| NEWS The 'huge' impact an NCAA rule change will have on Alabama football - 247Sports

[Bama News]

The 'huge' impact an NCAA rule change will have on Alabama football

Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer spoke to 247Sports about the impact of an NCAA rule change that will allow the Crimson Tide to better deploy its resources in practice and games

247sports.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A subtle change took place over the summer that Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer thinks will pay huge dividends this season.

Staff members like Alabama special assistant to the head coach Chuck Morrell and analyst Mitch Dahlen — once limited in their involvement in practice as so-called off-field staffers — were able to step onto the field and into the fray when fall camp began a few weeks ago. Instead of hovering around the action, thanks to an NCAA rule change in late June, they were allowed to provide "technical and tactical instruction" during practice.

Morrell stepped in to coach inside linebackers in a manner indistinguishable from DeBoer's other 10 on-field coaches.

Analysts Kirk Barron and Braxton Barker have been spotted working with the offensive line and tight ends, respectively. Fellow analyst John McNulty pitches in on offense. Jamey Mosley has been seen working with the linebackers, as well as Mark Sheridan.

"We've always had specific assignments with the coaches that these guys had," DeBoer explained. "And so they just really stayed with their same position groups, but now they can just do more."

Alabama football has eight analysts listed on its staff directory, in addition to graduate assistants. The only thing they can't do is recruit.

During an interview with 247Sports last week, DeBoer spoke about the impact of the lifted restrictions.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Of. Course.
Every other program has same opportunity

 

[TerryP]

The only thing they can't do is recruit.

Technically, this isn't true.

The NCAA has a limit on the number of coaches that can be on the recruiting trail at one given time. But, we've seen instances were staff members, who weren't coaches, out recruiting on official home visits.

We saw one recently when Saban was still looking to fill one of the on the field positions and he sent one of the staff member on the road. In a few minutes, I may remember who it was ... can't off the top of my head.