There was a time when Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Auburn gave Alabama’s defense fits. The track-speed tempo annoyed Nick Saban enough to discuss a rule designed to throttle how fast an offense can snap the ball after the previous whistle.

To a degree, that era has since passed as the game continues to evolve, but Tennessee is an exception.

The Vols crank up the speed to the point they’re snapping within seconds of the play clock starting in what can be a defensive nightmare. That’s what Alabama’s emphasizing in practice this week ahead of the 2:30 p.m. CT game in Knoxville.

Alabama safety Jordan Battle said Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss also uses this kind of pace, but with an experienced quarterback in Hendon Hooker, the Vols are in a different kind of groove.

“Watching the game from last year, just seeing their quick tempo, even their games from this year, watching them against LSU, people are getting to the ball,” Battle said. “The snap of the ball was like two seconds off the shot clock. So just being able to get up and get ready and play the next play.”

The Vols (5-0, 2-0) SEC are coming off a 40-13 rout at LSU. The Vols’ No. 1-ranked offense accounted for 502 yards in Baton Rouge in a game that was never in doubt.

“They have a very good offense, a very high-powered offense and a fast-paced offense,” Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner said. “But I feel like with a good week of preparation and stuff like that throughout practice, we’ll be prepared for it on Saturday.”

The pace isn’t an every-down thing but a changeup that can catch a defense trying to substitute for key third downs. LSU coach Brian Kelly described the dynamic this speed creates before facing the Vols.

“If they’re going to snap the ball with 20 seconds on the clock, there’s not a lot of motion, there’s not a lot of changing of formations,” Kelly said, according to On3.com. “They’ve got to line up right and left too. So to play fast allows, obviously, a pretty clean look at what you’re getting. But on the other side, you can’t do a lot defensively, But what you can do is get your cleats in the ground, line up, play fast play free and play physical.”

The Vols recorded the fourth-most yardage Alabama allowed a year ago with 574. The heavy underdogs trailed Alabama just 31-24 after a 70-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter before three late Tide touchdowns made the final 52-24.

That long scoring throw to Cedric Tillman began nine seconds after the play clock started and caught Tide cornerback Josh Jobe looking at the sideline at the snap. The 6-3 receiver was past Jobe before he could even react.

The substitution rhythm becomes a big part of the preparation.

“That’s an emphasis going into practice, getting guys running in and off the field, every situation we get,” Battle said. “Whether it’s third and long, third and short, we know they’re going to go fast. (inaudible). I know we got Texas A&M last week on a punt, at a crucial team when they were running guys off the field. That’s going to be a big emphasis this week.”

This is also a Tennessee offense with considerable weapons in the passing game. The status of Tillman will be one to watch after suffering a high-ankle sprain Sept. 17 but had the tightrope procedure — well-known in Alabama circles — with a goal of returning for this Saturday’s game. He went for 152 receiving yards against the Tide last year and turned in a 9-catch, 162-yard game against Pitt in September before getting hurt. In his absence, Jalin Hyatt is averaging 14.4 yards in his 27 receptions while Bru McCoy is getting 17.6 on 20 catches.

More importantly, Tennessee is one of three teams in the nation that hasn’t thrown an interception, so the pace hasn’t impacted the operation.

“They’re going to take shots and then they’re going to hurry up to the ball,” Battle said. “Just focusing in practice on getting to the ball quick, getting ready and lined up, getting ready for the call, so players are comfortable out there. Just doing that in practice to make sure we’re comfortable in the game.”

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.