Alabama football embraced change this spring. Position groups welcomed new coaches and transfers. The office of the head coach at the Mal M. Moore Athletic Facility is set to be renovated to the new hire’s liking. Reporters even caught glimpses of the team before A-Day. Still, some familiar questions remain about the Crimson Tide football team and Kalen DeBoer.
During UA’s spring game, jokes were quipped as the snaps seemed to look fine from James Brockermeyer and various centers (absent Parker Brailsford). Quarterbacks were analyzed on every snap. Fans also wondered about who they were throwing it to.
While appearing on “The Next Round” Thursday, DeBoer was reminded that it’s been a couple of seasons since the Tide had a dominant pass-catcher. Does the 2024 roster have a “go-to guy?”
“Yeah, I think we’re establishing that,” DeBoer said. ” … You can’t just go by the spring game.
Still the timing with the quarterbacks, we’ve been rotating the receivers with the 1s and 2s, for the most part, the guys that would’ve been in the mix. Not every drive has been (Jalen) Milroe (at quarterback) because we need to get those other guys action and you bump guys up. Ty (Simpson) has taken a number of series throughout the spring with the 1s. The timing still, really this summer is what they got to work on.”
DeBoer noted multiple players have potential. Germie Bernard, a transfer from Washington, was starred during A-Day with three catches and 122 yards. Kendrick Law has a “special burst” when he possesses the ball, totaling a carry for 34 yards but no catches during the final scrimmage. Cole Adams added 46 yards on three catches and Kobe Prentice had two receptions, including a 25-yarder.
The unit will be scrutinized in the offseason. One of its expected contributors Jalen Hale was injured this spring and potentially out of the season and multiple young standouts like Isaiah Bond transferred. DeBoer and wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard produced stars at the position in their time with Washington. They’ll be tasked with generating a 1,000-yard receiver in Tuscaloosa for the first time since 2021 (John Metchie).
“What our system allows our staff to do is move guys around, cater to their strengths, find a way to get those matchups. I think each receiver, yes, we kind of slot them into a position and for us we call it the H, X and Z. But there comes a point and time too where we just gotta get them in the right spots, especially in the critical moments and the times where we got to get certain people the ball to convert third downs, to score in the redzone, whatever those times might be.”
