Alabama Football: How Fixable Are Tide's Major Weaknesses?

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The potential weaknesses many pointed out for this Alabama team have persisted five games into the 2014 season.

Ole Miss, in particular, exploited many of these big weaknesses en route to a 23-17 win that gave Alabama its first loss of the season. The Rebels hit several big plays in the passing game, forced turnovers the last two times Alabama had the ball and held the Crimson Tide to a season-low 168 yards on the ground.

Alabama has a lot to correct if it wants to make a run at the SEC West, SEC and College Football Playoff. So how fixable are these weaknesses? Let’s take a look at a couple of the major ones.

Penalties

The Crimson Tide committed eight penalties on Saturday, lifting their average to seven per game, which is easily their highest average since 2008 (when cfbstats began recording this stat). That puts Alabama in tie for second-worst in the SEC in that category.

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

It’s very much out of character for a Nick Saban team, which are traditionally known for a disciplined style of play.

Four of those eight penalties were what Saban calls administrative penalties—false starts, delay of games, things that happen before the play that should be avoidable.

Right guard Leon Brown has been a consistent violator in that area. He took a false start penalty in each of the last two games, per UA’s game notes.

“You can’t be negative in those situations,” right tackle Austin Shepherd said. “He’s a good player. He’s just got to be more mentally prepared. I’ve tried talking to him. You just can’t be doing silly things like that. You’ve gotta get it fixed.”

This might be the most fixable of these weaknesses, since the majority of Alabama’s penalties are more focus- and execution-related.

This is something that has been stalling drives and is not a recipe for sustainable success.

Right guard

Speaking of Brown, his position on the offensive line has been one of much consternation so far this year. He’s been replaced by Alphonse Taylor at several points during the season, including in the fourth quarter against Ole Miss.

D.C. Reeves of The Tuscaloosa News shared a GIF of him getting blown up by Rebels defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche in pass protection:

Saban said the solution at that position is not a change in personnel.

“Well, we have to make the guys that are playing there better,” he said. “I think Leon actually played better in this game, to his credit. 'Shank' (Taylor) got an opportunity to play, and he actually played better in this game. So that’s the key to the drill is we don’t have another player.”

He then offered up a statement that really could apply to any position.

“I know for fans there’s always hope,” Saban said. “‘Put the other quarterback in. Kick the other kicker.’ Well, if they were better we’d play them to start with, all right? So we have to make the people we have better.”

Alabama will have to roll with Brown or Taylor, for better or for worse. Junior college recruit Dominick Jackson, who was thought to be a candidate at guard in his first season, has mostly worked at tackle. Therefore, Brown or Taylor will need to up their level of play in the coming weeks.

Turnovers

Another uncharacteristic statistic for Alabama this season has been turnovers, and a lack thereof.

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

The Crimson Tide are second-last in the SEC with a turnover margin of minus-four through five games. Alabama has caught two interceptions and recovered three fumbles. However, it’s thrown three interceptions and lost six fumbles.

No fumble was bigger than Christion Jones’ on a kickoff after Ole Miss’ tying touchdown. It set the Rebels up perfectly for the eventual game-winning score.

Against Florida, Alabama lost three fumbles and threw an interception that kept the Gators much closer than they should have been on the scoreboard.

“One of the disappointing things to me about our team is we have made more emphasis on ball security and getting turnovers this year than I can ever remember in all the time I've been a coach,” Saban said. “And we continue to not play the ball correctly and turn the ball over.”

On kickoffs, a change could be made in personnel. Jones ranks No. 31 nationally in kickoff return average and just No. 65 on punts. Cornerback Cyrus Jones got a look back there on Saturday after the fumble and has played there before.

On offense, the turnovers are just a matter of decision-making and proper technique holding the ball.

On the other side of the ball, the Crimson Tide need more big plays to turn the game in their favor instead of in the opposite direction, which has been happening so often.

Secondary

Rogelio V. Solis/Associated Press

This unit continues to be a question mark five games into the season. It has played well overall, but mental lapses by the unit cost the Crimson Tide the game on Saturday.

Cornerback Cyrus Jones said communication needed to improve among the unit. He called the process of getting signals in from defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and actually translating them on the field in such a short window “mind-blowing.”

“Everybody has to be on the same page with Coach Smart giving the signals on the sidelines,” Jones said. “That involves everybody knowing the signals that we have and just getting it across the board, from the linebackers to the DBs being on the same page as well. It's all a collective kind of process.”

That could improve with experience. Jones is in his first year as a starter at cornerback, while Tony Brown made just his second start against Ole Miss opposite him.

“He's a young guy, just building each week, just getting more confidence the more time he gets in practice and the game,” Jones said. “So I think we're all helping him progress and just learn the defense a lot better. And once he learns that, it's easy to play fast.”

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats come from cfbstats.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.