TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Before facing the Southeastern Conference’s top passing and scoring offense at Ole Miss, No. 1-ranked Alabama is still tweaking its nickel and dime secondary.

At Tuesday’s practice, true freshman Patrick Surtain II was spotted at left cornerback with the starter from the last two games, Trevon Diggs, inside at Star. And on Wednesday, Surtain and Diggs were at the same positions with Shyheim Carter playing safety and Xavier McKinney moving to Money. Saivion Smith was at right corner, and Deionte Thompson was at safety.

Following Wednesday’s indoor practice session, Nick Saban addressed the movement.

“We played (Diggs and Surtain) two games in a row to try to get some experience,” Saban said. “I think we’re happy with Shyheim Carter and what he’s been able to do, but the one thing that Shyheim is is he’s sort of a jack of all trades. He can play Star, he can play safety, he’s played corner before, he’s played Money. He’s played every place in the secondary, and he’s smart. He understands the scheme really well, so sometimes he gives a little bit of an opportunity to have some diversity in terms of how you play players, and that’s why we’ve been able to change up a little bit.

“I think what we’re trying to do is get guys experience for the future, whether we have matchup issues in the future that we’d like to be able to use different players against, or if we have somebody missing and we need to adjust in the backend. And I think that’s the most important thing. But both those guys have done well at whatever position they’ve played, and I think this is the biggest challenge they’re going to have to date in terms of the quality of receivers that we’re going to have to play against and the scheme that they use and the quarterback that they have and the balance that they have on offense.”

Through two games, the Crimson Tide has allowed 235.0 yards per game, which ranks 10th in the SEC. Alabama has given up three touchdowns through the air while picking off three passes -- returning two for touchdowns. The Tide has also faced 90 pass attempts (second-most) and 42 completions for a 46.7 completion percentage, which is the second-best in the league.

Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II makes his debut against Louisville.

But this week, Alabama will face an Ole Miss offense on the road in Oxford, Miss., that leads the conference in both scoring offense (61.5 points per game) and passing offense (407.5 ypg).

Earlier in the day Wednesday, Saban was asked about the secondary’s progress thus far.

“I think we’ve made a lot of progress,” he said. “I think some players are developing confidence in what they’re supposed to do. We’ve just got to continue to work, continue to improve. We’re going to face some very good receivers and a good quarterback and a very prolific offensive team that has a lot of weapons. It’s going to be really important for those guys to perform well and take the challenge and go out there and play with confidence and togetherness.”

After Alabama’s season opener against Louisville in Orlando, Fla., Saban said he was “trying to get somebody else who can play Star.” Diggs, who has started the first two games at left corner, was the player he pointed to as an option other than Carter, and in the game in the second quarter of the Arkansas State game this past Saturday, Diggs was lined up at Star with Surtain at left cornerback when Smith returned an interception 38 yards for an easy touchdown.

Surtain has played in both of Alabama’s games this season, appearing at cornerback and on special teams, and the nation’s No. 1-ranked corner in the 2018 recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite, has impressed those at UA since he stepped on campus. Whether he starts the game at left cornerback or not, Saban is comfortable in playing the former 5-star.

“Patrick has done a nice job and really made a lot of progress,” Saban said of the freshman in the first game week of the year. “We were playing him at Star and corner a little bit earlier on. We tried to zero him in a little bit more, just playing corner and he’s done a nice job. I have confidence that if he has to go in the game and play, that he’ll be able to do a good job for us.”

Alabama will travel to Ole Miss to face the Rebels on Saturday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m. on ESPN.

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

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