Kalen DeBoer called out for ‘inexcusable’ late-game management in loss to Oklahoma
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Alabama can point to a handful of plays as being the reason why it lost at home to Oklahoma on Saturday night, 23-21. The Crimson Tide committed 3 turnovers. They missed a field goal at the end of the first half. Quarterback Ty Simpson took a sack on the final offensive possession.
But, for CBS Sports pundit Adam Breneman, head coach Kalen DeBoer had a hand in the loss as well. Breneman called out DeBoer after the game for “inexcusable” clock management in the closing minutes.
Alabama had to burn its second timeout of the half prior to a third-and-21 play to avoid a delay of game penalty. That, Breneman said, was a major issue.
“Alabama, late getting a play-call in, have to burn a timeout, which is inexcusable at that point in the game. And that comes down to coaching,” Breneman said. “You can blame the quarterback, but you’ve got a young quarterback in his first year starting. That’s on Kalen DeBoer, that’s on [Ryan Grubb], the offensive coordinator.
“They have to get the play-call in on time. [They] burn the timeout, and then when they don’t get the first down, the game’s over.”
It might be a moot point, all things considered. Simpson completed a third-down pass for 15 yards to set up a fourth-and-6 play for the game. Had Alabama still had 2 timeouts in its pocket, it might have taken one there to stop the clock.
Assuming Alabama doesn’t call time and the game plays out the same way, Oklahoma would have gotten the ball back with around a minute remaining. The Tide would have been able to stop the clock only twice. They wouldn’t have had another opportunity anyway.
Still, the Tide looked uncomfortable in the moment. But they looked uncomfortable all throughout the game. Simpson had a sack-fumble for the fifth straight game. After opening the second half with a touchdown drive, Alabama gained a total of 15 yards on its next 3 possessions.
The Sooners were able to turn the Tide over on downs on their final possession and kneel out the win.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
