What DeBoer feels Alabama football must do to open up offense this fall

Oct 18, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Daniel Hill (4) runs with the ball in the second half against the Tennessee

Kalen DeBoer is well aware of the misery Alabama football faced last season when it came down to running the football late in the year.

The Crimson Tide had a rushing attack that left a lot to be desired during the 2025-2026 football season. One of Alabama’s worst rushing performances of the year came against Georgia in the SEC Championship when the Tide finished with -3 rushing yards in a loss to the Georgia Bulldogs. Indiana held the Tide to 23 rushing yards in the Rose Bowl when it beat Alabama 38-3.

DeBoer is hopeful Alabama can turn things around on the ground this fall.  The Alabama head coach feels that more success running the football will open things up for the Tide’s offense.

“We know we need to be more balanced than what we were a year ago,” DeBoer said during an interview with Cole Cubelic. “I  know people look at statistics and how much we’ve thrown the ball the last few years and the success with it. I mean, how can you not when you have some of the talent that are in some of those rooms and it’s working? But you always got to make sure that you’re staying true to what the game is meant to be. It’s meant to be played in a physical fashion. You wear helmets, you wear pads for a reason. We just got to make sure we’re teaching, always looking and self-scouting and things like that. We have to be able to take what the defense gives us. Once we develop that run game the way we want it, that’s going to open up even more of what our offense can do. So, yeah, it’s a balanced attack is what it’s got to be. Doesn’t mean it’s 50-50 on the stat column. Just being able to take what the defense gives you, being able to attack the weaknesses of a defense, up front on the edge.”

Alabama returns a trio of running backs from last season in Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley and AK Dear. Hill and Riley are expected to lead the Tide’s rushing attack this fall.