Alabama football has to look itself in the mirror.
The program is in an identity crisis after a struggle win over South Carolina.
Alabama got a 27-25 victory, but it is not one of top teams in the country and we have seen it in back-to-back weeks. The Gamecocks do not have the talent to stay on the field with the Crimson Tide, yet it gave Alabama a game.
Alabama survives South Carolina after last week.
An initial reaction and takeaways from the game are below.
Initial reaction
Kalen DeBoer got out coached for a second straight week. Kane Wommack’s 4-2-5 defensive scheme is not it, and Nick Sheridan abandons the run game too quickly. Alabama lacks toughness on both sides of the ball and it starts with the coaches.
A team takes on the personality of its coaches, and these coaches are way too nice.
Takeaways
1. Alabama is not a championship team
Alabama looked awful for a second straight week.
It got the victory, but no improvements or adjustments were made in practice. This team does not have the toughness, leadership, chemistry, or consistency of a champion right now. The coaching staff does not inject confidence into this team and team leaders are making too many mistakes. Vandy and South Carolina should not be on the field with Alabama, but this group lacks poise.
2. Kane Wommack has a decision to make about 4-2-5 defense
Pete Golding had Ole Miss give up three points to South Carolina.
People had issues with Golding, but Kane Wommack is no better. The Gamecocks’ offense posted 14 points and drove the ball on Alabama’s defense with success. Raheim Sanders produced in the run game for South Carolina with 78 yards and a touchdown, while LaNorris Sellers had 188 passing yards and a touchdown. He completed 20 of 24 passes on the Crimson Tide.
South Carolina also converted six of 13 third down opportunities.
Wommack has to make changes with this 4-2-5.
3. Jalen Milroe made several mistakes in the passing game
Jalen Milroe reverted back to issues he had in the passing game early in his career.
He had two interceptions that gave South Carolina life. Milroe also took bad sacks and had an intentional grounding penalty that resulted in a safety. He did not have his best performance after back-to-back good games versus Georgia and Vandy.
Milroe has to be better protecting the football.
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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.
