K
Kevin Scarbinsky |
Nick Saban's offense is in the midst of its biggest overhaul, at least in terms of staff changes, in his Alabama tenure. What will the product look like?
What do the Alabama football team and Mercedes-Benz Stadium have in common? Come Sept. 2, you may not recognize either of them.
You'll need a map to navigate the new stadium and a scorecard to tell the new players and coaches in crimson, especially on one side of the ball.
Nick Saban won't be starting over completely as he begins his second decade with the Crimson Tide, but barely a month out from his first defeat in a national championship game, his program has experienced a dizzying amount of turnover.
It's too early to tell whose debut against Florida State will be more anticipated: Najee Harris, Tua Tagovailoa or Brian "Run" Daboll.
OK, that's not really the nickname of the man reported to be the new offensive coordinator, but he'll hear it often enough, especially if he becomes too enamored with the short, horizontal passing game Lane Kiffin enjoyed so much.
The tight ends coach for the New England Patriots, Daboll doesn't have the big name of Kiffin or Kiffin's temp, Steve Sarkisian, but he does bring far more NFL experience, including NFL coordinator experience. He also has the Bill Belichick stamp of approval.
Belichick may have defensive coordinator roots, but his offense has been a major part of his growing championship legacy. Sound like anybody we know who's been the Alabama head coach for the last decade?
The real challenge for the 2017 Alabama offense will be absorbing more change than this program has seen on that side of the ball in the last decade.
Each of Saban's Alabama coaching staffs has had five offensive assistants and four on defense. He's never had a year where the entire group of nine assistant coaches returned intact so he's used to a steady diet of turnover, and he has a strong track record of finding quality replacements.
Last year was the first time since his debut season he brought in three new assistants on defense. It didn't prevent that defense from making a run at all-time greatness, at least until Deshaun Watson exacted his revenge.
This year is the first time since his first year Saban's hiring three new assistants on offense, who'll work with holdovers Burton Burns and Brent Key. If Daboll is indeed the new OC, he'll be joined on that side of the ball by recently promoted analyst/former head coach Mike Locksley and new tight ends coach Joe Pannunzio, according to AL.com sources. Pannunzio had previously worked as Alabama's director of football operations from 2011 to 2014.
They'll replace Kiffin/Sarkisian, Billy Napier and Mario Cristobal, who had a combined 11 years and one game of experience at Alabama alone. Daboll will have to learn a "Process" the old guys understood inside and out. The usual roster full of playmakers should help smooth the transition.
Not counting Saban's original staff in Tuscaloosa, this also will be the first time he's brought in a new offensive coordinator and two additional offensive assistants in the same year. When he wisely replaced Major Applewhite with the relatively anonymous Jim McElwain as OC after that first season in 2007, Saban added one more offensive assistant. Bobby Williams replaced Ron Middleton as tight ends and special teams coach.
When Saban hired Doug Nussmeier to follow McElwain and Kiffin to take over for Nussmeier, the coordinators were the only new offensive assistants added to the staff in those years.
So this is easily the biggest offensive overhaul for Saban in terms of staff in his Alabama tenure. It'll be an even bigger departure if the rumblings about returning to more of a traditional pro-style offense turn out to be true, as questionable as that move would seem given the return of Jalen Hurts.
Whatever the offense becomes and whoever wins the starting quarterback job, the 2017 season promises to be a fresh start for the Crimson Tide with the ball in its hands. But that may turn out to be a good thing.
Under Kiffin/Sarkisian, Alabama scored 35, 45 and 31 points in the final games of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons - and lost two of those games.
Even more firepower may be necessary going forward. It'll be up to Daboll to figure out a way to provide it. If he can, he'll make a name for himself in the best possible way.
From AL.com...
What do the Alabama football team and Mercedes-Benz Stadium have in common? Come Sept. 2, you may not recognize either of them.
You'll need a map to navigate the new stadium and a scorecard to tell the new players and coaches in crimson, especially on one side of the ball.
Nick Saban won't be starting over completely as he begins his second decade with the Crimson Tide, but barely a month out from his first defeat in a national championship game, his program has experienced a dizzying amount of turnover.
It's too early to tell whose debut against Florida State will be more anticipated: Najee Harris, Tua Tagovailoa or Brian "Run" Daboll.
OK, that's not really the nickname of the man reported to be the new offensive coordinator, but he'll hear it often enough, especially if he becomes too enamored with the short, horizontal passing game Lane Kiffin enjoyed so much.
The tight ends coach for the New England Patriots, Daboll doesn't have the big name of Kiffin or Kiffin's temp, Steve Sarkisian, but he does bring far more NFL experience, including NFL coordinator experience. He also has the Bill Belichick stamp of approval.
Belichick may have defensive coordinator roots, but his offense has been a major part of his growing championship legacy. Sound like anybody we know who's been the Alabama head coach for the last decade?
The real challenge for the 2017 Alabama offense will be absorbing more change than this program has seen on that side of the ball in the last decade.
Each of Saban's Alabama coaching staffs has had five offensive assistants and four on defense. He's never had a year where the entire group of nine assistant coaches returned intact so he's used to a steady diet of turnover, and he has a strong track record of finding quality replacements.
Last year was the first time since his debut season he brought in three new assistants on defense. It didn't prevent that defense from making a run at all-time greatness, at least until Deshaun Watson exacted his revenge.
This year is the first time since his first year Saban's hiring three new assistants on offense, who'll work with holdovers Burton Burns and Brent Key. If Daboll is indeed the new OC, he'll be joined on that side of the ball by recently promoted analyst/former head coach Mike Locksley and new tight ends coach Joe Pannunzio, according to AL.com sources. Pannunzio had previously worked as Alabama's director of football operations from 2011 to 2014.
They'll replace Kiffin/Sarkisian, Billy Napier and Mario Cristobal, who had a combined 11 years and one game of experience at Alabama alone. Daboll will have to learn a "Process" the old guys understood inside and out. The usual roster full of playmakers should help smooth the transition.
Not counting Saban's original staff in Tuscaloosa, this also will be the first time he's brought in a new offensive coordinator and two additional offensive assistants in the same year. When he wisely replaced Major Applewhite with the relatively anonymous Jim McElwain as OC after that first season in 2007, Saban added one more offensive assistant. Bobby Williams replaced Ron Middleton as tight ends and special teams coach.
When Saban hired Doug Nussmeier to follow McElwain and Kiffin to take over for Nussmeier, the coordinators were the only new offensive assistants added to the staff in those years.
So this is easily the biggest offensive overhaul for Saban in terms of staff in his Alabama tenure. It'll be an even bigger departure if the rumblings about returning to more of a traditional pro-style offense turn out to be true, as questionable as that move would seem given the return of Jalen Hurts.
Whatever the offense becomes and whoever wins the starting quarterback job, the 2017 season promises to be a fresh start for the Crimson Tide with the ball in its hands. But that may turn out to be a good thing.
Under Kiffin/Sarkisian, Alabama scored 35, 45 and 31 points in the final games of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons - and lost two of those games.
Even more firepower may be necessary going forward. It'll be up to Daboll to figure out a way to provide it. If he can, he'll make a name for himself in the best possible way.
From AL.com...
Last edited by a moderator:
