It wasn't the bounceback performance that Alabama Football fans were hoping for, but the Crimson Tide dug deep to get a win over South Carolina to move to 5-1 on the season.
Alabama jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half, but a disastorous final five minutes of the 2nd quarter allowed the Gamecocks to claw back into it.
On a fourth-and-9 from the Tide 36, Alabama dropped back into coverage instead of blitzing and South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers hit a wide open Mazeo Bennett for a touchdown. Compounding the mistake, following a penalty on kick off, Milroe had an intentional grounding in the endzone that foced a safety.
Then, following a takeaway by the defense, and facing a third and long near midfield, Milroe was intercepted, allowing the Gamecocks to tack on a field goal to cut the lead to 14-12.
The Gamecocks took a long touchdown drive to open the third quarter and take a 19-14 lead that left the Bryant-Denny crowd totally stunned.
Milroe threw an interception in the endzone when Alabama was poised to take the lead back, but the defense got another takeaway to set up the go-ahead touchdown - a seven yard run by Milroe.
The defense stood tall one more time, forcing the Gamecocks into a 51-yard FG attempt that went begging. Alabama scored again on a gutsy third-and-10 call that Milroe connected with Bernard for 34-yards.
Bernard could have taken a knee and ended the game instead of scoring because aided by a facemask penalty on Que Robinson, the Gamecocks went down the field and scored a touchdown.
Even after stopping the two point conversion, Alabama couldn't make it easy. The Gamecocks recovered an onside kick that bounced off of TWO Alabama players. Three consecutive blitzes by the defense led to an interception by Domani Jackson to end the game.
Three Takeaways from the Alabama win:
3. A tale of two defenses
The defense played better this week. That point should be known. But it was a tale of two play-calls. When Alabama blitzed, they had success. When they didn't, South Carolina made plays. It was really that simple.
The fourth down touchdown in the first half to give the Gamecocks life was because Alabama couldn't get pressure on a slow developing pass play, and a young defense busted on the back end. There's far too many freshmen playing meaningful snaps in the secondary to leave them on an island for long.
It was the same thing on the touchdown to Nyck Harbor that cut the lead to two. No pressure, and somehow no safety help over the top, and it's a 50-50 ball where Domani Jackson is severely outmatched.
But at the end of the game following the onside kick, Alabama brought pressure three consecutive snaps. It forced a tipped ball at the line, a throwaway, and then the game ending interception.
With what the staff is working with in the secondary, Alabama needs to be the most aggressive defense in the country. Wommack should be calling blitzes 70% of the time, at minimum moving forward, unless by some magic Alabama is able to start getting pressure with four.
I said it last week, particularly with how boom-or-bust the offense can be, the defense has to match that tone.
The scheme isn't the problem. The play calling is.
2. Heads up play by Domani Jackson at the end
On the interception, Jackson's momentum carried him into the endzone, which should mean he can take a knee and it be a touchback, game over.
But Jackson checked with the ref, the ref didn't give him the nod that he was good, and instead of leaving it up to the official to make a call that could have resulted in a safety and a tied game, Jackson got out of the endzone.
He gave up the touchdown to Harbor, but overall Jackson has had a nice season. His injury in the first half was a tough loss for a young secondary, but thankfully he was able to get back into the game and made the winning play.
1. Every game outside of Mercer will look like this
This team seemingly has no ability to step on a team's throat and finish the job. There's no excuse that this was as competitive as it was. It boils down to coaching and execution in these moments, and Alabama isn't doing a good enough job of either.
The end of half sequence was a disaster that can be placed squarely at Kalen DeBoer's feet. The last five points were completely avoidable, and could have ultimately been the difference in the game.
The rest of the season will probably look similar based on this concerning trend pointed out on Twitter:
I went back last week on the results the last 3 years for Kalen DeBoer. Including the first 5 games this season, he’s coached in 22 one score games in 46 games. You can chalk it up to being outclassed with talent but that’s a concerning trend.
— Christian Sykes (@ctsykes13) October 12, 2024
The SEC is too talented across the board to get away with some of the stuff Alabama got away with today. It won't work next week at Tennessee. It won't work later at LSU or Oklahoma. It might not even work in home games against Missouri and Auburn.
Losing to Vanderbilt last week showed us, and today against South Carolina proved it. There's no gimme games left for this team in the SEC.