While Alabama fans ponder whether it was prudent to give head coach Kalen DeBoer a contract extension with a raise after the Crimson Tide went 20-8 in his first two seasons as Nick Saban’s replacement, there is plenty of optimism inside the program.Coaches are especially excited about the direction of the defense. The Tide have gotten bigger on that side of the ball, and we’re told it now looks more like what Alabama had been accustomed to under Saban, especially on the interior of the line. Last year, the starting lineup just wasn’t bulky, ranking in the SEC’s bottom four in height and weight. This season, coaches expect to rank in the upper half of the conference.USC transfer Devan Thompkins (6-5, 300 pounds) turned heads in the spring, looking even better than some in Tuscaloosa were expecting. He brings physicality on a level the Tide have lacked at times over the past two seasons.“He really had a good spring,” DeBoer, whose new deal is worth a total of $87.5 million over seven years, told The Athletic this week. “He’s very versatile. He can play inside and outside. He can get that push in the pocket with his strength but also
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