Kalen DeBoer didn’t shy away from the messiness around Keelon Russell’s second start.
After Alabama’s win over Kentucky on Saturday, the Crimson Tide coach was asked about the multiple intentional grounding penalties that hit Russell during a shaky opening stretch. DeBoer’s answer pointed in a few directions at once: protection, decision-making and the simple art of keeping the play alive without turning it into a loss.
“We’ve got to do a better job sometimes of, it’s not always the offensive line either, of giving him something clean,” DeBoer said. “I kind of mentioned earlier, but some of our RPO stuff, it’s okay to just hand it off.
He’s an aggressive kid, and we love the things he can bring to the table on that, but when there’s guys in your face coming to you from the back side, you’ve got to throw through them, and it gets knocked, just hand it off. And I think there’s some running lanes we might be able to see.
I’ll have to watch the film. Last week, it was when you’re running, making sure you slide.
I think there’s some things like you’re mentioning of just making sure you throw it away. Live to see another down.
Stay upright, all those things we talk about. I did feel like he made a lot of improvements from last week to this week, especially before the ball’s even snapped.
There’s those areas that now we can continue to work on the execution that we can work on when the ball is snapped and just knowing how to manage each down-and-distance, each situation that comes his way.”
Russell’s own assessment after the game was just as direct. The Alabama offense came out unevenly, and the quarterback said he knows he has work to do before next week.
“I wasn’t feeling my best,” Russell said. “The game was going very slow for me.
Started out very slow. So, I got to do better quarterback play going into next week, which I am.
I desire to work hard this whole week to prep myself.”
The penalties were part of a rough start for Russell and the offense, but both the coach and quarterback made clear the fix is about cleaning up the details and moving on.
In Other News...
Florida State's Latest Shakeup Comes Right Before Alabama
Florida State made a notable administrative change just as Alabama is preparing to see the Seminoles on the schedule, announcing that Michael Alford is out after four years as athletics director. Bruce Warwick will step in on an interim basis while the school searches for a permanent replacement, adding another layer of uncertainty around a program already under pressure.
The move comes with concerns growing around Florida State footballs recent results under Mike Norvell, and the timing only sharpens the focus on what the Seminoles look like heading into a high-profile matchup with Alabama. For a game that already carried plenty of attention, the off-field shakeup gives it an even more unsettled backdrop. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Top 10 Return Puts One Big FSU Question On Offense
Alabamas climb back into the AP top 10 came with the kind of finishing kick the program wanted to show after the opener. The Tide pulled away from Kentucky 45-17, and the second half offered a cleaner look at what is starting to take shape on both sides of the ball. Jackson Lloyd has settled in well at left tackle, not allowing a pressure through two games, while inside linebackers Luke Metz and Caleb Woodson have been active pieces in a defense that is settling into its identity.
The next test is less about ranking movement and more about the kind of roadblock Alabama needs to clear against Florida State. Keelon Russell has already said his own play has to improve, and that kind of self-assessment matters with a matchup like this looming. Alabama is also carrying the memory of a previous loss to the Seminoles, which adds a little extra edge to a game that already feels like an early measuring stick for where this offense really is. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Is Catching Florida State At A Brutal Time
Florida State comes into its matchup with Alabama carrying far more uncertainty than a typical September opponent, and the timing could hardly be worse. Mike Norvell is already trying to steady a program dealing with a quarterback situation centered on Ashton Daniels, whose starting record has slipped, while the recent firing of athletic director Michel Alford has only added to the sense that the Seminoles are sorting through issues on multiple fronts.
For Alabama, that makes the trip into this game look even more intriguing. The Crimson Tide are catching a team that has not found much rhythm on offense and is still trying to answer basic questions about consistency, leadership, and direction. Norvell has plenty to manage before kickoff, and if Florida State cannot clean up those problems quickly, Alabama will have a chance to press an opponent still searching for firm footing. [Read more 🡒]