Happy Gump Day: Kalen DeBoer ‘loves what he sees’ from the Tide’s defense (2024)

Contenders in the SEC are suddenly dealing with realities that have faced the Tide for the better part of two decades. You never want to see an opponent diminished through injury, but they remain part of the game...and they’ve hit hard this offseason.

• Texas has now lost both of its top two running backs
• Georgia is finally feeling significant roster pressure after losing a dozen guys early every year.
• And Oklahoma lost their star wide receiver.

Two of those teams are on ‘Bama’s schedule this fall, and a third figures to be in Atlanta...barring the mother of all choke jobs.

Wow.

DeBoer summed up the defense with this comment: ”I love what I see right now.” DeBoer explained there are more differences from Nick Saban’s defense to Kane Wommack’s in the secondary than the front seven, but players are “understanding it, and running with it, and the players taking it to the next level executing allows us to really cut it loose and let it be theirs.”

On the defense, DeBoer named a few players in particular: He said Malachi Moore and Keon Sabb have been around college football, and said he has a “lot of confidence” in cornerback Domani Jackson. The freshmen DBs are hungry and growing each day, DeBoer said, and he’s excited about them.

In the front seven, DeBoer called Deontae Lawson a “mainstay” at linebacker and named Tim Smith and Tim Keenan as interior players. “I’m excited about LT Overton and Jah-Marien Latham at the edges,” he continued. “Others have other roles right now where you can see them highlighted in pass-rushing and things like that. Some of those guys have really done a nice job, every-down type of guys that can get to the quarterback when they need to rush the passer in transitional pass rush, but also really do a good job and be stout against the run.”

Add that to Overton balling out in Fall camp, and I’m beginning to get some (perhaps unwarranted) tingly optimism.

I know KDB is an upbeat guy, and everyone is an all-American in fall camp, but this is perhaps the single most encouraging thing I’ve read since the A-Day game.

In that vein, DC Kane Wommack also addressed the media, and he really likes what he sees from the linebacking corps, which was going to be a question mark this season outside of Lawson and Campbell.

Kane Wommack wrapped up his interview by discussing the Inside Linebacker room, focusing on Jihaad Campbell and the younger players in the group. Campbell is returning for his junior year with the Tide after recording 34 solo tackles and one pick during his sophom*ore season last year, as per Jihaad Campbell’s profile on ESPN.com. Wommack praised Campbell’s skill set, discipline, and knowledge of the game, even suggesting that Campbell could be another player to wear the green dot helmet (Helmet Headset) during games. Wommack also highlighted how Campbell and Linebacker Deontae Lawson are setting a great example for the younger players. Lawson, a junior linebacker, recorded 32 solo tackles and 3 sacks last season for the Tide, according to Deontae Lawson’s profile on ESPN.com. The Alabama defensive coordinator mentioned the challenges of being a freshman linebacker, acknowledging the high expectations and demands placed on these players.

Speaking of Lawson, his role has expanded in this defense, and he has also undertaken a bit of a leadership role — not just for the unit, but alongside Mal with the whole defense.

Lawson has come a long way from his arrival at Alabama in 2021. In that freshman season he saw only a few minutes of work in each of the non-conference games, hence his redshirt season.

He saw his role increase in 2022, particularly with special teams play, but also getting time on defense in 11 games, including four starts. He finished with 51 tackles and four pass breakups.

He said that trajectory is a reason that he is able to relate to young players.

“I try to share my experiences in every way I can,” he said following Alabama’s Tuesday practice. “I think I can relate to a freshman or a sophom*ore, give them my input from my experiences to be better.

“I tell then not to worry about starting, try to get on special teams, and just try to improve every day. It’s going to be a roller coaster, but you have to keep going, keep your head up, and keep fighting.

Alabama will have its final preseason scrimmage Saturday, two weeks before the Crimson Tide opens the season and the Kalen DeBoer Era hosting Western Kentucky.

See Also

Why Georgia doesn't want to lose its 'physicality as an offense'

Lawson said the emphasis for the defense Saturday will be “eliminate explosive plays. Most of the explosives in the last scrimmage came from everyone not being on the same page.

“So, communications.”

We were wondering if the Tide’s incredible recruiting haul. its transfer studs, and a returning class of battle-hardened vets, were going to be enough to vault ‘Bama to the top of the College Basketball preseason poll.

They did not — but a team that lost a dozen games last year is 2nd in the nation according to the coaches.

Alabama has gone to a Final Four more recently than Kansas, has more Sweet 16s in the last five years than Kansas, and hasn’t had to tamper with rosters to shore up sh*tty perimeter shooting.

So, enjoy your preseason national title ring, Bill Self. Maybe you’ll make it to Indianapolis and get ran back to Lawrence.

Rock Chalk this, you weird farm nerds.
WHOOOOO!!!!!

(I’m going to be absolutely insufferable when Alabama wins a national title in basketball).

There is also this coming out of the Hoops recruiting ranks:

Five-star shooting guard Jasper Johnson trimmed his list to Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arkansas and Louisville in July. However, his recruitment has turned into a two-man race with a single finalists emerging , according to national basketball analyst Travis Branham. The class of 2025’s No. 12 overall prospect and No. 2 shooting guard is expected to announce his commitment by the end of August.

“Everything I’m hearing right now says Jasper Johnson is going to be the next five-star off the board,” Branham said, via 247Sports’ College Basketball Show. “The decision will come before the end of this month. Over the last few weeks, this has been a three-man race between Alabama, North Carolina and Kentucky. Now, it’s a two-man race between Alabama and North Carolina. I would classify Kentucky as a distant third. I’m still tipping my hat to the Crimson Tide as the leader in this one, but North Carolina is within striking distance. The Tar Heels could flip this thing around before the official commitment.”

There is some significant reason to think that the Tide has the inside track on JJ: None other than Assistant Coach Preston Murphy, whose Twitter account is a Gumpy masterpiece.

If Alabama snatches JJ from the arms of the ‘Heels, someone send a wellness check for Chapel Hill...and DM Bocktean; he’s gonna need a hug.

Gimme’ some of that delicious rat poison. The naysayers are already out:

Alabama

Preseason rank: No. 5

The ingredients for a championship are here, but so are the ingredients for a collapse as Kalen DeBoer gets his first taste of SEC football. The Crimson Tide could, in theory, start 2-2 as their final two games of September are at Wisconsin and vs. Georgia. October tilts against Tennessee and Missouri could also be challenging for a squad that has questions in the secondary and at receiver. Finally, November games at LSU and at Oklahoma will be major challenges leading into a tricky finale against rival Auburn. DeBoer is a great coach with a talented roster, but everyone will be adjusting on the fly against a series of tough opponents. That could make the Crimson Tide vulnerable to be this year’s top-10 bust. — David Cobb

Look, I can understand Alabama losing three games with a new coach, all the turnover, and that godforsaken schedule. But unranked?

These are not serious people. And David Cobb, it will not surprise you to learn, is a Vawl.

One should not aim for wish-fulfillment on someone else’s dime, you hayseed numpty.

MOAR, gimme moar rat poison. This one from professional troll, F-Bomb

Host of ESPN’s Get Up Mike Greenberg asked SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum if he believes Alabama has the potential to secure a national title this season under their new head coach. Proving an answer that Crimson Tide fans won’t be too happy to hear in Tuscaloosa.

“Greeny, it’s a really simple answer. No,” Finebaum said. “I don’t think this team is good enough. Nick Saban himself told you a couple weeks ago one of their deficiencies is in the defensive secondary. That’s on him, that’s what he used to coach, and he lost his best player, or Kalen DeBoer did, to Ohio State in Caleb Downs.”

Losing Downs is tough, everyone concedes that. But if that trade meant losing Tommy Rees and Snaps McGhee? That’s a net-win I will take any day.

And, finally...in a recent YouGov poll, an unreal 25% of Britons believe they could qualify for the Olympics if they started training now.

Here is...let’s call it perhaps an overly optimistic breakdown of each sport, with 1 in 7 Brits believing in their Limey hearts that they could become master marksmen in four years.

Just as soon as they find the remote.

Have a great day, and Roll Tide