Kalen DeBoer’s halftime message to Alabama, trailing at Vanderbilt

Kalen DeBoer was cool, calm and collected at halftime, despite his No. 1 Alabama trailing Vanderbilt in Nashville 23-4.

The Alabama coach saw his offense on the field for just 8:32.

So, what’s his message to a team, which is coming off a thrilling 41-34 win over then-No. 1 Georgia?

“It’s do what you are capable of, don’t try and do anything more,” DeBoer told the Crimson Tide Sports Network at halftime. “Just make the simple plays. … Obviously, a couple of the balls are not going to bounce your way. You just have to line up and go play. We got to get a couple of stops.

Jalen Milroe’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Randon Fontenette, who returned it for a touchdown and gave the Commodores a 13-0 lead with 8:03 left in the first quarter.

The Commodores ran 40 plays and had the ball for 21:38 of the first half.

The Tide cuts Vanderbilt’s lead to 23-14 with a 9-play, 83-yard drive, capped by a Jam Miller 3-yard run with 1:25 left in the half.

“A good drive,” DeBoer said. “We’ve had some nice ones. Obviously, the turnover was really critical. They are going to shorten the game and have limited possessions. We get the ball in the second half, so we can close up here a little bit.”

Vanderbilt outgained Alabama 186-157.

“We have to take away the inside run first, so the rest of the stuff on the option game doesn’t open up,” DeBoer added.

The Tide will receive the second-half kickoff.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 am daily.