TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- After a rocky first quarter in its season opener last week, Alabama head coach Nick Saban was happy with the way his team started its game against New Mexico State.

The Crimson Tide scored on its first offensive snap with a 75-yard rushing touchdown from wide receiver Henry Ruggs III and led the visiting Aggies, 45-0, at the time quarterback Tua Tagovailoa exited the game. But after that, Saban said he saw “really sloppy” play from his second unit.

“We played a lot of twos, and I was not pleased with the way they executed,” Saban said after the game. “Our expectations for those guys are that they play the same standard as everyone else does. They practice, they know what to do, they should go out there and execute. We didn’t move the ball on offense. We didn’t take the air out of it at all. We didn’t take any time off the clock.

“Didn’t make any first downs, and the defense never stopped them for the last 10 minutes of the game. But we got to play a lot of players, so that will be good experience for them.”

Saban revisited his displeasure before fielding questions in a postgame press conference and “was not satisfied with their disposition about playing well and what they need to do to play winning football.”

Most of Alabama’s starters remained in the game through the first two drives of the third quarter. At that point, the Crimson Tide had amassed 444 yards and led its non-conference opponent, 52-7. But the defense gave up its first and only touchdown on the second series of the second half, and the offense hit a snag, stalling on a three-and-out at the 2:40 mark of the third quarter.

Alabama freshman running back Keilan Robinson

UA played 17 true freshmen in Saturday’s home opener, including four that made their college debuts in linebacker King Mwikuta, offensive linemen Tanner Bowles and Pierce Quick and tight end Jahleel Billingsley, as well as several inexperienced players on both sides of the ball.

In a game the Crimson Tide was favored to win by 55 points, plenty of young players were expected to see the field. And when that happens, mistakes are going to be made, especially this early in the season. But the longterm diagnosis for this game will be how they learn from this experience.

One player that performed well when given the opportunity was freshman running back Keilan Robinson, who burst free for a 74-yard rushing touchdown late in the third quarter. Saban was pleased with Robinson’s play, as well as the other running backs, who he wanted to see improve.

“I thought it was a little better today. I thought they hit it up in there a little bit better,” Saban said. “We’ve been wanting to bring Keilan Robinson along because he’s the one guy that has juice that is a guy that’s a little different style of back than the other two guys that we play -- really, the other three guys that we play.

“So, hopefully, he’ll gain some confidence from making a great, long run today, and that’ll help him and we can utilize his skillset in the future.”

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

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