First-year head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Kalen DeBoer, has been hit with a setback as he prepares to take on the monumental task of replacing college football legend Nick Saban. It was recently announced that DeBoer's longtime confidant and offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb, will not be joining the Crimson Tide coaching staff for the 2024 season. Grubb will be departing for the NFL, where he has accepted the position of offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks.

DeBoer and Grubb had a remarkable working relationship spanning 12 seasons across four different schools. Their partnership led to immense success, particularly during their time at Washington, where Grubb called the plays for the Huskies' prolific offense. Washington achieved a 25-3 record over the past two seasons, even making it to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

Grubb's departure leaves DeBoer with a difficult decision to make regarding who will take over the vital role of play-calling. DeBoer may either assign this responsibility to someone new or assume the duties himself. The only logical alternative on staff appears to be Nick Sheridan, who had previously been expected to coach Alabama's tight ends. Sheridan has experience working with DeBoer at Indiana and Washington, and his familiarity with their system makes him a potential candidate for co-offensive coordinator alongside JaMarcus Shepard.

However, DeBoer must carefully consider whether he himself should call the plays or delegate the role to someone else. SEC peers such as Tennessee's Josh Heupel and Florida's Billy Napier have opted to call their own plays early in their tenures, but DeBoer recognizes that coaching at Alabama is akin to being a CEO, with numerous responsibilities and demands on his time.

The departure of Grubb also has implications for roster management. Friday marked the end of the 30-day window for Alabama players to transfer following Saban's retirement. Any players who were considering transferring specifically due to Grubb's decision will now have to wait until the spring transfer window in April to enter the portal.

While DeBoer could potentially make a flashy external hire for the offensive coordinator role, he faces the challenge of integrating a new coach without the benefit of familiarity. This is particularly crucial as Alabama undergoes a complete overhaul with new faces filling key coaching positions and a head coach who lacks SEC experience.

The absence of Ryan Grubb presents a significant challenge for Alabama's new head coach Kalen DeBoer. Without his trusted offensive coordinator, DeBoer must navigate the complexities of play-calling and build a cohesive coaching staff. As the 2024 season approaches, all eyes will be on Alabama to see how DeBoer handles this test of leadership and adaptability.