Deontae Lawson’s Thoughts Following the Loss to Vandy

The Tide faced a disappointing defeat, as their defense struggled to coordinate effectively, leading to early setbacks that persisted throughout the game.

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Veteran linebacker Deontae Lawson reflected on the team's performance, stating, "It was tough to get off the field on third down. Penalties hurt us early, and that created some long drives. We just have to be there and play man-to-man coverage," Lawson said.

The Commodores seemed to bring a new squad against the Tide, with some critics drawing parallels between Diego Pavia's performance and Johnny Manziel's memorable victory over Alabama in 2012. Pavia had hinted at a new approach from the Commodores prior to the game, saying, "We just got weapons all over, and it's my job to utilize that."

When asked about the Tide's defense, Pavia acknowledged their talent, saying, "They're a solid defense with players who will make it to the NFL. We need to be cautious of what we do and when it's our time to punch we gotta punch."

And that’s precisely what the Commodores accomplished against the Tide. Lawson recognized their shortcomings and credited the Commodores' offense, stating, "They have multiple options, and the quarterback is nice. Some plays we were out-leveraged, and that created big plays,"said Lawson.

Despite the surprise from fans and analysts regarding the Commodores' performance, Lawson mentioned that the Tide had studied their plays on film and had a productive week of practice filled with enthusiasm.

However, the Tide fell short but are determined to learn from the experience. "The biggest thing is to learn. When we watch the film, we can learn from it and take everything we can from it. You're going to lose in this game and you just have to comeback the next time. You can never take this for granted, every play and every game is a blessing," said Lawson.

As the Tide returns to Tuscaloosa, they will focus on their upcoming match and strive to achieve their season goals. "We need to get back to the practice field. We have a long season ahead, and all of our goals are still ahead of us. We just gotta keep going," Lawson added.

The Tide's next SEC contest is scheduled for Oct. 12 against the South Carolina Gamecocks, marking the start of their quest for redemption.