Takeaways from shocking Alabama football road loss to Florida State
The Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread and Alabama beat writer Colin Gay reflect on Alabama football’s 31-17 loss to Florida State.
- Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson struggled in his first start against Florida State, taking responsibility for the team’s offensive shortcomings.
- Simpson’s trainer, Thomas Morris, and coach, Kalen DeBoer, believe patience is key for the young quarterback’s development.
- Despite the loss, Simpson showed flashes of potential and is expected to improve with experience.
TALLAHASEE, Fla. — Thomas Morris isn’t one to sugarcoat things. He knew Alabama football quarterback Ty Simpson would see his share of struggles.
Morris would know. He trained Simpson when the future five-star quarterback was in eighth grade at QB Country in Memphis, Tennessee. Morris knew how talented Simpson could be. He knew the attributes Simpson carried that others didn’t. But he also knew what a lack of experience means for a quarterback.
It’s the one thing that can’t be coached, Morris said.
“I think one of the hardest things for the Alabama fanbase to be is patient,” Morris told the Tuscaloosa News. “But I do think, man, if y’all can just be patient for the first week or two, I think by Week 3 or 4, he’s going to be feeling so comfortable and so just in a groove.
“He won’t make the same mistake twice.”
Simpson was the first to admit his share of mistakes in Alabama’s 31-17 loss to Florida State Saturday, Aug. 30.
“Me personally, I feel like I didn’t play very well,” Simpson said.
After an initial drive that showcased a confident, assertive and balanced Alabama offense, Simpson said the Crimson Tide “got a little complacent.”
“We thought that we won it in the first drive, and that’s not how it is,” Simpson said. “Credit to those guys. They played hard for four quarters. We kind of took it for granted.”
Alabama had seven drives that put the offense in FSU territory. Only three of those drives ended in scores. That’s on him, Simpson said.
Alabama “wasn’t very good” on third-down conversions, converting on 6 of 17 opportunities. That’s on him, Simpson said.
Simpson said he took too many sacks, and didn’t give his receivers the opportunity to get the ball. That’s on him, Simpson said.
In his first start for the Crimson Tide, Simpson completed 23 of 43 pass attempts for 254 yards and two touchdowns, to Josh Cuevas and Rico Scott.
“He’s got to just trust his reads and just cut it loose sometimes,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “Just let it fly. He can make the throws. Just let it fly. Throwing on rhythm, throwing on time. There may have been a time or two where they got in his face a little quick. That’s going to happen. That’s football. But just let it fly.”
Before the Florida State game, that’s what Morris was looking for with Simpson. Can the Alabama quarterback throw the ball away? Can he live to see another play? Can he follow the Nick Saban method of ending every drive with a kick, be it a field goal, punt or extra point?
Morris knows Simpson is still growing. And it’s growth he feels that’s worth the wait.
“There’s going to be a lot of good. There’s going to be a little bad probably here or there,” Morris said. “That’s part of playing football in this position. But I just think that if they let him roll with it, they are going to be really happy with Ty Simpson and what he can bring to Alabama football.”
Alabama will host Louisiana Monroe on Saturday, Sept. 6, in its home opener.
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.
