Kane Wommack Talks Nick Saban, Playcalling, and Kalen DeBoer

Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack talked about Alabama football, Kalen DeBoer, and meeting with Nick Saban on Wednesday on the Next Round Live.

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The Next Round Live went inside the Mal Moore Athletic Facility on Wednesday and spoke with several Alabama coaches. Head coach Kalen DeBoer, offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack all spent time speaking on Wednesday.

Kane Wommack discussed several things, including leaving South Alabama, what it was like meeting with Nick Saban, and where he'll call defensive plays from.

When Wommack first sat down, he mentioned that he met with Nick Saban for the second time earlier on Wednesday. Wommack compared it to "cramming the night before a final exam."

Coach Saban has likely forgotten more things about football than the vast majority of people will ever know, so Wommack being able to lay out his defense to Coach Saban and to be able to discuss what his defensive philosophy will be, with a 4-2-5 base defense, will only help Alabama football improve. Wommack also said that he hopes to play golf with Coach Saban soon.

Alabama's new defensive coordinator spoke highly of Kalen DeBoer as well during his time on the mic "I think he's the most genuine person I know in college football."

"Genuine" and "Incredible human being" are terms often used to describe Alabama's new head coach. Wommack continued to speak highly of DeBoer, "He’s a friend, he’s trusted, he’s a tremendous offensive mind. He’s a tremendous football mind."

Wommack was asked about calling plays for Alabama's defense this season, "I like to see the player's eyes. I signal on gameday, I do those things. I want to have that interaction with those 11 bodies on the field. I want them to see my eyes calm down, pick it up, let's get going here. Those things are really important as a player-caller."

Wommack's first season as a playcaller was at Eastern Illinois in 2014. He called plays from the press box and said he decided after that he would never call from the box again.

Wommack's 4-2-5 defense is similar to a nickel defense with five defensive backs on the field. Alabama has plenty of talent on defense, but the only level of defense where the starters are presumed to be known is with the linebacking core with the return of Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell.