Alabama's loss 'falls on everyone,' coach Kalen DeBoer says - ESPN

TALLAHASSE, Fla. — Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said after a disappointing 31-17 loss to Florida State on Saturday that there are «no excuses» for what happened.

The Crimson Tide came into the game as a nearly two-touchdown favorite. But after a successful opening drive, they could not run the ball consistently, nor could they slow down Florida State and its new-look rushing game.

With two minutes left in the game, Florida State started celebrating on the field, while Alabama was left searching for answers — particularly in a season that started with College Football Playoff hopes in Year 2 under DeBoer.

«I choose to believe we've got a good football team,» DeBoer said. «But we can't play on our heels. We're not going to be what we think we can be, what we want to be, if that's the case. And that falls on everyone. I don't just point the finger at the players.»

Alabama started the game with a 16-play, 75-yard drive in which it set the tone up front, converted on third and fourth downs and could seemingly do no wrong. Even without starting running back Jam Miller, Alabama used an effective rotation and new starting quarterback Ty Simpson made some clutch throws.

But it was a slog after that, as Florida State adjusted defensively and started to turn the pressure up on Simpson. According to ESPN Research, the Seminoles pressured Simpson on 16 of his 51 dropbacks. He was 1-of-10 for 30 yards with three sacks when pressured.

Without Miller, Alabama used four different running backs, but they were ineffective. The longest run of the day was 13 yards.

«I think that we got a little complacent and we thought that we won on the first drive, and that's not how it is,» Simpson said. «Credit to those guys. They played hard for four