Alabama heads into Saturday with an unfamiliar weight on its shoulders, and the remedy is straightforward: beat Texas A&M and stop the slide before it gets any uglier.
The No. 13 Crimson Tide have dropped back-to-back regular-season games for the first time since the four games leading up to the 2007 Independence Bowl, falling to Georgia and Tennessee in a stretch that has put Kalen DeBoer’s team under the microscope. Alabama is 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference, and another loss could effectively knock it out of College Football Playoff contention.
"I think it's just now there's a different sense of, like, back to the wall a little bit as far as what your goals are and (how we can) accomplish them," DeBoer said. "But everything's in front of us. And you gotta keep it really simple and you gotta hone in on what you can control."
A lot of the attention in the losing streak has landed on Alabama’s offense, and for good reason. The Crimson Tide managed just 10 points against Tennessee, and the line in front of the quarterback has been a major problem. Against Georgia and Tennessee, Alabama allowed nine sacks and 16 tackles for loss, numbers that have dragged the Tide to 114th nationally in sacks allowed per game at 2.67 and 89th in tackles for loss allowed per game at 5.5.
That pressure has spilled over to Keelon Russell, who has thrown one touchdown and two interceptions during the skid after putting up 10 total scores and no picks in the previous three games.
"I'd say more questions than answers right now, and I think it starts with me," said Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb. "A lot of hours and time put into 10 points, and it's embarrassing.
And if I was a fan or a supporter, I'd be pissed off, too. So I know our guys are going to come back ready to work, and I just wouldn't count these guys out."
The defense has not been the central issue. Last week against Tennessee, Alabama held the Volunteers to four field goals in the first half before giving way as the offense failed to keep pace in a 26-10 loss.
Texas A&M arrives in Tuscaloosa with its own uneven résumé, but the Aggies still bring a defense that can make life difficult. They rank fourth in the SEC in scoring defense at 17.14 points per game and sixth in total defense at 305.86 yards per game.
The Aggies also come in after tightening things up defensively. After giving up 66 combined points in losses to Kentucky and LSU, Texas A&M has allowed just 34 points over its last three games, capped by last week’s 41-0 shutout of The Citadel.
"We had two bad games in back-to-back weeks," Aggies coach Mike Elko said Monday. "Outside of that, when we function and play the way we're capable of, we're a good unit. We've gotten more consistent over the last couple of weeks."
The problem for Texas A&M has been scoring. The Aggies are tied with Vanderbilt for last in the SEC in conference scoring at 16.8 points per game, and Marcel Reed has not matched last season’s production. Reed threw for 25 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while leading Texas A&M to the College Football Playoff last year, but through seven games this season he has completed 55.7 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and six interceptions.
Even with the playoff path likely gone, the Aggies still have plenty to play for. Three of their final five games are against ranked opponents, giving them a chance to spoil somebody else’s season while trying to steady their own.
"It's head down, one day at a time," Elko said. "That's where we are as a program right now.
That's where we got to a while ago. Head down, get better today, attack today.
That's our approach right now."
In Other News...
Alabama Pass Rush Problem Could Follow The Tide Into Texas A&M
The pass rush has become one of the more uncomfortable storylines around Alabama after the Tide managed just one sack in each of their last two games, both losses. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has pointed to the same issue showing up again and again, with recent opponents getting the ball out quickly enough to blunt pressure before it can turn into a disruption.
Now the challenge appears to be waiting again with Texas A&M, which could bring a similar approach when it meets Alabama. If the Aggies are able to spread the ball around and keep the quarterback moving through reads fast, the Tide will need to find a way to create heat without relying on a rush that has not consistently gotten home lately. [Read more 🡒]
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Now the path looks a little more open. With EJ Crowell dealing with a knee injury and Alabama struggling to get much going on the ground, Dear could be in line for a bigger workload when the Crimson Tide face Texas A&M. He flashed promise in his debut season, but his usage has dipped this year, and this matchup may finally give Alabama a better look at what he can do with real touches. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Cant Let This Texas A&M Twist Derail Its Playoff Push
A familiar face or two will be back at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, but Alabamas attention has to stay on the larger task in front of it. Texas A&M brings in two former Crimson Tide starters in offensive lineman Wilkin Formby and wide receiver Isaiah Horton, adding a little extra edge to a game that already matters plenty in the SEC race and the playoff conversation.
Inside Alabamas locker room, the focus sounded practical rather than sentimental. Tight end Marshall Pritchett and safety Ivan Taylor both acknowledged the presence of their former teammates, but the message was clear: the Tide have enough to handle without getting caught up in the reunion angle. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on ABC, and Alabamas challenge is making sure the story of the afternoon is its own performance, not the visitors across the sideline. [Read more 🡒]