🏈 New Alabama offensive analysts will aid Brian Daboll

[Matt Zenitz |]

Tuesday was the first time Saban talked about his two new offensive analysts

Nick Saban discussed the two new additions to Alabama's staff for the first time Tuesday night.

The two new additions: Offensive analysts Chris Weinke and Dan Werner.

Weinke, the former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, spent the last two seasons as the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach. Werner was co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Ole Miss the last five years, helping the Rebels beat the Crimson Tide two of the last three seasons.

"I think those two guys, having coached in high school and college, certainly helps a guy that's coached in the NFL (new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll) be able to balance some of the things that will help us have a well-rounded, pro-style offense that has the college elements that helps you take advantage of some of the college rules," Saban said.

Former NFL head coach Eric Mangini said: "I think it's a great situation for him, and I think it's a great situation for Alabama as well."

Prior to joining the Rams, Weinke was the head coach at IMG Academy in Florida from 2010 to 2014, coaching high-profile players such as current Alabama standout running back Bo Scarbrough.

Weinke played seven years in the NFL.

"We've always had a lot of respect for Chris Weinke," Saban said. "The guy was a great player. He played a long time in the league. He's very knowledgeable. He's very smart. He was a great high school coach at IMG. He went to the NFL and got a couple good years of experience in the NFL. So we thought he'd bring some knowledge and experience and certainty be helpful to us off the field and helping us with game plan."

Alabama defensive backs coach Derrick Ansley continues to establish himself as a rising star in the coaching world aided by skills developed while majoring in broadcast journalism at Troy.

Like Weinke, Werner has an impressive resume.

Werner was the quarterbacks coach for Miami's 2001 national championship team, helped former Hurricanes quarterback Ken Dorsey twice finish as a Heisman Trophy finalist and was Miami's offensive coordinator in 2004 and 2005.

Under Werner, Ole Miss scored 43 points against Alabama each of the last two years.

"Dan Werner and Ole Miss, do I need to tell our fans or anybody on our staff the issues that we've had with their offense that last couple of years?" Saban said. "I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for what they do, how they coach it. I think it'll help us on offense and defense to have a guy around here that can add some knowledge and experience to the way they do RPOs, some of the things they did in the passing game. So I've always had a lot of respect for Dan and we're glad to have them here to help."

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[Alabama17Tide]

Weinke and Werner aren’t your average analysts
By
Ben Jones
-
April 4, 2017

There are a couple of new faces around the Mal Moore Building these days, faces belonging to accomplished football men.

Neither is an on-the-field assistant coach for the University of Alabama, but if and when the NCAA approves football programs to add a 10th assistant coach, either might be considered.

Dan Werner and Chris Weinke aren’t average football analysts, a position that’s come to be utilized heavily under Nick Saban. Yet, both are at Alabama as such for the 2017 season.

Werner is an experienced offense coordinator, one Crimson Tide fans should be familiar with by now. His offenses at Ole Miss gave UA defenses fits for several years in a row.

Finding himself out of work when Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze parted ways with him, Werner headed south east. Werner, who still lives in Oxford, is a gifted offensive mind and quarterback developer. Saban jumped at the opportunity to add him to the staff.


Under his tutelage, Ole Miss quarterbacks Bo Wallace and Chad Kelly grew into formidable passers in the SEC.

“Werner had a reputation in Oxford as being a strong evaluator of quarterbacks, something that will likely serve him and Alabama well,” Ole Miss beat writer for RebelGrove.com Neal McCready said. “His presence was one of the key factors in Ole Miss’ landing of both Kelly and Shea Patterson.”

Kelly threw for 4,042 yards and 31 touchdowns in the 2015 season, one that found Ole Miss in its first Sugar Bowl since 1970. Kelly was off to another great season in 2016 before a knee injury derailed his year.

Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat abilities seem particularly suited for Werner’s offensive mind of run-pass option plays. Werner can’t work with Hurts, but his ideas will help the offensive coaching staff in that regard.

“Do I need to tell our fans or anybody on our staff the issues that we’ve had with their offense that last couple of years?” Saban said of Werner. “I’ve always had a tremendous amount of respect for what they do, how they coach it. I think it’ll help us on offense and defense to have a guy around here that can add some knowledge and experience to the way they do RPOs. Some of the things they did in the passing game.”

In Weinke, Saban landed a coach with high school (IMG Academy) and NFL (St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams) experience. Oh yeah, he also won the Heisman Trophy as the Florida State quarterback in 2000.

It should be stressed that neither Werner or Weinke can work with Hurts. However, both are available to provide ideas, tips and suggestions to the offensive coaches.

“(Weinke) played a long time in the league,” Saban said. “He’s very knowledgeable. He’s very smart. He was a great high school coach at IMG. He went to the NFL and got a couple good years of experience in the NFL.

“So we thought he’d bring some knowledge and experience and certainty be helpful to us off the field and helping us with game plan.”

Most importantly perhaps is the value both bring to Saban, who has fully accepted college football’s new offensive ways. As he memorably noted in his first press conference of spring, Saban has no desire to move UA’s offense backwards.

The game has changed and Saban is on board with utilizing every weapon available to stress opposing defenses.

“I think those two guys, having coached in high school and college, certainly helps a guy that’s coached in the NFL be able to balance some of the things that will help us have a well-rounded, pro-style offense that has the college elements that helps you take advantage of some of the college rules,” Saban said.
Weinke and Werner aren't your average analysts | TideSports.com