Everything Kalen DeBoer said during bye week version of radio show

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer wasn’t at Baumhower’s Victory Grille for his weekly radio show on Wednesday evening, due to the Crimson Tide being on a bye week. But DeBoer still phoned in for roughly 10 minutes. Here is everything he said with host Chris Stewart.

DeBoer on how the coaches, players spend the bye week…

“We get back right away on Sunday and we make sure we cover everything we have to from the game and make the corrections and just kind of review that. Get our workouts in, and then try to let the guys early in the week on Monday, especially, get to class. And that’s normally our day off anyway, and now they’ve been working out and we’re getting back on the practice field here the latter part of the week here. I just like having that day or two where they’re a little bit awake and take care of their business, get caught up with any school or whatever it might be. And it’s good mentally and physically to kind of refresh. 

“Our coaches are game-planning. There’s a lot of recruiting that’s going on, whether it’s earlier in the week or going to some games here on Friday. We got some coaching staff that’ll be out on the road even by tomorrow afternoon. So, a lot going on just with everyone kind of doing their part.”

DeBoer forcing takeaways/pressure against Wisconsin…

“For sure. Just been challenging the defense to start fast. We hadn’t really the first game, and then the last two games, they’ve done a better job. And especially getting that takeaway right after we gave up the ball on downs there offensively, that was huge just with the field position that Wisconsin had. And so, our offense took off from there, and really the first six possessions, our defense got four punts and two interceptions.

“It was actually a quick game. And offensively, I think we had eight or nine possessions total, nine possessions. And after the first possession with the turnover on downs, we got five touchdowns and a field goal. So, didn’t finish how we’d like, but it was a game that we did a good job executing, especially through about three quarters. So I’m proud of the guys and the effort. They put a lot of work in to have their minds right and went out there and executed the plan.” 

DeBoer on Ryan Williams…

“He just adds to the group that we have with the rest of the receivers. He was chomping at the bit to get back out there, and you could see it through the week of practice, and it showed up on Saturday with the effort and the playmaking that he brought. Just he’s a home run hitter. He’s a guy that will pick anything and end up in the end zone. And so he just adds another threat, balances out the defense. They can’t just focus on guys like Germ or Isaiah. Lottie’s been part of that mix now, and so it’s good to have him back.”

DeBoer on Ty Simpson…

“Just really proud of the way he’s trusting his offensive line. He knows the timing and trust with the receivers. And so, it just comes through reps. It comes through practice is one thing. But when you know you’re gonna get hit and you just know you gotta hang on to it for that half a second longer and the routes are gonna open up, he’s starting to get that. And I think there was a third-down play, the second drive, where he ripped it into Ryan Williams along their sideline on a corner route. 

“And so that’s the one that sticks out in my mind. And then I think it just builds on from there. He did a nice job just taking what the defense gave us most of the game, but then also when he had to really step up and make a throw, he did that. And so a lot of trust being built. A lot of confidence that continues to be, I think, just built up within our team, not just the offense in regards to what Ty can do, but our whole team.”

DeBoer on Alabama’s run game; what Jam Miller can bring to the table…

“I think Jam just being a complete back, you’re not worried about protection responsibilities, whether it’s both who he has or him getting the job done. And then obviously, like you’re talking about with the run game, just the ability to run inside and outside. He’s built up physically and a big body, but also can get outside and has good speed. So, he’s a threat that way and can catch the ball out of the backfield. So, just an all-purpose back with so much flexibility and versatility that he adds a big piece to our offense. So, a lot of confidence in him. He had a great fall camp until he got injured.”

DeBoer what he’s seen from the kicking game through three games…

“First of all, I mean, with our kickoff team, over the last year and a half, it’s just been really one of our units that we’ve almost been bullish about, just feel really confident. And so it’s a good little wake-up call there for that unit. It’s a lot of little things that just a couple people need to do better. We want that ball kicked to a little different spot. And then there’s just a lot of pieces that play into when a ball is kicked that far downfield, there’s a lot of space for the return to get set up. And so, we have to squeeze a little faster with a few guys and make the play that we’ve been making more times than not with that unit.

“But yeah, Blake has been consistent. Really, it was his first punt in Bryant-Denny there at the end of the game. So, needed to get him a little — or don’t wanna get him to work, but it was good to see him come through the way he did. And then I think Conor’s been pretty consistent, too, with his field goal and extra points. And the guy handles the kickoff. So, we’re in a good spot there. Just continue to get those guys more and more experience.”

DeBoer on what he’s seen from the Georgia Bulldogs…

“I mean, just a balanced football team that’s gonna compete right till the very end. It doesn’t matter if they’re up or down. They’re just gonna keep playing, and gonna have a good mix of run with pass. Just a balanced team in every way that you look at it. And so, a group that’s got some experience. Maybe a couple spots where there’s some young guys in there. But quarterback, with Gunner Stockton, already played some big games, whether it be at the end of the year last year or this last week. So, he’s got that experience.

“And some new guys that are in the mix at some of the skill positions on offense. And a lot of the same numbers popping up on film at different spots, though. So, they know what it takes, and going over there, going on the road, it’ll be a great test, a great challenge for us. And our guys, as we go through the week, I can already tell that they’re excited about the new challenge, and just like the momentum that we’re building, because that’s what we’re really focused on. It’s all about us.”

Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!

Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $11.99! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting, and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!