It's important to remember the context surrounding Alabama's come-from-behind win over South Carolina, and it's that context that has the majority of Crimson Tide fans overjoyed with escaping Columbia with a win.
Alabama just went through a gauntlet. They played - and beat - four consecutive ranked SEC opponents before facing the Gamecocks on Saturday with a much-needed - and well-deserved - bye week on the horizon.
It was the classic spot for a trap game. Alabama fell for it, and it has to scrap, scratch, and claw its way to a beautifully ugly win over South Carolina.
Alabama fans - the Bama Hammer team included - enjoyed the win last night. We chose to focus on the immense positives that came out of a gusty road win. But it would be ignoring reality to pretend there weren't a lot of problems on Saturday.
South Carolina further exposed some nagging flaws that have been eating away at the Crimson Tide this season. Flaws that, if they can't be fixed over the bye week, could threaten to be fatal in the Crimson Tide's quest for the National Championship.
Alabama's inability to run the football is a glaring Achilles Heel
The most glaring flaw that doesn't appear fixable is that Alabama cannot effectively run the football. Alabama picked up just 72 yards on the ground against the Gamecocks, 25 of which came on Germie Bernard's game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Jam Miller was bottled up again. Daniel Hill made some plays as a receiver, but picked up just 10 rushing yards on three attempts.
The lack of any semblance of offensive balance made life more difficult for Ryan Grubb calling plays, and for Ty Simpson to make things happen in the passing game. When you aren't a threat to run the ball, the opposing defense can pin its ears back and attack.
South Carolina was relentless in pressuring Simpson. It disrupted the flow of the offense for Alabama all afternoon long and led to prolonged periods where the offense was completely dormant. Simpson and company delivered down the stretch in do-or-die spots, but the struggles on the ground and to give Simpson ample time to make plays down the field were massive issues.
Alabama's struggles early in the second half of games continue to rear their ugly head. South Carolina scored the first 16 points of the second half before the Tide woke up and made plays down the stretch to win the game.
Last week against Tennessee, Alabama went 3-and-out and allowed a quick Vols touchdown to give Josh Heupel's team new life early in the third quarter.
The week before that against Missouri, Simpson was strip-sacked on the first play of the second half, and Missouri tied the game with a touchdown just a few plays later.
The week before that against Vanderbilt, Alabama had a plethora of chances to put the game away but couldn't execute in plus territory.
And the week before that against Georgia, Alabama's offense was shutout in the second half.
The good news is that Alabama won all of those games. But the struggles - at least early - in the second half are worrisome moving forward and liable to get the Crimson Tide beat if it continues.
Alabama's goals go beyond winning seven straight games in the regular season. They go beyond simply making the College Football Playoff, too. The goal, as always in Tuscaloosa, is to compete for the National Championship.
While Alabama certainly showed its championship mettle in Saturday's comeback win, South Carolina further exposed flaws that will keep the Crimson Tide from actually being champions if DeBoer and the staff can't get them fixed.