Former Alabama RB blasts 2024 defense after loss to Vanderbilt

Alabama Heisman-winning running back Mark Ingram ran through plenty of defenses during his collegiate career. And during a recent podcast appearance , he tore down the Tide's struggling unit.

Calling the defense's performance in Alabama's stunning 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt "atrocious," Ingram blasted the Tide for being "unprepared" on that side of the football on the most recent episode of "The Triple Option" podcast ( h/t On3.com ).

“It’s actually quite comical,” Ingram said. “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 added that he believed "Bama's defense is in crisis mode" before highlighting its ugly last six quarters dating back to the second half of its thrilling 41-34 win against Georgia.

"The last six quarters, 67 points, 784 yards, opponents are converting third downs at a 54 percent rate," Ingram said. "They've allowed ten 20-yard plays... You thought that the second half of the Georgia game might have been Georgia, but no, that's truly who the defense is right now."

After allowing an average of 248 yards and 8.7 points per game in three out-of-conference games against Western Kentucky, South Florida and Wisconsin, Alabama has allowed an average of 468.5 yards and 37 points per game in its last two games.

Four of Alabama's final six games against FBS competition are against teams averaging over 400 yards per game this season: Tennessee (Oct. 19), Missouri (Oct. 26) LSU (Nov. 9) and Auburn (Nov. 30).

Alabama's other remaining conference games — against South Carolina (this Saturday) and Oklahoma (Nov. 23) — are potentially difficult matchups against mobile quarterbacks LaNorris Sellers and Michael Hawkins Jr., respectively.

The Tide have had one of college football's most feared defensive for years. However, if their previous two games are indicative of what's to come, they're the ones who should be afraid.