Alabama is heading into a different kind of test this week, and Kalen DeBoer knows it.
The Crimson Tide comes off a third straight blowout after rolling past South Carolina 49-18 at Bryant-Denny Stadium, but the next stop is Starkville and a Mississippi State team that has already put together a 4-0 start. The Bulldogs, ranked No. 16 in both the AP and coaches polls, are bringing momentum and a quarterback in Kamario Taylor who has been one of the top passers in college football early this season.
That was the backdrop when DeBoer met with reporters Monday in Tuscaloosa alongside offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.
Grubb opened by saying he wanted to apologize for being a distraction last week, explaining that his comments about Alabama fans were meant tongue-in-cheek and adding that he loves UA fans. From there, he shifted quickly into the football.
He said Alabama could have been cleaner on its first drive, which ended in a three-and-out, but he also liked the way the Tide worked through different issues in the win. In his view, the operation looked sharper overall.
A good chunk of Grubb’s session centered on individual growth. He said Keelon Russell has improved by staying calmer in the pocket, which has helped his decision-making, and he also pointed to Russell’s operational progress.
Grubb was pleased to see Noah Rogers back and making a big play, saying the staff dialed up the call to get him the ball. He also praised Josh Ford’s steadiness, calling him extremely comfortable in who he is, one of the hardest workers on the team, and sharp in the details.
Grubb didn’t sound like a coach satisfied with where the offense is right now, either. He said Alabama’s players aren’t content, and that he can look at any game and find plenty the Crimson Tide still needs to clean up.
He added that the SEC demands that kind of attention every week. And when it came to Ford’s blocking and receiving, Grubb was especially emphatic, saying players “go crazy” when they see a huge tight end block on film and that Ford’s catch was one of the best he had seen from a tight end.
Wommack followed with a strong assessment of Alabama’s defense and the challenge ahead. He praised the Tide’s effort against South Carolina and said the energy from Bryant-Denny Stadium helped fuel the group. He also liked the way Alabama generated takeaways, including a defensive touchdown, and said the defense got back on track in pass coverage after the Florida State game.
Mississippi State, though, clearly has his attention. Wommack said the Bulldogs have “a ton of momentum,” and he spoke highly of Jeff Lebby. He also singled out running back Fluff Bothwell, whom he recruited to South Alabama, and said Taylor might be the bets quarterback that Alabama has faced during his time as defensive coordinator.
Wommack also addressed the work of preparing for Taylor on the scout team, explaining that the normal scout team handles RPO looks while running backs sometimes take over during scramble drills. Then he turned back to his own defense, saying the group has continued to grow and that its physicality and effort are as strong as they’ve been since he arrived in Tuscaloosa. He acknowledged inconsistency has been an issue, but said when he has emphasized something, the players have responded with strong effort.
Injuries were part of the conversation, too. Wommack said Justin Hill and Desmond Umeozulu will be out for “a bit” because of their injuries, though he praised how other players handled those absences.
DeBoer later said Will Sanders has an “upper-body injury” but expects him to play Saturday. Jayvin James, he said, has a “lower-extremity” injury and the offensive line is “very questionable.”
He also said Hill and Umeozulu will keep missing time, with Hill likely to return sooner.
DeBoer said Alabama improved in “a lot of areas” against South Carolina and liked the way the team played with and handled emotion. He said the program shows players clips from all levels of football to illustrate how it does not want them to respond in intense moments.
He also praised Courtney Morgan for “seeing the big picture,” communicating well with the rest of the staff, and evaluating talent, while noting that Alabama’s transfers have adapted well this season. Even with an extremely difficult stretch in front of them, DeBoer said the Tide is locked in on this week and that he would not expect anything other than the team focusing on its current game.
DeBoer said his approach to road-game preparation has not really changed since he arrived, and he emphasized the need to keep building depth as injuries continue to pile up. He added that Zay Mincey had a pregame injury and noted that Ty Haywood is still with the team.
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