TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Nick Saban was asked several questions about Alabama’s quarterback situation to open the first game week of the 2018 season Monday. But what the 12th-year head coach was really concerned about was his opponent’s quarterback and offense.

“They have a lot of returning players back from a year ago,” Saban said. “I think seven or eight starters on offense, depending on how you count the running back situation they have. They do have a new quarterback, but when he played last year, he was very poised and played very well for them named Jawon Pass, who we know well, who we recruited here.

“Their top skill guys at receiver are all back. Their offensive line is back pretty much intact. So, this is going to be a really challenging game for our defense. This is an offense that hung 60 points on Florida State at one time and went into Clemson and scored 40 points or whatever. So, you know, this is a very, very challenging team when it comes to offense and our preparation that we need to have on defense.”

Alabama is familiar with the starting quarterback of its season-opening opponent. Like Saban said, the Crimson Tide recruited Pass a native of Columbus, Ga. After redshirting in 2016, the player they call “Puma” appeared in six games as backup to Lamar Jackson last year.

Pass completed 23-of-33 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 13 times for 62 yards and a score. Outside of his recruitment to Alabama, the players have gotten to know the signal caller they will face in Camping World Stadium on Saturday through film study.

Louisville QB Jawon Pass

“He’s an athlete,” said linebacker Christian Miller of Pass. “He can throw the ball, he can run the ball. So, it’s a big challenge for us. And I think we’re ready for the challenge. I think we’re going to do our best to affect him up front to help our secondary out. I think that’s going to be our game plan, affect the passer. I mean that’s what we’re going to do every week, that’s our job.”

Explosive was a term senior defensive end Isaiah Buggs used to describe Pass.

“He’s a great athlete, great player,” Buggs said. “We have respect for him. It’s our job to maintain him and control the pocket on him and keep him contained. … What I expect from him, I think he’s going to try to get his team involved but also he’s going to try to put the ball on the ground a lot and try to run it, so that’s where it’s up to us to keep it contained and do our job up front.”

Jackson’s departure certainly affects Louisville’s offense, but the Cardinals are not losing every player on that side of the football. For the most part, its offensive line from a year ago remains intact and will provide protection for Pass. Wide receiver Jaylen Smith is also back for his senior season after finishing second in the ACC in receiving yards per game (98.0) in 2017.

Throw in wideouts Dez Fitzpatrick and Seth Dawkins, two more players that averaged more than 50 receiving yards per game a season ago, and Louisville has options on offense. On the other side, Alabama only has three returning starters back from its 2017 defense.

“You’ve got an offense here that scores 38 points a game,” Saban said. “We’ve got almost all new guys playing on defense. That is definitely a challenge for us, not only the quarterback, the skill players that they have, the balance they have on offense and the way they were able to run the ball a year ago, as well as throw it effectively, score points against just about everybody they played against.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a concern, but I’d say, how are we going to establish an identity on defense with the players that we have? Are they going to be able to play together? Are they going to be able to sustain performance? If something bad happens, are they going to be able to respond the right way? These are all things to me that take a lot of discipline and mental toughness to be able to play for any player.

Alabama outside 'backer Christian Miller goes through a footwork drill as his teammates watch.

“But when you have a lot of new players, that becomes something that they have to prove that they can do, and that’s going to be something that we’ll be watching very closely in this game, and I don’t think we’re ever going to know it until we play a game.”

Buggs, Raekwon Davis and Anfernee Jennings are back as starters from last year’s defense. But players like Miller, Mack Wilson, Dylan Moses and Deionte Thompson each saw meaningful reps with the first-team defense in 2017 because of injuries at their positions.

The Tide’s secondary is the biggest question mark because of all the experienced talent that left this offseason. Relatively inexperienced players like Trevon Diggs, Shyheim Carter, Xavier McKinney and Jared Mayden, as well as newcomers like Saivion Smith and Patrick Surtain II, will be immediately tasked with defending a potent UL passing game -- and Pass.

But their defensive teammates have noticed progression in the backend.

“They are doing really well, Miller said. “I think those guys are getting a lot more comfortable. It’s a hand-in-hand relationship. We want to do everything we can to help those guys out. I know they are going to cover their butts off to help us out, give us some time to get to the quarterbacks. As long as we keep working together we give each other confidence. Those guys are talented and they know what to do now. I’m ready to see what those guys do this weekend.”

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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