After a successful stint at the University of Washington, Kalen DeBoer accepted the job at Alabama. Many thought he needed to immediately live up to Nick Saban’s standard. With a recent appearance in the College Football Playoff, the program appears to have rebounded from a 9-4 season the year before. A noted analyst stepped to the microphone and delivered his opinion regarding the head coach and the program’s future.
Why Paul Finebaum Believes Kalen DeBoer Isn’t the Right Fit for Alabama
When DeBoer took the job, some expressed reticence regarding the Crimson Tide’s new hire. After a 9-4 season, the voices grew in volume.
Finebaum, never one to hide his thoughts, discussed the head coach on the “Crain and Cone” podcast and stated his issue with DeBoer.
“I mean, on our show, the most talked-about name is Kalen DeBoer. I don’t think he’s overrated. I just think he’s a bad fit.”
After a 9-4 debut season in Tuscaloosa under DeBoer, Alabama rebounded with an 11-win season last year. Moreover, they reached the SEC championship. Although they lost, the game helped the Tide reach the College Football Playoff.
In the first round, Alabama trailed 17-0 in the first half to Oklahoma. However, DeBoer’s team rallied to win 34-24. While eventual national champion Indiana steamrolled the Crimson Tide 38-3, the opening-round victory for DeBoer showed progress.
At the same time, Finebaum has openly discussed his potential firing since the coach walked onto campus. On several occasions last season, he openly stated that the school would part ways after the season. However, winning appears to keep DeBoer employed at Alabama.
To his credit, DeBoer takes the criticism in stride, focusing on his program, working to improve the current players, and adding talent via recruiting and the transfer portal. According to 247Sports, Alabama enrolled 21 high school recruits while welcoming 17 transfers into school. Still, a couple of key positions will see new starters.
This fall, DeBoer will field an offensive line that lost 80% of its starters, leaving only right tackle Michael Carroll, according to CFB Depth. The unit will be blocking for a new quarterback as Ty Simpson declared for the NFL draft and landed as Matthew Stafford’s apparent heir with the Los Angeles Rams.
While both Austin Mack and Keelon Russell saw some field time, taking over at quarterback is the key to DeBoer’s scheme, which bears watching. Alabama landed at No. 30 in the PFSN CFB Offense Impact Rankings.
DeBoer faces a schedule that sees the opener against East Carolina and the November game against Chattanooga as clear victories. Otherwise, the SEC schedule looks full of games against improving teams in hostile environments. Can DeBoer silence Finebaum’s assertions once again, or will Alabama fail to meet its lofty expectations?
