Danny Kanell’s latest read on Alabama is the kind of thing Crimson Tide fans don’t usually expect to hear from him.
For years, the former Florida State and NFL quarterback has been a lightning rod with Alabama fans, who were convinced he held a special dislike for the program. Fair or not, that reputation stuck.
But this season, his tone has shifted. Kanell has shown respect for Kalen DeBoer since DeBoer took over in Tuscaloosa, and that alone is enough to make people wonder whether the old tension was really aimed more at Nick Saban than at Alabama itself.
There may be a reason for that old grudge. Back in the 2006 NFL offseason, Saban wanted to sign free-agent quarterback Drew Brees.
Brees was coming off a serious shoulder injury, and Saban consulted Dr. James Andrews, the renowned surgeon, about whether Brees was healthy enough to trust.
Andrews said Brees was not a health risk. Miami’s team physician saw it differently and said Brees had only a 25% chance of ever playing again.
Saban, disappointed but unusually willing to defer, went with the doctor’s view. That doctor was Dan Kanell, Danny Kanell’s father.
Alabama fans can be thankful Dr. Kanell got that one wrong. If Brees had landed with the Dolphins and become the star Saban hoped for, there’s a world where Saban never makes it back to college coaching.
Whatever the old history means, the present-day outlook is what matters to Tide fans, and Kanell has offered some real encouragement there. He recently released a ranking of the top 12 college football teams and placed Alabama at No.
- He had four SEC teams ahead of the Crimson Tide in that list.
Even more notable for Alabama supporters, Kanell was also upbeat on the Tide in over-under win projections. In a segment with Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, and Bud Elliott, the group made over-under picks for every SEC team.
Georgia, Oklahoma, and Alabama were the only SEC teams that every analyst picked to go over their win total. They were unanimous on the under for Kentucky and Texas A&M.
For Alabama fans, that’s the kind of signal they’ll happily take. Whether Kanell’s stance has changed or he was never as anti-Alabama as people assumed, the bottom line is the same: positive Crimson Tide projections are in short supply, and this one is welcome.
In Other News...
Alabama Fall Camp Is Making A Few Surprise Roles Hard To Ignore
Alabamas fall camp is starting to sort out a few of the most watched positions on the roster, and the first week has already brought some interesting movement. Sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell has been drawing strong reviews as the Crimson Tide works toward its season opener, while freshman running back Trae'shawn Brown has pushed himself into the conversation thanks in part to injuries around him. Elsewhere, linebacker Luke Metz has started to separate himself and a trio of transfer defensive linemen is making enough noise to keep the depth chart fluid.
For a camp built around competition, that kind of early separation matters. The Tide still have time to sort through the quarterback rotation and the rest of the front seven, but the early signs suggest some younger players and newcomers are not just filling reps, they are forcing the staff to take them seriously. With several spots still open and roles still settling, Alabamas next stretch of practice will tell plenty about how much of this summer momentum can carry into the opener. [Read more 🡒]
Ty Simpson Just Made The Rams Quarterback Battle Very Interesting
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The larger takeaway is less about one August game than what it might mean for the rest of the month. With two preseason games still to come, the Rams have time to sort out the quarterback pecking order, but Simpsons showing has made that decision a lot less straightforward for Stetson Bennett and a lot more interesting for everyone watching the backup race. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Offense Is Already Facing A Familiar Camp Warning
Kalen DeBoer did not need long after Alabamas first fall camp scrimmage to identify what still needs work on offense. Slow starts remain a familiar concern, and DeBoer made it clear he wants Ryan Grubbs unit to come out faster and put the sluggish openings from last season behind it. It was the kind of early-camp warning that tends to carry extra weight because it points straight at a problem the Crimson Tide has already seen before.
There is still time for Alabama to clean it up, with several practices and another scrimmage left before the regular season opener. Even so, the message is already established: the offense cannot afford to spend August easing into things and hope the issue disappears on its own. For a group trying to build rhythm under a new staff, the next stretch of camp should tell plenty about whether those early struggles are becoming a habit or just another item to fix. [Read more 🡒]