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Football - 38 days later
Posted on 2/8/26 at 12:56 am
Posted on 2/8/26 at 12:56 am
Basketball is having its own issues, I’ll address it another day.
It has been 38 days since we all witnessed our football equivalent of the Tet offensive. I don’t want to reflect on this past season much, so here’s a one sentence summary: starting with the Mizzou game I felt we were out of our depth.
With that said, we have punched above our weight in the past month, especially compared to what the douchebags at ESPN would have you believe. (This is not a fealty to DeBoer and Co. btw, just acknowledging that they have definitely done a better job than sports media has reported to this point.)
What changes stick out to you? I like the change to Klemm for OL coach. I like the retention at most skill positions and a few additions on the OL. I feel DL may be thin and hope Freddie is able to make use of the kids he has recruited thus far. Also hoping there is a clear morale rudder for this group. I don’t think the coaching staff can provide that anymore, but we’ve seen other teams led by players in that department that had much success. ‘08 Florida comes to mind. Ditto ‘10 Auburn and ‘05 Texas.
It has been 38 days since we all witnessed our football equivalent of the Tet offensive. I don’t want to reflect on this past season much, so here’s a one sentence summary: starting with the Mizzou game I felt we were out of our depth.
With that said, we have punched above our weight in the past month, especially compared to what the douchebags at ESPN would have you believe. (This is not a fealty to DeBoer and Co. btw, just acknowledging that they have definitely done a better job than sports media has reported to this point.)
What changes stick out to you? I like the change to Klemm for OL coach. I like the retention at most skill positions and a few additions on the OL. I feel DL may be thin and hope Freddie is able to make use of the kids he has recruited thus far. Also hoping there is a clear morale rudder for this group. I don’t think the coaching staff can provide that anymore, but we’ve seen other teams led by players in that department that had much success. ‘08 Florida comes to mind. Ditto ‘10 Auburn and ‘05 Texas.
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Posted on 2/8/26 at 7:21 am to UsingUpAllTheLetters
Posted on 2/8/26 at 7:29 am to UsingUpAllTheLetters
quote:
It has been 38 days since we all witnessed our football equivalent of the Tet offensive.
You mean when we got beat decisively by the future national champion after somehow making the playoffs with a broken OL and an offense shattered by injuries who still managed to win on the road in the first round?
QB: badly injured had surgery
RB1: out
RB2: dinged up
RB3: out
TE1: injured
TE2: injured
LG: out
C: badly injured
RG: injured
WR1: injured
WR2: injured
Nick Saban is gone.
That era of dominance is gone forever due to NIL/portal.
Relative to what we had last year we should all view a 10-2 regular season, SECCG appearance, CFP appearance and win as a really good borderline great year because we aren’t winning championships annually anymore and frankly had no business being as good as we were given what we had to work with from Missouri on due to injuries and roster deficiencies.
quote:
What changes stick out to you?
I mean they gutted the entire OL room including the coach in what is easily the biggest overhaul I’ve ever seen with a position group going back to Shula.
Whether it works next year remains to be seen but that was as decisive a change as you could make. The fact that they felt it was necessary not just with the depth but with starters as well speaks to what they really thought of the OL identification and development in the late Saban era.
Front 7 was pretty close to that as well. We have a couple guys coming back there which should help a little with continuity but:
Keenan: NFL
Overton: NFL
Smith: Portal
Pierre: returning
Lawson: NFL
Hill-Green: NFL
Jefferson: NFL
That’s a complete overhaul functionally as well.
So if you look at our lines of the 5 on offense and 7 on defense (12) we’re churning 10. That means we’re at over 80% in the box which far exceeds anything I’ve ever seen with Alabama football.
Again, whether it works is tbd but we will be an entirely different team next year.
Posted on 2/8/26 at 7:35 am to UsingUpAllTheLetters
Yeah, the Tet Offensive analogy isn’t a good one. Yes, initially the NVA were successful but ultimately, we inflicted such massive casualties on them and they lost so much equipment and supplies that it literally took them years to launch any kind of large scale operations after that.
Of course, the media gleefully portrayed it that the US had been defeated when that was simply not true.
Saying Tet was a massive defeat for the US is analogous to saying the US lost the Battle of the Bulge. Similar in that the US had some initial setbacks but ultimately crushed the enemy.
Of course, the media gleefully portrayed it that the US had been defeated when that was simply not true.
Saying Tet was a massive defeat for the US is analogous to saying the US lost the Battle of the Bulge. Similar in that the US had some initial setbacks but ultimately crushed the enemy.
This post was edited on 2/8/26 at 7:36 am
Posted on 2/8/26 at 7:40 am to UsingUpAllTheLetters
Deboer did an acceptable job of taking the team Saban left him (anyone with a brain will admit that the 'Standard" had fallen off starting with the 2021 season) and the incoming recruiting classes.
The fact that so many freshman played during Deboer's first two years speaks volumes to the level of talent. Through departures either by graduation/NFL/portal the "let him get his players" argument is a full stop from this point forward.
For good or bad, this is Kalen DeBoer's football team. He recruited the overwhelming majority of the roster. He's had a chance to evaluate his first staff and make changes where he deemed necessary. This is HIS team.
His history shows he can get the job done but he's never been in this kind of pressure cooker before. Can he? This year will go a long way in determining whether he can or not.
The fact that so many freshman played during Deboer's first two years speaks volumes to the level of talent. Through departures either by graduation/NFL/portal the "let him get his players" argument is a full stop from this point forward.
For good or bad, this is Kalen DeBoer's football team. He recruited the overwhelming majority of the roster. He's had a chance to evaluate his first staff and make changes where he deemed necessary. This is HIS team.
His history shows he can get the job done but he's never been in this kind of pressure cooker before. Can he? This year will go a long way in determining whether he can or not.
Posted on 2/8/26 at 8:13 am to bamarep
The bad taste I can't get out of my mouth is how poorly our seasons ended in 2024 and 2025. Not just the bowl game but the a disjointed final act of the regular season. As the season progressed our offense fell apart and the staff had no adjustments or player development in-season to turn it around. Same in 2024 as 2025.
On paper the offensive line should be a mess this year but it better be a massive revelation or this staff is going to be entering a world of shite.
On paper the offensive line should be a mess this year but it better be a massive revelation or this staff is going to be entering a world of shite.
Posted on 2/8/26 at 8:43 am to Diego Ricardo
The lack of adjustment could be multifaceted. OL couldn't create push, Ty held the ball too long, RBs couldn't run with physicality.
This year will tell the tale.
This year will tell the tale.
Posted on 2/8/26 at 8:44 am to Diego Ricardo
Year 3, the team is rebuilt in deboer’s mold.
We should win 10 regular season, high playoff seed, and advance at least one more round than this year.
We should be in playoffs EVERY year and be competitive. No way for program like us to expect title games like before as long as $ rule.
We should win 10 regular season, high playoff seed, and advance at least one more round than this year.
We should be in playoffs EVERY year and be competitive. No way for program like us to expect title games like before as long as $ rule.
Posted on 2/8/26 at 8:52 am to Crimsonpirate23
With all the stupid rules to hand out participation trophies without true merit, Alabama is not going to make the tournament every year until they expand it and get rid of some of the chickenshit handouts.
Posted on 2/8/26 at 8:56 am to bamarep
quote:
The lack of adjustment could be multifaceted. OL couldn't create push, Ty held the ball too long, RBs couldn't run with physicality.
This year will tell the tale.
Fair point. Offensive adjustments do tend to be tied to being able to run the ball. Formations and personnel changes to affect the defense don't really work if they know you're passing 80% of the time.
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