Kalen DeBoer’s first year in Tuscaloosa flew under the radar. The offense’s shaky core and Jalen Milroe’s mishaps deserve some blame, but DeBoer needs to put him in better positions to the best out of him. That’s all in the past, though. With DeBoer’s secret weapon, the offense could be a game-changer next season. It’s like Top Gun: Maverick, where Maverick shows up with a fresh perspective, and the whole team starts firing on all cylinders.

It’s pretty ironic that being an offensive coach himself, Kalen DeBoer’s team miserably failed in it. Remember their game against Michigan? Oh yes, that was Jalen Milroe who messed things up for them. But now, with his move to the NFL, things should fall into place, right? As insider Mike said on The Paul Finebaum Show, “He’s the offensive guru, right? So we’ll see what he can do with a quarterback of his choosing this year. I’m not sure Jalen Milroe would. I’m not placing the blame on Jalen Milroe. That, to me, is still Kalen DeBoer should have done better with Milroe, but now that he’s going to have a quarterback of his choosing, the offense has got to do its part.” That’s a straight fact.

Can we really blame Mike for making bold statements about Kalen DeBoer’s decision to stick with Jalen Milroe? Probably not. Milroe has faced significant criticism this season due to his overshadowing of Ryan Williams, numerous interceptions, poor decision-making, and inconsistent performances. It’s evident that his time at Tuscaloosa is coming to an end, especially after the recent upset against Michigan. Despite all the struggles, DeBoer never considered benching Milroe. Instead, he chose to stick with him, hoping that his mobility and leg spin would benefit the run game. Unfortunately, this strategy never paid off. As Deboer confessed last month, “We certainly put a lot on his shoulders.”

Following Milroe’s move to the NFL, Kalen DeBoer is now turning his attention to a new quarterback. Keelon Russell, who was named the National Gatorade Player of the Year and is the No. 2 quarterback prospect, joins Tuscaloosa after an impressive year at Duncanville High. In his senior season, Russell racked up over 4,100 yards, 55 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. Now, he steps onto the field and immediately enters the competition for the starting position. The quarterback battle is intensifying, and fans are eagerly anticipating whether he can provide the much-needed spark to this offense.

You see, it’s not that Jalen Milroe is a bad player, but it’s Kalen DeBoer’s responsibility to put him in the best possible position to succeed, and it seems that he failed in doing so. Yes, Milroe’s performance against Michigan was abysmal, throwing four consecutive incompletions. However, we must also consider their game against Vanderbilt, where the defense played poorly. Maybe Russell is the answer to all of Alabama’s problems, as the current situation doesn’t look very promising.

Top Comment by JoeJoe

Jalen helped hold the players that stayed together and for that I commend him and Deboer was committed to Jalen...more

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A tough road ahead for Kalen DeBoer’s Bama

Well, for now, Alabama’s transfer portal chaos is a perfect example of the saying, “When it rains, it pours.” With over 19 players already leaving the team and entering the portal, the team is in a serious roster crunch. Moreover, losing top recruits like running back Justice Haynes, linebacker Keanu Koht, and wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson, who were leading the charge, is not that easy. Adding to the exodus, starting offensive tackle Elijah Pritchett declared for the portal after a crushing loss to Michigan. Pritchett played 13 games and over 600 snaps for Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide, which makes his departure a major blow.

It’s clear that Bama’s disastrous season, combined with Kalen DeBoer’s inability to deliver the expected results, just makes everything worse. Players are leaving for better opportunities; meanwhile, others are setting their sights on the NFL. Their star offensive player, Tyler Booker, has already declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, leaving the left guard position a major concern for Alabama. With key players leaving, DeBoer’s task of rebuilding is looking more daunting, especially with so many key positions in flux. Looks like the pressure on the coach is mounting fast.

With analyst Paul Finebaum launching shots at Kalen DeBoer over his tenure with the team, he is on a scorching hot seat. Well, it’s evident that DeBoer can’t afford another failed season if he wants to keep his job. As Finebaum says, “If he doesn’t make the playoffs next year, the target on his back is immense.” We all know how badly Bama needs a comeback next season; otherwise, Finebaum’s prediction might put Kalen DeBoer in the same stance as Billy Napier. It’s still uncertain if Keelon Russell will salvage the situation for Alabama’s coach, who’s facing heavy criticism.