"There's no other Coach Nick Saban" — CFB analyst delivers a clear verdict on Kalen DeBoer amid Alabama's growing struggles
The Alabama Crimson Tide will often throw away a season from their memories if they have just one loss, let alone two. They already have that at 5-2 with two more ranked opponents on their horizon, facing the No. 21-ranked Missouri Tigers this Saturday and the No. 8-ranked LSU Tigers next week.
When Kalen DeBoer came over to Alabama from the Washington Huskies after taking them to the College Football National Championship game in an undefeated season, many believed he was an easy solution to maintain the Tide's momentum. So far, a stunning upset against Vanderbilt and a critical loss to Tennessee have been the points of discussion for DeBoer's debut season.
But ESPN college football analyst Laura Rutledge is taking the nuanced stance: understanding how great Saban was is now a lot easier, but DeBoer is still the right person for the job.
"It's definitely a different vibe," Rutledge said. "And I think that part is definitely a little bit hard for fans who are used to the intensity and attention to detail."
DeBoer is different than Saban. Alabama under Saban — really the SEC in general — has had a common undertone of unique toughness, grit, and physicality. DeBoer is not as aligned with that. But that does not inherently mean he can't have success.
"I do still firmly believe he's the right person for the job," Rutledge emphasized. "...But he's just a different person than coach Saban is. There's no other Coach Saban."
Hanging on by a thread
DeBoer will do everything he can to lead No. 15-ranked Alabama to a playoff birth, but it's a strong climb ahead. With two ranked opponents ahead, it's not off the table that the Tide drop to 5-4, going from a conversation of whether or not they can snag a playoff spot to whether or not they can reach a bowl game.
But if they win, the math could work in their favor. Alabama beat Georgia, who in turn beat Texas when the Longhorns were ranked at the top of the standings. So if Georgia and Texas both win out, there's a strength-of-victory argument that goes in their favor.