The most shocking aspect of Alabama's 50-36 win over Florida State was a total implosion on the back end defensively. What was billed as the best secondary in the country in the preseason looked anything but against a typically hapless downfield-passing QB in Ashton Daniels.
Alabama allowed Daniels to rack up 377 yards through the air. The struggles defensively allowed the Seminoles to push out to a 21-6 lead that Keelon Russell and the Crimson Tide's offense had to battle back from. Just like the defense had Russell's back in Lexington last week, he had their back in Week 3.
Alabama DC Kane Wommack didn't mince his words during his weekly press conference on Monday.
"Highly disappointing and uncharacteristic pass defense," Wommack said. "I think the worst I've seen since we have been here."
Kane Wommack calls Alabama's pass defense vs. FSU the 'worst' he's seen during his time in Tuscaloosa
Alabama's defensive backs struggled, consistently leaving Florida State's receivers running freely. There were even more plays to be made that Daniels missed. Alabama had no answer for Duce Robinson, who consistently torched Dijon Lee and the other Tide DBs who lined up on him. He finished with 135 yards and a touchdown on six receptions.
It was a disappointing effort overall. One that Wommack has to take some of the blame for. He obviously didn't put his players in the best positions to succeed, and his substitution patterns were highly questionable. He called the 65-yard screen pass on 3rd-and-long on FSU's first possession of the third quarter the worst play he can remember his Alabama defense giving up across his three seasons as a defensive coordinator here.
But the reason that play sprung the way it did was that he had a backup linebacker - Abudall Sanders - in the game instead of Luke Metz or even QB Reese. Sanders missed the tackle on FSU RB Samuel Singleton Jr. that allowed him to scamper all the way inside the Tide's five-yard line.
Alabama's issues on Saturday are fixable. The talent is there to get things back on the right track. The defense that dominated Kentucky is the same one that struggled against Florida State. It's a perfect lesson early in the season that ultimately didn't cost the Crimson Tide anything. What you did the week before holds no merit on what happens the following week.
It should add some motivation. Wommack said the players are all angry over the performance, which should hopefully lead to a bounce-back this weekend against South Carolina.
"They're pissed, and they should be pissed," Wommack said. "They did not do their job at a high enough level, and they are very capable of doing that. They are disappointed in themselves. The blame cannot be put on any one person."
Alabama gave up nine explosive plays against Florida State. LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina are capable of hitting big plays, too. They will provide a serious challenge to the Crimson Tide's defense this Saturday.
If the issues that plagued them against Florida State aren't fixed in practice this week, Bryant-Denny might need to prepare for a second straight shootout.
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