Can Alabama Football Bounce Back Under Kalen DeBoer?

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Can Kalyin DeBoer Reestablish Alabama's Dominant Running Game?

Alabama's football team and Coach Kalyin DeBoer are facing significant pressure to return to prominence by 2026. The team has experienced back-to-back seasons with four losses, highlighting the need for improvement. Moreover, the recent declaration for the NFL draft by player Ty Simpson adds to the challenges facing the team.

Kalyin DeBoer, who has had previous coaching successes at Fresno State and Washington, has been critiqued for not yet meeting the high expectations set by Alabama's storied program, which includes six national championships achieved under Nick Saban. The critique underlines that it’s not solely the win-loss record that matters, but how the team wins. The perceived "softness" by their own fan base, particularly noted after a poor performance against Indiana, underlines the urgency for a strategic shift.

The solution proposed for Alabama hinges on reestablishing a physical, run-dominant style of play. This approach echoes the historical identity of Alabama football, which prides itself on physicality and dominance in the running game—a tradition that predates even legendary coach Bear Bryant. The expectation is that revival of this identity should start as early as spring football practice.

Moreover, DeBoer's background from the West Coast adds another layer of skepticism among fans and observers. The West Coast style of play, typically seen as less physical than that of Alabama, contrasts sharply with the tough, run-heavy football that Alabama supporters expect. Therefore, DeBoer faces the dual challenge of adapting his approach and overcoming preconceptions about his coaching style.

Ultimately, the way forward for Alabama is clear. The team must focus on fostering a mindset centered on physicality both offensively and defensively. This entails cultivating a relentless aggression and a determination to dominate on the field, characteristics that must be instilled starting from the spring practices. Failure to do so could continue the narrative of softness and underachievement that has plagued the team in recent seasons.