"We've got to do a better job,"Alabamacoach Kalen DeBoer said at the beginning ofhis news conferencefollowingthe Crimson Tide's 31-17 losstoFlorida Stateon Saturday. "We've got to do a better job." However, Alabama fans might feel strongly that DeBoer needs to change his focus from the plural to the singular in that sentence.Heneeds to do a better job when the No. 8 team in the country loses to an unranked opponent — though still formidable, despite coming off a 2-10 season. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] The main point DeBoer tried to emphasize is that Alabama needs to assert itself early and show that it's the better team. "I choose to believe we've got a good football team, but we can't play on our heels," he added,via AL.com. "We're not going to be what we think we can be, what we want to be if that's the case and so that falls on everyone." The Tide took an early 7-0 lead over the Seminoles, scoring on their first possession. However, Florida State answered on its first series, tying the game at 7-7 before scoring the next 17 points to take a 24-7 lead in the third quarter. Of particular concern was Florida State's ability to run the ball and push Alabama around at the line of scrimmage. The Seminoles totaled 236 yards rushing, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos rushed for 78 yards on 16 carries, while Micahi Danzy was especially explosive with 56 yards on three attempts. Heart and physicality on display@G27football#NoleFamily|#KeepCLIMBingpic.twitter.com/aWCNRKbOum — FSU Football (@FSUFootball)August 31, 2025 To stand up to a rushing attack, DeBoer emphasized winning individual matchups and working within the defensive scheme to move ballcarriers toward help. "Guys get one on one, in space and you've got to find a way to get them on the ground," he said. "You've got to use your leverage, you've got to find ways to trust your buddies around you that they're in pursuit." The coach also expressed some frustration at the offense not being able to finish drives with points despite moving into Florida State territory seven times. He seemed to imply that the team was satisfied after scoring on its first possession and didn't maintain aggressiveness and execution on subsequent series. "There's got to be some competitive stamina," DeBoer said. "It was a long drive, the first one and it was hard work. You had to execute, you had to make some big plays and you did it. Now you've got to go back out there and you've got to do it again and you've got to stack play after play after play." The offense wasn't helped by star receiverRyan Williams sustaining a concussionon a helmet-to-helmet hit from Florida State's Earl Little Jr. in the fourth quarter. The play was initially flagged for targeting, but that was overturned. Alabama has two more non-conference games versus Louisiana-Monroe and Wisconsin before beginning SEC play against No. 5 Georgia,viewed as a favoriteto win the conference. If the team doesn't show improvement on both sides of the ball, fans won't stand for DeBoer faulting the players' execution much longer. Eventually, the shortcomings will fall squarely on the head coach who already has five losses in his first 14 games.