The Main Issues Facing Alabama Football After Narrowly Defeating South Carolina.
Alabama hasn’t passed the eye test since they knocked off Georgia.
Alabama football was feeling great following their victory over Georgia in Week 5. Kalen DeBoer and his team climbed to the top of the AP rankings, showing that the Crimson Tide had smoothly moved on from Nick Saban without missing a step.
Sadly, Alabama never has it so simple. After the major victory over its competitors, things have taken a turn for the worse rapidly. In Week 6, Alabama was shocked by Vanderbilt in a surprising upset, and then narrowly avoided another upset from South Carolina in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
Without the poor throw on a two-point conversion by South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers and a late-game interception following a successful onside kick, there could be more concern surrounding the Crimson Tide. However, Alabama remains in a favorable position with a 5-1 record, although there are numerous causes for worry.
Offensive line is acceptable, but not excellent
Let’s make this clear. Alabama’s offensive line is adequate, but it doesn’t measure up to the usual powerful group in Tuscaloosa. Deciding which team in the SEC can win a National Championship is a significant matter that involves closely comparing the contenders.
According to PFF, Alabama’s pass blocking is ranked 26th and their run blocking is ranked 70th, making them vulnerable for top teams in the country. The rushing offense has been a challenge, with Alabama ranking 51st nationwide in rushing yards per game (179.2) heading into Week 8. This proved to be a significant issue during the game with South Carolina on Saturday as DeBoer’s offense only managed to gain 104 yards on 38 carries, averaging just 2.7 yards per attempt.
Alabama’s passing game has trouble compensating when the running game isn’t effective, unless they are successful with 50-50 passes on the perimeter. Ryan Williams has developed into a strong asset for deep passes beyond the sidelines, however, relying solely on this strategy is not a stable foundation for your passing offense. Although Jalen Milroe has improved as a passer, he is not yet at a point where he can effortlessly dissect defenses without support from the running game.
Exploitation is possible in secondary.
The Alabama team has a vulnerable secondary that opponents have been taking advantage of in recent weeks by exploiting it down the field. The top three defensive backs from the Crimson Tide’s previous team are no longer with the squad: safety Caleb Downs moved to Ohio State, while cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry declared for the NFL Draft.
Alabama now has a very youthful team and their defensive backs lack chemistry due to limited playing time together. Zabien Brown is a genuine newcomer at the cornerback position. Junior Domani Jackson, the cornerback on the opposite side, is in his inaugural season at Tuscaloosa following his transfer from USC. Safety Keon Sabb is a new transfer and is only a redshirt sophomore, so this group is still getting to know each other. Despite being the oldest member of the group, Malachi Moore has been struggling to maintain his composure in the past few weeks, resulting in some unusual errors.
Alabama’s secondary was vulnerable in the second half against Georgia, who managed to overcome a 28-0 deficit before Milroe and Williams emerged victorious. Beck completed seven passes of 20+ yards to aid Georgia in making a comeback and getting back into the game. The problem of executing long passes was evident in the game against South Carolina, as wide receiver Nyck Harbor caught a 31-yard touchdown pass to allow the Gamecocks an opportunity to even the score with a two-point conversion in the closing moments.