Alabama football made it through the first major hurdle of the Kalen DeBoer era.
It earned a victory over Georgia last week on Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, but the page has turned to this matchup against Vanderbilt and the rest of its schedule.
The Crimson Tide has an explosive offense and a defense that is getting better with each contest.
Alabama is in the national championship conversation for the 12-team College Football Playoff, but is it missing an ingredient from being a national champion? Tim Tebow, a former college football legend, shared one aspect that could hinder Alabama from becoming a champion.
The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion wants to see more consistency from the Tide to finish games.
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“Everybody knows Alabama has the ability to be super-explosive,” Tebow said. “They have the ability with Jalen (Milroe’s) legs and arm and so many ways they can be explosive. That’s one of their strengths. But what they need to improve on to be one of the best teams in the country and win a championship, in my opinion, at the end of the year is — can you get first downs when you have to, not just can you get explosive plays?”
Tebow felt there were many moments Alabama could have put the game away against Georgia, but did not do it.
“But there is so many times they had last week to put the game away if you have a better four-minute offense, meaning if you can control the time of possession, keep your defense off the field and take away some clock, they had so may chances to do it,” Tebow said. “It is not just, can you have a 60-yard run and explode for a touchdown? Can you have a six-yard run and be 2nd and 4. If Alabama can do that, then this team definitely goes to No. 1 (championship contender) because they have so much ability to make the big play. Can they make the consistent play and can they move the sticks when they have to?”
Tebow is asking what many want to know. Can Alabama have an offense that sustains drives?
We will see how it performs against Vanderbilt. It makes the huge plays, but the consistency has to start with this group.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
