One overlooked takeaway from Alabama’s loss could shape what comes next for DeBoer

Alabama's performance last Saturday against Florida State could best be described by a number of different adjectives: pitiful, pathetic, wretched, etc. Regardless of how good Florida State turns out to be this season - and they may be really good - it doesn't excuse the level of effort and execution from the Crimson Tide in Tallahassee.

No matter the quality of the opponent, Alabama has to control the things it can control. And no matter how things are going, it can control its effort level. Each player can control what's in front of them and do their job.

Much has been written in the aftermath of Alabama's two-touchdown loss to Florida State, almost all of it negative. That's understandable. Extrapolating any positives from the Tide's performance takes more than just a cursory glance. Criticism came easily. We did our fair share of it.

But there is one interesting takeaway from Saturday's loss that sticks out as an outlier. One that could ultimately shape the direction of the program and determine Kalen DeBoer's future in Tuscaloosa.

If you look back at last week's game, think about which players performed well. I know that's not an easy thing to think of because immediately the anger boils in the pit of your stomach as you think about the vast array of guys who didn't play well, but bear with me for a moment.

Offensively, at least, those guys are Germie Bernard, Parker Brailsford, and Josh Cuevas.

What do those guys have in common?

They all started at Washington with DeBoer and this staff before following them to Tuscaloosa to play for Alabama.

Bernard turned eight receptions into 146 yards as he continues to play like Alabama's WR1.

"That's what it's supposed to look like," Ryan Grubb said on Monday about Bernard. "We just set that as the gold standard, and if it's not what Germ's doing, it's not good enough."

The offensive line wasn't great, but Brailsford was his usual steadying presence. He had a customarily strong game.

Cuevas was Alabama's second leading receiver behind Bernard, catching three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. He also made an impact as a blocker:

So what does it tell us that Alabama's most consistent performers are the Washington transfers?

An uncomfortable truth for Alabama football fans

A lot has been said about this "west coast" staff and their "west coast" players infecting the locker room, and that being why Alabama doesn't live up to the standard anymore. Fans believe Alabama is more of a finesse team because of it, instead of the power team they used to be.

But it's not a coincidence that the most consistent players on the team - at least in the season opener - are those "west coast" players who started out at Washington before transferring to Alabama. Those guys are more bought into the coaching staff, and those guys are thriving as a result.

What it tells me is that the buy-in from the rest of the team, particularly the Saban-era holdovers, is not as high as it sounded like in the offseason.

It's also an uncomfortable truth that many Alabama fans don't want to face: things were trending downward the last couple of seasons Saban was on the sideline. Alabama's lack of discipline was evident as the Crimson Tide finished near the bottom of the FBS in penalties the last two seasons before Saban retired.

That he still mustered an SEC Championship and a College Football Playoff berth in his final season in 2023 speaks to his greatness as a coach. But the chinks in the armor were evident for a long time, and changing a culture trending in the wrong direction was never going to be an overnight fix.

DeBoer has had enough time that the excuses aren't good enough. He's no longer the substitute teacher just trying to keep the class from walking out. That excuse worked a year ago with the one-sided Transfer Portal. It doesn't work anymore.

DeBoer may need to make some tough decisions. If the holdovers don't want to play hard, if they're not bought in, they need to be on the bench. If that means playing younger players, then so be it.

Slot Michael Carroll into the right tackle spot. Throw Ivan Taylor at safety in place of the loafing Bray Hubbard. Get Noah Carter and Justin Hill on the field more to rush the passer. Play the kids at linebacker.

Do whatever it takes. Because the first 14 games haven't been good enough. And if things don't improve, and fast, you might not get 14 more.