Kalen DeBoer: Saturday scrimmage was ‘most physical’ yet

Alabama was back in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday for a scrimmage. Kalen DeBoer is just a couple weeks away from leading his team into the season opener, his first official game in front of the Crimson Tide faithful. Folks in Tuscaloosa are excited to see DeBoer’s team and his notes from the scrimmage certainly will help.

DeBoer says Saturday was the “most physical” scrimmage he has seen since arriving at Alabama. That’s including the spring game, arguably the closest you can get to resembling a real contest.

“Another really productive scrimmage,” DeBoer said Saturday. “… Very physical scrimmage. Probably — not even probably — it is definitely the most physical scrimmage we’ve had since we’ve been here out of the four or five, counting the spring game.”

In a move DeBoer said was made unintentionally, most of the scrimmage was spent in the red area. Both the offense and defense were working on goal-to-goal situations.

Alabama’s offensive line is set to be a good unit, specifically on the interior, with two good running backs behind them. While there were some big plays on the ground, DeBoer said the defense was able to stop the run quite well.

“Different situations from what we probably got into, just naturally,” DeBoer said. “Not even scripted or being intentional. Little more red zone, inside the 10 work that happened in the end. Really good give and take. I think the defense continues to do a good job against the run early. Offensive hit a couple of explosives.”

Arguably most importantly, DeBoer revealed Alabama came out of the scrimmage mostly healthy. Some guys will miss a couple of practices but nobody is in danger of missing the season opener. Positive news from the head coach as a new era of football in Tuscaloosa inches closer.

“Got through relatively healthy,” DeBoer said. “Some things this week with a couple of guys that will hold them out for a couple of practices. But by the end of the week, for the most part, be having the guys that need to be out there, practicing, getting ready for Week 1 for Western Kentucky.”

DeBoer has just a week of practice left before diving his team into game-specific preparations. Physicality will always be required at the level Alabama plays at and sometimes, it’s not something you can teach. Based on DeBoer’s words at his press conference, the intensity was certainly there during Saturday’s scrimmage.