Kalen DeBoer has his style as Alabama’s head coach, but some fans missed the Nick Saban conduct on the sideline when things were not looking good for the Crimson Tide versus South Florida.
Alabama got a 42-16 victory; however, there are many aspects that must improve.
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The Tide is not a championship team now, and there are issues from last year that still remain.
Before it takes on Wisconsin and Georgia, Coach DeBoer and Alabama must fix these problems below.
1. Alabama’s receivers need better route concepts
Alabama fans have a right to be upset with the officiating — especially with the number of pass interference calls that South Florida was not flagged for — but Nick Sheridan has to have better route concepts for the wide receivers.
Most times, Alabama ran deep routes or bubble screens. We did not see a slant, dig route, post patters (outside or inside), or any other route combinations that help players get open. Kobe Prentice and Ryan Williams caught touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and Germie Bernard had a nice performance, but Sheridan has to do better creating chances for guys to get open.
2. Alabama’s offense has to start fast in games
This is the second game where Alabama’s offense started slow.
It did not score on its first offensive possession against Western Kentucky, and it happed again versus South Florida.
The Crimson Tide will face better offenses as the season continues, so it needs to start fast. Wisconsin and Georgia will look to continue what it saw from the Hilltoppers and Bulls. Alabama has struggled to come out the blocks quickly.
3. The penalties have to stop for Alabama
Several explosive plays were taken away from Alabama’s offense because of penalties.
Tyler Booker, Wilkin Formby, and Geno VanDeMark were flagged all game against South Florida on the offensive line.
Alabama had 13 penalties for a loss of 120 yards, and that is unacceptable.
Penalties led to the Crimson Tide’s struggles in 2022 with Bryce Young at quarterback. Alabama suffered a 49-52 loss to Tennessee that year at Neyland Stadium because of 17 penalties, which was the most by a Nick Saban-coached team.
DeBoer has to clean that up.
4. Alabama’s defense has to handle run game better
Alabama’s defense carried its offense last week, but it has to improve against the run.
Byrum Brown, South Florida’s starting quarterback, had 108 yards rushing. He ran over a few Tide defenders on multiple plays, averaging nearly five yards (4.7) per carry. Brown had 87 yards rushing in the 2023 matchup that kept the game close.
Alabama will face a couple more athletic quarterbacks and some shifty running backs.
It has to be able to stop the run better.
5. Alabama’s secondary must be better against the pass
South Florida had receivers running open in Alabama’s secondary.
If Byrum Brown was a more accurate passer, the Bulls would have pulled out an upset win.
Red Morgan and Zabien Brown got beat several times.
They will get better, but last week was not good for them. South Florida had many opportunities in the passing game, but Brown just could not hit his receivers. Alabama got away with it this time, but next time it needs to be more tightened up.
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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.
