Paul Finebaum doubled down Sunday on the state of Alabama football after the No. 3 Crimson Tide defeated No. 6 Tennessee 52-49.

Citing the number of Alabama penalties committed against Tennessee, the SEC Network analyst once again suggested the Nick Saban’s program is slipping.

“It’s the lack of discipline, and it just feels like this program is slipping a little bit,” Finebaum said Sunday morning on “SportsCenter.” “I know that’s a big statement to make considering Nick Saban is the coach, but the penalties are inexcusable. We’ve already seen it a couple of times this year. We saw it at Texas, and we saw it again. Saban keeps talking about how they have a path to the SEC and national championship, but it’s very narrow, and it’s about as suffocating as I was yesterday in that Tennessee casket.”

During his appearance on “SEC Nation,” Finebaum rose from an orange Tennessee casket – much like The Undertaker – to pick the Vols to defeat Alabama.

The Tide (6–1) committed a record 17 penalties for 130 yards in Knoxville, Tenn. Against Texas, a 20–19 win, Alabama had 15 penalties for 100 yards.

The comments about the program slipping aren’t new. On Thursday, when joining me on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 in Mobile, Finebaum first made the concerns public.

“It does seem like this program has slipped,” Finebaum said Thursday. “Slipped from where is the question. They’re not as dominating. They make a lot of mistakes. That is evident by the 49 penalties. They don’t create turnovers like the great Alabama teams of Nick Saban have done.

“The offensive production, which is still high, doesn’t seem as fluid. Look at the NFL rosters – from a receiver standpoint – there are endless numbers of lost players from (Jaylen) Waddle) to (Jerry) Jeudy to DeVonta Smith, (running back) Najee Harris.

“The quarterback is just as good as anyone who’s been there – maybe better – but he doesn’t have the compliments around him. Therefore, Alabama hasn’t been effective.”

Mark Heim is sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.