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University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban is rethinking the Crimson Tide's approach to utilizing the no-huddle offense and looking at getting back to a more hard-nosed style of play, he said Wednesday at SEC Media Days.
By the end of last season, Saban said, Alabama played enough more plays on offense and defense to make it equivalent to playing an extra game.
Nick Saban and Alabama are rebuilding on offense, but return several defensive starters.
"If we're going to be a no-huddle team like last year, then I think we need to manage it better as a team," he said. "We ran out of gas."
Alabama wasn't strictly a no-huddle team last season under first-year offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, but played more up-tempo. Saban hinted that he wants to get back to being a smash-mouth team.
"We want to be more physical, tougher on the line of scrimmage, be relentless in the way that we compete," he said.
Alabama defeated Missouri in the SEC title game, then lost to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl semifinal of the College Football Playoff in New Orleans.
"We did not finish the season the way we wanted to last year in terms of the way we played," Saban said. "We didn't play well in that particular game."
The Crimson Tide finished 12-2, with the other loss coming at Ole Miss.
Late in the season, particularly, Alabama gave up too many points, too many explosive plays and too many turnovers, Saban said.
"We need to improve in all those areas," he said.
The coach of the defending SEC championship team was making his his 14th appearance at the SEC's preseason media event and his ninth with Alabama. UA returns just two offensive starters - left tackle Cam Robinson and center Ryan Kelly - but also has running backs Derrick Henry andKenyon Drake returning as key weapons.
"We lost some playmakers," Saban said, none more productive than wideout Amari Cooper, the No. 5 overall selection in the NFL draft, taken by the Oakland Raiders.
The quarterback situation is unsettled going into fall camp.
"We need somebody to take the bull by the horns," Saban said. "I don't think we have anybody that's stepped forward yet."
Defensively, Alabama has seven starters back, led by linemen A'Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen and Jarran Reed.
As far as the state of the program, Saban is pleased with how the offseason has gone.
"I just had a meeting yesterday with our team to tell them how well I think they're doing everything this summer," Saban said, citing academics, offseason conditioning and general conduct.
Saban, who said he has lived in 17 different houses over the course of his coaching career, also mentioned his daughter getting married this summer.
"That was a marvelous experience," Saban said.
In 2015, Alabama will have SEC home games against Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee and LSU. The Crimson Tide will visit Georgia, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Auburn.
Saban called the schedule "very, very difficult. I think in our league you have to look at it like there are always seven or eight teams that can beat you."
Alabama will open its season Sept. 5 in Arlington, Texas, against Wisconsin. UA's first home game will be Sept. 12 against Middle Tennessee at 3 p.m.
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1782907#sthash.qj4soY8L.dpuf
By the end of last season, Saban said, Alabama played enough more plays on offense and defense to make it equivalent to playing an extra game.
Nick Saban and Alabama are rebuilding on offense, but return several defensive starters.
"If we're going to be a no-huddle team like last year, then I think we need to manage it better as a team," he said. "We ran out of gas."
Alabama wasn't strictly a no-huddle team last season under first-year offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, but played more up-tempo. Saban hinted that he wants to get back to being a smash-mouth team.
"We want to be more physical, tougher on the line of scrimmage, be relentless in the way that we compete," he said.
Alabama defeated Missouri in the SEC title game, then lost to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl semifinal of the College Football Playoff in New Orleans.
"We did not finish the season the way we wanted to last year in terms of the way we played," Saban said. "We didn't play well in that particular game."
The Crimson Tide finished 12-2, with the other loss coming at Ole Miss.
Late in the season, particularly, Alabama gave up too many points, too many explosive plays and too many turnovers, Saban said.
"We need to improve in all those areas," he said.
The coach of the defending SEC championship team was making his his 14th appearance at the SEC's preseason media event and his ninth with Alabama. UA returns just two offensive starters - left tackle Cam Robinson and center Ryan Kelly - but also has running backs Derrick Henry andKenyon Drake returning as key weapons.
"We lost some playmakers," Saban said, none more productive than wideout Amari Cooper, the No. 5 overall selection in the NFL draft, taken by the Oakland Raiders.
The quarterback situation is unsettled going into fall camp.
"We need somebody to take the bull by the horns," Saban said. "I don't think we have anybody that's stepped forward yet."
Defensively, Alabama has seven starters back, led by linemen A'Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen and Jarran Reed.
As far as the state of the program, Saban is pleased with how the offseason has gone.
"I just had a meeting yesterday with our team to tell them how well I think they're doing everything this summer," Saban said, citing academics, offseason conditioning and general conduct.
Saban, who said he has lived in 17 different houses over the course of his coaching career, also mentioned his daughter getting married this summer.
"That was a marvelous experience," Saban said.
In 2015, Alabama will have SEC home games against Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee and LSU. The Crimson Tide will visit Georgia, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Auburn.
Saban called the schedule "very, very difficult. I think in our league you have to look at it like there are always seven or eight teams that can beat you."
Alabama will open its season Sept. 5 in Arlington, Texas, against Wisconsin. UA's first home game will be Sept. 12 against Middle Tennessee at 3 p.m.
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1782907#sthash.qj4soY8L.dpuf
