Alabama's offense hit rock bottom in Knoxville with a 26-10 loss to Tennessee. The Crimson Tide mustered just one touchdown, which was set up by a defensive takeaway that gave Alabama the ball inside the Tennessee redzone. Alabama managed just 201 yards of offense. It was ineffective in every phase of the offense.
The QB play wasn't good enough, the blocking didn't hold up, the running backs couldn't get going, and the receivers couldn't get open. It's that last point that makes the usage of the Tide's WRs all the more curious for Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb.
Down star WR Ryan Coleman-Williams, there figured to be opportunities for all three of Derek Meadows, Noah Rogers, and Cederian Morgan. As it turned out, the opportunity was really only for Meadows.
Meadows played 51 of Alabama's 55 offensive snaps. That was below only the 52 played by Rico Scott and 14 more than Lotzeir Brooks' 37. Rogers and Morgan played just two snaps each, per PFF data.
That's surprising, especially considering DeBoer singled out Rogers in the pregame as a guy who would "more than likely" get more opportunities with Coleman-Williams out. That didn't come to pass, with Alabama leaning on an ineffective Meadows, who caught two passes for eight yards and never threatened the Tennessee defense.
Cederian Morgan and Noah Rogers need more opportunities next week vs. Texas A&M
Alabama's season is now on the brink after the offensive no-show in Knoxville. A second straight loss has Alabama at 5-2 and needing five straight wins to close out the regular season and ensure a College Football Playoff spot. The Tide would be firmly on the bubble at 9-3.
Coleman-Williams will be out next week, too. His absence was a big deal against Tennessee. It will be a big deal next week, too.
Meadows nor Scott has proven capable of being difference makers on the outside. They are solid players. Alabama needs more than that.
Can Rogers or Morgan scratch that itch? It's hard to know for sure. It's impossible to know if they are each just getting two snaps a game.
Rogers was considered a key Transfer Portal addition at WR to replace Isaiah Horton, who will be on the Aggies' sideline next week. He was a standout during the spring, but suffered a knee injury that cost him the first few weeks of the season. He returned three weeks ago and should be healthy enough to get more of an opportunity.
Morgan was the prize of Alabama's WR recruiting class. One of the top players in the state last year, he drew rave reviews all offseason from his teammates and coaches with his sure hands and ridiculous catch radius.
He's got a ways to go as a blocker, but he's been targeted one time this year. It was a 21-yard touchdown reception against Florida State.
There are a lot of questions about the Alabama offense. Most of them revolve around Grubb and his play-calling. But his personnel usage and lack of faith in seemingly talented playmakers sitting on the bench are issues, too.
Hopefully, next week all of that will change. A year and a half into his tenure as the Tide's OC, fans know better than to expect it.
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