Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer answered questions on the SEC Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday afternoon ahead of Saturday’s showdown between the Vols and Crimson Tide at Neyland Stadium.
DeBoer discussed the similarities between South Florida and Tennessee’s offense, the status update of a number of Alabama players and much more. Here’s everything DeBoer said on the teleconference.
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Opening statement
“Good morning. Just off the field here, getting our preparation in for Tennessee and got a good football team that we’re going to be facing this weekend. Big game obviously from a rivalry standpoint. So the guys are excited, learning the things from each and every week that happens during the course of the game and applying it moving forward. Guys have done a good job so far through the week. Attention to detail, situational football, kind of all those things are things that we continue to be a work in progress in.”
On Alabama’s rotation at right guard
“Yeah, it’s just kind of been an ongoing thing really most of the season. And just as far as who’s taking reps in practice. And we feel good about both of them. Because of Geno (VanDeMark) continuing to improve and all of that, he’s gotten out there and I think he’s done a better and better job each and every week he’s had the opportunity. So it kind of goes back to just early in the season when we had some different things, rotationally. And Gino’s a guy that can play really any of the three positions, interior wise. So he gets a lot of work in practice and I think he’s just improved a lot. So feel good when he’s out there that he will help our team win.”
On updates on Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice
“Right now I’d say they’re probable. Just continuing to work through practices and feeling better and better about it, I think each and every day.”
On if there’s an update on Yhonzae Pierre
“He would be still up in the air right now, so probably probable to questionable, somewhere in there.”
On Oregon intentionally having 12 men on the field against Ohio State
“Yeah, I haven’t thought much about it. I saw something to the effect of just catching the game and kind of realizing, didn’t assume originally that it was probably on purpose, but quickly figured out that it probably was.
So, yeah, it’s certainly something you want to look at because. It was something obviously that benefited them in a way where you’re kind of using the rules. But until it changes, I guess there’s nothing you can do other than just abide by what the consequences are. So I don’t have a answer for that right now. It’s hard to go against 12 guys on the field. I know it’s definitely a benefit to the defense as anyone would know.”
On if it’s a something he’s considered taking advantage of before
“I think it’s such a unique situation that you’d want to apply it to. Just how much time’s on the clock and things like that. So you’ve seen situations, not just in a game maybe that we’ve played, but in other ones where it’s either benefited or hurt someone, kind of in those moments. Hats off to Coach Lanning for trying to find a way for his team to win. It’s being creative that way.”
On if there’s similarities between South Florida and Tennessee’s offenses
“There’s certainly some carry over and a lot of it starts with just tempo, starts with alignments and things like that. I think talking about a couple different types of ways where they want to move the ball, even though a lot of it is revolving around the run game. But with South Florida and the quarterback being such a major player with his feet, and not that Nico isn’t. He’s a certainly a really athletic guy, but they’re handing the ball off more than what South Florida had done. And then they got some great speed on the outside and letting him sling it around, use his arm talent. He’s got a live arm and say that, they pick and choose their times, situational football where (they) use Nico and the read game and he’s been very successful at those moments of making good decisions so we got to be ready for that.”
On saying in his introductory press conference that he wanted one thing a day, what that’s been like
“I told him that was if he was ever around, and when I saw him. So you got to see him first and stuff like that, but I know that there’s an open line if and whenever I need something. I just wanted him to know at that time and I always wanted him to know that, just like he and those that built this program, that there’s an open door to always come be around and obviously a great mind, if there’s something that’s ever seen, I want hear it.”
On what rule changes in college football this season have been the biggest changes for him
“I think they all have their area of how they’ve impacted the game. I think with the tablets, I think been a more of a positive than anything. I like having the confirmation that is immediate, that helps you with making sure, especially when you’re on the ground and maybe you could see everything when it comes to the field and you’re trying to coach your guys up. Not only do you know and confirm what you felt or what you saw, but you can also just show your players. Especially with teams that are a little faster with their tempo and so forth you get a little more of a chance to look at the picture and have some time on the sideline from a defensive standpoint. I think with a two minute warning, two minute time out, it was something in the spring and summer (that) I was certainly really wanting to hone in on and understand greater because you do this long enough and you pretty much know all the different times, how much time you can run off at the end of the game with 0 1, 2, 3 timeouts, whatever it might be. You do know those off the top of your head and just understand the situations. We’ve been in a couple now both when you’re ahead and behind and trying to figure out when to use those timeouts or how the two minute warning does apply. So feel like we’re getting more and more on the same page.
It certainly adds an element to the game. But I think all of them have been, for the most part, positive. Especially the communication piece with the helmets and and the tablets.”
