Nick Saban sure knows how to put a damper on a blowout win.

The coach, who has seen his Alabama team lean on its defense to win five national titles, appears to still be getting used to the role reversal this season after the Crimson Tide trounced host Arkansas 65-31 on Saturday.

No. 1 ranked Alabama posted 639 yards of offense, led 41-14 at the half and scored more than 50 points for the fifth time season, but Saban’s focus was on the other side of the ball.

“We made a lot of mistakes on defense,” said Saban after watching his team allow 405 yards to a one-win Arkansas team. “We didn’t play very well as a unit. We had lots of opportunities to get off the field on third down and we just didn’t do it, which allowed them to extend drives.

“I don’t think you beat the other team when you give up 31 points like we did today, from a defense perspective.”

Saban’s sour attitude comes at a time when Alabama is fighting apathy on campus. The student section was half-full for Alabama’s 56-14 home victory over Louisiana Lafayette last week. During the week, the coach bemoaned the student’s lack of enthusiasm.

“When I first came here, you used to play that tradition thing up there and everybody was cheering and excited and happy and there was great spirit,” Saban told reporters Wednesday. “Now, they don’t even cheer. They introduce our players, and nobody even cheers.”

The offense has given the fan base reason to be exited. It so far has more than made up for any slide in defensive performance – Alabama has allowed more than 20 points just twice this season. Against Arkansas, sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 10-of-13 passes for 334 yard and four touchdowns and Damien Harris ran for 111 yards and two scores for Alabama, who didn’t cover as 35-point favorites.

Saban, who saw his team allow 14 four-quarter points, said hasn’t seen anything like this team during his 12 seasons at Alabama, which hosts Missouri next week. Even in praising his offense, he didn’t miss a chance to needle the defense a bit.

“I can’t make any comparisons. This is a different team with its own identity,” Saban said. “You’re not really competing against the other team, you are competing against yourself. Are you really playing as well as you’re capable of playing? We’re obviously playing better on offense than we are on defense.”

— with AP