Paul Finebaum: Alabama's spring was significant for Kalen DeBoer perception, 2025 outlook

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum noted how Kalen DeBoer and Alabama’s spring was key to the 2025 outlook. Roster retainment, a new staff and more could lead to a great season for the Crimson Tide.

Last season ended in disappointment with a bowl game loss to Michigan and missing the College Football Playoff. So naturally, the pressure cooker is turned up on DeBoer.

But if anything, these last couple of months have Alabama pointing in a positive direction. That’s why Finebaum sees at this current juncture.

“The fact that Alabama retained its roster in the spring, to me, is one of the best examples of confidence in Kalen DeBoer,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic. “I think the way this spring went was significant. The schedule is a little tricky, but I think the board has to feel very good that he held on to everyone.”

The biggest addition to Alabama? Ryan Grubb coaching under DeBoer once again as the offensive coordinator. It could unlock new things in the offensive scheme and have some stability in DeBoer’s program.

“There are always outliers, but almost every new coach at a school like Alabama just loses a game, just getting caught up in the crossfire and I think that game was Vanderbilt last year,” Finebaum said. “I’ll never be able to explain the Oklahoma game, I think, other than maybe to put the blame on some attitude, and I’ll start with the fact that Jalen Milroe just didn’t show up. But to me, Kalen DeBoer made a few mistakes and it cost him a playoff bid. I think he can correct that. I think he already knows. He already has a better staff. I think if Ryan Grubb had been there last year, Alabama would have been in the playoffs. I think he was that important.

“And some of some people would argue, well, Kalen DeBoer isn’t the architect, he is the architect. But the problem is, coaching at Alabama is not like coaching at Washington. There are so many more things to deal with, and I think he just became overwhelmed last year.” 

Finebaum noted DeBoer might’ve been just trying to get through the year in 2024. However that looked last fall, it’ll be different this time around.

“I think he was also too lax on discipline,” Finebaum said. “And I mean, I’m not talking about cracking down hard, but just the fact that he went in there, he lost a couple of key players  before the first week was over, and I’m referring to McLaughlin, Caleb Downs, and obviously Julien Sayin, Isaiah Bond was out of there. I think he was just a little shook. 

“So he took the ice cream and cake approach, and quite frankly, it didn’t work. That doesn’t mean he can dial it all the way back, but with a guy like Ryan Grubb, who’s more of an enforcer, who’s somebody who has a much closer hand on the actual player every day, I think he’s going to benefit greatly.”