Kalen DeBoer sees 'ebbs and flows' with Alabama's quarterback-wide receiver relationship

Alabama‘s spring game is right around the corner this Saturday, as fans and observers will get their first look at the Crimson Tide with new head coach Kalen DeBoer at the helm.

DeBoer’s specialty throughout his career has been on the offensive side of the ball, helping orchestrate one of the nation’s top passing attacks the last two seasons at Washington. And with spring practice nearing its end soon, DeBoer was asked about how the continuity is looking between the quarterbacks and the wide receivers in the passing game.

“It’s been really interesting in that area, I kind of see ebbs and flows and some of it has to do with the middle of spring ball,” DeBoer said. “You see the rhythm coming and them hitting some routes and you’re like, ‘Wow, we’re getting there quick.'”

Alabama’s passers and pass catchers developing a rhythm early is surely a great sign in Tuscaloosa. But the Crimson Tide defense has also been doing their part in disrupting that rhythm, a natural progression as offenses and defenses square off day after day in spring practice.

“And then you see the defense do a good job of adjusting to the things that our offense is starting to do well, which is what they should right, and the tendencies. And so you take a lot of snaps against each other, so then all of a sudden you see it kind of fall off a little bit and then the offense makes some adjustments and what you do in a game,” DeBoer explained.

There’s no question that expectations are extremely high in Tuscaloosa following the retirement of former head coach Nick Saban. And a high powered offense led by DeBoer could be the Crimson Tide’s best shot at maintaining those standards as they show continued improvement this offseason.

“We don’t have everything installed and you work on what you scripted that day. I can’t say there’s these huge highs and lows, which I’m glad,” DeBoer said. “There’s a consistent just continuing to move forward at the end of each week and I thought we took a step forward today from what I would’ve said Wednesday or Friday.”

Alabama returns starting quarterback Jalen Milroe this upcoming season, but loses their top three pass catchers as well. As the relationship between quarterbacks and wideouts will be crucial this year for the Crimson Tide in year one under a new head man.