What to expect under Kalen DeBoer as Alabama transitions from immortal to human

One of the big question marks surrounding Alabama‘s hire of new head coach Kalen DeBoer is just how well he can keep the program humming along following the outstanding 17-year tenure of Nick Saban.

Realistically, it may be difficult for DeBoer to keep the program elevated at such lofty heights. After all, before this season, Alabama had won at least one national title every three years under Saban’s watch.

“Regardless of how great DeBoer is, there’s going to be pain in the regression because there’s nowhere to go but to regress,” Off The Bench’s T-Bob Hebert said on the Andy Staples’ On3 show.

It’s not so much that DeBoer’s own track record isn’t remarkably impressive. It is. It’s just that doing what Saban did at Alabama is virtually unheard of.

At least for that long.

“And that’s the part I keep coming back to, because even if he does the best job he can possibly do it is probably not going to be as good as Nick Saban,” Staples said. “There’s may be a 99.999% chance it will not be as good as Nick Saban.”

But again, that’s not necessarily a slight on DeBoer.

“That percentage chance could exist independently of Kalen DeBoer,” Hebert said. “Like it’s not even a commentary on him, it’s a commentary on Saban doing something so singular. And when you do something that singular, well there’s only room for one. And if there’s anybody else who’s going to challenge the singularity, it’s Kirby Smart right now. Because he got the job when he was younger, it doesn’t appear that he’ll engage in an NFL sojourn ever.

“So yeah, I’m not talking bad about Kalen DeBoer in saying they won’t reach those heights once again. And I think they’ll still be really good. I think they’ll still be as championship-relevant as anyone.”

Staples and Hebert then discussed their current best bets for the College Football Playoffs from the SEC, highlighting the point that DeBoer does inherit a really quality situation taking over Alabama.

Both agreed the Crimson Tide would be a common-sense pick for the playoffs.

“The point is the consensus there is still Georgia and Alabama,” Hebert said. “So they’re still going to be very good, but just they’re going to human, which sucks when you’re used to being immortal.”