Many fans of Alabama football woke up Sunday morning still in disbelief over what happened against Vanderbilt.
Alabama traveled to Nashville (Tenn.) in the Kalen DeBoer in search of its fifth win, but it returned home with its first loss of the DeBoer era that shocked everyone. The Commodores earned a 40-35 victory at FirstBank Stadium, handing Tide fans its worst loss to an unranked team since 2007 versus Louisiana-Monroe. Most see this defeat as worse than UL-Monroe because that was Nick Saban’s first season with the Tide, and he was trying to build something great. Saban handed DeBoer a fully loaded team with brand backing and resources, yet it fell to Vanderbilt.
Rat traps were set in facilities on campus throughout last week to remind players; however, it did not change anything. Vandy wanted the game more than the Tide and it showed on the field.
RELATED: Vanderbilt trolls Alabama with Nick Saban clip after upset
So, what did we all learn from the loss? Five aspects are below.
1. Alabama is not a physically dominant team
Vanderbilt worked Alabama in the trenches all game long.
We are not used to seeing this as Crimson Tide consumers, especially with how Saban preached about wanting to teams to go ‘I hate playing against those guys’ when they finish playing Alabama. The Commodores took the physicality to the Tide on its first offensive possession, scoring a touchdown on a 75-yard drive in 10 plays.
Vandy’s offensive line kept Alabama’s defensive front from getting any pressure to Diego Pavia, while its defensive front sacked Jalen Milroe twice — including a marquee strip sack and fumble recovery to seal the game. Alabama use to wear teams down in the second half — especially the fourth quarter — but it has failed to put games away. David Ballou, the Tide’s Director of Sports Performance, has to return to the drawing board now.
2. Alabama got out coached by Vanderbilt
Kalen DeBoer was not the better coach and his staff was outmatched over the weekend.
Clark Lea and his staff at Vanderbilt were better prepared. Lea has his players executing with energy, effort, enthusiasm, toughness, physicality, and precision from the opening kickoff. Vandy came out of the tunnel ready to take down the Tide.
The team talked about how this is not the same old Commodores program, and the players backed it up.
Timothy Beck, Vandy’s offensive coordinator, had the best game plan from start to finish. He practiced it all week and Alabama could not stop whatever he called. He mixed it up perfectly, keeping Kane Wommack and the Tide’s defense off balance with different looks. Alabama could not adjust and when it felt like it maybe had an angle, Beck threw a wrinkle in to offset the Tide.
Alabama’s coaching staff got flat beat. Wommack’s 4-2-5 defense was no match for Beck’s attack.
3. Alabama has no 3rd down defense
Kane Wommack wants Alabama to be dominant on third down, but that has not happened.
Georgia used third and fourth downs for its comeback attempt at Bryant-Denny Stadium, but Vanderbilt destroyed the Crimson Tide on third downs. Beck saved his best play calls for Pavia and Vandy’s offense on third down to frustrate Alabama, keeping its defense on the field longer.
The Commodores converted 12 of 18 third downs and a fourth down too. This allowed Vandy to own time of possession, forcing the Tide to play out of its rhythm. If Alabama cannot win on third down, it will not have a good season.
4. Alabama lacks contagious energy from its sideline
Vanderbilt was jumping all game long because the game was important to them.
Where was the energy from Alabama’s sideline?
These are the moments where you really miss Scott Cochran locking everyone’s mindset in with motivation. These are times where you miss Cochran and all his antics because it kept players engaged.
This Alabama team does not feel like it’s all the way engaged. Vandy played with a sense of confidence, urgency, swagger, and the mentality that the game was meant for them. Alabama did not have that edge and it needs to find it again.
5. Alabama is not a national championship team yet
Alabama is not a national championship yet.
It beat Georgia, but the loss to Vandy shows a lot of work needs to be done. The Crimson Tide is an explosive team, but not a complete team.
It does not have a dominant, consistent rushing attack. It does not have a defense that scares anyone.
It does not play complementary football.
Alabama will not win a national championship until complementary football happens.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
