Alabama Crimson Tide. Doesn’t matter how we approach this entire thing, it will still end up stinging. Going into the 2024 season, Kalen DeBoer had a lot going against him. The fanbase of the team he had taken over was still stuck in the Nick Saban era and it felt like they won’t be moving on from it. Then the Dawgs game happened and the Tide under Kalen DeBoer washed away Kirby Smart and Co. with a massive 41-34 win. However, no one out there could’ve seen the era of bad luck that the game would kick start.

Coming off of that massive win and then disappointing Bama fans with a loss against an unranked team like Vandy? That ain’t all. The South Carolina happened, and DeBoer and Co. barely managed to escape with a 27-25 on the board. The Vols game was supposed to be the redemption for the team, but here we are. With heads hanging low, 24-17 on the board, and the pitchforks out for the hunt, DeBoer and Co. need all the support they can get, and it looks like it’s gonna come from an unlikely candidate. Kristen Saban, daughter of ex-Bama coach Nick Saban, took to her Instagram story to share what DeBoer had to say regarding the entire game. She showered her support for the HC.

It’s kind of surprising to see her come back to back up DeBoer. Back on October 13th, after the disappointing South Carolina win, Kristen remained unmoved by Bama and stuck to her “no personal attachment” promise as she was spotted enjoying her time back at The Heidelberg. Currently, on the Coaches Poll, Bama stands in the 15th spot. Lower than Texas A&M and IU. This is not a good look for a team that has managed to rule over the CFB for years.

Now, is berating DeBoer the solution to fixing the identity crisis Alabama is having? No. You have to understand. It is not always the HC’s fault. From what we saw during the Vols showdown, Bama had a strong enough lead in the first and the second quarter. The Bama defense barely allowed the Vols to make any good plays, and the rushes that did happen were stopped early on.

However, there is also another thing we spotted on the same tape. If you check both the South Carolina game and the Vols game, you’ll see that the Tide has picked up on a new habit of choking at the last moment. And it is so odd to watch that happen on the turf. The problem began after the 3rd quarter during the Dawgs game. Bama had a solid lead and they could’ve easily ended the game with 41-15 on the board, but Bama’s defense choked out early into the 4th quarter, allowing the Bulldogs to grab an easy lead.

It was Ryan Williams’ play that saved the day for DeBoer and no one can argue about it. Even against the Vols, as we pointed out before, the defense was spot on. Malachi Moore and the entire defense did an amazing job but oh god did they start to dwindle going into the 3rd quarter!! This brings us to the core of the problem; the offense.

Kalen DeBoer’s failing offensive depth

QB Jalen Milroe. We gotta talk about it. Started with a completion% of 70 against WIS then followed that with a peak performance of 81% against the Dawgs and from there? 55.6 against the Vols. Got sacked 4 times in South Carolina and thrice against Tennessee. You generally see QBs improving over time, but Milroe has been on a steady decline and he ain’t the only one from the offensive line who has given away games for Bama.

Tide were on a 3-14 for 3rd down conversions and the D-line had managed to create 3 massive turnovers for the team. What did the offense do? Nothing. While you can say that the defense failed to slow down the Vols’ rush game, you also have to admit that they had created openings for Milroe and the O-line to bring in some scores. DeBoer needs to head back into the locker room and hit the drawing board.

The key to fixing this identity crisis is returning to the roots. DeBoer and Co. have to go back to the way they played the Georgia game in the first half. Bama is already at the crossroads and the Coaches Poll adds insult to injury. Standing on 5-2 would mean that they need 5 more wins to cut it for the playoffs. The fans are already angry and rightfully so. With LSU and Oklahoma on the schedule, DeBoer still has a shot at turning things around. Let’s hope this was the final upset from the team.