Anyone who has covered or followed Kalen DeBoer for any amount of time knows he has a remarkable talent. In press conferences and interviews, DeBoer has a preternatural ability to say a whole lot just to say nothing at all.
He doesn't provide the kind of sound bites that Nick Saban used to. He's chalk-full of coach-speak and rarely tips his hand with anything substantial. It's a calculated move on his part, but certainly frustrating for those who cover the team and are looking for interesting angles for readers.
That's what made DeBoer's comments during "Hey Coach" on Wednesday night all the more interesting.
In discussing Alabama's three-man QB room of starter Ty Simpson and backups Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, DeBoer made a bold proclamation:
"Our quarterback room is getting coached better than any quarterback room in the country," DeBoer said.
That was DeBoer praising QB coach Nick Sheridan and OC Ryan Grubb for their work with the room. That's also DeBoer making a recruiting pitch for the elite 2027 signal-callers that Alabama has turned its attention to after locking down two quarterbacks in the 2026 cycle in Jett Thomalla and Tayden Kaawa.
Alabama's offensive staff is in a much better place in 2026
Nick Sheridan may not have been ready to be Alabama's offensive coordinator last season, but he is a good coach. He has done good work with the quarterbacks, and now that the position is his sole focus, he can devote 100% of his time to it.
Alabama fans disliked Sheridan's play-calling a season ago, but he was also trying to fit a round peg into a square hole with Jalen Milroe. Milroe is a talented player, no doubt, but he was not tailor-made for DeBoer's offensive system.
DeBoer hiring Ryan Grubb this offseason was significant. Grubb has a proven track record as a QB developer as well, teaming with Sheridan (and DeBoer) to give Alabama the QB coaching that stands among any program in the country.
Grubb is also widely considered one of the best play-callers in the country. Alabama missed that last season, and his addition to the staff cannot be understated. He and DeBoer have had a ton of success together, and their rejoining forces should be a big reason the Crimson Tide gets back to the standard that was seemingly lost last season.
DeBoer's comments about the QB development should be music to the ears of Alabama fans. It tells you he thinks they are in a good place heading into the season opener.
With DeBoer and Sheridan on the sideline and Grubb in the booth, Ty Simpson will be set up for success in his first start on Saturday.