I'll go with a couple that I mentioned before he was hired, then add to it to make it 5...
1. Adjust his commitment to defense with the move to the SEC. This may have been my biggest concern. Apparently it was his as well, at least to some degree... there's a reason he brought almost all the offensive staff, but has taken his time piecing together an SEC caliber defensive staff. I feel much better about where that side of the ball is headed, but I also need to see it in action in '24 too before this concern is marked off the list.
2. Overcome and embrace the pressure and spotlight that comes with being the Alabama head coach. This might be easy for him, but with his outgoing personality, there's going to have to be times he tells people no, if for no other reason than time management. Also, every decision he makes will be scrutinized unlike anything he's ever seen. He achieved royalty status the second he set his foot on the Tuscaloosa tarmac Friday night. That crown will get heavy at times... for him, and his family. But it can also be rewarding. How does he handle it?
3. Develop recruiting relationships. I think he will be ok here, but it still takes time. One downside of bringing staff with him from UW, they don't exactly have a pipeline to the south (though they have recruited guys down here before). The good news is, keeping guys like Gillespie and Roach will keep the recruits flowing and some relationships intact. A lot of the off-field staff is staying as well, and they are a huge help in that area. His right hand man, Courtney Morgan will be building bridges for DeBoer quickly too. This is a very short term concern. Long term, he's going to be just fine.
4. [Along the lines of #3] Adapt to the SEC cut-throat style of recruiting and NIL. Saban will be a great source of info and direction for him in this realm, but he's going to have to prove he can adapt and play the game, even if it's uncomfortable at times. He hasn't seen anything before like he's going to see at Alabama and within the SEC with regards to NIL, recruiting, and tampering.
5. Do things his way. He isn't Nick Saban. The levels of success Saban reached at Alabama will never be seen again. Even if Saban had stayed for a few more years, I stated recently that my O/U on future national titles for him was .5. The SEC adds two traditional powers next season. The playoffs expand to 12 teams. It will be harder than ever to finish on top. But, DeBoer is a proven winner. And he's won doing it his way. He can't change that now. It'll mean tough decisions on personnel within the building (some of which have already been made). It'll mean changing the way things have been done in and around the Mal Moore building for 17 years. It'll mean doing exactly what Saban did when he replaced Shula... Getting everyone pointed in his direction and culling the others. Do that, and he will keep on winning.
- the next items are the core of how he gets there.
