This was a curious night for Alabama's defense in transition.

For a quarter, it played like the 2016 crew that ranked among the program's best -- allowing Colorado State just 11 yards and without a first down outside of a pass interference flag.

And yes, it worked out in the end. Alabama won 41-23 on a humid Saturday evening in Tuscaloosa.

That second quarter, however, showed some of the work still ahead for a Crimson Tide defense without a few starters for at least a little longer. Colorado State rolled up 155 yards in the second period after managing just 11 in the first.

The visitors finished the night with 387 total yards on the shorthanded Alabama defense playing without five linebackers. Colorado State kept its passer relatively clean as the Tide were held without a sack while recording two quarterback hurries. The guests finished with 22 first downs to Alabama's 23.

Linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton said the defense would have a "come to Jesus meeting" on Monday, no coaches, just the players.

Nick Saban was especially bothered by the way Colorado State converted 10 of 17 third-down opportunities.

"They made plays that we normally would make but didn't make," Saban said. "That allowed them to keep the ball. Busted a coverage and gave them a 50 yard play."

The Rams scored on both drives in the second quarter, each going for more than 10 snaps. Pace became a factor after Colorado State picked up a few first downs. It moved the chains on three straight plays early in the quarter as quarterback Nick Stephens found running room. That drive stalled short of the end zone, ending with a field goal.

The 11-play march that followed went 85 yards, ending with an athletic four-yard touchdown catch from Warren Jackson.

This is a Colorado State offense that scored 58 points on Oregon State to open the season. It just took a quarter to get up to speed against Alabama, which allowed 274 yards in a 41-10 beating of Fresno State a week earlier.

The Tide was again shorthanded in the second level. Middle linebacker Rashaan Evans dressed but didn't play for a second straight game while Anfernee Jennings was in sweatpants along with freshman Dylan Moses.

"You have five linebackers who aren't playing," Saban said. "I don't care who you are, what team you are, that creates some issues and some problems."

The rotation looked fairly similar to last week's with Jamey Mosley getting most of the snaps at outside linebacker. Christopher Allen continued in his role on the outside as well.

Coming out of halftime, it was back on schedule for the Ram offense with three quick first downs. Only Ronnie Harrison's first interception of the season stopped the marching Rams short of the red zone.

To that point, the visitors from Fort Collins had 19:37 time of possession to Alabama's 12:47. It was one of those ratios you couldn't have predicted, especially considering Colorado State's high-tempo offense.

Levi Wallace's diving breakup later in the third quarter was the thin margin between a 48-yard touchdown. Again, that was followed by the second interception of the half -- this one from Hootie Jones. The 65-yard return came 11 yards short of Alabama's first non-offensive touchdown of the season.

"We just had to get it back going," Jones said. "We was getting too lackadaisical, for real."

All five of Colorado State's second-half drives crossed midfield with a second touchdown punctuating an 11-play, 75-yard drive in the fourth with mostly Alabama starters still in the game.

More backups were on the field for the final CSU touchdown drive that covered 82 yards in 15 plays.

"We didn't execute," Saban said. "That's what happened. Playing against good players who can make plays and respect them for what they can do, be able to so what you're supposed to do and do it well. They made some plays that I wasn't pleased with that we need to do a better job executing on."

Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande.