Kalen DeBoer asked about Alabama football’s effort against Florida State

Kalen DeBoer left Tallahassee disappointed with the overall effort Alabama football displayed in the Tide’s 31-17 loss to Florida State in their season opener on Saturday.

The Crimson Tide’s defensive effort has faced harsh criticism following the game.

“We were certainly disappointed on some situations that happened,” DeBoer said to reporters on Monday. “I think they came in different ways and some of its flat out you’ve got to pursue, gotta get there. And it surprises you sometimes when it happens, especially with certain guys because of the effort they put in, day in and day out.”

DeBoer also attributed some of these struggles to hesitancy and not being in the correct position to make plays.

“And I think where some other things that come across as hesitancy as you sort of kinda put it,” DeBoer said. “I think after the game we followed that up by saying there was a couple times were ‘we just gotta be quicker to get to a spot and do our job.”

The second-year Tide coach later went on to express his belief that the Alabama defense can correct their mistakes and eliminate the mental lapses that plagued it Saturday, moving forward.

“These guys, they’re great kids, high character, they want it bad,” DeBoer said to reporters on Monday. “It’s just showing them, a lot of times they already know. And making sure that we continue to be intentional. That’s a word that I use a lot and it’s going to be something I use a lot more this week, again. Just be intentional with what we’re trying to accomplish with quality reps and making sure that every rep is done at a high level, from the effort to the execution.”

DeBoer and the Alabama defense will now look to get back to basics by reinforcing these fundamentals throughout practice as the Tide get back to work ahead of its home opener against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks inside of Saban Field at Bryant Denny Stadium, Saturday September 6th.