Mark Ingram: Alabama loss to Vanderbilt was ‘comical,’ defense was ‘atrocious’

Alabama fans have been in disappointed disbelief following the team’s 40-35 upset loss to Vanderbilt last weekend in Nashville. Emotions may have been felt the hardest among former Crimson Tide players who could not fathom falling to a program that they haven’t lost to in 40 years.

Former Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram falls into the category. The former Heisman Trophy winner wasn’t afraid to share his honest opinions from real-time when he was watching his alma mater suffer from a historic loss.

“It’s actually quite comical,” Ingram said on The Triple Option. “You just go and just get smacked by Vandy … I’m sitting here on the plane watching this, I’m like is this even real life? Like what’s happening? We go on the road, we just can’t do anything. No matter how you slice this cake it’s atrocious.”

Ingram’s questions and attitudes toward Saturday’s game mirror those of many other Alabama fans and former players. But the way in which Vanderbilt was able to secure the win may have been the most surprising of all, as the Crimson Tide’s historically elite defense was completely picked apart by the Commodores offensive attack.

“The defense is just completely just unprepared for this. It’s a triple option, the defense, they weren’t sound in their assignments,” Ingram said. “You got to know who has the dive back, who has the quarterback, who has the pitch man. We had people that were stagnant, sitting there, kind of hesitant, and that’s what you want out of option offense. I ran it with the Ravens and that’s what you want. People who are standing still, kind of indecisive, that’s where you take advantage of a defense like that.”

After getting out to a strong 30-7 lead against Georgia in Week 5, Alabama’s defense reared an ugly head in the second half. Allowing 27 points in a trend that carried over into the next week and now represents a serious area of concern for the Crimson Tide.

“Bama’s defense is in crisis mode right now. The last six quarters, 67 points, 784 yards, opponents are converting third downs at a 54% rate. They’ve allowed ten 20-yard plays. Like you thought that the second half of the Georgia thing might have just been Georgia, but no, that’s truly who the defense is right now,” Ingram said.

Alabama dropped from the top-ranked team in the country to No. 7 in the AP Poll following Saturday’s loss. And there’s no question that they’ll want to improve on defense and do so fast heading into the toughest stretch of their schedule. Hosting South Carolina this weekend three straight games against ranked SEC opponents.