When Kalen DeBoer accepted the Alabama head coaching job, he understood what lay behind the door and the situation he was getting himself involved with. It is never easy following a previous coach who had immense success, but following the legend of Nick Saban is a recipe for disaster.
Following in the shadow of multiple dynasties under Saban means every decision and every loss will be heavily scrutinized, whether he wants it to or not. But even with that awareness, the level of pressure he now faces may be beyond what anyone can truly prepare for.
Why Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer Faces Mounting Pressure to Adapt
After a humbling blowout loss to Indiana in the CFP, DeBoer finds himself answering difficult questions about the direction of the program more than at any time in his two years thus far. It wasn’t just a loss; it was a performance that raised the alarm bells nice and loud for the Crimson Tide. They aren’t used to getting embarrassed the way they did, and that type of play isn’t acceptable by Alabama standards.
DeBoer addressed the criticism head-on in one of his recent spring practice press conferences, acknowledging the external pressure while reinforcing his internal approach.
“There’s noise everywhere you coach,” he said. “There was at Sioux Falls and Fresno State, not like this, obviously. But wherever you are, you just block that out.”
It’s a message rooted in experience throughout his coaching career. DeBoer has won at every stop, building programs through consistency and focus.
But Alabama is just different compared to any other team he’s coached in the past. The “noise” here isn’t just background chatter that can be pushed to the side; it’s a constant, deafening expectation of dominance.
While the Crimson Tide did reach the College Football Playoff as a three-loss SEC Championship Game runner-up, that alone hasn’t satisfied a fan base accustomed to competing for national titles, not just appearances. And increasingly, the concern isn’t just about results; it’s about how Alabama looks on the field.
The numbers tell part of the story that something seems off in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama’s rushing attack, once the backbone of its identity during the Saban era, only averaged 104.1 yards per game, ranking 125th nationally. For a program built on physicality and controlling the line of scrimmage, that figure is more than disappointing. The offensive line, another traditional strength, posted a PFSN CFB Team OL Impact score of 78.7, placing just 45th in the country. By Alabama standards, that’s well below the mark.
This isn’t the “ground and pound” brand of football that defined the Crimson Tide’s dominance. Instead, it’s a team searching for consistency and identity, which is something fans aren’t accustomed to but have clearly noticed. Much of the criticism surrounding DeBoer stems from the “eye test,” with many feeling that Alabama simply doesn’t look like Alabama anymore despite the wins still coming the program’s way.
