Everything Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said about the Iron Bowl

Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer held a press conference Monday to discuss Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma along with discussing his first ever Iron Bowl against Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers

Opening Statement:

“Good morning, just recapping Oklahoma, I know the coordinators have done some of that but just think a lot of it comes down to some execution in all areas, offense, defense, get up here and talk but I think there’s all areas where execution can be better. Obviously the turnover margin and some big plays. Some momentum changing plays there played a role and I think our inability to create explosives, I always look at that, we lost that area too in the game…

On the Iron Bowl and Senior Day:

“Our focus turns to the Iron Bowl now, the excitement of that. We got to make sure we are focused on the next play and only the next play. It’s senior day for 19 guys, we have 10 scholarship, nine walk-ons that we’ll get a chance to recognize and celebrate that day with them. [We] want to send them out with a win and a great experience. [I] appreciate all these guys and everything they’ve poured into it…”

On linebacker Deontae Lawson’s injury:

“We’ll lose him for the season with a season-ending injury and so just an amazing leader, chosen team-captain by the team. I can see not just what he means to us on the field, but just the love that our players have for him. Especially those that have been through multiple years, seeing what he pours into it, I know we all feel for him. We appreciate everything he’s been doing. Obviously you greatly miss what he does on the football field but love having that guy in the locker room, leading your team.”

On Jalen’s effort and pick-six:

“He’s got to find a way to get him out. He’s a good enough athlete to where he’s either using the sideline or forcing a cut back, it’s not something you spend a lot of time practicing. It’s not his position he’s in, he’s got to find a way to get him out of bounds. I trust Jalen to do a lot of things and I trust that he can get him down and find a way to get the defense out there, find some way possible, you know hold them to a field goal. Those are things we want to try to do. It’s not something you practice a lot and I blow the whistle dead every time obviously, I don’t want guys tackling each other in practice, especially the quarterback, so find a way.”

Update on Justice Haynes’ injury:

“There’s a lot of guys working through things all season, he’s certainly one of them. Justice, trying to use him in the ways we can…but he goes through the week of practice trying to prepare the best he can to go out there and gives us everything he’s got. So we believe in him for sure.”

On current players having not lost to Auburn in their career:

“Just already talking about it yesterday in the team meeting, you can already feel [the] leadership stepping up really talking about what this game means to them, what this means to us, what it means to everyone on both sides, this state. 365 days in the year, ever since I’ve been here I think I hear about it everyday. So understand what it means, the excitement, and we have to put and learn from last week and be better because of it and turn the page and get ready to practice tomorrow. You know, do everything we can to be successful on Saturday, find a way to win.”

On relying on linebacker Justin Jefferson this week:

“Yeah, maybe a little different style, obviously stature you look at right away but Justin can run, Justin’s physical, he’s a guy you can count on, he’s really trustworthy and pours everything into it. He has a team-first mindset, going through Spring ball, kind of trying to figure out his role. I remember talking at that time just he’s been ready whenever called upon, he’s worked through his things here and there with injuries. Any guys looking forward to that moment and I know that along with the disappointment that we always have and how much we love Deontae, we’re also excited about the next man up…”

On Alabama’s lack of consistency as a team:

“It’s disappointing because I feel like we’ve done a good job of building up over the last month, really the consistency in all areas. [It] really starts with winning the turnover margin, that’s been ways where we’ve gotten momentum, we’ve started fast because of it, we’ve held team to field goals, we gave up really the one touchdown…so some of those things were still in play. We just didn’t have that momentum that you need, we went into an environment and we let the environment be what it was because we didn’t grab ahold of it like we did at LSU…we let them hang around through the first half and then obviously they got the score at the very end and then just a couple plays, the takeaways that they had or the turnovers on our part…what your focus is at that time in the middle of the 3rd quarter, I spoke to the coaching staff, just passing it on to the team and trying to find a way to get one more score here at the end…we had a chance to cut into that lead, and we didn’t.”

On reaching out to the SEC and the illegal touching call:

“There’s been communication, there’s nothing you can really do now, the game’s over and stuff. So you have to be comfortable with the communication that you have and that’s been the case with the SEC and you just move on. We’re focused on the Iron Bowl.”

On hearing about the history Iron Bowl:

“Yeah, it’s going to be an awesome environment we know that, love playing the game at home. We get a chance to be undefeated, that's a sidebar, but to be undefeated at home, it’s a big deal. It’s always been a big deal to me and that’s where we’re at as a team. But, this game, what it means from those who come from each side and what it means to this state, it’s talked about and not just told to me, but talked about amongst everyone in their homes. It’s Thanksgiving weekend so if you’re not at the game, you’re watching it with your friends and family. I’ve heard stories about fans being divided because of it in many different ways so that’s what rivalry games are all about and I know this is another rivalry that’s on another level.”

On stories heard of Auburn/Alabama rivalry being different:

“Not that there’s a particular story or something that’s off the wall, I know those all exist. But, I understand what took place a year ago, and what it took to win that game and that’s I think probably pretty reminisce of what you know both sides are looking at as far as the effort it’s going to take and playing for four quarters, playing every second, every play, like it’s your last so that’s the intensity of it.”

On Ryan Williams vs Cam Coleman:

“Yeah they have multiple threats that I would consider very difficult, but certainly you know high-profile guys that have really produced for both teams as young athletes here at the college level. So, he’s [Coleman] extremely oppressive, he’s made a lot of plays for them this year and you got to not just focus on him but focus on the other guys that have had big games. It’s not just in the pass-game but it’s also in the run-game. Their quarterback now, Thorne, has done a nice job adding to that too with his legs so, a lot of threats, and that’s what you want to be, be an offense that has a lot of threats and they have that.”