Alabama opened its season with a fast start against East Carolina, building a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter behind quarterback Keelon Russell. But even with the Crimson Tide rolling, one familiar issue showed up again: Ryan Coleman-Williams and the drops.
Through less than 16 minutes of game action, Coleman-Williams had already put two passes on the turf. One came on a wide-open downfield chance in the first quarter. The other was even more painful, arriving in the red zone on fourth-and-3 and setting up what would have been a touchdown - though East Carolina jumped offsides, so the mistake ended up being wiped away.
That kind of inconsistency is exactly why Alabama spent so much effort keeping Coleman-Williams in Tuscaloosa. Head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first major move after taking the job two years ago was making sure Coleman-Williams stayed put, because when the ball is in his hands, he can look like one of the most dangerous receivers in college football.
The talent has never been the question. Alabama saw that in his freshman season against Georgia, when he took over the game and helped the Tide pull out a dramatic win. The concern has been whether that big-play ability can show up without the drops that have followed him.
His sophomore season was a clear step backward. Coleman-Williams finished 2025 with 49 receptions for 689 yards and four touchdowns, and his drop problems became a real issue. He led the FBS in drops and drop rate, a rough stat line for a player Alabama wants to feature as a game-changer.
Coleman-Williams spent the offseason trying to clean it up, including extra work on the JUGS machine. He also entered 2026 without gloves, hoping the change would help him trust his hands again.
Against East Carolina, Alabama could absorb a couple of miscues. Once SEC play arrives, that margin disappears. The Crimson Tide need Coleman-Williams to be the explosive version of himself, not the one who keeps leaving big plays on the field.
After two seasons, Coleman-Williams has 97 career receptions for 1,554 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns. If Alabama is going to make a real College Football Playoff push, it needs him to turn those flashes into reliable production.
In Other News...
Alabama's Opener Exposed Two Concerns Fans Can't Ignore
Alabama opened the 2026 season with a win over East Carolina, giving Kalen DeBoer a clean start to his third year on the sideline, but the game still offered an early read on where this team stands. Sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell made his first career start and looked composed enough to settle things down, using his athleticism to help keep the offense moving, while Ryan Coleman-Williams provided a real vertical threat with more than 100 receiving yards.
Even so, the Tide left with a few reminders that September can be revealing in ways a final score does not fully show. The defense looked more ready for SEC-level football than the offense did, and the issues up front on the offensive line were hard to miss as Alabama tried to sort out protection and consistency. Coleman-Williams big day also came with some costly drops, leaving the passing game with both promise and proof that there is still cleanup work to do before the schedule stiffens. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama's Young Offense Has One More Thing To Prove In Second Half
At halftime, Alabama has more than enough cushion against East Carolina, but the game has still offered a useful snapshot of where this young offense is growing and where it still needs work. The ground game has carried the day, the offensive line has given freshman quarterback Keelon Russell a clean pocket, and the defense has mostly done its job against the run while helping the Tide build a 38-7 lead.
The next step is a familiar one for Alabamas offense: making life easier on Russell by creating more separation on the outside and turning good protection into cleaner, quicker answers downfield. The defense has been sturdy in the trenches, but it has also shown a willingness to give up explosive plays when communication slips, which is the sort of detail that can matter more against better competition than it has in a lopsided first half here. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Fans Finally Have Clarity On EJ Crowell For The Opener
A longtime question around Alabamas backfield finally got some shape this week, with freshman EJ Crowell trending toward being part of the season-opening picture against East Carolina. The highly rated running back has been working through an ankle injury that kept him out of spring work and fall scrimmages, but offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said Crowell is expected to be available, and the depth chart lists him as a co-starter.
For Alabama, the encouraging part is simply getting Crowell back in the mix after such a quiet buildup. The next question is how much the staff asks of him right away, since the plan is to bring him along carefully rather than drop him into a full role from the start. [Read more 🡒]