Alabama Football win was no 'get-well' for the Crimson Tide

Alabama Football survived South Carolina on Saturday to move to 5-1. The 27-25 win was far short of what the Crimson Tide nation was looking for after the upset loss to Vanderbilt. The South Carolina game was supposed to be a 'get-well' experience for the Crimson Tide. Instead, the win fueled more doubts about the team's Playoff viability.

Until Kane Wommack (finally) decided to bring blitz pressure late in the game, the South Carolina offense had the upper hand against the Alabama defense. The Gamecocks finished the game with more total yards, more passing yards, more rushing yards, and more first downs. after adjusting for sacks, South Carolina averaged 4.6 rushing yards per carry. The Crimson Tide averaged 3.7 yards. South Carolina was 7-for-15 on third downs. Alabama overcame the deficiencies by winning the turnover battle. The Gamecocks lost three fumbles along with the last play interception.

Jalen Milroe ran for two touchdowns and passed for another. The Alabama Crimson Tide QB also threw two interceptions and gave up a safety on intentional grounding from the end zone. Milroe passed for 209 yards and Alabama needed every one of them, with Bama's running backs averaging just 3.4 yards on rushing attempts. Sack adjusted, Milroe ran for 72 yards, at an average carry of four yards.

After the game Kalen DeBoer commended his team for finding a way to win, "Another game down to the wire, we’re sort of getting accustomed to those. I think there are certainly some things we can do to make sure they don’t get to that point. But we talk about finding a way to win." Others, including Alabama football fans, will argue that the Crimson Tide also shows that it can find ways to lose.

Even more Alabama Football questions and doubt

The South Carolina game was supposed to answer troubling questions about the Crimson Tide's remaining regular season. Any answers coming from the game are outweighed by what will now be more questions. A summary of those questions is what is wrong with Alabama? Mostly, but not totally, focused on the Crimson Tide defense, Alabama at the midpoint of the regular season has seriously underperformed. The win over South Carolina did nothing to dispel doubt.

Note: Game stats provided by ESPN.