Everything Kalen DeBoer said after Alabama's second spring scrimmage

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama held its second spring scrimmage on Friday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. It lasted 115 plays, with the first- and second-team offenses playing 50 snaps each.

After the game-like practice, Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke to reporters in the stadium’s media room. Below is everything DeBoer said after Alabama’s second scrimmage.

DeBoer’s opening statement…

“Good afternoon. Usually it’s good morning, right? It was good to get out there in the afternoon. We had class today, so we decided to push back practice. That helped with some recruiting, too. We got some guys here.

“We got the same number of plays in as we did last scrimmage, which was about 115 or so. We split it up, about a little over 50 for each the ones and twos, then the rest with the threes. Very similar structure to last time. Got a little bit more red zone in.

“Battled through a couple of injuries at one position in particular, tight end. I know in a week, you’re going to see these guys or not see them out there. Just to report, Josh Cuevas, he’ll be good for the fall, but he’ll be done for the rest of the spring, then Marshall Pritchett, too. So the tight end position went from kind of lean at one point, with not all the guys already here at that position — Kaleb Edwards isn’t here yet, and Danny Lewis not practicing this spring — so thin there. 

“So offense and defense worked together to really try and get the looks we want. Try to make the most of some substitution, things like that, putting guys in certain spots that they’re not used to being in until all of a sudden today.

“Otherwise, got what I think we needed to get done. Continue to get the quarterbacks reps, just mixing and matching different groups — especially on defense, keeping those guys fresh, a lot of guys playing and rotating.

“I think this is a time for us to really take advantage, with the guys that were already not participating in spring ball and then a couple more that I just mentioned, to build that depth, to understand exactly what we have. We know what we’ve got up top with guys who have put a lot of snaps in at Bryant-Denny for us here wearing that ‘Bama jersey, but there’s also a lot of guys that we need to continue to build that depth because we know that’s going to be important as we go through a long SEC season.”

DeBoer on what he saw from the quarterbacks; how reps were broken up…

“I don’t want to say it was even across the board, but they all kind of got their shot with the 1s and 2s. Keelon’s doing a great job, but with Ty and Austin, just because they’re older, Keelon’s definitely working with the 2s. He’ll get one reps from time to time, but that’s no indication of really where we feel like he’s at. He’s killing it, doing a great job.

“You can see, when he’s out there, he’s getting more and more comfortable moving the ball down the field. If there’s a throw to be made, he’ll make the throw, that’s for sure. Just the learning curve that comes with being young compared to the other two guys. 

“There’s a little bit more, as far as understanding the offense and trying to continue to install things. They have a grasps of the basics from day one. They’re all three making throws, making some big-time throws. Thought they all moved the chains at times when they maybe had their backs to the wall, in some second- and third-and-long situations, where they found a way to make a big throw. Obviously someone has to catch it, too.

“They’re continuing to build trust with the offensive line, and then I think it has to go the other way, too, the offensive line is getting used to cadences and getting used to what guys do. Does he usually break to the outside and scramble? Some guys just have those types of instinctual things they do, but they’re all a little different.

“For the receivers, it really doesn’t matter who’s throwing to them. I think all three of those guys throw a catchable ball. Just a matter of who gets up and down the field the best.”

DeBoer on Isaiah Horton as a blocker…

“From a physical standpoint, it shouldn’t be an issue. It’s a mindset (thing) to me. It’s positioning and understanding who we’re trying to get the ball to. I guess it hasn’t been anything that I’ve seen, ever, feeling that it’s a deficiency in any way. He’s a physical presence out there in every way, catching the ball, breaking tackles, and that’s carried over to blocking. In fact, I can think of some drills earlier this spring where he excelled at it. A lot of it is understanding what we’re trying to accomplish, the teaching, and then the want-to.”

DeBoer on what he’s seen from Richard Young…

“He’s more physical, a physical back. He got his carries today, just like the rest of them. We want to continue to see him just grow. I think a big offseason for him this summer is going to be important. He was working through some injuries last year. I think we’re through that part with the winter phase.

“I think all the running backs, in general, breaking some tackles, making more explosive plays. They’re not always going to have this wide-open, parting of the seas to create. And getting off of just Rich, but he’s part of the running backs corps. So I think finding times when they can get their yards when they need to and put their head down, I think that’s a strength of his. 

“And I think as a corps, as a group they can all try to do just a little bit more when maybe the perfect blocking isn’t in place, which is going to happen, right, when you’re playing in an SEC game, in particular. It’s hard to block those dudes, and so you’ve to make some things happen. Want to see this whole group continue to improve in yards after contact, making people miss out in space and not letting that first guy bring you down.”

DeBoer on Ryan Williams’ progress; playing him at multiple positions…

“We didn’t have Ryan scrimmage today. Just taking care of him. We know what we have there. He might not do much the rest of the spring, and there’s a couple of nicks and things like that. But if you asked him, he’d be out there and scrimmaging. He’s dressed up and ready to go, but just being really careful with some things he’s going through here the last week or so.

“He’s a versatile guy. He can play any position – inside, outside, field, boundary. It doesn’t matter. You’ve got to make sure that we continue to give those opportunities down the field, the things you saw a year ago, explosive-play opportunities. But also a lot of it is just getting the ball in his hands. I can think of some bubble screens and things like that that we did a year ago that he just created on his own. Obviously, we’ve got to block for him, but we’re moving him around.

“And I think that’s one thing our receiving corps gives us. (Germie Bernard) and Isaiah (Horton) can do much the same thing, and that’s what you really love is having versatile players. Running backs that can line up and do some things out on the perimeter, tight ends that can play and be flexed out, that can motion in, put their hand down. You want the same thing with receivers, guys who can play inside and outside.”

DeBoer on Ty Simpson being added to Alabama’s leadership group…

“No, that leadership group was voted on in early January, so it was before our spring even started. And I would expect Ty to be in on that. He’s been here, put in, invested a lot. I would have voted for Ty to be on that in January, as well. He does a great job really taking advantage of knowing the guys that are on the team, helping them. He’s obviously got to take care of his business, and he does. 

“We ask guys to be leaders, and then when you can take care of your business, bring someone with you, and he does a great job of that. I think the other quarterbacks continue to do it different ways. Keelon (Russell) does it with his presence. He’s not probably going to be as vocal yet, just hasn’t been around long enough. And Austin (Mack) kind of in there, as well. Because of the confidence and things he’s done, especially the middle half of last fall where he started really showing the effort and energy that he would bring to the team, I think he gained a lot of confidence being a leader, as well.”

DeBoer on defensive backs stepping up in place of injured guys…

“Keon, just continuing to get feedback and reports. It’s been super positive. Even today, another positive report, probably as positive as we’ve had. And we expected that, but just exciting for him to be able get going and keep taking those steps when you get to those benchmarks and going off to the next level. He’s on track. He’s on pace. It was quite an injury that he was coming back from. The fight, I’m never going to question that because maybe some of you know, but last fall, what he worked through and the way he sacrificed himself, the Tennessee game in particular, kind of that two-game stretch there leading up to it. Man, got a lot of fight. People respect him, and I do too for that.

“The younger guys, they don’t feel like younger guys. I mean, that’s across the board. The 18 guys that came in, early enrolees, I don’t see them as freshmen anymore at all. They’ve really gone out there, and the defensive backfield a year ago at this time — thin, new faces, knew we had to get more faces in. I’m not sure, I think we had one returning corner on scholarship that returned from the season before.

“That position group, both corners and safeties together, have really kind of reconfigured and are playing an extremely high level of football. They’re seeking out, they’re hunting the ball. They’re confident. They love it when other guys make plays. They’re excited for, of course the plays they make, but it’s really cool seeing Mo Linguist and Jason Jones really gel that whole defensive backfield together. And a takeaway’s an expectation for those guys really every single play.”

DeBoer on younger linebackers stepping up in place of injured guys…

“There’s some really young guys. The three freshmen, they’re going to be really good players. We ask a lot out of that position. They’re the ones that wear the earpieces, make the calls. Now going into Year 2, we’re even more diverse than what we were and putting a little bit more on their shoulders. Kind of taking those next steps as a defense with the concepts we’re putting in, refining some of the things we did last year, adding to some of those things as well.

“Abduall [Sanders], Luke [Metz], Duke [Johnson], all three of them have been making plays out there, running sideline-to-sideline. That’s one thing they do best. And then QB [Reese] is a guy that’s out there directing traffic. He had a really good spring as well. I’m proud of the way those guys have just taken the bull by the horns and rolled with it.

“And Justin and Deontae, their leadership and their engagement with these guys has been something I just got to make a note of, because they remember being that age, the ups and downs that you can go through, and they are right in there every single play. If a big play happens, Justin in particular — because he can go run out there — he’s got as much excitement as anyone when those linebackers, in particular, make a big play.”  

Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!

Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $11.99! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!