Contrary to what most wanted to believe following Alabama's loss to Florida State, the season is not over yet. Alabama has, at minimum, 11 more games to play. The first of those is this Saturday against Louisiana Monroe in the home opener.
The college football calendar doesn't allow you to dwell on a loss for too long. Alabama will hit the practice field today to begin preparation for Louisiana Monroe. They can focus on correcting mistakes, but no more dwelling on how bad things went in Tallahassee.
It's time to put in the work and get things fixed. This is the first game that provides that opportunity. Things weren't all bad against the Seminoles, just mostly. There are a few things Alabama can build off of.
In particular, Ty Simpson played with the level of heart and determination that he promised to in the preseason. He was far from perfect, but he battled. That's more than you can say for a lot of his teammates.
Germie Bernard had an excellent game. He looked like Alabama's WR1, but he did benefit from a ton of attention being on Ryan Williams. Williams may ultimately benefit as time goes on from defenses keying more into Bernard.
Alabama will need to find the right combination up front on the offensive line. The line wasn't quite as bad as I thought when watching the game live. Simpson was pressured a lot, but he brought a good chunk of it on himself by holding on to the ball for too long. Parker Brailsford was excellent, as usual. Kadyn Proctor was better than he gets credit for. Kam Dewberry was steady.
The right side of the Tide's line struggled. In six called runs to the right, Alabama mustered just 12 yards. If there's going to be a change, it's going to happen over there. If Jaeden Roberts is healthy and prepared enough to play, he should get the start at RG. And while Wilkin Formby probably starts at RT still, I wouldn't hate to see freshman Michael Carroll get some early reps on Saturday.
Defensively, the effort has to be better across the board. The linebackers have to play more aggressively crashing downhill. If you're going to be wrong, be wrong at 100mph. You can't be wrong and do it slowly. It wouldn't be a surprise to see some of the younger linebackers get early playing time.
This week is all about improvement. Nick Saban used to say that every practice was an opportunity to get better or worse. You never stayed the same. Alabama can get worse this week and still beat Louisiana Monroe. But it would have devastating consequences as the season progresses.
Alabama fans won't be able to move on as quickly as the team
Alabama fans will lament the disaster in Tallahassee for a while longer. And that's okay. That game left a sour taste in the mouths of fans that a cupcake won't dissolve.
The tiny ray of optimism I have for fans desperately searching for something, anything to be excited about is this: Alabama would not be the first team to fall flat on its face early in the season just to rebound and be a contender.
In 2014, Ohio State lost by two touchdowns at home to a Virginia Tech in Week 2 that ultimately finished the regular season at 6-6. That Buckeyes team went on to win the National Championship.
Just last year, Notre Dame lost at home to Northern Illinois in Week 2. The Irish bounced back and made it all the way to the National Championship Game.
Who knows if Alabama will be remembered as one of those types of teams when things are all said and done? But what I do know is that anyone who is saying anything definitive about what's going to happen should be ignored. Because nobody knows for sure.
This team is talented enough to bounce back and be in the thick of the playoff hunt. Only time will tell if they will.