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Kalen DeBoer defines 'next step' for Alabama football after Tennessee loss
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- Kalen DeBoer defines 'next step' for Alabama football after Tennessee loss
Kalen DeBoer knows the big picture Alabama football faces.
Alabama has two losses , one of three teams in the current US LBM Coaches Poll Top-25 with two losses, and one of 10 SEC programs with at least two losses. The margin for error when it comes to the expanded College Football Playoff has seemingly narrowed with potential ranked meetings against Missouri and LSU ahead.
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But DeBoer has been here before. And there's too much football left to be played to prematurely decide Alabama's fate.
"They understand the big picture is one thing," DeBoer said. "In order to make the big picture relevant, we have to take care of what's in front of us."
What is in front of Alabama?
Responding to the Crimson Tide 's first stretch of two losses in three games since Oct. 15-Nov. 5, 2022. Responding to the earliest Alabama has accumulated two losses since 2007 — Nick Saban's first season in Tuscaloosa.
Kane Wommack is narrowing the scope for Alabama's defense.
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His goal for Alabama is to respond after his unit was unable to get "one more stop when you needed one more play" against Tennessee . That, Wommack said, is a challenge the Crimson Tide is ready for.
"I talked to the players yesterday, all that should be on our minds is what do we have to do to beat Missouri on Saturday?" Wommack said. "And anything outside of that is a distraction and does not keep focus on the main thing."
What is the main thing for Alabama?
For DeBoer, it's what separated the Crimson Tide from a road victory in Tennessee that could have set the course for a College Football Playoff-bound team, and one on the outskirts of the CFP conversation.
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"We just can't mesh right now, the offense and defense together, and play great team football," DeBoer said Saturday.
It's Wommack's main question. It's the "secret sauce" that separates CFP-bound teams and ones securing lesser bowl bids. How can Alabama maximize its offense, defense and special teams enough to win when adversity strikes?
"There are no excuses, right?" Wommack said. "The standard is the standard and you have to find a way to win and you have to find a way to play complementary football across the board."
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 19: Head coach Kalen DeBoer of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
That's DeBoer's goal as the Crimson Tide prepares for Missouri, to do as championship teams do, to follow in the footsteps of those Alabama national championship teams that have come before.
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"We knew this wasn't going to be easy," DeBoer said. "We knew winning a championship each and every year, especially in the SEC, is going to be hard. We knew there were going to be challenges along with transitions, all that. No excuses. We have to continue to move forward. We have to continue to build. You know, that's what this week is all about is taking that next step."
Alabama will face Missouri at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium on ABC.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kalen DeBoer defines 'next step' for Alabama football after Tennessee loss
