Tag: Kalen DeBoer

What is the biggest question mark facing Alabama heading into the 2024 season?

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg breaks down the biggest question mark the Crimson Tide face entering the 2024 season

On Jan. 10, 2024, the world stopped for a moment as legendary Alabama Crimso Tide head football coach [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] made the shocking decision to step away from football and retire from coaching. It was one of those earth-shattering moments that almost everyone, including non-Alabama fans, will be able to tell you exactly where they were when the news broke. The ensuing days were chaos filled with coaching rumors, transfer alerts and a profound level of sadness.

Fast forward four months, and yeah the loss of Saban still stings, but there is a very strong sense of optimism surrounding new head coach [autotag]Kalen DeBoer[/autotag] and what this new era of Alabama football might look like. DeBoer is picking up steam on the recruiting trail and the team had a phenomenal showing at the annual spring game A-Day, but that doesn’t mean everything has been sunshine and rainbows in Tuscaloosa.

DeBoer is a national champion-level coach and widely regarded as one of the top two or three coaches in the country, but replacing the value of Nick Saban is nearly impossible. Adam Rittenberg of ESPN breaks down (Subscription required) the biggest question currently facing the Crimson Tide: How has Alabama adjusted to life post-Saban?

“There have been some obstacles. DeBoer’s initial plan was to have Ryan Grubb, DeBoer’s offensive coordinator at both Washington and Fresno State, oversee quarterback [autotag]Jalen Milroe[/autotag] and the Tide offense. But Grubb stayed in Seattle to work for the Seahawks, alongside talented offensive line coach Scott Huff. DeBoer went with familiarity in promoting Nick Sheridan and JaMarcus Shephard — Sheridan as the playcaller — and hired veteran line coach Chris Kapilovic to fill Huff’s role. Despite the moving parts on the staff and a new scheme for players, Alabama didn’t let up during spring ball.

“We pushed hard, even the installs and all that,” DeBoer said. “We’ve really kept the pedal down on trying to get things to our guys. A credit to them, too, because they’ve embraced it all. They want to be great. That’s why they’re here. The players have dived into it and put in the extra time on their own to make every practice real efficient.”

On-the-field success in 2024 will be the true indicator of how life is truly going in Tuscaloosa, but I think anything short of a playoff appearance will be a disappointment in DeBoer’s mind. DeBoer and his new staff will make their debut inside Bryant-Denny Stadium on Aug. 31, 2024 against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

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Nick Saban shares extremely high praise for LSU QB Jayden Daniels

LSU QB Jayden Daniels was the toughest player to defend in CFB over the last two years according to Nick Saban

Seeing legendary former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] on ESPN covering the NFL draft as opposed to being in Tuscaloosa preparing for the upcoming season still just doesn’t feel right, but that is a new reality. The program is in great hands with new head coach Kalen DeBoer moving forward and the Tide will be competing for a playoff spot again in 2024, but after 17 years it’s going to take some time to get used to.

I will say though, the special thing about Saban covering this draft is that it includes several of his former players as well as players he had to coach against, so he has a really strong sense for the class.

Two of the players that Saban is high on are LSU’s QB Jayden Daniels and WR Malik Nabers. As part of the pre-draft coverage on ESPN, Saban said of Daniels, “This guy is a phenomenal player. The most difficult player we had to defend in the last two years at Alabama, and let me say this, Malik Nabers is special because he is a complete receiver.”

Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, is currently projected to be selected No. 2 overall to the Washington Commanders while Malik Nabers will definitely be a top ten pick, but the question is where to?

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Terrion Arnold and Kalen DeBoer share a heartfelt moment

Terrion Arnold tells Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer something that Crimson Tide fans will be happy to hear.

With the Alabama Crimson Tide’s annual A-Day spring game taking place just a few weekends ago, it was the first chance we’ve had to see new head coach [autotag]Kalen DeBoer[/autotag] on the sideline. The reality that the legend [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] is no longer with the program still doesn’t sit right, however, it seems like there is more of an overwhelming feeling of excitement for what DeBoer brings to the table.

As part of the A-Day festivities, former Alabama cornerback [autotag]Terrion Arnold[/autotag] was in town to speak to the team and enjoy the atmosphere ahead of this week’s NFL draft. Arnold is widely projected to be taken in the first round on Thursday night as he led the Crimson Tide with 12 pass breakups and five interceptions in 2023, but he will also go down as one of the most beloved players of the Saban era.

In a wholesome mic ‘d-up moment between DeBoer and Arnold, you can hear Arnold telling the new Crimson Tide coach, “Bro, I would’ve wanted to play for you. Bro, I like you.”

There is no question that DeBoer is an entirely different personality and coach than Saban, but that is just fine. DeBoer is very much a player-friendly coach who is adapting very well to the NIL and transfer portal era and is probably the perfect guy to guide Alabama through those ventures while Nick Saban tries out some new endeavors and enjoys a well-earned retirement.

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Kalen DeBoer discusses the improvement of the Alabama offensive line this spring

Will Alabama’s offensive line be better in 2024?

One of the biggest question marks for Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team entering the 2024 season is the offensive line. This spring the Crimson Tide coaches were tasked with replacing three starters along the line with JC Latham heading to the NFL and Seth McLaughlin and Kadyn Proctor testing the transfer portal.

On Monday night Coach DeBoer addressed the big guys upfront during his segment on “Hey Coach” and detailed the importance that the offensive line plays for the team.

“I think when your offensive line is the makeup of the right people – and I’m talking about character and things like that; work ethic, team-first guys, humility, all those characteristics along with talent – man, you’re setting yourself and your team up for a great opportunity,” DeBoer said.

“And the reason is every single day, if you can protect your quarterback and you can function well in the run game, you’re giving yourself a chance to read the plays from a quarterback perspective and let those wide receivers work, which means also that the defensive guys are getting their work in, too.

“If you’re on an offensive line and it’s a sack or a tackle for loss each and every play in practice, the rest of the team really isn’t getting that work in that they need to get better. And so it does all start up front. I think that especially that group, when you talk about a group that doesn’t get a lot of notoriety.

“They can certainly be the team-first guys that everyone else looks to and takes a lot of pride in and can learn from each and every day.”

Coach DeBoer also spoke to the improvements that his offensive line made during spring ball.

“That group did a great job from Practice 1 to Practice 15,” DeBoer said. “I really haven’t thought through which group had the most improvement, but if I had to start somewhere, I’d go to them because of just how they seem to develop their overall game. You guys didn’t see it but in Scrimmage 1, they ran the ball well but they didn’t probably protect as well.

“And you saw what we did in the final scrimmage, and there was some really solid pass protection, which allowed the quarterbacks to be able to work down the field, throw balls not just short and quick but also with some play action, got the run game going. So I thought they did a real nice job overall.

“Some moving parts in there, some guys played a couple of different spots and we gained some depth and flexibility with some of the positions they played.”

Since spring practice completed a couple of weeks ago, the Crimson Tide have landed Proctor back from the portal and that should help solidify the offensive line even more heading into the inarguarl season of the Kalen DeBoer era of Alabama football.

Stay connected to Roll Tide Wire for around-the-clock coverage of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

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Alabama football set to host Arizona State transfer Ed Woods this weekend

Kalen DeBoer and Alabama football are making moves in the transfer portal

Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team have been fairly quiet so far in the spring transfer portal cycle. Aside from a few walk-ons deciding to leave and the additions of Kadyn Proctor and Graham Nicholson, Alabama’s roster has remained intact.

Now it appears Coach DeBoer and his staff have zeroed in on another potential portal addition. On Monday, On3 reported that the Crimson Tide will host a visit with Arizona State defensive back Ed Woods.

Woods has played corner and safety over the last couple of seasons for the Sun Devils accumulating 66 tackles, 10 passes defended, and one interception.

Alabama could use the experience of Woods in a secondary that is littered with young but promising talent.

Stay connected to Roll Tide Wire for around-the-clock coverage of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

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Kalen DeBoer is just behind Kirby Smart in latest SEC head coach rankings

Kalen DeBoer sits behind only Kirby Smart in the latest SEC head coach rankings, but that may not last long.

The Alabama Crimson Tide begin the 2024 college football season against Western Kentucky, and it will be the first time in over 17 seasons that the Tide will take the field without the legendary [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] on the sideline. Saban’s retirement still doesn’t feel real, but seeing new head coach Kalen DeBoer on the sideline could be a breath of fresh air too.

Losing Saban was always going to be incredibly difficult, but athletic director Greg Byrne reacted quickly and landed a phenomenal head coach in DeBoer.

In two seasons with the Washington Huskies, DeBoer was 25-3 with a PAC-12 title and national championship appearance. Between NAIA and D1 football, DeBoer has posted an outstanding career record of 104-12. It was just a matter of time before other programs started calling on DeBoer, so while Saban’s retirement wasn’t a great thing, the timing definitely could have been worse. DeBoer has also shown he can beat the best coaches in the country as he is a combined 5-0 against Dan Lanning and Steve Sarkisian.

Heading into the 2024 season, ESPN ranks DeBoer as the second-best coach in America behind only Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Even in Saban’s later years at the helm of the Alabama program, Smart had begun to catch up. Now, Smart is the undisputed top head coach in the conference, but it may not take long for DeBoer to overtake him. Though, there’s also the risk that some slip-ups lead to DeBoer falling in the rankings.

With a new-look coaching staff and a roster that lost plenty of last season’s playmakers, there’s much unknown about the 2024 Alabama team. While some may see this as a negative, there’s a good chance this can be utilized to the Tide’s advantage. A certain level of unpredictability can boost the team against the strong opponents on the upcoming schedule.

Fans won’t have to wait long to see DeBoer and Smart go head-to-head, as Georgia visits Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama in a regular-season matchup on  Sep. 28, 2024.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow DeBoer and the Alabama football program as the 2024 offseason progresses.

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Alabama football in the lead to land elite transfer kicker

Has Alabama found its replacement for Will Reichard?

One of the areas of concern entering the 2024 season for Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team is who will be replacing Will Reichard as placekicker in Tuscaloosa.

Reichard is the NCAA’s all-time leader in points scored and was one of the most consistent kickers in college football history.

Well, Coach DeBoer and company may have found Reichard’s replacement and I am not sure you could have scripted a better one.

According to Pete Nakos of On3, Alabama has become the clubhouse leader to land Graham Nicholson a recent addition to the transfer portal via Miami Ohio.

If the name sounds familiar, it should. Nicholson beat out Reichard in 2023 for the Lou Groza Award which is given to the nation’s top placekicker.

A first-team All-American in 2023, he connected on 27 of his 28 field goal attempts. Nicholson connected on 25 straight field goals during the season, setting a record for consecutive attempts.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor Nicholson’s decision throughout the process and will provide any updates as they become available.

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Kalen DeBoer says Alabama quarterbacks are ‘all in’

Does Alabama football have the best quarterback room in the country?

What a difference a year makes. This time last year Alabama Crimson Tide football fans were worried to death about the quarterback room in Tuscaloosa and now it appears to be one of the strengths of the team. In fact, you could argue that Alabama has the best QB room in the country.

Jalen Milroe is back for the Tide after starting 13 games in 2023 and finishing in the top 10 of the Heisman Trophy voting. Ty Simpson is a former five-star recruit who has blossomed into an SEC-ready player. Dylan Lonergan and Austin Mack both have shown that their futures are bright in college football as well.

To say that head coach Kalen DeBoer is thrilled with the quarterbacks who be an understatement. Coach DeBoer and the entire Alabama offensive coaching staff consistently raved about the progress that all of the QBs had made this spring and despite the transfer portal window currently being open, it appears all four are staying put in Tuscaloosa.

On Thursday, Coach DeBoer was asked about his quarterbacks while on “The Next Round”.

“I know that you always go right to who the starter is, but there’s some great talent,” DeBoer said. “I can’t express the appreciation they have for just believing in our process and believing in what we’re doing. You see from the beginning of the spring, every single one of those guys improved, becoming more comfortable in the offense. Improving doesn’t mean they’re perfect. There’s a throw here throw there, a read, you can see it in the spring game, I’ve seen it in the scrimmages, but man, they’re all in.

“They’re diving into the playbook and they believe in the development that they’re going to get in this program. Nick Sheridan has done an amazing job, I think, really trying to continue to foster the competition amongst the group, but also those guys, it’s really neat to see their relationship and their trust in each other, their belief in each other. And those friendships continue to grow. So he’s done an amazing job, not just with the offense but with the quarterback room.”

DeBoer is known for his quarterback-friendly approach to the game and his history of developing NFL-caliber quarterbacks certainly helps Alabama in its efforts to keep the stacked room unbroken.

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Kalen DeBoer on Alabama football’s approach to spring transfer portal window

It has been relatively quiet for Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama football team so far during the spring transfer portal window

Nearly a week ago Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team wrapped up the spring activities with the annual A-Day Game from inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Earlier this week the spring transfer portal window opened up for college football and as you can imagine chaos has since ensued. However, for Coach DeBoer and the Crimson Tide, it has been relatively quiet aside from a couple of walk-on players. Coach DeBoer is hoping it stays that way.

On Thursday while making an appearance on “The Next Round”, Coach DeBoer would go into detail on how he and his coaching staff have approached the spring transfer window.

“I would have hoped that it is what we’re going through right now,” said DeBoer. “Of course, we still got a couple of weeks left of that and things can change. Guys are still always trying to figure out where they’re at in their career, but I just think we’re in a great position, considering everything that has happened with the major transition.

“I’m proud of our staff for developing some relationships. I’m proud of how they’ve really helped to show guys their role in the team and helped the buy-in to those roles happen. There’s almost 130 guys on our team, and we’re meeting with them individually, one-on-one, every single one of them, so those are really important meetings that are happening right.”

Coach DeBoer would also speak on which position groups the Alabama coaching staff has been watching closely to make possible additions.

“We have a few scholarships left open,” DeBoer said. “You’re just looking for the right fit. I want to be really sensitive to the culture of our team. You don’t want to bring one in and lose two or three because of how that comes across and how it’s perceived. But if it’s someone who can really help our program, you’ve always got your eyes open and paying attention.

“… Offensive line, just numbers. When you look at just sheer numbers, offensive line and defensive backs – I’ve said it now for a couple of weeks, you could say going back before we even started spring ball – it’s not even necessarily about the talent, which you’re always looking for that top talent, but it’s about just sheer numbers to practice and to be able to get the competition that you need out there. And defensive back-wise, those a lot of your guys that are involved in special teams, too. Gotta run down there and tackle.

“I love the guys that we have. I’m very confident. When you put up Malachi (Moore) and Keon (Sabb) out there, and Red (Morgan) did an amazing job and DeVonta (Smith) at the Husky position and it goes on and on. Those guys did a great job, so it’s not even about that. It’s just about bringing in some guys that can help our program, help our team be better. Take some snaps here and there on defense but also give us some depth and help us out with special teams.”

It’s really impressive that Coach DeBoer and his staff have been able to so quickly build solid relationships with the Crimson Tide players in such a short amount of time. It speaks to the character and the belief of both of the players and the coaches.

While I am not anticipating anything crazy to happen in terms of a mass exodus of players via the portal, in this day in age of college football, it’s better to keep your head on a swivel.

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Kalen DeBoer provides the latest on Parker Brailsford

Positive news for Washington transfer Parker Brailsford

The Alabama Crimson Tide football team wrapped up spring activities this past weekend with the annual A-Day Game from inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.

One missing piece that took Crimson Tide fans off guard this spring was Washington transfer center [autotag]Parker Brailsford[/autotag] who joined Kalen DeBoer in Tuscaloosa in January.

On Thursday while making an appearance on “The Next Round”, Coach DeBoer was asked about Brailsford and would provide a positive update on one of the most talented interior offensive linemen in college football.

“He’ll be back,” DeBoer said. “He’s going through workouts. He’s been working out with our strength staff. He’s back. He never left us. He’s just back with us. I know he wasn’t practicing. But, he’ll be full-go workouts this summer. It wasn’t ever really about wanting to leave or go somewhere. He was just working through some things specific to him.

“Again, it was not anything where he ever got in trouble. It’s nothing like that. He’s a great young man, a great football player. He played both center, and he actually started the last season at guard for us the first few games until some injuries happened. So, he’s very versatile.”

With Brailsford back in the fold heading into the offseason workouts, it will provide Alabama with quality depth on the interior of the offensive line which is already a strength of the team with the likes of Tyler Booker and Jaeden Roberts.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor the status of Brailsford throughout the offseason.

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