New Coach DeBoer Era: What're Your Expectations for 2024?

[BamaMoon]

I know better than asking for Bama fans to be "reasonable" about football expectations. Having said that, what have you got?

Pie in the sky: NC in his first year?

Continued excellence: SEC championship and CFP spot (could likely do CFP without the SECC)?

10 Win Season streak continues: no worse than 10-2?

 

[MOAN]

National championship!!!

 

[GboyBama]

I know it was a different situation, but I'm trying to keep Stallings's and Saban's first year records in mind.

We could contend, but this could be a transitional year too. We'll need to be patient if it's the latter.

Retooling a team doesn't happen overnight... And not without some pain.

 

[BamaMoon]

I know it was a different situation, but I'm trying to keep Stallings's and Saban's first year records in mind.

We could contend, but this could be a transitional year too. We'll need to be patient if it's the latter.

Retooling a team doesn't happen overnight... And not without some pain.

You touch on the reality of the situation. I think it really has to do with how quickly the offense gels.

 

[RollTide_HTTR]

Hard to gauge. We've lost a lot at DB and we don't know if we bring any transfers in the spring. Plus I'd like to know how the offense works out a bit more.

I think it'll be exceedingly hard to win a NC with so much inexperience at DB. But I do think we should make the playoffs. I'd see not making the playoffs as a disappointment

 

[3yards&dust]

Best case: 10-2, SEC runner-up, and a couple of playoff wins. Worst case: 9-3 and on the bubble.

 

[BamaMoon]

With the changing SEC landscape/schedule it really makes it harder to predict. Going to Norman in November could be the difference in 10-2 or 9-3. I mean, realistically, any SEC game is a potential loss, but this year will be different in so many ways.

 

[B1GTide]

Expectations? Put a well coached team on the field and beat the teams that you are supposed to beat.

Hopes? Beat all of your biggest rivals along the way and make it to the SECCG.

Dreams are same as always - championships.

 

[BamaDMD]

BigTide said it best for me. If his team looks like they are well coached and just comes up short that's all you can ask for. We will find out if CKD can handle the pressure cooker that Alabama is.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Firstly it has to be acknowledged that we have a BRUTAL schedule.

Road Games (of note): Wisky, Tenn, LSU, Oklahoma

Home Games (of note): Uga, Mizzou, AU

I think we go 5-0 in the other games not listed because we will be vastly more talented and should beat them.

The Road games are Tough... Should beat Wisc but the other 3 are Toss Ups. Going anywhere from 2-2 to 3-1 on those is a reasonable expectation.

The Home games are Tough.... Should beat AU but you never know with the IB... Mizzou and Uga are Toss Ups. We probably have a better chance to go 2-1 vs 1-2.

So altogether I'm going to say...

Worst Case: 8-4 and a Bowl game.

Best Case: 10-2 and make the new expanded CFBP

Granted that's my view right now before we've gone through spring and summer and w/o knowing the QB situation or how any of the new Fr perform and who grabs starting spots everywhere.

If we come out Guns Blazing in the Fall and knock of Uga early and get to Tenn at 6-0 my entire view might change and I'll be locked in on Atlanta and a Top Seed in the expanded CFBP.

 

[CrimSonami]

Expectations? Put a well coached team on the field and beat the teams that you are supposed to beat.

Hopes? Beat all of your biggest rivals along the way and make it to the SECCG.

Dreams are same as always - championships.

DAMMIT B1G! Beat me to it.

Yeah, the ceiling for me is making it to the SEC-CG. Playoffs would be exceeding expectations IMO, but I wouldn't be surprised with the expanded format. I'll be extremely disappointed in a 7-5 inaugural CKD season with the roster/talent he has available.

 

[dayhiker]

I don't know that I have an expectation. My hope is that we see a coherent plan and a way forward. I hope we see improvement in the areas that have been baffling post 2020.

 

[BamaMoon]

I don't know that I have an expectation. My hope is that we see a coherent plan and a way forward. I hope we see improvement in the areas that have been baffling post 2020.

Fav. take so far. If we show improvement at QB, OL, receiver and just hold our own on defense (hopefully new, simplified and aggressive scheme covers for lost DB talent) then I think we'll be in a position to outscore most opponents.

If we lose 2 or 3 games but show improvement in weak areas it will tee up a 2025 campaign for sure!

 

[AlexanderFan]

I would say I expect this staff to develop and get the most out of these players by creating a team atmosphere where everyone is on the same page.

Football wise I’d like to see a fundamentally sound team that puts its best players in position to succeed on the field. I’d like to see an efficient offense, and a defense that doesn’t get confused by a shift and motion at the same time.

 

[davefrat]

Make the playoff.

 

[davefrat]

I know it was a different situation, but I'm trying to keep Stallings's and Saban's first year records in mind.

We could contend, but this could be a transitional year too. We'll need to be patient if it's the latter.

Retooling a team doesn't happen overnight... And not without some pain.

The teams that Stallings and Saban inherited had basically zero talent compared to the team that DeBoer has inherited.

The only re-tooling will be systematic changes, the roster has enough talent to win 10 games or more.

 

[BamaInBham]

Firstly it has to be acknowledged that we have a BRUTAL schedule.

Road Games (of note): Wisky, Tenn, LSU, Oklahoma

Home Games (of note): Uga, Mizzou, AU

I think we go 5-0 in the other games not listed because we will be vastly more talented and should beat them.

The Road games are Tough... Should beat Wisc but the other 3 are Toss Ups. Going anywhere from 2-2 to 3-1 on those is a reasonable expectation.

The Home games are Tough.... Should beat AU but you never know with the IB... Mizzou and Uga are Toss Ups. We probably have a better chance to go 2-1 vs 1-2.

So altogether I'm going to say...

Worst Case: 8-4 and a Bowl game.

Best Case: 10-2 and make the new expanded CFBP

Granted that's my view right now before we've gone through spring and summer and w/o knowing the QB situation or how any of the new Fr perform and who grabs starting spots everywhere.

If we come out Guns Blazing in the Fall and knock of Uga early and get to Tenn at 6-0 my entire view might change and I'll be locked in on Atlanta and a Top Seed in the expanded CFBP.

As you noted, should beat Wisconsin

Should be a slight favorite vs UTn, LSU and OU.

Possibly a slight underdog to UGA.

BDS is a house of horrors for AU - 1 win in 17 years, mostly blow out losses: 22, 29, 31, 18, 11, 49, 36 in Alabama's last 7 wins, an average margin of 28.

Missouri could be good but Alabama should still be favored by 14+.

The QB situation will be delicate. A point of emphasis for CKD has always been that the "team" comes first. If he picks the wrong QB, then everything changes in multiple ways. None good. According to who is chosen, the national media will NOT help.

 

[tidebanker]

Play like we are well coached. Control what we can control.

Wins will take care of themselves.

if I’m a fan I should support, not create negative pressure.

Be in the hunt at the end of a season. It takes luck to win those big things.

 

[BamaInBham]

The teams that Stallings and Saban inherited had basically zero talent compared to the team that DeBoer has inherited.

The only re-tooling will be systematic changes, the roster has enough talent to win 10 games or more.

I agree with the talent level assessment. OTOH, the schedule Stallings and Saban faced was nothing compared to the one DeBoer will face next year: @Wisc, UGA, @UTn, good Mizz, @LSU, @OU, AU. 5 of those are in the top 17 in the ?ESPN 2024 preseason listing.

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

No clue, depends on which games Jason Autrey is assigned to......