Tuscaloosa, Ala. — This summer marked a significant shift in the way the Alabama football program operates, and head coach Kalen DeBoer is optimistic about the benefits it will bring this season. Thanks to an NCAA rule change implemented in late June, certain off-field staff members are now allowed to provide direct coaching during practices. This change has opened the door for staffers like special assistant to the head coach Chuck Morrell and analyst Mitch Dahlen to take a more active role on the field during fall camp, which started just a few weeks ago.
Previously, these individuals were required to remain on the sidelines, limiting their contributions to the team. Now, however, Morrell has jumped in to coach inside linebackers, blending seamlessly with DeBoer’s team of on-field coaches. Others, like analysts Kirk Barron and Braxton Barker, have also stepped up, working closely with the offensive line and tight ends, respectively. Additional contributions have come from analyst John McNulty, who has been helping with offensive strategies, along with Jamey Mosley and Mark Sheridan, who are both focusing on linebackers.
DeBoer noted in a recent interview that this new structure has allowed staff members to stick to their specific roles while also expanding their involvement. “We’ve always had specific assignments with the coaches that these guys had,” DeBoer explained. “And so they just really stayed with their same position groups, but now they can just do more.”
Alabama’s football program boasts eight analysts alongside the usual graduate assistants, with the only restriction being that they cannot engage in recruiting. DeBoer emphasized that the impact of lifted restrictions is substantial. “It’s big,” he stated. “I think it’s huge. Because there are things being seen out there with another set of eyes that now can be communicated to these guys right there on the football field.” This new approach could potentially enhance the team’s overall performance as the season progresses.
