Alabama football’s secondary left a lot to be desired against Florida State in terms of giving up big plays.
Fortunately for the Crimson Tide, this same group came up with three interceptions in its 50-36 win over the Seminoles. Kalen DeBoer was asked about the big plays the group gave up after the game.
“That is disappointing,” DeBoer said. “I know our guys, we can be better there and that really is what kept them in the game. A combination of pass rush and doing our job to where those second and third level throws, we can’t have that. I have all the confidence in our defensive backs, but just a reminder, nothing from one week carries over to the next. On third down in particular, you got to get off the field. We were great the first two weeks but they got players and you got to go out there and go take it. You got to go do your job and I know we need to get some things corrected. Our guys are competitive guys. We will take a look at it and teams will continue to go to those concepts and ideas to stress us. And we have to do a better job executing.”
DeBoer went on to say he still has confidence in this group that is thought of as being one of the best secondaries in college football.
“Our guys know what they are doing,” DeBoer told reporters. “I think there was one earlier in the game where we have our eyes in the wrong spot. Conceptually, a guy got behind us and we should be fine there. I didn’t like there was anything with a call as far as watching it. I’ll see again tomorrow. We just got to execute. They made some one-on-one plays, too. There was some man to man, competitive. The first touchdown. We bring some pressure and they throw it and it’s inside, so it was a touchdown in the back of the endzone. There were some one-on-ones that we lost and then they got some time and were able to look down the field and run those out and hit some dig routes that are deeper. Combination of getting pressure, put some pressure on the quarterback. Respecting what he can do. I thought (Ashton) Daniels did a nice job completing those passes when they were open and using his legs to extend plays as well, so a combination of that. We just got to play better. I know what we are capable of. We got to go back to work and fix it.”
Alabama will be tasked with stopping another talented quarterback with impressive weapons at his disposal Saturday when Alabama takes on South Carolina and LaNorris Sellers.
