After a disappointing loss at the hands of Oklahoma, Alabama has its first three-loss season since 2010. That is different from the norm in Tuscaloosa. Fans, coaches, and players are not accustomed to being in limbo heading into the Iron Bowl. To me, this team is in limbo, and several issues need to be addressed leading up to the Iron Bowl.
First and foremost, the enthusiasm and energy were lacking on Saturday in Norman. Despite taking an early 3-0 lead, things just seemed off for Alabama. Both the offense and defense failed to adjust over the course of the game, and it wound up being one of the deciding factors leading to Alabama’s third loss of the season.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe looked out of sync virtually the entire game. It was undoubtedly his worst performance of the season. He failed to contribute in both the pass and run game. That is a recipe for disaster. Alabama’s offense operates through Milroe’s strengths. He failed to show anything on Saturday night.
Leading up to the Iron Bowl, I would look for Alabama to try to find ways to resolve some of its lingering issues that have plagued them over the course of the season. The inability to establish a run or pass game is inexcusable. There seems to be little balance in the offense, and neither offensive attack has been a strength for the offense. The level of inconsistency surrounding Alabama’s offense has become more and more concerning by the week. I believe that Kalen DeBoer will be more hands-on with the offense during practice this week. It would not be surprising to hear that he is involved in play-calling as well. Something has got to change.
As far as the defense goes, there weren’t any glaring issues on Saturday outside of the inability to neutralize Oklahoma’s rushing attack. Given the fact that Oklahoma was missing multiple wide receivers and offensive linemen, I cannot wrap my head around the fact that Alabama allowed 260 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack and the defensive coaching staff had to know that running the football would be a focal point for the Sooners. The Crimson Tide had no answer or response through four quarters. The efficient rushing attack ultimately chewed clock and broke down Alabama’s defense over four quarters.
The defense needs to focus on stopping the run as well as lining up correctly on defense. When starting linebacker Deontae Lawson suffered a game-ending injury, Alabama’s defense looked discombobulated and out of sync. Something will have to give or Auburn will expose Alabama’s weaknesses up front as well as in the secondary.
There are more issues that need to be addressed, but these are the ones that I feel like will be prioritized by the coaching staff. There is plenty of room for improvement, and Alabama needs to take this week of practice very seriously. Auburn will come in confident after picking up a top-15 win against Texas A&M. The Tigers will also look to pick up a sixth win to earn a bowl bid. The Iron Bowl will tell a lot about this Alabama football team and the future of the Alabama football program.
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