Alabama fans have every right to be furious about the no-call against Georgia. With the Crimson Tide trailing 20-17 late in the fourth quarter, Georgia defensive back KJ Bolden made contact with RicoScott on a throw from Keelon Russell into the endzone before the ball arrived, and the officials kept their flags in their pockets.
Even ABC broadcaster Chris Fowler seemed to expect a flag. Instead, Alabama faced another down, Russell took a sack, Alabama punted, and Georgia ran out the clock for the win. As frustrating as the no-call was, Alabama has a much bigger problem to address before Saturday's trip to Tennessee.
Wasted opportunities proved more costly for Alabama than the missed calls
As much as I believe it should have been pass interference on that play, Alabama did not lose on that one play alone. The Crimson Tide had plenty of opportunities to put themselves in a better position to win the game. Alabama finished with 346 total yards compared with Georgia's 455. Russell completed 16 of 30 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown, while Georgia's defense brought him down four times. The Tide also managed just three points in the second half.
Those numbers tell a story that extends well beyond one officiating decision. Alabama had the lead at halftime. They had home-field advantage. They had chances to generate momentum offensively. They may have been one play away from winning the game, but ultimately they didn't make enough plays earlier to win it. That is what should bother Alabama fans the most.
Kalen DeBoer knows the truth.
To his credit, DeBoer didn't make the officiating controversy his excuse after the game. He mentioned in his presser, "We can't put the game in the situation where the officials come into play... We got to control the things we control." It is difficult to argue with that assessment. Complaining is not going to change the results of the game. The coaching staff is going to have to figure out how to get more consistent production from the passing game, better protection on the offensive line, and find a way to sustain offensive momentum for four full quarters.
The Tide showed it could compete with Georgia, and that is encouraging. Competing with the top-ranked teams and beating them are two different things. There's also the discipline issue worth discussing.
Late in the game, defensive back Dijon Lee Jr. committed a personal foul that gave Georgia an automatic first down and helped the Bulldogs run out the clock. DeBoer visibly expressed his frustration with the sophomore afterward, which has the internet divided. When a game is decided by three points, those mistakes matter just as much as a missed flag.
The Tennessee game presents a perfect opportunity for Alabama to respond
Here is where the Tide needs to turn their attention. They will be traveling to Knoxville on Saturday to face Tennessee in another important SEC matchup. There is no time to spend the entire week dwelling on a few crucial mistakes and the "what ifs" of the Georgia game. Alabama needs to respond strongly against Tennessee.
The offensive line needs to improve. Russell needs more time to operate. Russell himself needs to improve as well. He needs to get better at recognizing when a play is dead and throwing the ball away. DeBoer's staff needs to demonstrate that it can make the adjustments necessary to keep the offense productive after halftime. The defense needs to avoid costly mistakes in critical situations. None of that means Alabama is suddenly a bad football team. Losing 20-17 to a talented Georgia squad doesn't mean the season is falling apart.
If the Tide wants to win a national championship, they have a ways to go beyond just competing with the best to beating the best.
The Georgia no-call deserved attention, and Bama fans have every right to question it. Blaming the officials for the entire loss would be doing this team a disservice. The Tide had opportunities to win before that play ever happened. It failed to capitalize on enough of them, and Georgia made the plays necessary to leave T-town with a win.
Now the question is how Alabama responds. If the Crimson Tide takes care of business in Knoxville, the Georgia loss becomes a frustrating early-season setback rather than the downfall of the season. If the same offensive issues and costly mistakes continue, the no-call will be the least of fans' worries. Alabama doesn't need a better explanation for losing to Georgia. They need a better performance against Tennessee.
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