Roster talent
Performance against top-tier teams
The teams are scary-looking in Alabama’s 2024-25 schedule. They face Tennessee in the initial weeks, LSU in the middle weeks, and the real scary-looking teams in their last weeks like Vanderbilt and Auburn.
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Playing against the crème de la crème of the conference will define what DeBoer, as a head coach, brings to the SEC scoreboard, one that Nick Saban has mostly managed to top. It would also give DeBoer a chance to establish his playing style in the conference.
Team identity
Speaking of playing styles, Alabama’s playing style has always been backed by Nick Saban. Now that DeBoer has the reins, this will be his chance to establish a firm schematic and strategic outline. Defining which direction their team wants to go, be it offensive or defensive, would form the very basis of the post-Nick Saban Crimson Tide’s identity.
Along with making the most of the players, Kalen DeBoer will get the window to establish himself as the Alabama leader, something which would be crucial to shoot down the questions against him.
Score expectations
Despite it all, it’s the numbers at last establishing a team as the top seed in a conference. Nick Saban left the team with a solid score of 12-2. Being his first season as an Alabama head coach, and a former head coach of the National Championship appearing team, the standard for DeBoer is set at 10-2, per On3’s JD Pickell.
With the standards set and players bolstered up for the season, it will be a true test of Kalen DeBoer on his new team. How do you think he will perform? Drop your thoughts in the comments.