DeBoer’s First Year

End of season team was a bit more disciplined than beginning of season team. Vanderbilt was a scheme issue, probably win with more games under our belt.

OU and Tennessee was largely Milroe honestly

I don’t know. I want a new OC since we could’ve had a better hire, I want a new DC because Womack is yikes, and I want a new QB. It’s just a pain, I really wish we weren’t looking at Milroe potentially coming back

Incomplete. I want to see him with a quarterback who is capable of running his offense.

I like Womack and thought the defense which we knew would be the weak spot improved as the year went on. We were aggressive once they learned what they were doing. I want yo see if Sheridan is limited by what Jalen is capable of. Anyone remember the arc when we had Jalen and Tua. Funny how much better the offense looked when we had a QB who could read a defense and didn’t have any deficiencies on n his pass game and could run when needed. I don’t need to see coaching changes unless there’s a can’t miss coach like Grub wanted to come back or Aranda wanted to be DC. Other than that let’s see what these guys can do with their players and their schemes.

I've said before that I feel like the success metric for an Alabama coach in this expanded playoff and Post-Saban era is:

1. Make the playoffs (either at-large or AQ)
2. Beat Auburn
3. Beat Tennessee

So he didn't make the playoffs and lost to Tennessee. Tennessee was also the better opponent of our two traditional rivals. The Auburn win is a bit devalued in terms of real importance beyond "winning the state."

It is hard to say for a 9-3 team with a 3-1 record v. Top 25 but I think this season was not successful.

I give it a B+.

Recruiting class looks good, provided he can hold it together.
Defense was 11th in the country in scoring defense. People calling for Wommack's head are retarded.
Offensive coordinator was crippled by Milroe.

3 wins vs Top 25 teams including the SEC Champs. Beat barn.
Missed the playoffs because a mid-major got a sympathy pick. A chance at 10 wins.

B+ any other victory, and it's an A because BAMA would be in the playoff.

Silver lining is this: with all the talk about the playoffs, BAMA is still the headline. The NEWS is that BAMA didn't get selected. That means BAMA is still on everybody's minds. Still the headliner. Even when they don't make the playoffs.

Many are saying that this first year is sort of a wash due to the quarterback. I think there's truth to that. However, it is a reflection on DeBoer that no one else ever saw the field at quarterback in meaningful moments. Yesterday, I watched yet again as Texas took Ewers out of the game on multiple occasions and I just can't help wondering why Milroe was untouchable.

Just based on the w/l record: A- 9 wins is what i expected.
Overall as program leader: c-/d+

quote:

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However, it is a reflection on DeBoer that no one else ever saw the field at quarterback in meaningful moments.

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You have to apply this to Saban since he handled it the exact same way with the same QB and backup.

At the start of the season I figured we'd have three losses based on the schedule alone. Vanderbilt wasn't one of the losses. Oklahoma was a possibility but wasn't expecting them to be so bad this season, so that one stung. Kind of saw Tenn coming. Figured LSU would be better, too.

It's a mixed bag with DeBoer. The three losses don't really bother me as much as the way we lost them - predictable play calling, erratic QB play, and undisciplined play across the board. Womack's defense got better as the season progressed, I think. The offense, on the other hand, went in a different direction. Grubb going back to Seattle turned out to be a much bigger blow than I thought it was going to be.

The oline is arse, but it was arse under Saban the past couple of years too. No consistent running game, but Saban didn't have one either the last few years, at least not in the same way that he did the first ten or so years at Bama. The offensive game changed in that time, though, with less emphasis on the run.

This unlimited transfer and NIL situation is a fundamental realignment in terms of coaching because the old processes of recruiting and developing players in order to create a cohesive, successful program isn't really the same objective anymore.

I'd give him a B- for the first year, with the real possibility of improvement. A lot will depend on off season changes.

I’ll give him a B

Lots of disappointments but some positives to look forward too.

Lows- coordinator hires, in the losses i don’t think Wommack made a single second half adjustment. Was very frustrating. Didn’t blitz enough, played safe and gave up too much. Sheridan ran Milroe too much given he can’t make a proper read to save his life. A couple game plans were mind boggling

Also low-gimme games we just didn’t show up, I’m not going to put that as a Deboer trend until it happens again next year. Vandy and OU were just wtf the team wasn’t dialed in, thought it was a gimme and didn’t prepare

Highs-given time Deboer can put together a masterclass in big games. UGA first half, the LSU game. He comes to play in big games, other than UT, so that’s good. He’s excellent coming off a bye week when I always thought Saban was underwhelming coming off a bye week.


Time will tell. I’m not one yelling to fire him, but he can’t miss the playoff next year that’s for sure and these random drops to non-top 25 teams can’t continue.

I think he’s a great guy and a great coach. It remains to be seen whether he’s the RIGHT coach to follow Saban.

So a B from me.