🏈 UA Coordinator/coaching changes— SPLIT into offensive and defensive threads.

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Isn't it where Freddie Kitchens doesn't like to recruit? I talk to his cousin, super nice guy, and I feel he was really liking the NFL life. I think he could be good as a coordinator.

Not sure on that.

 

[ElephantStomp]

I believe he's still in the mix (personally, and not that it matters, but I'm not as high on him as most). In fact, I'd prefer Kitchens over him if given the choice (I'm sure I'm in the minority there).

I wouldn’t mind Kitchens, I prefer Briles, but Freddie would be a good one too. Freddie isn’t really a open it up type is he? I only watched what he did at Cleveland

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

I wouldn’t mind Kitchens, I prefer Briles, but Freddie would be a good one too. Freddie isn’t really a open it up type is he? I only watched what he did at Cleveland

Would certainly look a little different than what Briles would bring, but I think it would mesh well with a big, physical OL. Would imagine whoever it is, heavy RPO is going to be a Saban requirement. Kitchens supposedly had a very heavy hand in the South Carolina gameplan against the Vols this year, FWIW.

 

[Scrape&Search1032]

Would certainly look a little different than what Briles would bring, but I think it would mesh well with a big, physical OL. Would imagine whoever it is, heavy RPO is going to be a Saban requirement. Kitchens supposedly had a very heavy hand in the South Carolina gameplan against the Vols this year, FWIW.

I believe Kitchens would adapt his style to fit what the team needs. And if it's true he helped in that drubbing of Tennessee, I'm even more confident he could it. I know we'd still be a physical offensive team under him as well. If we could have that mesh with a Pruitt defense, I'd have a little chubby the entire year.

 

[TerryP]

Saban wouldn't match the two million.

This is one of the reasons I mentioned his money progression over the last six weeks. What's he actually worth? The bump to two million looks like a knee jerk reaction to A&M's interest.

A&M would have paid (see Jimbo Fisher contract)

It's been a long night which leaves me thinking I'm missing your point. By pointing to A&M are you suggesting the same thing I'm questioning? Is he worth two million per year?

Considering what they paid Sumlin, followed by Fisher, followed by the monies they paid kids without stepping a foot on the playing field, the point A&M might have paid Grubb two million per year ... isn't that an example of two million being too much?

 

[TerryP]

Isn't it where Freddie Kitchens doesn't like to recruit? I talk to his cousin, super nice guy, and I feel he was really liking the NFL life. I think he could be good as a coordinator.

Let's step back for a second here and look at the past.

We've seen O'Brien, Daboll, Sark, Kiffin, Locks ...

Which of these guys do you look at and think "big dog on the recruiting trail?" Alabama's offensive coordinators have, and will continue to, fit the role of "on campus recruiter." Throughout the Saban era they have not been the guys hitting the recruiting circuit like we've seen from the past defensive coordinators.

Let's look no farther back than Steele in his time in Tuscaloosa. He "worked his way out the door" partly because he didn't like being on the road. If you recall, his last year he was on the road, but it was a very limited area which basically surrounded the Tuscaloosa area—if I recall correctly, the longest trip for him was to Memphis.

 

[TerryP]

I can see that, but it’s never taken this long before…that’s what different to me.

Have you taken into account they are working from a calendar that's different from the other years Saban has been in Tuscaloosa? Just on the offensive side of the ball, O'Brien's hire coincided with the change to the December signing period. That move—the new signing period—flipped the recruiting calendar on its ear. It's natural it changed everything else as well.

What's lost on me is...

but it’s never taken this long before

...when we've been saying for well over a month now that Saban's goal was to try to get things in place by this week. That doesn't mean hired or announced. It never has.

 

[BamaMD]

Sorry if this has been stated as there are a lot of post in this thread. Saban knows he has to find the right people as he is nearing retirement. He doesn't have the luxury of finding guys that are going to potentially leave after 1 or 2 years which leads me to believe we will hear an announcement about his retirement timeframe within the next 3 years. This maybe would explain why BAMA and Ryan Grubb couldn't find common ground. Saban wanted a longer commitment and Grubb is expecting something more substantial within 1-2 years. So the guys Saban bring in will be potential replacements when he retires. Home run hires would be Joe Brady for OC and Glenn Schumann for DC. Both are young and have established a name for themselves. I really believe this was the plan for Pete Golding but he didn't progress the way Saban expected.

Finally, while it's possible, I don't believe BAMA would ever consider Pruitt as a replacement for Saban. So if Pruitt is hired, Saban knows he is going to stay the duration because he is damaged goods and will take years to rehab his image and any potential penalty by the NCAA. Bama's final contingency plan would be to lure DeMeco Ryans back to BAMA once his time in the NFL is over and lets be honest, he just went to an organization that has no commitment to sustained winning. While I want him to succeed, I give him 3-4 years in Houston which falls perfectly within the timeframe for an announcement from our beloved Coach Saban. Imagine the excitement DeMeco Ryans would generate for the program following Saban.

Just my thoughts. No insider information. Just looking at the tea leaves.

 

[OldPlayer]

It's been a long night which leaves me thinking I'm missing your point. By pointing to A&M are you suggesting the same thing I'm questioning? Is he worth two million per year?

Considering what they paid Sumlin, followed by Fisher, followed by the monies they paid kids without stepping a foot on the playing field, the point A&M might have paid Grubb two million per year ... isn't that an example of two million being too much?

I’m saying value appears to be irrelevant to A&M. If they have the money, which they do, they’re willing to throw it around.

 

[TerryP]

I’m saying value appears to be irrelevant to A&M.

Based on their recent hires, values as well.

 

[Justneedme81]

 

[64Tide]

What’s his pedigree?

 

[SnakeDoc]

...which leads me to believe we will hear an announcement about his retirement timeframe within the next 3 years.

Saban will be gone 3 years from now at the latest.

 

[SnakeDoc]

What’s his pedigree?

Former Notre Dame QB, been their OC for a few years. I am not impressed. The end could be closer than we think if this is the hire.

 

[64Tide]

Former Notre Dame QB, been their OC for a few years. I am not impressed. The end could be closer than we think if this is the hire.

One thing for sure he would be easy for most Bama fans to hate if things go south under his coaching/play calling...

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

What’s his pedigree?

Young, fiery guy. Spent a year with Chargers with guys like Ken Whisenhunt, Nick Sirianni (Eagles HC), Shane Steichen (Eagles OC). Been with ND since 2017... Kelly wanted to take him to LSU, but Rees chose to stay at ND. Worked under Chip Long at ND, who Saban likes (and interviewed a few years back). 'A win the line of scrimmage, run to be successful' but multiple in formations and schemes OC. Hasn't had a ton of weapons or top tier QB play to work with at ND, which wouldn't be an issue at Bama. IMO, he'd fit in very well with the staff on that side of the ball.

 

[TerryP]

Just to make you guys stop for a minute and think about how your bones hurt.

He was born in 1992.

 

[Brandon Van de Graaff]

Just to make you guys stop for a minute and think about how your bones hurt.

He was born in 1992.

He was a sophomore in HS when Saban was hired at Alabama.

 

[SnakeDoc]

Just to make you guys stop for a minute and think about how your bones hurt.

He was born in 1992.

I was an undergrad @ UA.

 

[Scrape&Search1032]

Young, fiery guy. Spent a year with Chargers with guys like Ken Whisenhunt, Nick Sirianni (Eagles HC), Shane Steichen (Eagles OC). Been with ND since 2017... Kelly wanted to take him to LSU, but Rees chose to stay at ND. Worked under Chip Long at ND, who Saban likes (and interviewed a few years back). 'A win the line of scrimmage, run to be successful' but multiple in formations and schemes OC. Hasn't had a ton of weapons or top tier QB play to work with at ND, which wouldn't be an issue at Bama. IMO, he'd fit in very well with the staff on that side of the ball.

People freaking out over it when he'd be a good hire. For most of last season be didn't have his starting Quarterback, so they turned into a physical downhill running team. Look what they did against Clemson, who had one of the best defenses last season. They punched them in the mouth, and ran for 260+ hards on them. When his offense is healthy and clicking.... they can win games based on whats working during them, he's adaptive, and that's good. He was also able to turn Ian Book into a Heisman contender, so it be exciting to see what he could do with what we have now, and coming in. Not my first choice, but I wouldn't be mad at it at all.