Alabama’s victory in Athens may have been due to Ty Simpson‘s sharp throws and a defense that held just enough in the second half, but the moment that everyone kept coming back to was the drop. Fans were shocked by Georgia’s slip on a picture-perfect deep ball, which instantly led to comparisons to Ryan Williams, the Tide’s star wide receiver who has struggled with similar issues this season. Williams has missed a few sure touchdowns from Florida State to Wisconsin, which has led to concerns about his focus, pressure, and how receivers get out of a slump when their confidence starts to dip.

On Saturday’s episode of Nightcap, Shannon Sharpe, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, and Johnny Manziel discuss what’s been Ryan Williams’ story week after week: the drops! Sharpe said, “Ryan Williams… he’s struggling this year. He’s dropped a lot. He’s dropped a lot of plays.”And it wasn’t just a problem with Georgia. Williams should have scored a third touchdown in the Wisconsin game, but instead, he walked away shaking his head, continuing the string of slips that began with Florida State. The script repeated itself against Georgia. Ty Simpson’s wide-open pass hit the turf, echoing the frustrations that have followed him for a month. Reports suggest that Williams has had a shocking 29.4 % drop rate so far this season.

The frustrating thing is that the talent is obvious. Williams’ explosive freshman debut against Georgia last year included 177 yards and a stunning touchdown. Even this season, he had a fantastic game against Wisconsin, hauling in five catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns. But the topic of conversation changes when the ball falls out of his hands at crucial times. Sharpe stated, “The celebrity or the fact… but he doesn’t look like the guy we saw the first seven, eight games last year.” With a $2.5 million NIL valuation and the spotlight that comes with being Alabama’s most valuable young star, there is less room for error.

So how can receivers get out of this situation? The panelists all agreed that it’s about confidence, not technicality. Johnson said, “I need to touch the ball… throw me a smoke screen, throw me a bubble, throw me something quick so I can get my confidence back.” The so-called “yips” don’t go away after a few more jug machine repetitions. During live action, they persist until a receiver feels the ball in his hands. He added, “Once your confidence is shot after dropping two or three balls, it sticks with you.” For Williams, the solution will not come from NIL rankings or highlight reels, but from catching simple throws, rebuilding trust with Simpson, and reminding everyone why he was regarded as college football’s next great wideout in the first place.

Meanwhile, the Alabama Crimson Tide maintains its winning record against the Georgia Bulldogs.

Alabama reasserts its Playoff contender status after defeating Georgia despite Ryan Williams’ struggles

Alabama defeated Georgia on Saturday night, but they did it in a way that is typically gritty and SEC-style. With a 24–21 victory, the Crimson Tide ended a 33-game winning streak against the Bulldogs, who hadn’t lost at home since 2019. It wasn’t grand. There was no blowout. Yet, it was effective, tough, and just what Kalen DeBoer’s team needed to prove. Despite avoiding turnovers, Ty Simpson appeared to be a quarterback finding his rhythm as he threw for 276 yards, two touchdowns, and ran for another. That Week 1 disaster against Florida State felt like a faraway memory all of a sudden.

It wasn’t just Simpson’s play that was notable, but also Alabama’s mastery of the small details. The Tide dominated time of possession, ran 77 plays to Georgia’s 53, and converted 13 of 19 third downs. These kinds of stats are enough to overwhelm even the most powerful defenses. Alabama’s defense held firm when Georgia had opportunities to change the course of events. The Bulldogs’ costly blunder in the second quarter only made the gap wider after LT Overton’s fourth-down plays in the red zone set the tone. After a stalled run game and a dropped deep ball left Georgia reeling, they never looked like the unbeatable team they once were.

This win should silence the early-season critics who believed Alabama was overrated after losing in Tallahassee. This team is still developing under Kalen Deboer, figuring out how to fill the gaps at running back and wide receiver. Yet they displayed the confidence, depth, and toughness that have defined Alabama football for many years against Georgia. With a defense full of elite players and Simpson solidifying his position as one of the SEC’s top quarterbacks, the Tide appears to be a serious contender once more. Alabama’s win over Georgia on Saturday was more than just another victory; it was evidence that they are once again in the playoff race.