The Downfall of Alabama
Case For A Downfall
For the first time since November 8, 2015, the Crimson Tide are not ranked among the top 5. The 68 consecutive weeks of top-5 appearances have ended.
This year is also the first since 2010 in which Alabama lost two games in a season and the first since 2011 in which it lost to rival LSU.
Given these results, it seems like Alabama has become historically bad. People are saying that Alabama’s dynasty is over, the Crimson Tide will no longer be one of college football’s most dominant teams.
In other words, the Crimson Tide seem to have fallen.
Injuries
Injuries may be an overstated excuse because every team deals with them.
But losing top players and important leaders on both side of the ball is unique.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa —once considered a Heisman candidate -- suffered a season-ending injury before the Auburn game in which backup quarterback Mac Jones threw two pick sixes.
Before the season began, senior linebacker Dylan Moses also was injured for the season.
Without the All-American Moses and fellow injured veteran linebacker Josh McMillan, Alabama’s defense became supremely inexperienced.
Currently, four freshmen are listed as starters in Alabama’s defense — two defensive linemen and two linebackers.
The learning curve is considerable considering the complexity of Saban’s defense and some of the offensive power and ingenuity (especially LSU’s) on Alabama’s schedule.
Losing to this year’s brand of LSU is not a shocker. The Tigers not only have a pulse on offense but possess either the strongest or second-strongest offense that has proven too much for top defenses in the conference.
Still, giving up 48 points to Auburn — or 31 if you want to forget the two pick sixes and the controversial field goal — is disappointing because the Tigers only scored more points against Kent State, Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Samford.
Injuries Overstated
If the injuries matter so decisively, then Alabama isn’t suffering a downfall. You could say that the Tide would have beaten Auburn with Tua or even just with Moses and then they would be playoff-bound.
But I don’t think injuries alone explain Alabama’s current predicament because 2017 also involved a difficult injury-related situation, but ended well for Alabama. The front seven — especially the linebacking crew including all four starters — missed considerable time.
Injuries notwithstanding and with an inferior passer in Jalen Hurts at quarterback — the Crimson Tide still managed to make the playoffs — although one could argue that they probably shouldn’t have after losing 26-14 to Auburn and failing to reach the SEC Championship game.
Penalties
Nick Saban’s Alabama is known for being disciplined. In 2017, the Tide were the 38th-least penalized team.
Currently, only eight teams incur more penalties per game than Alabama, which ranks 122nd in penalties.
Big Games
It was poetically fitting that Alabama sealed its own fate against Auburn with a penalty as that was the team’s 13th penalty in the game.
While turnovers have not so much been a season-long issue, the two pick-sixes were decisive.
In the team’s other big game — against LSU — the Tide incurred seven penalties — right around its average — and turned it over twice.
Both issues were likewise prominent last season in the first playoff game against Oklahoma in which penalties led Nick Saban to famously smash his headset before halftime.
When Clemson blew out Alabama for the title, the Tide committed six times the number of penalties than Clemson did for five times the yardage and turned it over twice.
Most obviously, the defense has been gashed, allowing 34 points to Oklahoma, 44 to Clemson and this year allowing 46 to LSU and 48 to Auburn.
Verdict
Has Alabama fallen? The Tide have definitely slipped. Their defenses have performed worse since coordinator Kirby Smart left. They’ve dropped in recruiting rankings. They are losing big games in ways that are shocking for a Saban-coached team.
I think with more growth and experience on defense and some more injury luck, Alabama can definitely be a playoff-bound team again.
Case For A Downfall
For the first time since November 8, 2015, the Crimson Tide are not ranked among the top 5. The 68 consecutive weeks of top-5 appearances have ended.
This year is also the first since 2010 in which Alabama lost two games in a season and the first since 2011 in which it lost to rival LSU.
Given these results, it seems like Alabama has become historically bad. People are saying that Alabama’s dynasty is over, the Crimson Tide will no longer be one of college football’s most dominant teams.
In other words, the Crimson Tide seem to have fallen.
Injuries
Injuries may be an overstated excuse because every team deals with them.
But losing top players and important leaders on both side of the ball is unique.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa —once considered a Heisman candidate -- suffered a season-ending injury before the Auburn game in which backup quarterback Mac Jones threw two pick sixes.
Before the season began, senior linebacker Dylan Moses also was injured for the season.
Without the All-American Moses and fellow injured veteran linebacker Josh McMillan, Alabama’s defense became supremely inexperienced.
Currently, four freshmen are listed as starters in Alabama’s defense — two defensive linemen and two linebackers.
The learning curve is considerable considering the complexity of Saban’s defense and some of the offensive power and ingenuity (especially LSU’s) on Alabama’s schedule.
Losing to this year’s brand of LSU is not a shocker. The Tigers not only have a pulse on offense but possess either the strongest or second-strongest offense that has proven too much for top defenses in the conference.
Still, giving up 48 points to Auburn — or 31 if you want to forget the two pick sixes and the controversial field goal — is disappointing because the Tigers only scored more points against Kent State, Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Samford.
Injuries Overstated
If the injuries matter so decisively, then Alabama isn’t suffering a downfall. You could say that the Tide would have beaten Auburn with Tua or even just with Moses and then they would be playoff-bound.
But I don’t think injuries alone explain Alabama’s current predicament because 2017 also involved a difficult injury-related situation, but ended well for Alabama. The front seven — especially the linebacking crew including all four starters — missed considerable time.
Injuries notwithstanding and with an inferior passer in Jalen Hurts at quarterback — the Crimson Tide still managed to make the playoffs — although one could argue that they probably shouldn’t have after losing 26-14 to Auburn and failing to reach the SEC Championship game.
Penalties
Nick Saban’s Alabama is known for being disciplined. In 2017, the Tide were the 38th-least penalized team.
Currently, only eight teams incur more penalties per game than Alabama, which ranks 122nd in penalties.
Big Games
It was poetically fitting that Alabama sealed its own fate against Auburn with a penalty as that was the team’s 13th penalty in the game.
While turnovers have not so much been a season-long issue, the two pick-sixes were decisive.
In the team’s other big game — against LSU — the Tide incurred seven penalties — right around its average — and turned it over twice.
Both issues were likewise prominent last season in the first playoff game against Oklahoma in which penalties led Nick Saban to famously smash his headset before halftime.
When Clemson blew out Alabama for the title, the Tide committed six times the number of penalties than Clemson did for five times the yardage and turned it over twice.
Most obviously, the defense has been gashed, allowing 34 points to Oklahoma, 44 to Clemson and this year allowing 46 to LSU and 48 to Auburn.
Verdict
Has Alabama fallen? The Tide have definitely slipped. Their defenses have performed worse since coordinator Kirby Smart left. They’ve dropped in recruiting rankings. They are losing big games in ways that are shocking for a Saban-coached team.
I think with more growth and experience on defense and some more injury luck, Alabama can definitely be a playoff-bound team again.
