Alabama has already lived a little too close to the edge, and the schedule is about to make sure there’s no room left for error.
The Crimson Tide have survived back-to-back scares, first rallying in the second half to beat Kentucky in Week 2 and then erasing a 21-6 hole to get past Florida State this past Saturday. Those were not clean wins, and they came with plenty of warning signs. Now the next stretch looks far less forgiving.
South Carolina comes to Tuscaloosa next week, but that game is only the start of what waits for Alabama. After that, the Crimson Tide enter a run of five straight games against ranked opponents beginning with Mississippi State on Oct.
- From there it’s Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU, with even the Nov. 14 matchup against Vanderbilt not looking especially comfortable.
Mississippi State no longer fits the easy trap-game label, either. The Bulldogs are proving to be a really good football team, and Alabama has to go on the road for that one. Kamario Taylor has suddenly emerged as a very serious Heisman Trophy candidate, Mississippi State’s defense is no joke, and the Bulldogs have a dangerous group of weapons that can test what has generally been a stout Alabama secondary.
That’s why the Crimson Tide can’t keep leaning on second-half comebacks. That formula has worked so far, but it’s not a sustainable plan against the better teams in the SEC - and it may not even be enough against South Carolina in Week 4.
LaNorris Sellers has been an overall disappointment, but he is still a dangerous playmaker for whom 'Bama must gameplan this coming Saturday. Alabama will at least have the comfort of playing that one at home, though that didn’t stop the Tide from falling behind early against Florida State.
Over the first three weeks, Alabama has mostly gotten by on elite talent alone. Outside of Week 1 against East Carolina, which really doesn't count, the Tide still haven’t put together 60 minutes of consistently good football. And with the schedule turning brutal, that has to change fast.
In Other News...
Alabama Heads To South Carolina With Problems It Can't Keep Ignoring
Alabamas win over Florida State in Week 3 gave the offense plenty to like, with quarterback Keelon Russell helping the Tide score on nine consecutive drives. But the celebration came with a sharp reminder of how much cleaner the overall product still needs to be, because the defense gave up nearly 500 yards and 36 points in a game that could have easily turned into a much bigger conversation about balance.
As Alabama turns to South Carolina, the same issues are sitting right in front of it: slow starts that leave little margin for error, explosive plays that flip momentum, and third-down situations that have too often put the defense on its heels. Kane Wommacks unit will have to show it can sustain a better level for four quarters, because the Tide can afford to admire the offenses rhythm only if the other side of the ball stops creating new problems. [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 🡒]