establish an identity, I thought, against Wisconsin. I don’t think we had much of one today, but that not all the quarterback’s fault. But there are many things that the quarterbacks can do better and we will certainly focus on trying to get them to play better. We will evaluate the situation and do what’s best for our team.”

(3:49) On kicker Adam Griffith:

“You know, Griff hits the ball well, he kicks the ball off well. I think a lot of these kinds of things are mental, confidence, psychological disposition. I think he needs to make some kicks. I think it would be really good for him, I think it would be really good for us.

“One was a long one today and one was a short one. Short one is disappointing. (He) kicks the extra points just great. That was not much more than an extra point.

“So, we obviously need to get more production there, but we also have confidence in him. We think he can get the job done, but there may come a point sometime where we give somebody else an opportunity.”

(4:47) On pass defense, particularly the linebackers and safeties:

“I don’t think we played as well as we needed to today. We made some errors. The second team made a mental error on the last touchdown, but, again, it was something that they didn’t really practice, so they had to play it on principle and didn’t get it right.

“I think we need to play better. We haven’t given up a lot of big plays, which is a good thing, but I still think we need to do a better job on third down. We need to do a better job of executing what we do as a unit on defense in passing situations, so we’re going to continue to work hard to improve that.”

(5:29) On Kenyan Drake and O.J. Howard’s performances:

"Well, I think both guys are guys who we need to have make plays for us. They’re both playmaker-type guys. Great to see them make some big plays.

"Kenyan, I think, we need to use him in more ways than we’re using him right now. We need to do the same thing with O.J. Howard. I think we just have to create an identity and some consistency on offense for the players that we have that can make plays. And I think both those guys did a good job today, and I think we need them to do the same in the future."

(6:15) On a quarterback outright winning the starting job.

"I think we’re closer. I think we started Jake two games in a row. I think there’s a reason for that. I think we want to give Cooper Bateman an opportunity, and I also think in giving him an opportunity he needs to have experience in case he needs to play somewhere down the road.

"So, however it works out, whatever’s best for our team, that’s what we’ll do. But I also think we need to do the things that they can do well and make sure we’re getting the kind of execution we need, so they can play winning football at the position. I thought they did a better job in the first game than the second in that regard. I think that we did a better job in the first game than the second with them, so that they had a chance to play well.

"So, that’s going to be important for us in the future."