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Does Alabama football defense get an F in Vandy loss? Our report card
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Does Alabama football defense get an F in Vandy loss? Our report card
NASHVILLE — Even with "rat traps" around the Mal Moore Athletic Facility in the days leading up to Saturday's road game, nothing could have prepared Alabama football for what ensued at FirstBank Stadium against Vanderbilt .
Diego Pavia and the Commodores rolled to their first outright win against Alabama since 1984, beating the Crimson Tide 40-35 and handing Alabama the first loss of the Kalen DeBoer era.
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Here is how we graded No. 2 Alabama (4-1) in its road loss to Vanderbilt (3-2) Saturday.
Alabama football offense: C
Alabama's offense was uninspiring at best, with an uninspiring run game and an inconsistent passing performance from Jalen Milroe .
A nine-play 83-yard touchdown drive ending in a 3-yard Jam Miller touchdown brought some light to an otherwise abysmal first half offensively. Alabama turned that 9-yard first-half touchdown drive into a five-play touchdown drive to start the second half, one where Milroe looked like the efficient and diverse quarterback he's been through the first four games. He had more moments with Ryan Williams that have become the norm for the 17-year-old.
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Alabama defense: F
Vanderbilt Commodores running back Sedrick Alexander (28) runs in a touchdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide during their game at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
Facing Kane Wommack's "swarm" Alabama defense , Vanderbilt's offensive game plan seemed to be based on what hurt the Crimson Tide tremendously through the first four games of 2024, an unrelenting offense centered around all of Alabama's flaws.
In the first half, Vanderbilt kept the ball and would not let go. And while the Commodores averaged less than 5 yards per play, the nearly 13-minute advantage in time of possession kept Vanderbilt ahead of schedule and exhausted. Alabama's third down defense continued to give Vanderbilt a chance.
Alabama special teams: C
Alabama special teams very nearly gave momentum solely to Vanderbilt in the second quarter. Holding a 20-7 lead, the Commodores forced an Emmanuel Henderson fumble that was erased on a review after Henderson was seen as down.
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Henderson ignited Alabama at the start of the second half with a 46-yard kickoff return and later made a ferocious tackle on punt return later in the third quarter.
Alabama coaching: F
In Alabama's first game after a dramatic win against Georgia, the Crimson Tide was undisciplined, leading to three first-half penalties including an illegal numbering penalty that extended a Vanderbilt drive initially supposed to end as a punt and turned into a touchdown.
The Alabama coaching staff made it a point for its players not to overlook Vanderbilt. That approach did not work as Vanderbilt stunned the Crimson Tide.
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Alabama overall: F
Alabama was right. Vanderbilt was a "rat trap" game. And the Crimson Tide was not prepared to handle the Commodores.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football report card: How did we grade upset loss to Vanderbilt?
