It's been a chaotic couple of months for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and ESPN personality Paul Finebaum is raising some concerns about the direction of the program and its coaching staff.
Following the surprise retirement of Nick Saban, Alabama was quick to hire former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer to take over for the program. DeBoer had planned to bring Ryan Grubb with him to take over as Alabama's offensive coordinator. However, Grubb quickly reversed course, stepping down to stay in Seattle after accepting a job as the offensive coordinator for the Seahawks.
The Crimson Tide are now left without an offensive coordinator as DeBoer quickly tries to fill out his coaching staff with spring ball quickly approaching. As one of the biggest personalities following the Alabama program, Finebaum is starting to get concerned about where the perennial SEC contenders are heading.
"I really don't like the fact that Ryan Grubb stood up the other day and said I am the offensive coordinator if he wasn't sure," Finebaum said during an appearance on McElroy & Cubelic In The Morning. "I realized it was National Signing Day, but this whole thing really smells and I don't know where the blame lies. I don't mind the guy getting an opportunity. But, to me, it's a very bad look for Alabama."
DeBoer is taking over at Alabama after a 25-3 record in two seasons with the Huskies, leading the former Pac-12 program all the way to the College Football Playoff national title game before falling to Michigan this past season. Grubb had served as DeBoer's offensive coordinator while at Washington, as well as operating as the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. He also served that same role under DeBoer during their time at Fresno State.
While expectations are still high at Alabama, Finebaum raises some valid points about DeBoer's start to his tenure with the Crimson Tide.