JessN: WKU @ Alabama Game Preview: DeBoer's First Game May Be a Bore

[JessN]

WKU Preview: DeBoer’s First Game May Be a Bore
by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-In-Chief

When Western Kentucky first appeared on Alabama’s 2024 schedule as the opening game, the thoughts of roasting in the late summer heat watching Alabama duel with a mid-level Conference USA opponent meant the prospects of a cheap ticket were probably high.

Then Nick Saban retired, Kalen DeBoer was hired and the Crimson Tide’s world got turned upside down. Suddenly, this game became less of a tune-up and more of the unveiling of a new brand of football in Tuscaloosa, and ticket scalpers everywhere rejoiced.

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TideFans.com | By the Fans, For the Fans. - WKU Preview: DeBoer’s First Game May Be a Bore

When Western Kentucky first appeared on Alabama’s 2024 schedule as the opening game, the thoughts of roasting in the late summer heat watching Alabama duel with a mid-level Conference USA opp…

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Week 01 Info: Western Kentucky @ Alabama (ESPN @ 6pm CT )

• Week 01 Games on TV (8/31 - 9/2/2024)
• TideFans.com Gameday Guide
• WKU @ Bama Game Threads: Gameweek | Pre | Game
• RADIO | TV: Listen | Watch
• JessN WKU week previews:
  • WKU @ Alabama Game Preview: DeBoer's First Game May Be a Bore
  • Commentary: What I'm Looking For in DeBoer's Debut
  • Projected Depth Chart for Alabama vs. Western Kentucky
  • SEC Preview and Predictions, Week 1
• JessN's 2024 Season Previews:
  
  • 2024 Fall Preview: Alabama Crimson Tide
  • 2024 SEC Previews - Tier I
  • 2024 SEC Previews - Tier II
  • 2024 SEC Previews - Tier III
  • 2024 SEC Preview - Tier IV
  • Rating The Units: A New Era in the SEC
  • Changes regarding preview 2024 preview articles
• Game Notes: WKU | Alabama
• Weekly Bama News: 8/26/2024 Thru 9/1/2024
• Pick the score: Pick The Score: Alabama vs Western Kentucky
• All time series record (1896-2022):
  • Bama 3-0
  • Streak: Bama 3 straight wins
  • All games have been played in Tuscaloosa.
• Pick'em Weeks: | 1 |

 

[CoolBreeze]

Jess, never a bore watching the Tide Roll. Exciting new era on the Capstone and we get a fresh carcass to pick apart before game 2 lol.

 

[Krymsonman]

Well, I'm hoping we score more than 44, and I'll be disappointed if we give up 20, unless it happens way late in the game. But, as usual, great write-up Jess. I can't wait to see what the 2024 version of the Crimson Tide looks like.

 

[CoolBreeze]

I think we will hang at least 60 on em.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

44-20 won't send shock waves of panic throughout the land but it will raise an eyebrow.

If we end up only beating them by 24 points (with us giving up 20 pts) it will let me know we're not as far along as I thought we'd be coming out of the offseason. Which is okay, a win is a win. But my expectation is we beat them by 35+ and hold them under 20 points.

 

[ROCKEE]

Great review Jess. “As usual”
Looking forward to Saturday!
RTR

 

[BamaMoon]

Is this reverse rat poison from JessN OR is the competition at WR and DB really that close?

 

[colbysullivan]

Umm, it better not be 44-20…

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Umm, it better not be 44-20…

LOL! I don't discount anything anymore when it comes to sports, especially college sports. I would be disappointed if the score turned out to be that close but I wouldn't hit the panic button just yet. It would tell me we aren't as far along coming out of the offseason as I had hoped and that the Wisconsin game is going to be tough one to win.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I have no expectations for this one except we should get the W.

We have a whole new staff from top to bottom on both sides of the ball and completely new schemes and playbook and terminology.

We also have new players and teammates and a Secondary that is probably a bit vulnerable in the early stages of the season.

Honestly I'd take a 44-20 Win w/ Zero injuries just fine.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I have no expectations for this one except we should get the W.

We have a whole new staff from top to bottom on both sides of the ball and completely new schemes and playbook and terminology.

We also have new players and teammates and a Secondary that is probably a bit vulnerable in the early stages of the season.

Honestly I'd take a 44-20 Win w/ Zero injuries just fine.

Yeah, no matter how excited we are as fans, it doesn't change the fact that we have completely new everything minus the players who returned. That's A LOT of new and a lot of change. So, though I'd be a bit disappointed in a 44-20 win it wouldn't ruin my day, LOL! You take the win and no injuries any day. Regardless of the score, we're still 1-0 when the clock strikes 00:00.

 

[BamaMoon]

Take away 6 of WKU's points and put it to our side and I like the sound of 50-13 a lot better.

I mean, it's just a shot in the dark but Jess hinted at us being a little more run heavy and that may explain the score not being as high as some of us want.

But, if we are really the most talented team in football (in terms of the roster) and I think we probably are, I think a couple of lightning bolt TD's may just come from nowhere and this will be closer to a blowout than some think.

I could easily see us scoring in the 60's. Remember we laid 56 on MTSU last year. IF JM is improved/better/more decisive, who knows?

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Take away 6 of WKU's points and put it to our side and I like the sound of 50-13 a lot better.

I mean, it's just a shot in the dark but Jess hinted at us being a little more run heavy and that may explain the score not being as high as some of us want.

But, if we are really the most talented team in football (in terms of the roster) and I think we probably are, I think a couple of lightning bolt TD's may just come from nowhere and this will be closer to a blowout than some think.

I could easily see us scoring in the 60's. Remember we laid 56 on MTSU last year. IF JM is improved/better/more decisive, who knows?

Honestly I don't even care about the score other than us having more points.

I want to see clean snaps hitting the QB in the Numbers.

I want to see guys not being confused and not scrambling around trying to figure out their assignment at the last second.

I want to see clean fundamentals and no stupid procedural penalties.

I want to see quick move the chains passes with Jalen getting the ball out fast.

A 60-80 yard Bomb TD does nothing for me.

I'll be more impressed by staying ahead of the chains and converting 2nd and 5 or 3rd and 5 etc with a quick pass and no TFL's or Sacks.

If we can see visible improvements in all the areas like that we struggled in last year and the score says 44-20 Bama 0:00 Left .....I'll be tickled pink.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

The biggest concern for me offensively isn't Jalen Milroe, it's the OL being able to function how it is supposed to function in CKD's offense. I'm sure many of y'all (as I did) looked up any video you could find on CKD's offense when he was hired. To my surprise, there were several very in-depth youtube videos breaking down his offense. If you watched those you learned very quickly that the offensive blocking scheme "ain't no joke". They are asked to do A LOT to produce the opportunities for the RB, QB, WR's and TE's. If they aren't able to do what this offense needs them to do it doesn't matter how much Milroe has improved or how much talent we have at WR and RB. The OL is what I will be watching very closely on Saturday.

 

[colbysullivan]

I have no expectations for this one except we should get the W.

We have a whole new staff from top to bottom on both sides of the ball and completely new schemes and playbook and terminology.

We also have new players and teammates and a Secondary that is probably a bit vulnerable in the early stages of the season.

Honestly I'd take a 44-20 Win w/ Zero injuries just fine.

Of course I’d take the win, but it would also not be a good sign for the rest of the season.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Of course I’d take the win, but it would also not be a good sign for the rest of the season.

I just think it's too early with too many unknowns to take anything away from it good or bad.

If we look rough vs Wisc and UGA in Key areas then it might be cause for concern.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I just think it's too early with too many unknowns to take anything away from it good or bad.

If we look rough vs Wisc and UGA in Key areas then it might be cause for concern.

I would come more expecting to look "rough" against better teams like Wisconsin and/or UGA this early in the season. They will have better talent on the field than WKU. If we look "rough" against WKU then some eyebrows will probably be raised. It doesn't mean it is time to panic, it just means that if we're struggling against a "WKU" type of opponent then we are not as far along in the transition of staff and systems as some of us may have thought.

 

[BamaMoon]

Honestly I don't even care about the score other than us having more points.

I want to see clean snaps hitting the QB in the Numbers.

I want to see guys not being confused and not scrambling around trying to figure out their assignment at the last second.

I want to see clean fundamentals and no stupid procedural penalties.

I want to see quick move the chains passes with Jalen getting the ball out fast.

A 60-80 yard Bomb TD does nothing for me.

I'll be more impressed by staying ahead of the chains and converting 2nd and 5 or 3rd and 5 etc with a quick pass and no TFL's or Sacks.

If we can see visible improvements in all the areas like that we struggled in last year and the score says 44-20 Bama 0:00 Left .....I'll be tickled pink.

I "amen" all of that especially JM looking decisive and making quick decisions!

If I had to narrow it down to just one thing, I'd say I'd like to see our offense operate ahead of the chains.

Last year we operated behind them at 2nd and 3rd and long way too often.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I would come more expecting to look "rough" against better teams like Wisconsin and/or UGA this early in the season. They will have better talent on the field than WKU. If we look "rough" against WKU then some eyebrows will probably be raised. It doesn't mean it is time to panic, it just means that if we're struggling against a "WKU" type of opponent then we are not as far along in the transition of staff and systems as some of us may have thought.

I mean more of how well we are playing fundamentally and with team chemistry and communication and adjustments.

The old saying is that a team makes the most progress between games 1 and 2.

I'm just expecting there to be some early growing pains but that by games 3-4 we should have wrinkles ironed out.

I'd rather them mess up some vs WKU and fix the issues and then start really gelling by games 3-4.

I mean it would be nice to come out the gate and just nuke WKU but that might give us a false sense of things.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

I "amen" all of that especially JM looking decisive and making quick decisions!

If I had to narrow it down to just one thing, I'd say I'd like to see our offense operate ahead of the chains.

Last year we operated behind them at 2nd and 3rd and long way too often.

Yep, I've rewatched several of last year's games (more times than I should probably) and too often we'd be in 2nd down and short yardage situations then here comes the missed blocking assignment, bad snap, or Milroe holding the football until every DL'man broke loose from their blocker, resulting in 3rd and eternity.