It wasn't the revenge game most fans would've scripted, but the end was satisfying enough. Bouncing back from last year's embarrassing loss to Florida State in Tallahassee, Alabama shook off a nightmarish start and two lightning delays to knock off the Seminoles, 50-36
In a complete 180 from last week in Lexington, it was the Alabama offense that had to rescue a defense that struggled to consistently get stops. If nothing else, Kalen DeBoer and his team have shown that they can win in a variety of ways already.
There's much to clean up, but also much to celebrate from the Crimson Tide's two-touchdown win. Who were the biggest winners and losers on Saturday?
Winner: Keelon Russell
Yeah, this kid is special, folks. Keelon Russell shook off a rough start last week in Lexington to lead Alabama to a 32-0 second half against Kentucky. This week, he put the team on his back after Florida State built an early 21-6 advantage.
Russell threw three touchdown passes in three minutes before the half to flip the script and put Alabama up by five at halftime. He added an electric 57-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter, finishing the game with 320 yards through the air and four total touchdowns as Alabama put up a 50-burger on the 'Noles.
Russell is a budding superstar. Week 3 against FSU, the game started to slow down for him. He's going to keep getting better, and that's a scary thought for Alabama's opponents.
Winner: Alabama's three-headed monster at RB
DeBoer will have an unexpected problem to solve once AK Dear gets back on the field soon. It won't be easy to play four running backs, and it'll be almost impossible to take any of the current trio off the field.
Daniel Hill and the dynamic freshmen, EJ Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown, had a prolific day for the Crimson Tide:
- Trae'shawn Brown: 12 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD (7.2 ypc)
- Daniel Hill: 11 carries, 59 yards, 0 TD (5.4 ypc)
- EJ Crowell: 7 carries, 51 yards, 1 TD (7.2 ypc)
Alabama ran for 247 yards against Florida State, 220 of which came after halftime. Alabama imposed its will down the stretch and was able to put the game to bed by running the football. That's not something they were capable of last year. A big thanks goes to...
Winner: Adrian Klemm
Alabama's offensive line is still a work in progress, but it's impossible not to be impressed with the work new OL coach Adrian Klemm has done with this group already in his first season with the team. With four new starters up front, the transition was supposed to take more time than this. Instead, the offensive line is already gelling together well and putting quality work on tape.
They opened up holes in the second half for the ground game, consistently blowing FSU off the ball. They also gave Russell plenty of time to carve up the 'Noles' secondary, with the Tide QB only getting sacked one time.
They'll keep getting better, too. They are far from a finished product, but there's a lot of reason for optimism so far.
Winner: Ryan Grubb
I've got to give credit where it's due. I've been highly critical of Ryan Grubb during his time as Alabama's offensive coordinator. I was critical of him early in this game as Alabama struggled to move the ball and had only mustered six points late into the second quarter.
But then things shifted. Grubb found some stuff that worked, and he hammered it against Florida State. Starting from FSU's touchdown to go up 21-6, Alabama scored on its next seven possessions, including six touchdowns. The only drive they didn't get points was the last one, which ended with Russell taking a knee.
And also credit to Grubb for breaking his worst habit as a play-caller: he never abandoned the run against Florida State. It didn't work early, but he stubbornly stuck with it, and Alabama reaped the rewards from it.
With the light coming on from Russell and Grubb committing to the ground game, this offense could be really dangerous in the coming weeks.
Winner: Conor Talty
Talty has been rock-solid for Alabama through three weeks. He went 3-of-3 against Florida State, which makes him 8-of-8 on the season.
A lot of Alabama fans were confused when Marshall transfer Lorcan Quinn didn't win the starting place kicking duties. Now you know why. Talty had an excellent offseason, and that's translated into the season so far.
Loser: Kane Wommack
Wommack was in the good graces of Alabama fans coming into this game. The defense looked elite in last week's win over Kentucky, and there were plenty of reasons for optimism that this was going to be one of the better Tide defenses in recent seasons.
Now, following a game in which Florida State mustered 36 points and 471 yards of offense, the defense looks like a weakness.
What went wrong against FSU? For starters, Wommack is playing too many guys. There's no reason, when the game is in doubt, for second- and third-stringers to get on the field. I get he thinks they've earned the reps, but when the game is in doubt, you want your best players on the field. Period. This is not a participation trophy sport.
The biggest issue, however, is that Alabama did not account for a career day coming from Daniels throwing the ball. In fact, the Tide defended FSU like they would be completely one-dimensional. Instead, Daniels hit some throws down the field, throwing up 50-50 stuff and counting on Duce Robinson and the Florida State receivers to make plays. And they did. Repeatedly.
Loser: Dijon Lee
There are plenty of defenders who could have ended up here. I'll pick on Lee, much like Florida State did.
Lee was consistently in coverage against Robinson, and the FSU WR won the majority of those wars. He finished with six catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown came on FSU's first drive of the game on a prayer that Daniels threw up on third down. Lee was in coverage, fell down, and Robinson hauled it in in the back of the end zone for the game's first points.
There's no need to worry about it. Lee will be better going forward. I really tend to believe that this game will look flukier and flukier as the season goes on.
Loser: Derek Meadows
After an impressive performance in the season-opener, Derek Meadows has now gone back-to-back weeks without even being targeted. Perhaps more concerningly for the sophomore WR is that freshman Cederian Morgan made the most of his first non-garbage-time moment.
Morgan caught a slant from Russell and ran it into the end zone late in the second quarter to build some momentum for the Tide right before the second lightning delay.
With NC State transfer Noah Rogers set to return soon, Meadows could find his opportunities dwindling.
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