'New for everyone': Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer on the team's first spring practice
Updated: 2:53 PM CST Mar 5, 2024
I'll come back to, how are we doing? All right. Uh, good evening. And, uh, man, all of *** sudden just like that practice one's over. So, uh, it was *** great day out there as, uh, first practices always are, um, full of energy, full of, uh, excitement. Um, you know, this came fast, came on fast and, uh, and the practice went fast, uh, really, really clean. I was, you know, proud of our coaches and staff and, um, as well as our players just for really understanding kind of the, the things we were trying to accomplish today, uh, you know, not just the execution of the football field, you know, when it came to run our concepts and our plays, but also just, uh, you know, the, the transitions, you know, uh, it's new for everyone and, uh, the guys I thought just did *** great job. Uh, you can see the want to the desire, um, you know, is there through the effort that they gave and, um, just really, really, uh, I really thought it came together in *** nice way. Uh, they protected each other, which is *** big thing when it comes to our practice, uh, habits and, you know, we want to be healthy and, and, uh, be able to improve every play and you gotta be able to, the only way to prove is by, by being out there. So, um, you know, I think that's one of the key, key things in doing what we're doing all, all, uh, spring long is just, uh, being really intentional what we're doing, whether it's building relationships or, um, how we practice, um, creating those habits, uh, that are what we call championship habit habits. And, um, I think they did *** really nice job with that today. So I'll open up for questions. Coach, the, the NCAA is the rules committee is gonna be instituting this helmet communication between coaches and players. Apparently this fall. Just *** two part question about that one. Just your general thoughts on what kind of *** game changer that might be. And two, I, is that something that you could test out this spring just to give quarterbacks an early feel for it? Yeah, we were doing it today. Um, so we had it out there and I didn't, um, we had, um, you know, with supply and demand across the country. Uh, you know, we aren't able to have as many as what the max would be. Um, but, uh, we had *** couple of quarterbacks and, um, you know, with that in and, uh, you know, I haven't heard any feedback yet. I think early on it was *** couple of times it was maybe *** little hard to hear one way or another. I don't think it was because it was too soft. I think it was actually because it was too loud. But, um, I'm sure that will get tested in, in our stadium at some point. But, uh, just, you know, I think, uh, in, I think the, the, there's *** lot of reasons, uh, uh, for it, you know, uh, that I know, uh, can be positive. Uh, I don't know if it answers all the concerns that you might have when it comes to. I think some of the things people will have to say it automatically fixes and, you know, maybe sign stealing and things like that. So, um, because I think there's other ways where it could go the other way, uh, just, uh, with, uh, being intentional and trying to get *** call and being able to echo it through your, your defensive headset and, um, you know, it could go on and on with that but, uh, it was good, I think, uh, you know, the quarterbacks just getting used to it. I saw them *** couple of times, you know, putting their hand up to their, their helmet just listening, but for the most part, it seemed pretty clean. We'll go in the middle with Michael C Grande. So you've been here *** month and *** half? Now, what's what surprised you most about taking this job, getting off this plane. Uh, you know, what did you not expect when you got here? Well, I don't know if it's not that I didn't expect it. The thing I wanna give our guys props about props, uh, for is just, uh, how open they've been to everything that we've asked them to do. Um, you know, so it doesn't surprise me. Uh, you know, just say they've just been, em, they've embraced, you know, all the little differences and nuances that, uh, different personalities bring, um, you know, just different ideas that we have. Um, you know, and it's just been really smooth. Uh, and it's *** huge credit to our guys and I think our staff has done *** really good job of being aligned and on the same page and being organized, um, to where it's very clear, concise and the expectations are, are, uh, something that, uh, the guys can easily understand. Hey, coach, um, I wanna ask you go back *** little bit and ask you about the fourth quarter program. Just, what were your impressions of that? And maybe did you add any wrinkles or tweak that at all? No, we kept it pretty consistent with what it's been and, uh, the guys, you know, you can tell it's something that they really feel strong about. Um, the energy, uh, just is there, uh, you know, from the beginning to the end and I think the key is right, is, is taking that in the, in the, in the workouts when we're in these, the early winter months here and transferring that over to football. And, um, that was the challenge today. We have, uh, *** period at the end where we gather and, and, uh, we've referred to it. Uh I've done this many years now refer to it as also the finish of fourth quarter period and, uh, you know, being able to connect to what they just did the last, uh, few weeks, uh, with the fourth quarter program, um, you know, it's transferring it from the indoor and the workouts that they're doing onto the football field. Um, I think that excites them and, you know, there's been *** lot of football games won because, uh, the, the work that's been put in because of that program and, uh, you know, they believe in it. Um, you know, and it's gonna be important for us, uh, this fall for sure. Obviously *** big part of spring practice is the player development from the first practice to last practice. But what are you looking for out of your coaching staff in terms of, you know, where they can grow from practice one to practice? 15. Well, I told the guys, the players, uh, you know, they're excited to watch their own film now because, you know, when you bring in the concepts, whether it's offense, defense, special teams, the coaching staff brings in your ideas, which usually involve cut ups that are from the programs you come from. And so, uh I just told the players when we broke down that, uh we get to watch some of their film, which I know they're all excited to do and, you know, from *** coaching standpoint to me, uh there's *** lot of pieces to our job, but right now it's for us to give them feedback. So they need feedback on everything that happened, you know, um the grading of every play and giving the feedback, uh you know, to, to our guys. And so they can understand, you know, whether it's that play or that practice, um, you know, or the session that we were in, uh whether, you know, it was *** seven on seven period or *** team period, um, even individual, you know, why did this, uh, drill go well? Um And given feedback all the time, that's, that's *** big priority for us as *** coaching staff so that with the guys can continue to understand the expectations continue to improve. Um We have ***, we have the maxims, we refer to them and one of our maxims is to have *** relentless pursuit of continuous improvement. And, uh we don't take any of those words lightly from relentless all the way to pursuit of improvement. And, um, you know, that's the thing I'll ask our guys tomorrow when we get together and kind of review the practice, um does, was that the mindset and was that clear from the beginning to the end? Oh, see, on the right with you, you had *** chance to bring in uh Kon SAB recently. What about him was attractive about bringing him in? And also what kind of role do you envision for *** guy like that? Yeah, I mean, we're, you, you know, you bring *** guy like him in um to, to be an impact player for you and uh his experiences, um you know, not just, you know, each and every play but also the experiences and leadership that, uh as he's here longer and longer than we would expect from him. Um Because of, you know, the, the level, uh that he took his team to, um winning *** championship, um, you know, that, that, that fits in well with what we're trying to accomplish and what we're trying to do and just the, the character makeup, uh, aside from, of course, what we know is ***, *** great football player. Um, he just is *** really good fit for us. It's been *** pleasure getting to know him more and more each and every day. Um Just seeing how he's operating and, you know, right now he's just going about his work. Uh, but you can tell he's got that, that, that it factor, he's got the, the leadership piece uh within him, uh to where I know we'll be counting on him this fall. You talked in your opening about the championship habits and then recently about the Maxims are those the same thing or kind of, what are some of the pillars that you like to build your programs on? Yeah. Um, yeah, it is. It's, uh, we have, we have, uh, the maxims to refer to them and, and num number one is, uh, winners win because that's what winners do and, uh, winning. I know that's *** results oriented, kind of kind of piece to it. But what we really focus on uh is what the winners do and, and the winners um in our program have an attention to detail. Um you know, they compete, uh and we go on and on, we have *** list of those things that the habits they create each and every day uh will lead to the winning aspect and we're never gonna shy away from that being really important here at Alabama. Um The second one is uh first, be your best and then you'll be first and, you know, in there it's be your best. And when you just bring your best energy, attitude and effort every day, and that's the number one thing and the only thing we really ask of our guys and the rest takes care of itself. Um when we do that, uh good things are gonna happen, especially when you have the talent, when you have the coaching and the skill uh by the players uh that are within this program, um, good things are happening and in order to be your best, you have to have the relentless pursuit of continuous improvement that I referred to through your career. Have you developed kind of like benchmarks? You're looking the team to hit either chemistry or on the field wise, you know, through *** spring and that's specifically the first spring. Uh, yeah. Uh, yeah, I, I think every, every year is different. Um, and you have to start over from, from scratch if, if this is year two. for me here, I would still go back to the bare bones of setting down the expectations because, you know, we're around 30 new players, um, that are here in the program and with that, you know, you have to talk about, you know, what's the tempo that we're operating with practice in practice with when we're helmets and spider pads? What is it when we're helmets and shoulder pads? What is it when we're full pads? Um, you have to go back to those detailed conversations and, and lay out the expectations in *** way where, um, the, everyone's on the same page because there's guys that, um, took their first naps, uh, you know, as *** college football player here, I understand some of these guys and *** lot of these guys, uh, did do some things, uh, during the bowl season, um, as early enrollees, but, um, we would start over from scratch and we would be again, intentional on, you know, our communication, uh as coaches, we would be intentional what we're asking and the, the new leaders that are having to step up, um, they may have been leaders before, but there's *** new dynamic that takes place because there are some guys that are gone that were pretty integral pieces to not just the production but uh leading the football team last year. So it all starts over whether it's first year or second year or third year. Um, it all starts over. Yeah, kinda on that. Is it, is it *** clean slate with, with your players? And have you conveyed that to them? Is that kind of the message that you're sending is everyone, everything is *** clean slate and we're gonna work from here. Yeah, I don't know if I've really said it in those, in those terms, but, um, the others, I mean, you know, you're gathering information every day, right? I'm getting to know them, they're getting to know myself and the staff. And so, um, you know, those first impressions I know were important for those guys, uh, as they're out there today competing and going and making plays and, um, you know, the intensity was high and, and I would expect it to be that as they, like you said, you know, have kind of *** new slate and, um, everyone's starting from the same point, coach kind of touching on that. You talk about depth chart. And different stuff. Obviously, I'm not asked for *** depth chart, but you have players, I mean, you sat next to Jalen Miller at the basketball game. Is that your guy going into it or do you clean slate every year with every position? Yeah, I mean, you want competition, right? And so, um, the competition is always gonna be there and, yeah, someone had to take the first reps today, you know, with, uh, with, uh, the ones, uh, when we lined up and we referred to him as that and Jalen did, you know, so, um, you know, he's putting everything into it. He can along with the other guys that, uh, took those first reps, but I fully expect, uh, those guys that are really hungry, uh, to be pushing, um, those guys that are ahead of them, uh, to be their best. And, uh, that's what you want in *** football program, uh, you know, and that's, that's certainly going to be the case here with so many good football players here, uh, wanting to get on the football field. Uh, coach, you mentioned that this is *** new territory, new waters for everybody, um, with the players and interactions with your new coaching staff. What was your first overall overall impressions of them today at practice? Yeah, I think they really take coaching. Well, um, you know, uh, we have specific, uh, jobs that we call them or descriptions of what, um, the coaches jobs and players job are and uh we're very in, you know, again, intentional said that word *** lot. But uh we talk about the coach's jobs being to teach critique and demand and we really talk about, uh you know, the critique part and the demanding part, you know, and so when we're pushing *** guy and we're asking more out of them when we're coaching them up, um you know, that's *** good thing because that means we care and we see that potential in them and that's our, that's our job. So, uh I think the guys just really see that and, and could feel it today and, um, you know, from *** player standpoint, it's to, to continue to grind and continue to refine what they do and compete each and every play. We're gonna finish up here with that. How much of today, I guess. How smooth was it? Seeing the just for players, like learning how practices work now, just where drills are and all of that. Yeah, we, we talked through uh the last week *** few different times just on where these locations are for each session. And, um you know, it was actually pretty smooth, the guys, you know, had *** good, pretty good feel of where to go. And, um you know, just, uh really, you know, what it allows you to do is then have the expectation of hustling and having *** bounce in your step and the energy never fell off the entire entire length of practice. So, uh I think, you know, when it comes to execution, uh as far as just how smooth things were, I think practice one is pretty easy. It's your base stuff on each side of the ball. I think, you know, where it will get hard is when we get into each continual install, you know, practice two, but then especially practice three and four and five, you know, as we continue to put more in offensively or defensively, and then the other side of the ball is actually putting something in as well. And that's when it becomes something where not just what you have to do, but also what you're going against across from you. So, um, you know, today was great. I thought it was smooth from transitions to just, uh how Harvey competed and guys stayed up. Um, you know, uh, and again, that helps with our health. Um, and I thought the execution actually was, was pretty good, you know, it's gonna be *** give and take. That's what you want from the head coach standpoint. The offensive guys, of course, want to dominate the defensive guys, want to dominate each and every play, but from my standpoint, I want to see that good give and take and that was, uh, that was certainly the case today. All right. Thank you. Roll Todd.
'New for everyone': Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer on the team's first spring practice
Updated: 2:53 PM CST Mar 5, 2024
Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer addressed the Crimson Tide community Monday following the team's first spring practice."Man, all of a sudden, just like that, practice one's over," said DeBoer. "It was a great day out there as first practices always are, full of energy, full of excitement. You know, this came fast, came on fast, and the practice went fast. Really, really clean. I was, you know, proud of our coaches and staff and as well as our players just for really understanding kind of the the things we were trying to accomplish today."You know, not just the execution on the football field, you know, when it came to run our concepts and our plays, but also just, you know, the transitions, you know, it's new for everyone," he continued. "And the guys I thought just did a great job. You can see the want, the desire, you know, is there through the effort that they gave and just really, really, really thought it came together a nice way."Just days ago, DeBoer made the final touches to his coaching staff, hiring tight ends coach Bryan Ellis, offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic and outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson. "We were able to also secure three of the finest coaches in the nation to finish out our staff with the hiring of Bryan Ellis, Chris Kapilovic and Christian Robinson,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淐hris is one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the game with a reputation for recruiting and developing his players. Christian does an outstanding job of building relationships on both the recruiting trail and in his position room, where he gets the absolute best of his players. Ellis is one of the best offensive minds in college football and is a perfect fit for our staff.鈥漃reviously, DeBoer picked up offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan, as well as assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. 鈥淣ick and JaMarcus are both fantastic coaches, and we are excited to have them join us at Alabama,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淭hey have experience in our offense, and they know what we are trying to accomplish on that side of the football. They both bring passion and enthusiasm to their work and have proven to be excellent teachers and recruiters at every stop of their careers.鈥漅ounding out DeBoer's core coaching staff is former South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack, who will head up the Crimson Tide's defense going forward.鈥淏uilding a staff is so critical to your success as a head coach, and Kane Wommack is a key piece to what we are working to accomplish at Alabama,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淗e is one of the best defensive minds in college football. Kane will play a huge role in helping us build the kind of culture that is required to win football games.鈥漌atch Coach DeBoer's full press conference in the video player above.Stay updated on the latest sports stories with the 米兰体育 13 app. You can download it here.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer addressed the Crimson Tide community Monday following the team's first spring practice.
"Man, all of a sudden, just like that, practice one's over," said DeBoer. "It was a great day out there as first practices always are, full of energy, full of excitement. You know, this came fast, came on fast, and the practice went fast. Really, really clean. I was, you know, proud of our coaches and staff and as well as our players just for really understanding kind of the the things we were trying to accomplish today.
"You know, not just the execution on the football field, you know, when it came to run our concepts and our plays, but also just, you know, the transitions, you know, it's new for everyone," he continued. "And the guys I thought just did a great job. You can see the want, the desire, you know, is there through the effort that they gave and just really, really, really thought it came together a nice way."
Just days ago, DeBoer made the final touches to his coaching staff, hiring tight ends coach Bryan Ellis, offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic and outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson.
"We were able to also secure three of the finest coaches in the nation to finish out our staff with the hiring of Bryan Ellis, Chris Kapilovic and Christian Robinson,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淐hris is one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the game with a reputation for recruiting and developing his players. Christian does an outstanding job of building relationships on both the recruiting trail and in his position room, where he gets the absolute best of his players. Ellis is one of the best offensive minds in college football and is a perfect fit for our staff.鈥�
Previously, DeBoer picked up offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan, as well as assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
鈥淣ick and JaMarcus are both fantastic coaches, and we are excited to have them join us at Alabama,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淭hey have experience in our offense, and they know what we are trying to accomplish on that side of the football. They both bring passion and enthusiasm to their work and have proven to be excellent teachers and recruiters at every stop of their careers.鈥�
Rounding out DeBoer's core coaching staff is former South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack, who will head up the Crimson Tide's defense going forward.
鈥淏uilding a staff is so critical to your success as a head coach, and Kane Wommack is a key piece to what we are working to accomplish at Alabama,鈥� DeBoer said. 鈥淗e is one of the best defensive minds in college football. Kane will play a huge role in helping us build the kind of culture that is required to win football games.鈥�
Watch Coach DeBoer's full press conference in the video player above.
Stay updated on the latest sports stories with the 米兰体育 13 app. You can download it here.