From the school-record 17 penalties, special teams mistakes and general defensive breakdowns, Alabama’s 52-49 loss at Tennessee left a minefield of what Nick Saban calls teachable moments.

At the same time, the issues in Knoxville weren’t necessarily new for a team playing its seventh game of the season. Having survived games that came down to the closing seconds against Texas and Texas A&M, Alabama again saw the final snap decide the biggest game of the season to date.

So, what now?

Nick Saban on Monday hinted these continuing problems could result in some personnel changes.

“I think we’ve gotta make players more accountable in practice for doing things correctly, paying attention to detail and doing the little things right,” Saban said. “We can’t go hang ‘em up for doing this. They’re our players.

“We need to get them to understand what they need to do not to allow these things to happen and understand the consequences of what happens when you do it, and I think if you continue to do it consistently, maybe we need to play somebody else.”

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Saban would later say the coaching staff shares in the troubles. He said the blame goes both ways.

“But,” Saban said, “we can’t continue to tolerate guys that aren’t doing the things they need to do to be successful. Nobody is entitled to a position. Everybody’s earned the position they’re in by showing they have the capability and ability to do it on a consistent basis. And that’s something you have to continue.

“And the grind of the season, being the middle of the season — a little bit hurt or tired or whatever — you can’t lose your focus on doing the things you need to do to continue to improve and get better because other people are looking at your flaws too.”

The leadership in the locker room is doing its part to fix the mindset. Linebacker Will Anderson, who said he saw anxiety among teammates taking the field Saturday, said he pulled some of the veteran players aside Sunday when they were at the football facility.

“Basically just told them ‘We just gotta go back home to momma,’” Anderson said. “Go back home to technique, going back home to doing the right things the right way, and just having out standard. Whether that’s tucking in your shirt, being on time for meetings, everything, doing everything the right way, the way that Alabama is supposed to be ran and done.”

Alabama is playing for an eighth straight Saturday when Mississippi State visits at 7 p.m. CT. The Crimson Tide went to Starkville last October the week after a similar loss to Texas A&M, taking out frustrations on the Bulldogs in a 49-9 pounding.

The open week follows for the Tide before heading to LSU on the first weekend of November with no room for error in the remaining SEC games.

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