Alabama football is currently leading the SEC in one unfortunate statistic. The Crimson Tide has allowed 31 sacks so far this season, tops in the league by four.

On Monday, after his team allowed five sacks in a close-call win against Arkansas, Saban was two questions: Are the sacks allowed a major concern? And is the problem fixable this season?

“To the first part of your question, I would say hell yeah,” Saban said.

So far, Alabama has lost 208 yards on sacks. Both that number and the total sacks allowed are approaching last year’s season totals of 38 allowed for 230 yards, and the Crimson Tide is just seven games into the year.

Saban continued to answer the second part of the question on Monday.

“I do think we have guys that are capable,” he said. “I think it goes back to that same attention to detail. There’s little things like in certain protections, I know I have inside help. So why would I get beat outside? Does that make sense? These are not all capability issues.”

Alabama faces Tennessee this week in a revenge game following last year’s loss in Knoxville. The Volunteers have sacked opposing quarterbacks 24 times so far this season, third in the SEC behind Texas A&M (29) and Alabama (26).

According to Saban, the Crimson Tide needs to improve mentally for the sacks issue to be solved.

“When we’re sliding out, to block three on three, and the guy doesn’t slide out to block the third guy and he runs in to sack the quarterback, that’s a mental error,” Saban said. “That’s not a physical problem. It’s a combination of all those things that need to get cleaned up with better communication, better execution and maybe the more knowledge and experience we’ll get, the more we’ll be able to be more effective and consistent in those areas.”

Alabama and Tennessee are scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. in Tuscaloosa. The game will be aired on CBS.