Heading into its weekly preparation for Florida Atlantic, Alabama is focused on creating turnovers on defense and ball security on offense.

Three games into the season, Alabama has forced 12 turnovers – six interceptions and six fumble recoveries – and only committed one, a fumble against Michigan.

Protecting the ball is one of the biggest things head coach Nick Saban has harped on during his time at Alabama. Despite having one of the best statistical defenses in 2011, the Tide only forced 20 turnovers. Saban took the team to visit the New Orleans Saints to see how forcing turnovers was taught on the NFL level. Now, the defense is creating turnovers at a higher rate and the offense is benefiting from the field position.

On the flip side, Alabama’s ball security has allowed the team to string together long drives and get off to fast starts. But ball security works for both sides of the ball, said wide receiver Christion Jones.

“That is one thing that we practice every day. Ball security for the running backs, the quarterbacks, the wide receivers,” Jones said. “Even when the defense gets a turnover, its ball security too because we don’t want to get a turnover and then turn it over again.”

The team has created a competition between the offense and defense. Anytime an offensive player is carrying the ball, a defender tries to knock it out whether it’s during or after the play. It’s not fair, but all the coaches care about is ball security said running back Eddie Lacy.

How often does the defense get the ball away from the offense in practice?

“We get it out about two or three times a day [in practice],” Mosley said. “Our goal is to cause three or more turnovers a game and we’ve been doing that so far.”

Saban said the competition is another way to help the teams mentally.

“I think ball security with our offensive players is something that we emphasize just as much as we do getting turnovers,” Saban said. “I do think that it does help that the defense is always trying to get the ball off of them, so they’re conscious all the time of protecting the ball.”

Players of the Week

Six Alabama players were recognized by the coaching staff for their performances following Saturday’s 52-0 victory at Arkansas. Eddie Lacy and Chance Warmack were named players of the week on offense while Adrian Hubbard and C.J. Mosley represented the defense. Cade Foster and Dee Hart were selected from the special teams.

Warmack, who was also named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week, led the Crimson Tide with a 91 percent grade. He did not allow a pressure or get called for any penalties and the line didn’t allow a single sack in the game.