After 12 games we're 9-3. Let's revisit our thoughts and outlook on Coach Kalen DeBoer

[tusks_n_raider]

True, but CNS didn't have to deal with the portal and NIL...

No but to me it's still a bad comparison.

I watched the 2006 team in person a few times and they looked awful in warmups.

I'm not sure that people remember just how big of an overhaul CNS had to do in 2007.

We had as many 3 star players as 4 star players on that roster he inherited.

The main nucleus of players on the 2008 and 2009 squad were CNS recruits.

CKD did have to deal with the Portal exodus but he was still left with a FAR more talented and disciplined roster than what CNS inherited from Shula.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

No but to me it's still a bad comparison.

I watched the 2006 team in person a few times and they looked awful in warmups.

I'm not sure that people remember just how big of an overhaul CNS had to do in 2007.

We had as many 3 star players as 4 star players on that roster he inherited.

The main nucleus of players on the 2008 and 2009 squad were CNS recruits.

CKD did have to deal with the Portal exodus but he was still left with a FAR more talented and disciplined roster than what CNS inherited from Shula.

I think both situations brought their own unique sets of challenges. Nick ultimately recruited his way out of his 2007 mess and it appears CKD is well on his way of not only adjusting to the SEC quite well but recruiting his way to putting his style of football on the field.

 

[Bama Lee]

I have to post a mea culpa…
I said that after the Vandy and USCe that I was officially on the fire Coach Womack camp. The Tennessee game did nothing to dissuade me. However the Mizzou and LSWho games have changed my opinion. The defense has done a complete 180 degree turn. Maybe the lightbulbs have turned on. Our MLBs are night and day difference from first six games and the last two. Our DL has put there team on its back and is leading the rush on this turnaround. Bray Hubbard is monster at safety. The plethora of freshmen have grown by leaps and bounds. This group still has a lot to learn. This defense has now fully embraced Womacks swarm defense. When it is run properly it is a thing of beauty to watch. I apologize to coach Womack

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I have to post a mea culpa…
I said that after the Vandy and USCe that I was officially on the fire Coach Womack camp. The Tennessee game did nothing to dissuade me. However the Mizzou and LSWho games have changed my opinion. The defense has done a complete 180 degree turn. Maybe the lightbulbs have turned on. Our MLBs are night and day difference from first six games and the last two. Our DL has put there team on its back and is leading the rush on this turnaround. Bray Hubbard is monster at safety. The plethora of freshmen have grown by leaps and bounds. This group still has a lot to learn. This defense has now fully embraced Womacks swarm defense. When it is run properly it is a thing of beauty to watch. I apologize to coach Womack

We're just thankful you didn't type a 360 degree turn.

 

[TexasBama]

No but to me it's still a bad comparison.

I watched the 2006 team in person a few times and they looked awful in warmups.

I'm not sure that people remember just how big of an overhaul CNS had to do in 2007.

We had as many 3 star players as 4 star players on that roster he inherited.

The main nucleus of players on the 2008 and 2009 squad were CNS recruits.

CKD did have to deal with the Portal exodus but he was still left with a FAR more talented and disciplined roster than what CNS inherited from Shula.

Back then, we’d get excited for recruiting ONE four star player.

 

[22Musso22]

DeBoer has certainly improved after the LSU blowout. Let's hope it continues.

Props to Womack for a more stingy defense since the Tennessee game.

 

[CoolBreeze]

I agree with the tone of the thread. Great hire, getting better and look forward to seeing the season unfold. I am not saying we will win it all this year but we have the pieces in place to do it. That goes for the basketball team as well. Spoiled fanbase we are and proud of it!!!

 

[theballguy]

Outside of the Vandy game, it seems our season has been exactly on pace with what a lot of us predicted. Many predicted we'd lose at least one (possibly all three) to UGA, LSU, or UcheaT. We only lost one of those games BUT we had the hiccup against Vandy. But either way, we're sitting at 7-2 through nine games in with three very, very winnable games.

After seeing some of the ups and downs then ups again by Kalen DeBoer. What are your thoughts about him and his future at Alabama?

I think we still lose at least one more game. But, I think DeBoer will do better next year with this year under his belt.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

I think we still lose at least one more game. But, I think DeBoer will do better next year with this year under his belt.

I think Bama wins the rest of them, with a close game against Oklahoma and AU.............and possibly lose in the playoffs depending on the opponent. But I agree next year he will do better.

It's interesting that suddenly there are more articles out there about recruits doubting DeBoer and Bama, after the thumping he laid on LSU............almost if they wish him to fail

 

[mdb-tpet]

It simply takes more than 1 year to get your system running, your recruits, and your culture up and running. We can, and should be impatient, but we also have to be realistic that the game has massively changed, and our new coach and team will need time to evolve and adapt. Just look at FSU, Vandy, UM, Clemson, IU etc. for case studies in managing the evolution of college football. All of these programs are moving in dramatic directions due the new winds of NIL, Transfer Portal, and/or coaching changes.

 

[BamaMoon]

I've never doubted he's the right guy.

And the fact he doesn't have a gunslinger at QB yet means the best is yet to come!

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

I really like DeBoer and Wommack. I think they've both done well adjusting to the players they have. Clearly if these guys have 2 weeks to prepare they are unmatched at game planning.

Biggest question this season has been consistency. I'm very curious how we play at Oklahoma and vs Auburn. Neither of those teams are good though I do think Auburn is a little better than their record. We should beat both but I want to dominate them.

Overall though I feel really good about the coaches we have.

 

[spidermayin]

Winning cures everything. Seriously though, I've seen improvement over these last couple of games and that's all I really expect to see as the season progresses. We had that stretch where we were regressing, but we can't realistically expect to improve without any dips along the way.

 

[Elefantman]

In some ways I think the first half of the UGA game was too much of a distraction. The team had second and third helpings of rat poison. It took a month to get it out of their system.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I really like DeBoer and Wommack. I think they've both done well adjusting to the players they have. Clearly if these guys have 2 weeks to prepare they are unmatched at game planning.

Biggest question this season has been consistency. I'm very curious how we play at Oklahoma and vs Auburn. Neither of those teams are good though I do think Auburn is a little better than their record. We should beat both but I want to dominate them.

Overall though I feel really good about the coaches we have.

I think a lot of the inconsistency on defense has been a combination of the players continuing to get familiar with the new system and the youth on the back end. Herbie (for some reason) made it a point to emphasize over and over how "young" and "inexperienced" our secondary was on Saturday night. He said they are big and very talented but very young.

 

[PA Tide Fan]

The evaluation of DeBoer is constantly changing. If we use a grading system after the Georgia win most everyone was giving him an A. After the Vandy loss the grade went down to D- or maybe an F for a few people. Now after Missouri and LSU the grade has moved back up to an A or B. Since the season has been full of highs and lows I'll give him a C for now and wait how the season plays out to give a final opinion. He does seem to be showing more seriousness about things which I think is a good sign.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I expected two losses -- Georgia and Tennessee.

The first half blitz of Georgia (even though we had to hold on for dear life for the win) elevated expectations and blinded a lot of us, me included, to the team's weaknesses.

Then the loss to Vanderbilt was a shocker, and we were clearly unprepared for their version of the option. Even though it was a win, the USCe game was not reassuring, especially on special teams. Then came the not-so-surprising loss to UTe.

All that, coming in three consecutive weeks, combined to create all manner of questions and uneasiness.

Then came the dope-slapping of both Missouri (at home) and LSU (on the road). The team has the talent, and it looks like the players, coaches and game plans are starting to jell.

The challenge now is to play at a consistently high level. In that context, even Mercer presents a challenge. They're a good team at their level. We have far more talent, but we all know from hard experience (Vandy) that if talent doesn't prepare and play well, a lesser team can give them fits and even win.

Then OU on the road (never easy) and a barn team that will put all its effort, maybe for multiple weeks, into beating us.

We have the ability to handle all that, and make the playoff. Whether we have the self-discipline to prepare to do it is an unanswered question. We'll know in three weeks.

 

[Elefantman]

The team fought through the first quarter of the LSU game and took control. They look like they know the playoffs have already started and any loss might keep us out of the big dance. We will see if the focus is still there on Saturday.

 

[CaliforniaTide]

I think it is generally a good thing the offense will tend to score a TD (not all the time) when they're playing in a big game. That didn't typically happen under CNS, for all of his teams success.

I haven't been disappointed in many areas under CKD. I knew there would always be a transition, even if it meant losing 3-4 games - it's going to happen no matter what CNS and CKD could've done to make the transition seamless. I was disappointed in the defense during that run of 2nd half UGA, Vandy, SCar, UT (although less so against UT). Someone made the comparison that if CNS was the defensive professor and CKD was the offensive professor, and right now, that appears to be an apt comparison. The defense, overall, appears to be more instinctual than under CNS, and they've handled some of the injuries relatively well (Hubbard in Sabb's spot now as an example).

I'm pretty happy but I also didn't really have any expectations going into this season, just wanting to see good football. I'm seeing that right now.

 

[Tiderollin32]

I think we all assumed because Saban recruited our current players that he didn’t miss on any of them. When Deboer appeared to struggle lots of people wanted to say well if you can’t win with Saban’s players you can’t win. I actually believe Deboer has learned exactly what we are and who we aren’t now. He also is bringing in his own class which will resemble maybe what we expected to see this year from his style.

I also believe our identity was wrapped in the fact that Jalen wanted to prove something to himself and scouts that he is a pocket passer and not a runner. The coaches went with it for awhile but I believe have now convinced him our best chance to win is using his running skill set and letting the pass come as it can versus forcing it.

The team now seems to have bought in with the culture and identity that coach Deboer has set forth and you can see it these past two games. I’m not sure if we can win it all but I firmly believe Deboer is the right guy moving forward.