Wednesday is the gauntlet day for Alabama Football coach Kalen DeBoer. Alabama and Mississippi State are scheduled for the morning shift at SEC Media Days. In that pairing, most of the attention and scrutiny will be on the Alabama Crimson Tide and DeBoer.
Kalen DeBoer is a cautious communicator, so his prepared comments will not reveal much. As careful as DeBoer will be, it is possible that in the barrage of media questions, some unexpected insight will seep through the veil of coach speak.
Questions Kalen DeBoer Must Be Asked
- When will he name a starting quarterback and how likely is QB1 not Ty Simpson?
DeBoer will not answer with any specificity. A guess is that the decision will be late in Fall Camp, after camp scrimmages. As far as Simpson, DeBoer can be expected to continue with positive words about all three potential starters.
- Will any projected starters and key backups be in black jerseys at the start of Fall Camp?
Alabama had a rash of spring injuries, to go along with serious injuries during last season. In attendance on Wednesday, Deontae Lawson and Kadyn Proctor can provide their health status. DeBoer should update others, including Keon Sabb, Wilkin Formby, Jalen Hale, and Domani Jackson.
- How much confidence does the Alabama staff have in the kicking specialists?
DeBoer can be expected to rate placekicker Conor Talty highly. The punter situation is different. The Crimson Tide might have a real problem at the position. Freshman punter Alex Asparuhov missed spring due to an injury. Fifth-year transfer Blake Doud has reportedly been inconsistent since joining the Crimson Tide. At the least, Alabama's kicking game can be defined as troublesome.
- Can the Alabama defense provide more frequent quarterbacks pressures and sacks?
The Alabama Crimson Tide defense made significant improvements during last season. In the late season, losses to Oklahoma and Michigan were mostly the result of offensive weaknesses. One problem the good 2024 defense had all season was too infrequent quarterback pressure. Against SEC teams, Alabama was tied for No. 13 in the SEC in sacks.
Alabama Football and Nick Saban
- Should Nick Saban return to coaching, and if it does should his choice not be an SEC team?
DeBoer will, of course, praise Nick Saban and have a carefully prepared response to the possibility of Saban coaching again. Will any media person be so bold as to ask DeBoer if Saban would ever coach Alabama Football again?