What Kalen DeBoer Said After Alabama Defeated Louisiana-Monroe

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- No. 21 Alabama bounced back in a big way in the 2025 home opener. The Crimson Tide knocked off the ULM Warhawks 73-0 to improve to 1-1 on the season. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer spent time with the media after the win to talk about what went right for the program in Week 2.

Stay tuned to BamaCentral for a full transcript of Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer's press conference.

Full Transcript

Kalen DeBoer's Opening Comments

"I just thought the guys did a good job of moving with some purpose in everything that they did. Got to the stadium and just the movement, it represented what they did this week. It's one game. We've got to continue to sustain the intensity and the focus. The guys did a good job of playing from snap to whistle and doing it over and over again for 60 minutes. That was the challenge to the guys and that's what we've got to build on. I liked everything, I didn't feel like they looked at the scoreboard ever and just focused on being their best and bringing it. I also liked that they were happy for each other. They celebrated each other's successes and I think that's what this team has. So that chemistry coming out and appreciating the work that each guy puts in."

What stood out about Ty Simpson and why did you bring in Austin Mack for a drive in the first half?

"Ty doing what he did, I just thought that the game was slower for him. He was able to go through progressions. The first week to second week, that's what you needed to see. That's what you really needed to see out of Ty. I'm proud of how he went to work and there's some times where he scrambled this week where it just felt like he had it under control. Just saw the field, knew where guys were at, understood the situation and then made the throw. To get completions like that 17-for-17, the guys got to make the catch too. They've got to make those plays. Focused on making the fundamental play and then I thought a lot of guys then made explosives after the catch, but they didn't get ahead of themselves. The game was slower for a lot of them.

As far as the series early on with Austin getting in, it's just something we wanted to do. It wouldn't have mattered, this week, next week, who we're playing. We just got with the quarterbacks on Monday and shared with them we want to get Austin in for a series. We wanted to be really intentional. There's a lot of competition at all spots. I love what that brought out in all those guys. I think it brought out another level of just, work. They stayed the course and it started with those guys. We just let them know. I thought Austin had a great week of practice, Ty had a great week of practice, especially as the week went on, and then it was good to see Keelon get out there too."

Did you see an increased intensity from the defense in a response to the criticism last week?

"I just think they did a better job of every guy pursuing to the ball. The week of practice was a good week. It showed and it carried over. We got off to a fast start, a faster start than we did last week. That was what we needed to have. A lot to build off, and especially as the game went on today, having those takeaways. That's a contagious thing, it doesn't matter who you're playing that's contagious. Hunting the ball and coming in and punching it loose or putting your helmet on the ball carrier with another level of violence. That was certainly something I saw in practice. Happy to see that carry over."

What did Kevin Riley show in practice this week to earn the starting spot and what did you see from him?

"Yeah, I think from the running back position it's a group effort. We just like that play with Kevin so that's how he got in there right away. He obviously, I didn't quite get it on the stats, but I think he had quite a few, maybe most carries on the team, I'm not sure on that. He's done a good job the last three weeks, four weeks, middle of camp he really turned it up. There's some things he can do that are a little different than the rest of the group there. I like the way he picks up his knees and runs hard, inside, outside, he's got a little burst, does a nice job of catching the ball out of the backfield. I think he's really picked up the understanding and responsibility when it comes to pass protection too."

What did you see from the two true freshman that started, London Simmons and Lotzier Brooks?

"London got some action last week. Just forced into more action with Jeremiah [Beaman] and just kind of the rotation there with he and TK [Tim Keenan] out. So I think offensively with Lotzier, just loved what I saw, maybe it wasn't offensive snaps last week, but on kickoff there was some things that Lottie was doing, then he's had a buildup, much like a lot of the young guys, we talk about Kevin. He's done a good job the last two or three weeks really elevating, elevating, elevating his game and understanding what it takes. We saw it last week on the football field. Had his way to make an impact on some kickoffs and you can see there's a violence that he has. He got his opportunities. I really like the third down catch in their territory, going up and getting it. That's something that he does really well. I've seen that quite a bit in practice. He plays bigger than he is and got good catch radius and guys have a lot of confidence going to him. I thought the bubble-screen and there's details that I liked as well with ball security. I thought he was very intentional on taking care of the football. So good step for him with this game and the experience he got today."

Seemed to rotate guys on the offensive line, how do you think that worked out?

"Yeah, just competition, just competition. We did that last year too and it's just something that I think brings out the best in you. I thought that's the case throughout the week in practice. I think that led to better execution. I think there's some times still where we certainly got to be better. That drive where we had to kick the field goal there were some things, I know we missed a throw down the sideline, but there were some things that were too hard, because we weren't executing at the level that we needed to. A little miss here or there and ball could've been cut loose and you've got a guy at your ankles that shouldn't be there. Again, just trying to bring out the best in all these guys. Much like the quarterback competition, these other competition, these guys are all, it's a healthy compeition. They all are working and pushing each other."

Did anyone get dinged up or get hurt?

"I think you're right. I think we did get through healthy for the most part. So hopefully we'll see some of these guys getting back. I might have an update or two on Monday, but I think it might be more mid-week where we see Ryan [Williams], Jam [Miller] and TK [Tim Keenan] and some of those guys and kind of see where they're at, but yeah I think you're right. I think we got through for the most part healthy."

What does this performance tell you about the team's ability to respond to adversity?

"I think the game is one thing. I think the response, whether it was on the plane ride or in the locker room last Saturday, just really upset. Just not happy. Just obsessed with understanding that we have to better and we can be better and it only comes through work. They made their minds up at some point that led into Sunday, because by Sunday, they were ready to roll and get on the football field. That carried through the whole week of practice and so the challenge now is can you sustain it? Can you move forward and continue the steps, getting better and better. We have some upperclassmen, but we've got a lot of younger guys as we've mentioned and we have to keep improving every single play. Not just each week, but every single play."

What does it look like to sustain things in the execution and energy department?

"Everybody's got to do their part, do their job. I think the guys are understanding that everyone's just counting on them. Counting on the staff, the staff is counting on them and their teammates are counting on them to bring their best. I wouldn't expect anything less. It's a high character group, it's a group that, they've shown me all along that they really want it bad and they're willing to sacrifice and have action that represents the goals that they have. Obviously, last week was a disappointment, but they've moved forward and now they've got to continue to move forward going into next week as well."

How important was it to come out and dominate and flush last week?

"It's definitely important. It's all we could control was what we had in front of us. It sucks to learn lessons or whatever you want to call it. These guys did it and now they've got to do it again. They've got to have the discipline to do it over and over and over again. The resiliency is probably the thing I'll take from them because their response was not timid in any way. It was with power, with aggression and with pride. They were certainly, that took a hit last week and all that was something that really came into play as far as what you saw tonight and how they responded."