Alabama left Week 3 with a win, but not with peace of mind.
The Crimson Tide put 50 points on Florida State and watched sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell look every bit the part of a rising star, guiding nine straight scoring drives. But the defense that many thought could be among the nation’s best spent too much of the night getting picked apart, allowing nearly 500 yards and 36 points to a Florida State offense that had plenty of its own problems. Kane Wommack didn’t sugarcoat it Monday, and Alabama now heads into Week 4 with South Carolina carrying a short list of urgent fixes.
The good news is the offense showed real life. The bad news is Alabama has already spent too much time chasing games, and the schedule is about to get less forgiving. A desperate South Carolina team is next, and the Tide cannot afford another sloppy opening.
The first problem is the slow start. Alabama has won its last two games by comfortable margins - four touchdowns at Kentucky and two at home against Florida State - but both wins came with the Tide digging out of holes early.
In Week 2, Alabama trailed by four at halftime in Lexington. Last weekend was even messier, with Florida State pushing ahead 21-6 late in the second quarter.
That kind of pattern is dangerous when tougher opponents are coming and mistakes stop being so easy to overcome.
The second issue is the big play. South Carolina has the kind of skill talent that can turn one busted coverage into a game-changing moment, with LaNorris Sellers at quarterback and receivers Donovan Murphy and Nyck Harbor capable of striking fast.
Against Florida State, Alabama gave up nine plays of 20 yards or more. Some of that came from Duce Robinson simply winning his one-on-one matchups, but not all of it can be chalked up to special plays by the opponent.
This secondary is too talented to let that many explosive snaps slip through. Wommack said Monday the defense was “pissed off” after what happened against the Seminoles, and Alabama needs that frustration to show up on Saturday.
Then there’s third down, where Alabama lost the battle last weekend. The Tide offense finished 4-of-12, while Florida State converted 8-of-15.
That margin matters even more against South Carolina, where Sellers can make life miserable in key moments and keep drives alive with his athleticism. If Alabama wants to keep this from turning into a shootout, the defense has to get off the field when it gets chances, and the offense has to stay out of the long-yardage situations that make conversion harder than it should be.
In Other News...
Alabamas Slow Starts Are About To Get Seriously Punished
Alabama has survived its first three games, but the early warning signs have been hard to miss. The Crimson Tide have needed second-half rallies to steady themselves, and that habit is about to be tested by a schedule that leaves very little room for slow starts. What looked like manageable early-season turbulence now sits in the shadow of a run that brings ranked opponents and real pressure almost immediately.
South Carolina and Mississippi State loom as the next checkpoints, and both carry enough intrigue to make Alabamas opening stretches matter even more. LaNorris Sellers and Kamario Taylor are among the names to watch in those matchups, but the broader concern for the Tide is simpler: if the sluggish opening quarters continue, the margin for error disappears fast once Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU all come into view. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Win Was Comfortable But UTSA Exposed One Lingering Concern
Texas left Alabama with little doubt in Week 3, but the broader non-conference slate still gave the Crimson Tide something to think about. Across the American Conference, teams went 2-7 outside league play, and UTSA was one of the better examples of a team that at least found a little footing on one side of the ball. East Carolina also grabbed a needed win over Old Dominion after a rocky start, while Florida Atlantic and North Texas had mixed showings in their own games.
For Alabama, the comfort of the final result did not erase the fact that UTSA managed to reveal a lingering concern. The Roadrunners were better defensively than they had been earlier in the season, but their offense never really got going in the loss to Texas, which is the kind of uneven performance that can still matter for the Tides long view of where this team stands. Alabama got the win it wanted, but games like this are useful reminders that the details underneath the score still deserve a close look. [Read more 🡒]
What Alabama Coaches Said After A Fan Base Flashpoint
Ryan Grubbs press conference became part of the conversation after he addressed the fan booing, then later apologized for his comments about Alabama supporters. It was the kind of flashpoint that tends to linger around this program because the standard is so high and the margin for frustration is even smaller, especially when the public reaction spills into the coaching room and back out again.
Kane Wommack spent his time at the podium on a more technical track, breaking down specific play calls and player performance issues while offering a detailed look at why Alabamas defense struggled. There was also some good news mixed in for the Tide, with kicker Conor Talty earning SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors and updates provided on player availability for the upcoming games. [Read more 🡒]