Alabama is trying to recalibrate around Keelon Russell after the sophomore quarterback endured the two roughest outings of his young career, and the message from Monday’s coaching staff meeting was clear: make things cleaner, simpler and better suited to what he does best.
That urgency comes with plenty on the line. The Crimson Tide have five huge games ahead and almost no room to stumble if they want to reach the College Football Playoff. But Alabama also sees a path forward with Russell, who still carries the kind of ceiling that had him in the Heisman conversation after the Week 5 win over Mississippi State.
The game-plan fix starts with reducing the burden on Russell, especially in difficult settings against elite defenses. Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb didn’t hold back when discussing the quarterback’s talent, while also owning his part in what went wrong.
"I think Keelon Russell is the best quarterback in America, period," Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said Monday. "And I know that's not what showed up on Saturday.
And again, I can only take accountability for myself and getting Keelon in a better spot because I know he is that kind of player, so going back to the game plan, well, it's easy for Keelon, and it's not that Keelon is incapable of handling tough things or difficult concepts and things like that. It's just in those type of environments, in the first time against a really good defense, you got to make it as clean as possible, and so going back, I think everything would go back to: is this clean enough for the guys?
And so clearly, it wasn’t."
Russell’s numbers told the story. He turned it over three times, with two interceptions and a fumble, was sacked five times and finished with just 147 yards on 29 attempts. Alabama’s staff spent Monday pointing back to the same issue: the quarterback has to be placed in situations that play to his strengths, not forced to shoulder too much too soon.
"I feel like, again, it goes back to the play calling," DeBoer said. "I think we had opportunities that are really simple things that he's run a lot this year now that he's comfortable with.
There are certain run pass options that have been successful and ones that haven’t. I think we're doing a good job of understanding what he likes.
You know just quick game, getting the ball out of his hands and things like that are some things that he does well. He also has the opportunity and the knack for creating with his legs, and I thought he did that at times.
He’s just got to try to not do too much."
That was the thread running through the entire conversation: quick game, familiar concepts and more chances to use Russell’s legs when that fits the moment. Grubb said Alabama has to be more intentional about calling what Russell is most comfortable with, rather than asking him to fight through a game plan that feels too heavy.
Russell, meanwhile, has made it clear after games that he doesn’t want to be labeled as a young quarterback. He’s only seven starts into his career, but the expectations around him are bigger than that. The staff is leaning into that standard instead of lowering it.
"We’re not gonna let him think of himself as a young quarterback either," DeBoer said. "He’s our quarterback.
That expectation at Alabama comes with getting the job done. He’s more than capable.
He’s done a great job in so many ways for our football team. Every moment’s a learning moment-- the good, and the times that are rough.
He’s got a great head on his shoulders. Our staff, each of our players, are owning everything that happens, and Keelon has definitely done that.
Just seeing and hearing him around the building here in the last couple days, he’s eager to move forward and be better because of everything that comes his way.”
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