Alabama’s embarrassing loss to Tennessee exposed a team that lacks toughness, discipline and physicality. The Crimson Tide no longer look feared.
Remember when Alabama was the most feared program in college football? When teams would walk into a game against the Crimson Tide knowing they were about to get punched in the mouth?
Yeah, those days appear to be LONG gone.
Alabama just suffered an embarrassing 26-10 loss to Tennessee, marking its second consecutive defeat after falling to Georgia the previous weekend. For the first time since 2007, the Crimson Tide have lost back-to-back regular-season games.
And here’s the biggest problem: Alabama looks SOFT.
Against Tennessee, the Crimson Tide managed just 201 total yards, including an embarrassing 54 rushing yards. They committed four turnovers, converted only two of 13 third-down attempts and failed to score a single point in the second half.
Does that sound like Alabama football?
Keelon Russell looked completely overwhelmed, throwing for just 147 yards with two interceptions. But the problems go far beyond the quarterback.
Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop absolutely bullied Alabama’s defense, rushing for 159 yards and two touchdowns. The Volunteers controlled the line of scrimmage, dominated the second half and made Alabama look like the less physical football team.
That would’ve been almost unthinkable during the Nick Saban era.
And at some point, Kalen DeBoer has to take responsibility.
Alabama still recruits elite talent. The Crimson Tide still have future NFL players all over the roster. But where is the toughness? Where is the discipline? Where is the mentality that made this program a dynasty?
This Alabama team looks like it wants to win with talent instead of toughness. And when opponents punch back, the Crimson Tide don’t seem to have an answer.
Now sitting at 5-2 and ranked No. 13, Alabama is watching its College Football Playoff hopes slip away.
The Crimson Tide have a massive opportunity to respond against Texas A&M this weekend, but another embarrassing performance could raise even bigger questions about the direction of this program.
Alabama fans might not want to hear it, but the truth is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
The Alabama logo used to intimidate opponents. Now, teams are lining up against the Crimson Tide expecting to win the physical battle.
And until that changes, this isn’t the Alabama football program the rest of college football once feared.
