Kalen DeBoer recaps lessons learned from 1st Alabama football scrimmage

Alabama football was back in Bryant-Denny Stadium. But for the first time in 17 years, Nick Saban was not with the team. Instead, Kalen DeBoer and his new coaching staff led UA for its opening spring 2024 scrimmage.

It was the first time Jalen Milroe receives snaps from his new center, whoever takes that spot, in UA’s home stadium — a heavily scaled-down preview of the Aug. 31 opener against Western Kentucky. The defense, which replaces at least half its starters, were aligned under new coordinator Kane Wommack’s ‘SWARM’ scheme. Earlier this week, Tide assistants told players the word of the week was ‘competition’ in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama holds its second scrimmage on Saturday, April 6. The annual spring game, A-Day, is set for April 13 at 3 p.m. (ESPN). It will be open to the media and the public. DeBoer has yet to confirm the annual Team White and Team Crimson structure.

Reporters were not permitted to view Thursday’s scrimmage and did not receive stats. Like his predecessor and many other coaches, DeBoer held a news conference afterward to provide updates and answer questions.

Here are the highlights:

--This was the second of Alabama’s practices this week and eighth overall. DeBoer said the guys were “excited to get out” onto the BDS field.

“From my standpoint, as a head coach, you want that give and take and we definitely had that today.”

--DeBoer said the team could have had better communication and maximized more opportunities.

--DeBoer said it was “as good a first scrimmage” as he could’ve hoped for. The team ran 85-90 plays.

--Alabama wide receiver Jalen Hale suffered a “significant” knee injury and will be out for the remainder of the spring.

--DeBoer said Jalen Milroe took the majority of first-team snaps but in order for others to get an opportunity, the quarterbacks were rotated through the offense. DeBoer said none of the quarterbacks had a turnover in scrimmage.

--DeBoer likes the diversity of his backfield between Jam Miller, Justice Haynes, Richard Young and Daniel Hill.

“For these guys, there is a downhill physicality that I think they really have but they have the ability to also make the jumpcut, get to the outside, turn on the speed. In the backfield, come out and we just find a way to get them touches and that’s what our offense really does is find ways to get the ball to its best players in space.”

--”To me, the passing game, when it’s done right, has some intricacies and some nuances. ... We’re not there yet, but I’m pleased with the process.”

--DeBoer said Alabama’s pass rush generated pressure on the quarterbacks. He didn’t go as far as to say the Tide’s offensive line is a concern, but it’s something they need to work on.

--DeBoer said Alabama had too many penalties on both sides of the ball.

“To me the first scrimmage with a new offense, new defense, I think it’s all relative. Have I had better first scrimmages? Yeah. But I think areas where we can improve probably both sides, a couple penalties that are going to be great lessons for us to learn. Not things that were out of control, just mentally we got a gain, we don’t need a hold downfield, just things like that.”

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com.