It's hard to extrapolate many positives from Alabama's disastrous performance in Tallahassee on Saturday. In a game featuring two teams with a lot to prove in 2025, only one team played like it.
After months of people questioning Alabama's place in the college football hierarchy, any hope of a "return to the standard" was shot dead at Doak Campbell. Florida State played like a hungry, determined team. Alabama played like one that thought it could show up and win a football game because it's Alabama.
It was as disappointing a game from an effort perspective as I think I've ever watched. And that includes the pitiful displays in Nashville, Norman, and Tampa a year ago. An offseason of posturing couldn't save the Crimson Tide. When they had to line up and play an actual game, they proved that little has changed.
And now, in the last 10 games under Kalen DeBoer, Alabama is a shocking 5-5. Alabama fans are embarrassed. And they should be. Because this isn't just not the standard; it's nowhere close.
Soul-searching should be the mantra of the week in Tuscaloosa. From the coaching staff to the last player on the depth chart. It's time to decide if you just like to talk about it, or if you can actually be about it. Because no Alabama fan is falling for big talk again.
One thing will quickly show if this coaching staff is serious about fixing things or not. And we'll learn it this weekend against Louisiana Monroe. Some of the effort-related issues cannot be allowed to stand. Some guys need to be benched. Others deserve further opportunity.
Kalen DeBoer needs to make these depth chart adjustments
Bray Hubbard needs to be on the bench
The very first thing that has to be done is Bray Hubbard needs to be moved to the back of the line at safety. His effort was embarrassing on several plays against Florida State. I don't normally spew that level of vitriol toward a player, but the fact is that they get paid now. Alabama fans give their hard-earned money so that these kids can get NIL deals. They deserve to watch a team that plays hard.
Losing happens to everyone. I can accept losses. I can't accept the effort Alabama gave on Saturday.
What the coaching staff does with Hubbard will tell me everything I need to know. Because what he put on film won't be kind. And he deserves to be at the bottom of the depth chart for ULM week. He can play special teams and try to earn it back.
For now, Alabama should start Zay Mincey or maybe Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. or Ivan Taylor instead. I feel confident that the sons of former NFL defensive backs will at least hustle.
A change at LB
A lot of people pointed the finger at the defensive line for Alabama's struggles in stopping the run. But even without Tim Keenan, I felt like the defensive line played fine. They didn't make a lot of plays in the backfield, but they weren't getting blown off the ball, either. Jeremiah Beaman, London Simmons, and Isaia Faga held up fine in the middle.
The problem was that the linebackers consistently guessed incorrectly, chose the wrong gaps, and got blown up in the open field.
I'm fine with Lawson continuing to start - he's the signal caller in the middle and they need that, even if he's not quite 100%. But at Mike, neither Justin Jefferson nor Nikhai Hill-Green played up to par. If they're going to play like that, I'd rather Alabama play the kids. Throw QB Reese or Cayden Jones or Luke Metz out there. At least they'll play fast and physical.
The offensive line needs an injection of nasty
Alabama's offensive line wasn't quite as bad as it looked on Saturday on first watch. They struggled to get much push in the run game, but for the most part, they gave Ty Simpson plenty of clean pockets to do damage through the air. Simpson just didn't do much with them.
Even still, Alabama's offensive line feels like it needs an injection of nasty. Guys who want to dominate in the trenches like the Alabama of old.
Getting Jaeden Roberts back healthy is priority No. 1. Geno VanDeMark is a solid player, but when healthy, Roberts is better and more physically imposing. I'd also like to see freshman Michael Carroll get some snaps at right tackle in place of Wilkin Formby.
Kevin Riley should be RB1 until Jam Miller returns
One of the biggest surprises on Saturday was that Kevin Riley was the third running back into the game, behind Richard Young and Daniel Hill, but ahead of Louisiana transfer Dre Washington. Riley had begun generating positive buzz in fall camp, and it was easy to see why. He looked to have some explosive ability that the Tide's offense could really use.
Riley was Alabama's leading rusher with five carries for 31 yards. He was the only RB to produce a carry of 10+ yards. Young and Hill can still have roles, but after one game - an admittedly small sample size - it looks like Riley is the underclassman with the most promise.
Keelon Russell should rotate in against Louisiana Monroe
Perhaps this may be controversial for some. I like Ty Simpson. I thought he played really hard against Florida State. If you had told me pregame that was the type of performance we could expect from Simpson, I would have felt pretty confident in Alabama's ability to win that game and go pretty far.
But it's clear that this team needs an elevator at QB because they're simply not as good as most thought. Simpson missed some throws that were there to be made. It was just his first start, and he deserves to and will start against Louisiana Monroe.
But Keelon Russell should get some snaps. The 5-star freshman phenom has the ability to elevate the offense to another level. Alabama would have to live with some freshman mistakes with him, but there would be moments of brilliance that only he can provide.
Whether or not he's ready to lead this team is a fair question. The only way to find out is an extended look in a game Alabama should handle easily.