Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer felt players were eager to get back to practice after South Florida took the Crimson Tide well into the fourth quarter at home last week.
While Crimson Tide fans might be sweating the tight outcome against the Bulls, DeBoer said his players and coaching staff aren’t fixated on the results, but the process that runs the length of the season.
“I guess for us, we’re just coming back to work. We know we’ve got to get better every single day,” DeBoer said during the SEC Media call on Wednesday. “That’s not going to change all season long. Even if the score would’ve been what it was at the end in the second quarter, we know we’ve got to come back to work.
“We’re just trying to figure out exactly our identity. As we evolve with our personnel, as we work through our different pieces of the puzzle, this is just going to be part of it. … For us, we just have to clean some things up with regards to penalties and turnovers.”
DeBoer believes packing their bags for a visit to Madison, Wisc., might be well-timed for the No. 4 Crimson Tide.
“Our first chance to get on the road together as a team, looking forward to that challenge up there in a great environment,” said DeBoer.
DeBoer said the NCAA confirmed linebacker Justin Jefferson, flagged and ejected for targeting against USF, would miss the first half against the Badgers.
“For many of these guys, it’s unfortunate. They’re not intentionally trying to go in there and hurt someone. I know Justin felt that way,” DeBoer said. “As an advocate for the game of football, you have to err on the side of being safe.”
DeBoer said he would support revising language for targeting to allow for rulings that don’t fall entirely under the umbrella of targeting to include apparent intent.
Left tackle Kadyn Proctor has improved and could be available at Wisconsin. He injured his shoulder in warmups prior to the season opener against Western Kentucky.
Right tackle Elijah Pritchett played last week and should be in line for snaps this week, DeBoer said.
Alabama is “working through that plan and just the rotation with the offensive line” as players get healthy, DeBoer said.
