Malachi Moore: Alabama Defense Has Dealt with Some 'Anxiety' Over Late Play Calls

After a massive upset loss to Vanderbilt on Saturday, Alabama safety Malachi Moore admitted that play calls coming in late have led to added stress for the Crimson Tide defense this year.

"I just think sometimes we get the call in a little late, so it gives us a little anxiety of not knowing what the offense is gonna run or adjusting to their formations," Moore said, per 247Sports' Mike Rodak.

"But (defensive coordinator Kane Wommack), that's kind of was his style of calling—wanting to put us in a perfect position. He knows we're at Bama now, and he has a lot of pieces. He doesn't have to compensate for anything and as long as he gives us the call and allows us to get our feet in the dirt, we're gonna be great."

According to Rodak, Moore also said players "from the D-line all the way back to the secondary" have also expressed a desire to get play calls earlier.

As Moore alluded to, Wommack, who joined Alabama's staff ahead of the 2024 season, isn't used to coaching a defense full of 5-star talent that can make adjustments on the fly. He was the defensive coordinator at Indiana from 2019 to 2020 and spent the last three seasons as the head coach at South Alabama.

Now with a defense made up of players used to competing against SEC talent, Moore believes Wommack could get away with calling plays earlier rather than waiting to see what formation the offense comes out in.

Alabama's defensive struggles were evident Saturday as it allowed Vandy quarterback Diego Pavia to throw for 252 passing yards and two touchdowns while adding another 56 yards on the ground. The Commodores' 40 points were the most the Crimson Tide have allowed since their loss to Tennessee in 2022.

After the loss, Moore said Alabama's roster and staff have committed to learning from their mistakes, including Wommack.

"Coach Wo, he's been doing a great job of coming in and taking accountability on his part," Moore said. "And the coaches and on the players, too, showing us how we didn't fit stuff right or what we messed up at. Also telling us the good we did do in the game. I think everybody, like I said, is being very accountable of what happened Saturday and definitely working very hard to never let it happen again."

With the historic upset behind them, the Crimson Tide are preparing to face South Carolina, a game Alabama can't afford to lose if it is to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive. Moore and the defense have expressed what quicker play calls can do from the Crimson Tide's defense, now it's a matter of making those adjustments.