Alabama will have a much different defensive approach this week as it changes gears from Miami to Mercer.

Coach Nick Saban was asked on the SEC coaches media teleconference to describe Mercer’s unique offensive approach.

“The easiest way to categorize it is there are a lot of 3-back runs, even though it isn’t what people would recognize as the wishbone,” Saban said. “… They’re not in spread out formations. They’re in bunch formations and there are a lot of motions and adjustments players have to make. It’s totally unique from anything we’ve played against and will play against the rest of the season.”

The Crimson Tide will take on the Bears at 4 p.m. on the SEC Network on Saturday before they move on to SEC play next week at Florida.