Year Two or Bust: Why DeBoer Better Deliver the Goods This Season

Posted by: CrimsonTroyjan85 | June 23, 2025

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Look, I'm gonna cut straight to the chase here. I bled crimson and white long before I ever set foot on Troy's campus, and I'll be bleeding it long after they put me in the ground. But after that 9-4 disaster last season and watching us get embarrassed in some bowl game nobody cares about, my patience is wearing thinner than the excuses coming out of Tuscaloosa.

Don't get me wrong – I get it. Replacing the GOAT was never going to be easy. Nick Saban didn't just leave big shoes to fill; he left size 18 cleats that nobody else in college football can even squeeze their toes into. But here's the thing: this is ALABAMA. We don't rebuild, we reload. And if Kalen DeBoer thinks he's getting a third year to "figure things out," he's got another thing coming.

The Good News (And There Better Be Some)

Alright, before I completely lose my mind, let me give credit where it's due. The man has been busy this offseason, and some of these moves actually have me cautiously optimistic.

That Offensive Line is Looking NASTY

When your own defensive linemen are talking about how good the O-line looks in practice, you know something's cooking. Parker Brailsford at center has the football IQ of a coach, and don't even get me started on Kadyn Proctor – 6'8", 380 pounds, and moves like he's half that size. If Pro Football Focus is calling us the best offensive line in the nation, then maybe, just maybe, we won't be watching our quarterback run for his life every other play like last season.

Jaeden Roberts has been pancaking people in practice, and when guys like Tim Keenan III and LT Overton are giving props to the offense, you know they're not just being nice. This line could be the foundation everything else is built on.

Ty Simpson's Time to Shine (Or Get Benched)

Look, I've been patient with Ty Simpson. The kid's got talent, but talent doesn't win championships – execution does. Ryan Grubb seems confident in him, and I'll take Grubb's word for it since the man knows how to call plays. But Simpson better understand that Keelon Russell isn't just sitting on the bench to keep it warm. That five-star freshman from Texas is breathing down his neck, and if Simpson can't get the job done, DeBoer better not hesitate to make a change.

Speaking of Russell – my heart goes out to that kid after losing his sister. The way Coach DeBoer and the team rallied around him shows there's still some character in this program. But when the lights come on, football is football, and we need production.

Transfer Portal Magic (Finally!)

I'll give DeBoer this – he's been working the portal like a man who knows his job depends on it. Isaiah Horton from Miami? That kid can flat-out fly. Nikhai Hill-Green from Colorado brings some much-needed linebacker depth. And Kelby Collins from Florida should help shore up that defensive line that got pushed around too much last year.

The recruiting class is ranked third nationally, and guys like Dijon Lee and Michael Carroll are the kind of blue-chip prospects that should be coming to Alabama every single year. No excuses.

The Reality Check

But here's where I pump the brakes. All this talent doesn't mean squat if we can't put it together when it matters. That 11-1 prediction everyone's throwing around? I'll believe it when I see it.

That Schedule is BRUTAL

We're opening on the road against Florida State – and I don't care if they're "rebuilding," any team with that much talent can bite you if you're not ready. Then we've got Georgia on the road, and you know Kirby Smart is going to have his boys ready to play. Tennessee, LSU, Oklahoma – this isn't some cupcake schedule where we can sleepwalk through September.

The Coaching Staff Better Click

Ryan Grubb coming back as OC is huge, but this whole co-coordinator thing with Nick Sheridan has me scratching my head. Too many cooks in the kitchen can spoil the soup, and we can't afford any confusion when we're trying to score points.

Kane Wommack taking over the defense is interesting, but the man's coming from South Alabama. I'm not saying he can't coach, but there's a difference between coaching at USA and coaching at Alabama. The pressure here will eat you alive if you're not ready for it.

Bottom Line: No More Excuses

Look, I want DeBoer to succeed. I really do. But this is Year Two, and the honeymoon is over. We've got the talent, we've got the resources, and we've got the best fans in college football. What we need now is results.

I'm not asking for perfection – I'm asking for Alabama football. That means showing up ready to play every Saturday, not getting outcoached by teams we should beat, and for the love of all that's holy, making the College Football Playoff.

The expanded playoff gives us more chances, but that also means less excuses. If we can't make a 12-team playoff with this talent, then we've got bigger problems than I thought.

My Prediction

I'm cautiously optimistic about this season, but my patience is running thin. If we go 11-1 like everyone's predicting and make a deep playoff run, then maybe DeBoer has figured it out. But if we stumble out of the gate or lose games we shouldn't lose, then it's time to start asking some hard questions.

This is Alabama. We don't accept mediocrity, and we sure as hell don't accept moral victories. It's championship or bust, and DeBoer better understand that.

Roll Tide, and let's get back to where we belong.

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What do you think, Tide fans? Are you buying into the hype, or are you like me – cautiously optimistic but ready to hold everyone accountable? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.

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About the Author: CrimsonTroyjan85 graduated from Troy University but has been bleeding crimson and white since birth. A lifelong Alabama football fanatic with zero tolerance for excuses and a deep knowledge of the program's championship tradition.