At what point do we stop calling something a slow start and start calling it a serious problem?

Because for Alabama football, the recurring first-half struggles have become more than just frustrating. They're becoming unacceptable, and Saturday's performance against Texas A&M is another glaring reminder that something within this program has to change.

And before anyone immediately points the finger at Kalen DeBoer, let's establish something: This is not just a head coaching problem. This is an Alabama football problem, and everyone involved deserves to be held accountable.

Coming off consecutive losses to Georgia and Tennessee, Alabama entered Saturday's matchup with Texas A&M needing to make a statement. This was an opportunity to demonstrate improvement, respond to adversity, and show that the Crimson Tide still possesses the mentality necessary to compete at a championship level.

Instead, Alabama once again struggled to establish offensive consistency in the first half.

Yes, the defense provided an enormous spark when Dijon Lee intercepted Marcel Reed and returned the football 39 yards for a touchdown. But Alabama cannot continue depending on its defense to generate offensive production and create momentum.

The offense has to do its part.

And right now, that simply isn't happening consistently enough.

One of the biggest concerns surrounding Alabama's offense is its inability to establish an identity. What exactly does this offense want to be? A physical, downhill rushing attack? An explosive passing offense? A balanced unit capable of controlling the line of scrimmage and dictating the tempo?

Because at times, it looks like Alabama is struggling to figure that out itself.

Ryan Grubb deserves criticism for the offensive inconsistency. That's part of being an offensive coordinator at Alabama. His responsibility is to develop a game plan that maximizes his personnel, establishes favorable matchups, and puts his players in positions to succeed.

But Grubb cannot physically execute the plays he calls.

The offensive line has to win its battles. Receivers have to create separation, catch the football, and execute their assignments. Running backs have to identify running lanes and protect the quarterback. Keelon Russell has to make good decisions, recognize defensive coverages, and take care of the football.

And collectively, Alabama has to stop making football more complicated than it needs to be.

The Crimson Tide surrendered nine sacks in its previous two losses against Georgia and Tennessee. Nine. That is simply not sustainable for an offense attempting to develop a young quarterback and establish consistency against SEC competition.

When an offensive line struggles to protect the quarterback or consistently create running lanes, the entire offensive structure suffers. The playbook becomes limited, drives become increasingly difficult to sustain, and opposing defenses can dictate the game.

And that brings us back to preparation.

How many times are we going to watch Alabama struggle offensively in the first half before something fundamentally changes?

How many times are we going to hear about adjustments, execution, and needing to start faster?

Those are all important conversations, but eventually, those conversations have to translate into results on the football field. And that's where DeBoer and his coaching staff must take responsibility.

Not because every missed block, poor throw, or unsuccessful play call is their fault, but because their job is to identify recurring weaknesses, correct them during the week, and prepare their players to execute on Saturdays.

At the same time, the players must take ownership of their performances. Accountability cannot exist exclusively on the sidelines. It has to exist in the locker room, at practice, and during every single snap.

These are talented football players competing at one of the most prestigious programs in college football. With that opportunity comes an expectation of discipline, physicality, preparation, and execution.

That is not an unreasonable demand. That is the standard.

And let's address another argument I keep hearing: Alabama fans need to lower their expectations because Nick Saban is no longer the head coach.

Absolutely not.

Nobody is asking DeBoer to become Nick Saban. Nobody is suggesting Alabama should win every game by four touchdowns or go undefeated every season.

But expecting Alabama to look prepared, execute fundamental football, and compete consistently from the opening kickoff should not be controversial.

The standard at Alabama was never supposed to be about one individual. It is about a commitment to excellence throughout the entire program.

And excellence requires accountability.

Alabama has the talent to be better than what we've consistently witnessed offensively. But talent alone doesn't win football games. Preparation, physicality, discipline, execution, and coaching do.

This football team cannot continue relying on second-half adjustments to compensate for first-half inconsistencies. Against quality SEC opponents, those early mistakes can become the difference between winning and losing.

At some point, potential has to become production. At some point, preparation has to become execution. And at some point, everyone associated with this Alabama football program has to take responsibility for the product being put on the field.

Because the problem isn't simply that Alabama is struggling in the first half.

The problem is that we're seeing the same struggles week after week, and we're still waiting for consistent evidence that they've been fixed.

And at Alabama, that should concern everybody.

Roll Tide.

Source: Yahoo Sports