re: New Head Coach Thread (Welcome Coach DeBoer)

This is a layman's opinion, but in my view it seems that Dabo Swinney has peaked. Like the modern/contemporary developments in college football (NIL, portal) passed him by without him being willing, and therefore not being able, to adopt to them. What a huge difference with Saban, who always identified the issue and then adapted whether he liked it or not.

Do I think Dabo can win and win big at Alabama? Yes, I do. He has the coaching pedigree and the ties to and knowlegde of Alabama. But he's not my preference, because he seems outdated.

I liked Lanning, because he's young and modern yet experienced enough to take on a big(ger) program like Bama. Also, I figured he would continue Saban's style of tough, hardnosed football (especially on defense). And finally, I figured he would bring his buddy Glen Schumann with him (because being DC at Bama is better than being co-DC at Uga with Will Musschamp).

The thing that I have to keep reminding myself of is that this hire is unlike all the OC, DC, etc. we've gone through before. Saban is not the head coach and as the great mitigating factor who can (and would) often compensate whatever flaws the assistant would have. What I'm trying to say is that this new HC has to be the compete package. And to me right now that is Kalen DeBoer. His drawback, from what I read here, is perceived to be recruiting. That could be addressed by asking Saban somewhat around as recruiting consultant (I know Saban will probably move to TV/analyst or something, but one can hope).

Now, Lane Kiffin has the attitude, confidence and swagger to survive as the first post-Saban head coach and the big shoes he has to fill. But has he proven to be absolutely elite as a coach, for instance by beating Saban or top ranked programs? And his move to hire Pete Golding was just stunning and IMO a major red flag. Pete Golding turned Bama's vaunted and feared defense into a perennial vanilla defense. So why on earth hire PG? Just weird.

As for Tommy Reese, I don't take any talk about that seriously. The guy just came along as an OC and he's not even ready to be HC at a lower tier program. He'd crash and burn as Bama's HC.

So, DeBoer is my preference. He seems to most complete package. His lack of recruiting prowess/lack-of-Southern-ties can be compensated by surrounding him with the right people.