Nick Saban said his Alabama Crimson Tide shot themselves in the foot during the first quarter Saturday in a game in which they trailed 7-3 to Ole Miss.

“We messed up a formation down here, which gave us a bad play on second down,” he explained to CBS after the first quarter Saturday. “We got sacked on third down, so we shot ourselves in the foot.”

Saturday marked the third straight game the Tide finds itself behind after the first quarter.

“We did the same thing on defense when they made a big play to get down there. We had them third and 10, and quarterback draw is always gonna be there play in empty. We weren’t in a very good defense to defend it. We have to do a better job of putting our kids in a place to have chance to be successful.”

With 3:55 is the first quarter, and facing third and 10 at the Alabama 10, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart ran for the Rebels’ touchdown.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.