Kalen DeBoer explains controversial fourth-and-22 call that helped seal Alabama’s fate in loss to Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Kalen DeBoer had decided, essentially, he was punting either in actuality or in spirit after a controversial Kendrick Law personal foul penalty in the waning moments of No. 7 Alabama’s 24-17 loss to No. 11 Tennessee. 

The decision to throw a screen pass short of the first down marker on fourth-and-22 with less than 2 minutes remaining and down 21-17, though, left many questioning the call. 

Alabama was backed up at its own 33-yard line when a failed third-down conversion came with the added punishment of a 15-yard penalty on Law, who was caught pushing Tennessee‘s Boo Carter after the play. ESPN rules analyst Matt Austin said on-air he thought it should have been offsetting penalties after it looked like Carter taunted Law following the incompletion. 

With a fourth-and-22 situation at the 18-yard line, DeBoer opted not to punt or attempt a long pass that could have gone for a first down. 

Here’s DeBoer’s explanation for the initial decision to go for it on fourth-and-long: 

“Well, I mean, you know, there’s a lot of things that can go for you. I mean, either way, there’s going to be a punt and you’re going to get the ball back if you stop them, and you’re gonna have to have a touchdown either way on our end,” DeBoer said. “If we can just hold them to a field goal, you’re gonna have to get a stop on three straight plays, use your three timeouts. And so, you know, it can go both ways, right? But you’re more than likely, if you stop them, gonna get the punt back and have to go the length of the field anyway. And so, you know, you’re getting yourself one more play.”

Of course, after the initial decision to go for it came the actual play call. DeBoer opted for a short Jalen Milroe screen pass to running back Justice Haynes, who gained 13 yards on the play but was still well short of a first down. The Alabama coach defended the idea after the loss, crediting the Volunteers’ defense for making the right adjustment after the Crimson Tide lined up with the play. 

“They did a good job checking in and out of something,” DeBoer said. “You know, it’s a chance for us. I know what it looks like when you watch it, but there’s a game plan reason where we would do something, where I understand where you’re throwing short of the sticks, as well. Hats off to them, they played it the way they needed to, adjusted. And I couldn’t burn a timeout when we’re in that situation because I knew we needed to three for the next play, or for the defensive sequence when we got to that.”

Tennessee got the ball on Alabama’s 31-yard line, but the Tide defense did get three defensive stops and forced a field goal attempt. After a successful Max Gilbert 41-yard field goal to put Tennessee up 24-17, Alabama got the ball back with 1:30 left in the game. Unfortunately for DeBoer, Milroe threw an interception on the first play after getting the ball back and that was the end of the Tide’s comeback chances.