Kalen DeBoer pleased with energy, physicality in first full-pad practice
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Thursday was Alabama’s fifth spring practice and its first day in full pads under head coach Kalen DeBoer, who liked what he saw from his players on the field.
“Guys, I thought, today really did a nice job bringing energy,” DeBoer told reporters after practice. “I thought the physicality was at the highest level. Today was our first day in full pads, as you saw out there.
“Didn’t do anything as far as taking a lot of guys to the ground or anything like that in our full scrimmage stuff that we always kind of end each practice with, but we will get to that here on Saturday a little bit, just some isolated opportunities there to work on that.”
Alabama had practiced four times before Thursday’s full-pad workout, but it was the Crimson Tide’s second practice since a week off for spring break. The team reconvened on Monday and held its fourth spring practice on Tuesday. That is universally a tough practice for any college team, but DeBoer was pleased with how players responded after the break.
“We’ve got a high standard and asked them to be even better than what we were on Tuesday,” DeBoer said. “They definitely brought it. You can tell it’s important to them. They’re doing a lot of things to work together, to improve individually, collectively, both on their side of the ball and as a team.”
Thursday was the second practice that media members were allowed to attend, and just like the first viewing periods of the spring, the energy was noticeable out on the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields as Alabama continues to teach new offensive and defensive systems.
The Tide will practice on Saturday, March 23, and then again on Tuesday, March 26, before its first of three scrimmages on Thursday, March 28. DeBoer said it’s important to continue to get to know the players while also showing confidence in them and acknowledging their growth as the spring progresses. All of that is key as they try to absorb a lot of information.
“The guys are doing a really good job,” DeBoer said. “We’re throwing a lot at them. Throwing a lot at them really fast. Today was some red zone stuff. It just keeps coming. Saturday will be even more.
“We want to try to get ready for a scrimmage to where we can go up and down the field at any down and distance and every part of the field, we can go run plays and see where we’re at.”
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