DeBoer calls Alabama ‘work in progress’

On Wednesday, several SEC coaches answered questions in the weekly teleconference.

Both Josh Heupel and Kalen Deboer spoke to the media ahead of their showdown this Saturday in Knoxville. One thing that came up as a focus was the lack of focus Alabams seemed to have the last 10 quarters of football.

Kalen Deboer spoke about attention to detail from his team heading into Saturday’s game against one of their oldest rivals.

“Guys have done a good job so far throughout the week,” the first-year Crimson Tide coach said. “Attention to detail, situational football. All of those things are things where we continue to be a work in progress.”

He also spoke about the offensive comparisons to Tennessee and South Florida as well.

“There’s certainly some carry over,” DeBoer said. “It starts with just tempo. It starts with alignments, and things like that. I think you talk about a couple different types of ways where they want to move the ball, even though a lot of it is revolving around the run game. They pick and choose their times in situational football where you use Nico in the read game, and he’s been very successful in those moments of making good decisions. So, we’ve got to be ready for that.”

Remember that despite a final score of 42-16, Alabama led South Florida by just five points with six minutes left in the fourth quarter. This will be Alabama’s first trip back to Knoxville after their memorable loss two years ago when Tennessee broke a 15-year losing streak to the Tide and stormed the field in Neyland.