This is an opinion column.

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A former Alabama quarterback reached out to me this week about the Crimson Tide.

Like everyone else who watched Alabama this season, the guys who played at Alabama have some concerns, too.

I’m not going to name him here, but the quarterback made it all the way to the NFL and knows his stuff. “I usually don’t agree with sportswriter’s comments,” he said, but wanted to talk about Alabama’s lack of attention to detail in the bowl game against Michigan.

Michigan was a double-digit underdog but upset Alabama 19-13 in a game that underscored Alabama’s lack of preparation throughout the season. It led to four turnovers against the Wolverines, including three by Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Alabama ended the season with a loss despite its defense holding Michigan’s piecemeal offense to a minuscule 2.9 yards per play. I’ve never seen anything like it, or at least not from Alabama. Michigan played a host of backups throughout the game and had to use a quarterback who’s transferring out of the program.

The game ultimately came down to Michigan having enough pride in itself to actually care about its also-ran bowl game a year after winning the national title. Meanwhile, Alabama played like it was uninterested in even being there after being left out of the most recent College Football Playoff.

The problem at Alabama might be more troubling, though.

Alabama’s coaching staff made a habit this season of being unprepared for games it was supposed to win.

How could a team not be ready for rain in Tampa?

“Playing in Florida,” wrote the former quarterback, “the head coach and equipment manager have to anticipate rain showers and a slick, wet field and have a change of proper shoes for skill players with longer, more robust cleats if needed. Which they were. Did you notice any Michigan players slipping and sliding down?

“On Thursdays, Coach [Paul] Bryant had a drill where we snapped, did handoffs, and threw for 10 minutes with wet balls … and took safer snaps under center and not from shotgun.”

Against Michigan, Alabama quarterback’s looked like he had never handled a wet ball in his career. But Alabama should have been prepared for rain in Tampa. After all, the Tide played in the rain in Tampa in 2023.

Milroe was benched for that game, though. Alabama won 17-3 with quarterbacks Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson.

Maybe Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer should have benched Milroe against Michigan after the quarterback turned the ball over three times in Alabama’s first 10 plays.

On Milroe possibly tipping off plays against the Wolverines, the former Alabama and NFL quarterback who emailed me attributed that to “lack of attention to detail. The former quarterback pointed out that he “always scouted myself for any pre-snap movement or actions such as head turn, which would tip defense pre-run or pass or the direction of play.”

In the aftermath of Alabama’s embarrassing loss to Michigan, a video circulated on the internet that put Milroe and DeBoer in an unfavorable light. Milroe’s pre-snap posture against Michigan could have allowed the Wolverines to anticipate a run or pass. On passing plays, Milroe staggered his feet before the hike. On run plays, his pre-snap feet were squared in the direction of the center.

It’s a small thing, but a glaring indictment of Alabama’s staff. A good coach should have recognized the error and corrected it. In the SEC, every detail matters.

It was Alabama’s sloppy habits against inferior opponents that ruined the season for the Tide.

Three of Alabama’s four defeats in 2024 were against teams that ended the season with at least five losses. That’s a direct reflection on the coaching staff, and specifically first-year Alabama coach DeBoer. Previous coach Nick Saban rarely lost games against unranked opponents. It’s a trend for the new guy in charge.

Saban was 127-4 against unranked opponents.

In one season, DeBoer already has three losses against teams outside the Top 25 polls.

DeBoer can’t afford to miss the playoffs next season, but if he loses to another unranked opponent that will already match the total number of unranked losses Saban had over 17 years as the coach of Alabama.

Alabama was the most overrated team in the country in 2024. Worst of all, while teams like Ohio State, Notre Dame and Georgia improved from the beginning of the season to the end, Alabama went the opposite direction.

In his email, the former Alabama quarterback noted that part of the problem with Alabama’s offense was its predictable tendencies. Milroe “regressed in ’24 because every Alabama opponent’s defensive coordinator studied the Michigan defensive coordinator’s very effective scheme vs. Milroe in the Rose Bowl loss and used it to limit his downfield running and force him to throw from the pocket.”

In a touch of irony, Milroe and DeBoer both had another shot at Michigan in the same calendar year. Michigan had the playbook, and Alabama didn’t care enough to give itself a chance.

BE HEARD

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Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the book “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”