Saban’s Best at Bama?
Nick Saban is widely known as one of the greatest college football coaches of all time. Saban won a national championship at LSU in 2003 before building his dynasty at the University of Alabama. The dominance he has exhibited at Alabama is quite astonishing. His record with the Crimson Tide is 112-18, a .862 winning percentage. He has had some extremely talented teams during his tenure with the Tide, winning national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2015, but this year’s team seems to have hit another level. Six straight number one recruiting classes have resulted in a roster loaded with 4- and 5-star talent.
Offense
Passing Game
Saban-coached teams have often been known to rely on defense to carry the team to success. His national championship squads at Alabama have been no different, relying on great defense and a solid running game. Quarterbacks during Saban’s tenure, such as Greg McElroy and Jake Coker, have been known as game-managing signal callers. Their main goal was to make a few throws off of play action and abstain from as many mistakes as possible. This year is quite different with the arrival of dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts. The offensive playbook has been expanded to almost mirror the spread offenses that are ruling conferences such as the Big Ten. Hurts became the first Alabama quarterback since 2001 to have 100 yards passing and 100 yards rushing in the same game (Tide’s 48-43 win over Ole Miss).
Not only has the quarterback position improved, the wide receiver position seems to be making strides in the right direction. The sophomore receiver Calvin Ridley is considered as one of the best receivers in the nation, and Ardarius Stewart has a body structure and leaping ability that could draw comparisons to Calvin Johnson. The graduate transfer Gehrig Dieter has given the Tide a slot receiver with sure hands that provides Hurts an option when defenses key on Ridley and Stewart. Not only does Hurts have solid receivers to throw to, O.J. Howard is considered as one of the top receiving tight ends in the upcoming NFL Draft, per recruiting analyst Tom Luginbill.
Running Game
The running game has always been solid for the Tide under Nick Saban, but even the backfield looks slightly different this season. Instead of the usual two running back rotation in Saban’s offense, a group of four running backs have shared the load this season. Bo Scarbrough, a former 5-star athlete, who has similar speed and body structure to Derrick Henry, Damien Harris, a former 4-star out of Kentucky, B.J. Emmons, a freshmen 4-star out of North Carolina, and the surprise of the year, 3-star recruit Josh Jacobs, who has a burst similar to Mark Ingram. Also, left tackle Cam Robinson is touted as a top choice in the upcoming draft, and freshmen right tackle, Jonah Williams, has been impressive with his performance during the first half of the season. Unlike Saban’s previous offenses at Alabama, this offense has proven not to be one-dimensional.
Defense/Special Teams
The Alabama defense has been nothing short of incredible under the direction of Nick Saban, ranking in the top ten of total defense in every season of his tenure. This year’s defense has been no different, allowing only 4.25 yards per play this season. If there has been one Achilles heel for the Alabama defense, it has been spread offenses. Saban’s defenses have traditionally been built to stop the run. Bigger and stronger inside linebackers such as Donta Hightower, and run stopping safeties, such as Landon Collins, have been the staple of Saban lead defenses.
After an offensive explosion by the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff, Saban realized he had to conform his traditional defense to stop the wide-open offenses of today’s game. Over the last two seasons, Saban has done an excellent job in building a defense fit to stop the spread offense. Safeties in Bama’s defense, such as Eddie Jackson, are now more fit to stop the pass. Also, inside linebackers, such as Reuben Foster and Shaun Dion Hamilton, are slightly smaller and quicker to be able to run sideline to sideline. Quick defensive ends, such as Tim Williams, are implemented to create a lethal pass rush.
Although it is tough to say this is Saban’s best defense at Alabama, it is definitely the most fit to stop the thriving spread offense. Also, special teams have proven to be more of a force this season. Eddie Jackson has returned two punts for touchdowns to contribute to the seven non-offensive touchdowns already scored by Alabama this season.
Coaching
If Alabama has one thing in their favor, it’s their coaching staff. Nick Saban has proven multiple times that he is the best coach in college football. Not only does Saban compile a great team with his magnificent recruiting skills, he also has assembled an excellent coaching staff around him. Kirby Smart, Saban’s long-time defensive coordinator at Alabama, left after last season to take the head coaching position at Georgia. Many would believe that Saban could not find an assistant as talented as Kirby Smart, but Saban has once again proven the doubters wrong.
Saban brought in a former Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, and the defense hasn’t missed a beat. Some would also argue that Pruitt’s zone-blitzing scheme might actually be slightly better than Smart’s. Saban’s best hire of the last couple of years is, without a doubt, Lane Kiffin. Many were very skeptical of the hire after Kiffin failed at Tennessee and USC. But he has proved the doubters wrong, providing Alabama with a huge spark on offense. Bama’s offense has drastically improved statistically since the hire of Kiffin.
Coaches Behind The Scenes
Saban has also done an excellent job hiring position coaches. The offensive line coach Mario Cristobal played tackle for Miami and has head coaching experience. Burton Burns is considered as one of the best running back coaches in the nation, developing the likes of Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry into Heisman winners. another offensive line coach, Brent Key, has been nominated for the Broyles Award three times in his coaching career.
Karl Dunbar, the defensive line coach, spent over a decade in the NFL before joining the Alabama staff this season. Tosh Lupoi, the linebackers coach, is considered by many as one of the top up-and-coming coaches.
Although it is quite too early to tell, it seems that the 2016 team is Nick Saban’s most complete at the University of Alabama. The offense has finally begun to produce on a high-level week in and week out. The defensive has remained spectacular, scoring five touchdowns of their own this season. Special teams has even made a significant impact returning two punts for touchdowns. With this caliber of talent combined with an excellent coaching staff, the 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide has a chance to be very special.
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