Kalen DeBoer said one of the most telling things about the state of Alabama’s football program last week.
After the Crimson Tide dropped its matchup against Tennessee, he uttered a statement that has fans highly concerned and frustrated moving forward. He said the offense and defense for Alabama is not meshing well right now. The Tide has struggled greatly through 14 quarters since the second half versus Georgia. Alabama fans have been searching for answers from social media, local media, and national media about the issues with its team. DeBoer told reporters after the game that the team is hurting following its second loss of the season. The College Football Playoff window is fading, and DeBoer has to do something.
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“These are speeches I am not good at,” DeBoer said in his postgame presser after a loss to Tennessee.
“You have to look inward first and make sure everything you are doing is right. Anyone that you know that has any type of questioning, you have to bring them with you. We have enough vets that know what you are talking about, and it eats at them.”
DeBoer said the vets and the young talent on this team has to come together better.
He does not question the effort, fight, or work the players put in at practice, but something is off with this team.
“There are times where we have to separate ourselves and have that killer instinct,” DeBoer said.
“Right now, we don’t do that. It is not like they are not trying. … It is just that the execution needs to be better.”
Alabama did not have the right execution versus Vanderbilt and Tennessee, and it was costly. It did not have consistent execution against South Carolina, but it escaped with a win. The Tide has to be better in this area and gaining a killer instinct because the team has no identity. Missouri travels to Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium for Alabama’s homecoming looking for a victory.
Changes need to be made for Alabama to get back right, but where does it come from?
We will see this week.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
