Alabama comes out of its bye week with plenty still in front of it, but the path through November is going to demand cleaner football. The Crimson Tide knocked off Texas A&M before the break and now turns its attention to LSU on Saturday in Baton Rouge, still alive in the College Football Playoff chase but far from polished.
The biggest issue remains the same one that has followed Alabama all season: slow starts. Too often, the offense has needed time to settle in, with stalled opening possessions becoming a recurring theme.
Early in the year, that didn’t always come back to bite the Tide. Alabama was able to surge late and survive some shaky beginnings.
That changed against Tennessee. Alabama stumbled out of the gate, and the Volunteers made it count. The Crimson Tide didn’t score in the second half of that game, and the result was a loss.
That kind of start can’t keep happening, especially with LSU still on the schedule. If Alabama can punch in a touchdown on its first drive Saturday, that would go a long way toward showing the offense is ready to handle the stretch run.
A lot of that responsibility lands on Keelon Russell, but the burden isn’t his alone. The sophomore has the tools, and Alabama’s staff has to keep putting him in position to use them.
“For Keelon, my first thing was like, OK, how do I get this guy to play faster?” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said after the Tennessee loss.
“Deal better with some of these pressure situations? Because he’s a great player.
I think, I mean, I’ll say it. I’ll go on record.
I think Keelon Russell is the best quarterback in America, period.”
Russell still has growing to do. He has shown a tendency to put the ball in danger instead of simply throwing it away and moving on to the next snap.
That’s part of the learning curve. Alabama can help smooth it out by making the game feel easier for him as he continues to develop.
If the Tide can do that, Russell’s talent becomes a weapon instead of a gamble.
The bye also arrived at a useful time from a health standpoint. Alabama was dealing with a heavy injury load heading into the off week, and while the Tide should be in better shape for LSU, the absences were felt before the pause.
The offensive line took the hardest hit. Racin Delgatty is on the road to returning, but William Sanders could be out for a while. Mal Waldrep can slide into Sanders’ guard spot after filling in for Delgatty at center, but Alabama would benefit from getting more young linemen ready for the final stretch.
There’s help needed elsewhere, too. The Tide could use more production at receiver, even with Ryan Coleman-Williams moving toward a return. Derek Meadows and Cederian Morgan are two names that could be asked to make a bigger impact.
And on the defensive front, the same issue applies. Alabama has been banged up there as well, and getting less experienced players up to speed during the off week could matter a lot once the season tightens down in November.
In Other News...
Alabamas Playoff Outlook Just Took A Hit Before LSU
A bye week was supposed to be a quiet stretch for Alabama, but the latest FPI update still nudged the Crimson Tide in the wrong direction. Alabama slipped one spot to No. 6, while LSU climbed two places to No. 5, tightening the margin between the two teams just as the SEC race starts to sharpen and the stakes around their upcoming meeting keep rising.
The numbers also reflected how much movement came from around the league, with Missouri jumping nine spots to No. 19 after beating Arkansas and other SEC teams shifting based on recent results. For Alabama, the playoff picture barely changed but did soften a bit, with its probability dipping from 62.8% to 60.3%, while LSUs chances of beating the Tide ticked up from 55.1% to 57%, a small swing that still adds a little more pressure to the buildup. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Shakeup Could Open Door For Alabama Recruiting Win
Florida States coaching change has already sent ripples through the recruiting trail, and Alabama is positioned to watch closely. After the Seminoles fired Mike Norvell following a disappointing start, the uncertainty around the program immediately became part of the conversation for prospects who had been tied to Florida State, including four-star safety Jernard Albright, who has visited Tuscaloosa twice recently.
Majay Thompsons decision to back off his Florida State pledge soon after the firing only added to the sense that the Seminoles class could be in flux. For Alabama, that kind of opening matters, especially with the Tide already in the mix for talented defensive backfield help and still evaluating where Thompson fits as his recruitment resets. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Offense Heads To LSU With One Road Problem Exposed
Alabamas offense left Knoxville with a reminder that the road can still be a problem, even for a group that has shown plenty of firepower this season. Against Tennessee, the Crimson Tide posted season lows in yards and points while turning the ball over more than it had in any other game, a rough afternoon that put extra attention on how the unit handled pressure and noise away from home.
The trip also came with a personnel wrinkle, as offensive lineman Mal Waldrep Jr. made his first career start at center because of an injury. With LSU next on the schedule, Alabama is zeroing in on communication and the running game, two areas the players know have to travel better in a loud stadium if the offense is going to look more like itself. [Read more 🡒]