AJ McCarron: Alabama is too ‘soft’ at the line of scrimmage, has ‘weird vibe’

In the days after Alabama‘s first season-opening loss in nearly a quarter-century, when an unranked Florida State manhandled the then-No. 8 Crimson Tide 31-17 last Saturday in Tallahassee, the entire program has been put under a microscope.

Alabama fans have been quick to point the finger at second-year head football coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff, as well as individual star players, after another in what is becoming a trend of listless and uninspired road performances that dates back to last season. The Tide is actually 5-5 in its last 10 games, including just 1-5 in games away from Tuscaloosa.

But the loudest criticism is coming from inside the house.

Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, a three-time natonal champion, didn’t hold back with his personal disgust about what he saw take place on the field Saturday in Tallahassee, and specifically called out the Crimson Tide trenches for being “soft” — a term never used to describe Alabama teams in the 17 seasons under former coach Nick Saban.

“We as a team are soft up front on both sides of the football. Absolutely dominated from an offensive line standpoint – and maybe this lights a fire under them or, hell, maybe they don’t care at all — (but Alabama was) absolutely dominated from an O-line standpoint,” McCarron said bluntly on this week’s episode of THE DYNASTY podcast. “And it wasn’t like Florida State was bringing a ton of pressure or crazy blitz schemes, packages. They were lining up in a bear front, playing man coverage sometimes, and … our guards and tackles couldn’t pass them off to save their life. And when they didn’t, they just bull rushed and we struggled with that. … Extremely soft, no nastiness up front whatsoever, just getting pushed around.”

AJ McCarron calls out Alabama defense for being ‘extremely soft’ vs. FSU

McCarron, who was a guest on Alabama’s visiting sideline during the game, also cited the team’s general lack of excitement coming from the bench, even after the Tide’s first score to take an early 7-0 lead.

“The sideline is dead, there’s just no excitement, it was weird, I didn’t understand it,” McCarron continued. “There was a quick excitement but then it was just dead. … It was such a weird, weird vibe.”

That uncharacteristic “vibe” carried over after FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos drove the ‘Noles down the field 75 yards in seven plays capped by an easy 9-yard touchdown run from the former transfer QB to tie the game at 7-all with 3 minutes left in the opening quarter. Seeing the faces of the Alabama defenders coming off the field after that series spoke volumes to McCarron.

“It was almost like the defense lost all confidence and faith and they had this mindset that ‘On no, they’re going to score at will,’” McCarron added. “It was a weird, weird deal. I just didn’t see enough heart from guys on this team all the way across. …. When it came to the defense, I really didn’t see any dudes playing all out. … I just thought we were soft, extremely soft.”

An unquestionably biting critique of his alma mater, which opened 0-1 on the season for the first time since 2001.