Alabama is sitting pretty at 5-1 halfway through the regular season, but don’t let that shiny record fool you into thinking everything’s perfect in Tuscaloosa. After their slugfest against Georgia, it’s clear there are some serious cracks in the foundation, especially when it comes to protecting quarterback Keelon Russell. That dude got absolutely hammered for four sacks, losing 29 total yards, and it points to a much bigger issue that both offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and head coach Kalen DeBoer are worried about: Russell’s gotta get that ball out quicker.
These Tide Are Rollin’, No Kidding
Look, I’m not gonna lie, what Alabama has shown through these first six games has me throwing my own preseason thoughts out the window. This isn’t just any 5-1 team. Their offense is straight-up explosive, dropping at least 45 points in every game they’ve played, except when they ran up against the nation’s No. 1 team. The run game? Night and day compared to last year. The offensive line even held its own against Georgia’s beastly front, the tight ends are total stalwarts, and you see playmakers all over the field on both sides of the ball. Plus, those defensive transfers? They’ve completely changed Wommack’s unit, giving them a fresh identity, and it seems like last year’s special teams woes are finally in the rearview mirror. Joel Klatt himself thinks we might’ve seen the two best teams in college football duke it out last Saturday, saying Alabama “can absolutely win the national championship.” That’s high praise, even after a loss.
But Russell’s Getting Hit Way Too Much, And Coverage Concerns Are Still Lingering
Despite all that firepower, the biggest red flag is absolutely Russell getting sacked four times against Georgia. That kind of pressure, especially late in games, is a killer and indicative of a wider problem Grubb and DeBoer have highlighted: the Tide struggling on the fringes of field goal range. You can’t be in a national championship hunt if your QB is constantly running for his life or struggling to make plays in critical areas. And it’s not just the offense with issues. Sophomore corner Dijon Lee, who earned a starting spot opposite Zabien Brown after a solid freshman year, is having a really tough season. According to PFF, in the first six games, Lee has allowed 17 receptions on 24 targets, giving up a whopping 254 receiving yards and four touchdowns. That’s a huge problem that needs fixing. Zabien Brown says Lee’s a “strong-minded dude” who’s “responded good” in practice and had a “great practice” on Tuesday, adding, “We got his back no matter what. That’s my guy, that’s my brother. Great player, and he’s going to have a great rest of the season.” That support is awesome, but Lee is gonna need to step up big time in coverage, especially man-to-man, if they want to keep him out there.
Alabama has the pieces, and Klatt thinks they can win it all. But if they’re going to make a serious push for the College Football Playoff, they’ve got to clean up the sacks and get Lee playing better in coverage. The second half of the season is where championships are made, and they can’t afford these kinds of slip-ups if they truly want to be the last team standing.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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