Now when it’s Alabama Crimson Tide, you are bound to have lofty standards. That has become an unsaid rule in Tuscaloosa. Thanks to the GOAT and former Alabama HC Nick Saban. After all, that man has set up a high ceiling for whoever stepped into the HC role. So, when Kalen DeBoer sat on the HC seat, the Bama fans thought that it would mark the new HC’s doom. Yet at the same time, the expectations were huge from DeBoer. However, turns out that there has been an unsettling conspiracy that the new HC fell prey to.  

Well, letting go of Saban who brought you seven national championships, is definitely heartbreaking. But did the fans compromise with their expectations? Definitely not. As on the On3 podcast, host J.D.PicKell pointed out what might have been going on in the Alabama fans’ hearts, “Why should we lower our expectations?”

However, they failed to accept the fact that how DeBoer got a shaky system to coach after Saban left. At least 14 players left Tuscaloosa failing to trust any other coach than the GOAT in Alabama. So, the analyst did not find anything wrong in DeBoer’s style of coaching as he stated, “Kalen DeBoer has proven he’s a really good football coach I don’t think that’s up for debate.”

In PicKell’s analysis, the players did not fit well with his antics. For example. Jalen Milroe was supposed to have a fabulous year. However, under DeBoer, the quarterback only averaged 20 attempts as a game starter when he normally averages 40 attempts.  So, PicKell stated, “Kalen DeBoer is like “I actually specialize in a different kind of cuisine.” That doesn’t mean Kalen DeBoer is not a good chef. Doesn’t mean the ingredients in Alabama are bad.” “It just means “hey ultimately these pieces are not something I’m super familiar with working with,”” continued the analyst. When he stepped into Alabama, DeBoer did not have the “Nick Saban override button.” And the result? Finishing the season with a 9-4 overall record. 

“The results that you saw last year I think we’re a direct correlation of him walking into a roster that he had to re-recruit a lot of guys that left he had 33% production return from that defense a year ago,” PicKell tried to put down the blinds from the DeBoer’s haters eyes. Did the HC sidestep on taking accountability?

How Kalen DeBoer is managing his role in Tuscaloosa 

Definitely not. “Yeah, we know that we need to be better. That’s the expectation I had, you know from day one is that we perform at a championship level, and we certainly fell short of that. .. you know you’re always going to really critique and be detailed on how you got to improve,” confessed DeBoer. Looks like DeBoer is already walking on the path to rectify himself. 

First things first, he is bolstering his roster. Over the past month, the Crimson Tide added seven transfers out of the portal after losing 23 players. Since the offensive lineman position was a mess with three players hitting the portal, DeBoer had added some depth. He landed Texas A&M transfer Kam Dewberry and Ball State transfer Arkel Anugwom. He had also added new players to the defensive line. The ones who are likely to turn heads are Florida transfer Kelby Collins, Nikhai Hill-Green from Colorado, and Utah CB Cameron Calhoun.

Meanwhile, Kalen DeBoer has already landed praise from a former Alabama player. That’s none other than the former starting tight end, CJ Dippre. “It was a program that was already built up but people have to realize that stuff happens. Either freshman flip or people flip or we were;t getting the transfers in when the change happened between coaches so I think coach [DeBoer] did a great job. I think it’s going to be better coming through, but I think for the first season…it was a solid year,” the ex-player sounded all confident. It’s make-or-break time for the HC to shift the narrative, and bring the fanbase back on his side.