Josh Pate’s Assessment: How Alabama’s Coach Handled the 2024 Season, Despite Critiques of Kalen DeBoer’s Rookie Year
In the world of college football, where expectations are always sky-high, it’s often difficult to see beyond the immediate results of a season. Wins, losses, and championships dominate the headlines, but for those who closely follow the intricacies of each program, there’s more to a season’s story. Josh Pate, a well-respected analyst and host of the college football-centric show Late Kick, recently took to his platform to reflect on the 2024 Alabama football season. His nuanced analysis took into account not just the wins and losses, but the way the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff handled the challenges throughout the year.
While Alabama had its fair share of ups and downs in 2024, Pate was clear in his assessment: head coach Nick Saban handled the season with a steadiness that continues to define his legacy. However, Pate also critiqued the rookie season of Kalen DeBoer, Alabama’s first-year offensive coordinator. His remarks offer an interesting insight into how a high-profile coaching hire and the integration of a new system impacted Alabama’s overall performance.
Pate’s analysis provides a multi-faceted look at the complexities of college football at the highest level. Despite a few bumps along the road, Pate ultimately believes that the overarching direction of the program, led by Saban, remained stable. But he also believes that there were key moments during the season where the learning curve for DeBoer was evident, pointing out several factors that contributed to a somewhat rocky start for the new offensive coordinator.
Nick Saban’s Steady Hand at the Helm
As Alabama faced its first serious season of change in years, particularly with the addition of a new offensive coordinator, one constant remained: Nick Saban. Known for his laser focus on preparation, discipline, and adaptation, Saban showed why he is considered one of the best to ever coach the game. While other programs might have floundered with the integration of new coaching staff members and changes in offensive philosophy, Saban’s ability to keep the program steady was evident.
Pate emphasized that even when Alabama wasn’t firing on all cylinders, Saban’s leadership continued to set the tone. “The thing about Saban that remains remarkable, even as the game evolves, is his ability to maintain control of the program,” Pate said. “Even in a season with some uncharacteristic losses, his leadership is never in question. The culture of Alabama football doesn’t change, no matter who is on the sideline.”
The 2024 season for Alabama was far from perfect. There were moments where they looked less than invincible—particularly on offense—but Saban’s ability to rally the team and maintain their focus on the bigger picture is a testament to his decades of success.
Pate pointed out that despite the obvious shortcomings on the offensive side of the ball, Alabama’s defense remained as tough and disciplined as ever. In fact, it was the Crimson Tide defense that carried the team through some difficult games, giving them the opportunity to stay in the hunt for a College Football Playoff spot late into the season. Even as some of the offensive struggles became apparent, Alabama remained competitive in the brutal SEC.
“Even when things weren’t going well offensively, Saban’s defense kept them in games. The fundamentals are still there,” Pate added. “That’s a hallmark of what he’s built at Alabama. Even in a season where the offense didn’t meet expectations, Alabama was still competitive.”
This steady hand, Pate noted, allowed the team to continue to compete on a high level, even if they fell short of the ultimate prize.
The Kalen DeBoer Experience: A Mixed Bag
While Saban’s approach to managing Alabama’s season was widely lauded, there was a more critical lens turned toward Kalen DeBoer, who was tasked with revamping the Crimson Tide offense in 2024. DeBoer, a respected offensive mind previously known for his success as Fresno State’s head coach, had big shoes to fill after the departure of former offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
Pate, however, was not entirely convinced that DeBoer’s rookie season lived up to expectations. Although he recognized DeBoer’s potential, he pointed out several instances where the offense struggled to adapt and failed to capitalize on opportunities. In his analysis, Pate highlighted the learning curve that DeBoer faced, noting that Alabama’s offensive identity was inconsistent throughout the season.
“It was clear that Kalen DeBoer had a vision for this offense, but it took some time to execute it at the level Alabama fans are used to,” Pate said. “There were flashes of brilliance—he’s a smart coach, and you could see what he was trying to do—but the execution just wasn’t always there. It was a bit up and down.”
One of the primary criticisms Pate leveled against DeBoer was the inconsistency of Alabama’s offense, particularly in critical moments. While the defense remained solid, the offense struggled to put games away and couldn’t always generate the big plays needed to separate themselves from opponents. Quarterback play, running back rotations, and offensive line struggles all contributed to the offensive woes.
DeBoer’s offense was designed to be faster-paced, relying on a more up-tempo approach with spread concepts to open up the field. The idea was to make Alabama more unpredictable and versatile on offense, and in some games, they showed glimpses of the high-powered offense DeBoer had orchestrated at Fresno State. However, there were also games where the offense looked disjointed, and key personnel failed to execute the scheme as effectively as hoped.
For example, Pate pointed to Alabama’s narrow wins against lower-tier SEC teams like Mississippi State and Auburn. In both of those games, the offense looked sluggish, struggling to establish a rhythm and putting pressure on the defense to maintain a lead. While Alabama’s defense often bailed out the offense in these games, it was clear that DeBoer was still finding his footing in a high-pressure environment like the SEC.
“You could see DeBoer trying to implement a new style of play, and it worked at times,” Pate noted. “But those moments of inconsistency kept rearing their head. In games that should have been comfortable wins, the offense just couldn’t pull away. And that falls on the coaching staff to adjust.”
Pate acknowledged that DeBoer’s system needed time to truly take hold, and he noted that many successful offensive coordinators had rocky starts in their first seasons before adjusting to the unique challenges of coaching in the SEC. He also pointed out that Alabama’s recruiting class in 2026 would likely feature several high-profile offensive players who could help DeBoer’s system thrive in the future.
Still, Pate didn’t sugarcoat the difficulties DeBoer faced, especially in critical games against top-tier competition. “When you’re at a program like Alabama, the expectations are incredibly high from Day 1. That’s not an easy situation for any first-year coordinator to navigate,” Pate said. “But it’s fair to say that there were times when the offense didn’t look as polished as it needed to be, and that’s something that’ll need to be addressed moving forward.”
Looking to the Future: DeBoer’s Growth
Despite his criticisms, Pate was quick to emphasize that DeBoer’s rookie season was not a complete failure. In fact, Pate believes that DeBoer has the potential to be highly successful at Alabama. “Kalen DeBoer is a really sharp football mind, and I think he’ll get it figured out. But just like any first-year coordinator, it takes time,” Pate said.
He pointed out that the key to DeBoer’s growth at Alabama would be adjusting to the dynamic of the SEC. While he had success at Fresno State, Alabama’s elite level of competition—and the constant pressure of championship aspirations—adds another layer of complexity. But given DeBoer’s track record and his ability to adjust over time, Pate believes the offensive struggles in 2024 will be a distant memory in the coming seasons.
“You look at DeBoer’s resume, and there’s no doubt he’s a good coach,” Pate said. “Now, he just needs to find his rhythm at Alabama. He’s learning, and the results will come.”
Conclusion: The Big Picture
In the end, Josh Pate’s analysis of Alabama’s 2024 season reveals a nuanced perspective on the team’s performance. Despite the offensive challenges under Kalen DeBoer’s guidance, Nick Saban’s ability to maintain stability and set a tone of excellence within the program cannot be understated. Pate believes that the coaching staff, led by Saban, handled the season with the kind of professionalism and foresight that has come to define Alabama football.
Looking ahead, Pate remains optimistic about Alabama’s future. With the growing pains of DeBoer’s first season behind them and a promising 2026 recruiting class on the way, Pate is confident that Alabama will soon return to its offensive dominance. The 2024 season, while not perfect, served as a reminder that even in times of transition, the foundation of Alabama football remains strong.
