After 9 games we're 7-2. Let's revisit our thoughts and outlook on Coach Kalen DeBoer

[Ledsteplin]

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.

CNS did inherit some good talent from Shula, but they were young. They were part of the improvement in 2008.

 

[Ledsteplin]

I think CKD has done as well as anyone could. The coaches could have paid more attention to the Vandy rumors. It does appear he's implemented some discipline and meanness. And it shows the last two games.

 

[crimsonaudio]

Tennessee is lucky they got Bama when they did. Current Bama would beat them by 14+.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

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.

My guess several things have become a reality to him. One, the SEC ain't the Pac 12, and coaching at Alabama takes complete focus and next to zero letup. This ain't UW where there's not the sky high expectations like there is at Bama. But if you want to date the hot chick you better be able to keep her happy.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

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.

I think that is definitely part of it.

 

[Oregon Tide]

Tennessee is lucky they got Bama when they did. Current Bama would beat them by 14+.

I'd love for the stars to align for us to do this.

 

[B1GTide]

Tennessee is lucky they got Bama when they did. Current Bama would beat them by 14+.

I don't think that this team gets to this level of play without those 2 losses. Their arrogance after the Georgia game was appalling.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

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.

He's gotta get his players in place that best fit his system...

 

[CB72]

I was pretty upset after Vandy loss.
I was 11 last time they beat Bama so that was a colossal fail.

But gotta give dude a chance.
Good wins over Georgia and LSU.

Keep getting better.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

He's gotta get his players in place that best fit his system...

He's admitted over 90% of "his" offense won't be installed until next season.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I'll wait and give my thoughts after 2 years. Head Coaches are like changing economic policies, you rarely see any long term effects until after 2 - 4 years of being under them.

As a person he seems to be alright and I do like his low key approach at times. Sometimes, when he's being interviewed it's almost like, "Golly gee, I'm just along for the ride!" and it seems like the lights are a bit bright and he is in the middle of a dream! But, I think he may be settling down a bit.

 

[rolltd]

Most of CKD's losses were in the first 10 games of a new coaching gig. Things should only get better

 

[CrimsonTitles]

Most of CKD's losses were in the first 10 games of a new coaching gig. Things should only get better

Yep. He is 81-3 after coaching at least 10 games at a school.

 

[JDCrimson]

Rolando McClain was a Shula recruit and probably the most important player in Saban's rebuild. Literally the alpha dog of the team.

CNS did inherit some good talent from Shula, but they were young. They were part of the improvement in 2008.

 

[Ole Man Dan]

I think we are as good as we want to be.
I don't know how far that will carry us.

Coach DeBoer inherited a team with a locker room problem.
7-2 is a pretty good start. For starting a new Defense and a different Offense.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I don't think that this team gets to this level of play without those 2 losses. Their arrogance after the Georgia game was appalling.

This ^^^^

Though there are some obvious differences, the effect could very well be the same. But losing to ULM in 2007 seemed to be what "woke" the sleeping giant that would be the 16-year dynasty of Nick Saban and Alabama.

Losing to Vandy then doubling down and almost losing to USCe and then losing to UcheaT may have represented the same type of impact. It "woke" some folks up to the reality of what it takes to be Bama and win on the Bama level. Not all bad things are all bad. They many times bring out great things.

 

[TideEngineer08]

I don't see how you could complain with the overall product at this point. We can talk about details, sure, and there are plenty. But 7-2 the first year replacing Nick Saban, which includes 4 wins vs ranked opponents? That's fantastic. We should be 9-0, yes, but you have to account for the learning curve of just dealing with 100 new players and a new coaching staff. The Vandy loss is bad, but this year's Vandy is not your traditional Vandy.

My greatest concern was the players, not the coaches. I'm still not sure what to think about certain issues there, but hey, they just just clobbered LSU at night in Baton Rouge. Something is going right.

 

[CrimsonCleanse]

I think CKD is doing a great job but that's not a fair comparison.

CNS was dealing with Shula's players and roster and on Top of that had a bunch of players suspended for giving away Textbooks.

Exactly. Anybody who says "well Saban went 7-6 in his first year" as a way to compare it to CKD's first year just loses me right off the bat . People act like Saban inherited a world beater in 2007. He inherited an absolute disaster in 2007, so much so, that 7-6 was probably an overachievement that year. Deboer is doing well, but 2007 and 2024 are not even in the same universe. I really wonder if people have forgotten just how bad things were when Saban arrived

 

[cbi1972]

Exactly. Anybody who says "well Saban went 7-6 in his first year" as a way to compare it to CKD's first year just loses me right off the bat . People act like Saban inherited a world beater in 2007. He inherited an absolute disaster in 2007, so much so, that 7-6 was probably an overachievement that year. Deboer is doing well, but 2007 and 2024 are not even in the same universe. I really wonder if people have forgotten just how bad things were when Saban arrived

DeBoer got a warm welcome at the Tuscaloosa airport, but didn't get the full experience, having missed out on the kisses from a drunk chick that marked Saban's first moments as the head coach of Alabama. Although the addition of a fence topped with barbed wire may have played a role.

 

[CrimsonCleanse]

DeBoer got a warm welcome at the Tuscaloosa airport, but didn't get the full experience, having missed out on the kisses from a drunk chick that marked Saban's first moments as the head coach of Alabama. Although the addition of a fence topped with barbed wire may have played a role.

I wondered where that drunk woman was when Deboer arrived. Then somebody told me she had since passed away. She was only like 40-ish back then, so that was a bit of a surprise