Kalen DeBoer talks Keelon Russell, Florida State win, comeback

It didn’t come easy, but Alabama football got the job done on Saturday. The Crimson Tide fell behind Florida State early at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and for a moment, it seemed like the game was slipping away, just like it did to start out the 2025 season in Tallahassee.But after a lengthy delay for lightning, things changed. Kalen DeBoer’s team came back and took the lead, and came away with a 50-36 win over the Seminoles.The lightning was a major factor in the day’s action. The matchup was originally slated for a 2:45 p.m. CT kick, but an initial delay made it so the game didn’t get underway until 4:15 p.m.Then, late in the second half, the lightning struck again in the area. The delay wound up serving as the halftime break, and seemed to revitalize the Crimson Tide.Alabama moved to 3-0 on the season with the win. The Crimson Tide will be back at home next Saturday, facing South Carolina.After Saturday’s win, DeBoer spoke to reporters in Tuscaloosa. Here are the highlights from what he said.Press conference highlights-- DeBoer starts with an opening statement. Says he and the team appreciate Alabama’s fans for hanging around with all the delays. -- DeBoer says Alabama “obviously” needs to get off to better starts.-- First question is about the Crimson Tide’s offensive onslaught at the end of the first half. DeBoer says Alabama “made some plays.” Praises call that led to Ryan Coleman-Williams’ touchdown. Says he appreciates how Alabama got out of the locker room after the lightning delay.-- DeBoer is asked what it will take to get off to better starts. Says Alabama has to finish early drives, and notes big plays it allowed defensively. Says practice is tailored around starting fast, and says how UA handles practice lends itself to that goal. Says execution needs to be better, and players should just “cut it loose” in games.-- Question is about fourth-quarter run game. Says it was helpful for Keelon Russell to learn from. Says run game keeps defense on its heels. -- DeBoer says the amount of long plays FSU was able to make offensively was disappointing. Says those plays kept the Seminoles in the game. Notes that UA needed to be better on third downs defensively. -- DeBoer says that every game features something that Russell is doing a better job with.-- DeBoer says Russell and Lotzeir Brooks have been gelling well. Also praises how Alabama’s tight ends were involved.Matt Stahl covers University of Alabama sports for AL.com. He joined AL.com in July of 2023. He previously covered University of Missouri athletics for the Columbia Daily Tribune and started his career covering...