Alabama has a cupcake game this week — with all apologies to Austin Peay and to Nick Saban, who would attempt to wring a neck if he heard media talking this way. That means that there’s unlikely to be much intrigue other than seeing the No. 8 Crimson Tide make progress off last week’s win at Ole Miss and potentially getting an extended look at young players if the game circumstances allow it.
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Later this week, I’ll take a look at young players this year and what to make of them for Alabama’s future. Until then, let’s get to your questions.
If changes are made at offensive and defensive coordinator, who would you personally want to see get those jobs? — Robert G.
I knew this question was coming, and I’ve straddled the fence mentally for the past few weeks about what to do with it and how to answer it, if at all. What I wanted to express first is that these coaches are still the coordinators at Alabama. Both of them have families. I want to be respectful of that. I’d initially thought that I wouldn’t answer any questions to be respectful of them while also pointing out that they’re still employed. However, these are highly paid public jobs, and with that comes these sorts of discussions. I don’t relish in speculating about their futures, but to not to do so also feels like a dereliction of duty in some respects. With that said, your phrasing made it easy for me. You wrote “if changes are made,” and so I’ll tackle it from that perspective.
If Nick Saban chooses to make changes at the offensive (Bill O’Brien) and defensive (Pete Golding) coordinator position, candidates would have pretty excellent personnel with which to work. Considering this an exercise in speculation and nothing more, here are some that spring to mind.
Alabama is almost assuredly going to lose starting quarterback Bryce Young to the NFL, so whoever the offensive coordinator is has a rebuilding job from that perspective. The Crimson Tide will have Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson returning, plus two freshmen, Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan, coming in as part of the 2023 recruiting class. There’s also the transfer portal, should a player want to transfer in. I bring all that up to establish whoever the coordinator is would have an opportunity to build an offense around a quarterback and play to his strengths.
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Alabama needs to get back to an offense that can create favorable matchups with its skill-position players. We haven’t seen that as much this year as we did with Lane Kiffin, Mike Locksley and Steve Sarkisian. There’s nothing wrong with a pro-style offense, but the college game is so ripe to exploit defenses that to not have someone creative at the helm is to leave first downs, yardage and points on the field each and every week.
There are some young, exciting offensive coordinators who could fill that void if the position becomes available. Just spitballing here — again, the job isn’t open — a couple of names that come to mind are Garrett Riley (TCU) and Kendal Briles (Arkansas). A more experienced OC who’s having a big year is Phil Longo at North Carolina. Charlie Weis Jr. has worked at Alabama and is at Ole Miss with Lane Kiffin. There are also former head coaches who might want to get back into coaching, like Dan Mullen and Tom Herman.
The defensive coordinator question is more intriguing to me because I think Saban has to think long and hard in the offseason about his defense and if it’s unnecessarily complicated for this day and age. I don’t presume to know the definitive answer to that, but I’ve been told by former coaches and former players that it’s more complicated than it needs to be. I think that decision would likely play into a potential hire as well.
Again, I want to reiterate that the jobs aren’t open and this was just an exercise in a what-if scenario.
Why is it that we let the play clock run down almost to zero before almost every snap? Is our play calling that complicated? Too complicated? Are we letting the perfect throw be the enemy of the good run—i.e. those runs we saw late at Ole Miss? — Lucas N.
I don’t recall it being as prevalent with former quarterbacks, so I’m assuming it’s a Bryce Young comfort thing. Of course, his timing of being the starting quarterback lines up with Bill O’Brien. So maybe it’s the play coming in later than usual.
It seems the play comes in in a timely manner and then Young looks at the sideline or makes a route/line call adjustment and gets the snap off when the play clock is running way down. It’s also possible they wait as long as possible to make the offensive adjustments so the defense doesn’t have as much time to look over to the sideline and make its adjustments. It’s a good question and something I notice nearly every game.
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What effect do you think constantly rotating the guards had on the running game? It seems like chemistry is a big part of offensive lines and continuing to rotate Emil Ekiyor Jr., Tyler Booker and Javion Cohen — not to mention the Dalcourt-Seth McLaughlin flip-flop at center — seems like a bad idea to me. What lessons might be learned from this to move next year’s offensive line back to greatness after two years of meh? — James D.
I haven’t loved it and you nailed the reason why. Five guys need snaps together. Lots and lots of snaps. That’s the only way that an offensive line can function effectively as a unit. They have to grow into playing with each other. Constantly rotating players in and out or over to different positions hinders that growth, in my estimation.
But I always defer to the coaching staff because they know their personnel better than any of us, and I would assume that it’s being done for a reason. Saban has said he felt there are more than five starters on the offensive line. That’s well and good, and it’s especially great for depth, but as far as a line working together, I’m not sure it is ideal. It seems counterproductive to me.
This group had/has potential. But Booker needs to be a full-time starter. He’s arguably the best run blocker they have. We saw a glimpse of what this group could do Saturday in Oxford in the second half when the holes started getting bigger. But it’s way too late for a line to begin emerging. That should’ve happened in the first third of the season. It’s been a pretty decent pass protection group, but the run game has been sorely lacking, especially in short-yardage situations, which has reared its ugly head two years in a row.
How is it that almost no holding calls have been called on Alabama’s opponents’ O-lines? With speed rushers Will Anderson, Dallas Turner, etc., it seems like the refs have held their whistles too many times this year. — David W.
I wish I had a good answer for you. I really do. I’ve written about it multiple times over the past half-decade, but I have to be cautious in how I approach it. I always want the metrics to back up my perception, and I think they have. But because I’m the beat writer, if I mention it too much or even point it out, I’m viewed as the homer.
I do think it’s noticeable to even the fans that hate Alabama. Look, there’s always going to be a perception that Alabama gets all the calls. We saw that again this past week when Jaxson Dart’s mother publicly stated that her son doesn’t get protected because of who he plays for. Lane Kiffin mentioned it in his Monday news conference. That’s the perception: that Alabama gets all the calls. Even in a season when Alabama was flagged 15, 17 and 10 times in its first three road games, when Alabama ranks 122nd in both penalty yardage per game and in number of penalties per game, it doesn’t change the majority opinion out there that Alabama gets all the calls. But that’s not true when it comes to opponents holding.
A Michigan blog actually dug into the issue in 2017. Here’s what their in-depth analysis showed at the time: “Since 2012, Alabama has drawn a holding once every 260 plays. That is nearly 2.5 times the average.” That’s not just an anomaly; that almost feels not accidental. So it’s real. It’s not make believe in Alabama fans’ heads. The officials simply don’t call the opposing team for holding much against the Crimson Tide. Make of that what you will. I don’t think it’s a conspiracy by the officials to cheat Alabama. I think over the years has been more akin to officials seeing Alabama dominating in spite of the holding that’s taken place and maybe thinking it doesn’t affect the game or play. That’s flawed thinking, but that’s just a guess by me. Who actually knows.
That said, Alabama gets some advantages in some moments too. Turner should’ve been flagged for shoving Dart’s head into the ground Saturday. I also don’t think that’s a conspiracy by the officials. I think they just missed it. We want officials to be perfect, to call a flawless game, but it’s simply not possible.
But if I were Saban, I’d point out the disparity of holding calls as loudly as possible until the issue is righted.
Is Bryce really the best Bama QB ever, or is he more of the shining star of an offense that struggles too much? (I think Tua is best, recognizing he had insane receivers). — Jeffrey M.
Man, that’s a loaded question. Any answer I give here is going to offend someone. How’s this? I don’t think Young is the most physically gifted quarterback Alabama’s ever had. It’s hard to go against Tua Tagovailoa’s accuracy and the way he ran RPOs. But he also had otherworldly receivers to throw to. The one season Young had Jameson Williams and John Metchie, he won the Heisman Trophy. What would he have done with Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle with Steve Sarkisian or Mike Locksley calling the plays? Young’s mental makeup is arguably his best skill. He gets the team in the right adjustment. He is incredible when he ad-libs a play. His leadership skills are off the charts. And he’s the only quarterback in school history to win the Heisman.
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But you can’t go wrong with either one of these guys if you ask me. I also wasn’t around to see Joe Namath or Ken Stabler. What could they have done in these new offenses? I simply don’t know, but I want to bring them up because they deserve their respect too.
It’s splitting hairs, really. Tagovailoa excels in the RPO game. Young isn’t as adept at that. But he has his own strengths too. I think I stated earlier this season that Young was the best quarterback in school history, but I meant for my context to be because he won the Heisman Trophy. I think I might actually agree with you and go Tua. Can I have more than one?
It was a treat the other night to watch Jase McClellan run the ball down the stretch — in the classic sense of he got stronger as the game went on. I know Jahmyr Gibbs is explosive, but do you think there was some missed opportunity there to let McClellan do his thing throughout the year? I know hindsight is what it is but it makes me curious. — Scott H.
You bring up something I’ve been thinking about since Saturday evening. McClellan ran his tail off. He hit the holes with more decisiveness, I thought. He pressed the hole. He ran hard. He exhibited all the characteristics we’ve seen of great Alabama backs that came before him.
Gibbs is a different kind of back. He’s the home-run hitter. I don’t think he’s soft, but I don’t think his calling card is between the tackles running. I don’t think ideally that’s what you want to ask him to do. All that said, a running back can’t do much of anything by himself. And no matter who the running back has been this season, too often a defensive player is in his face as soon as he gets back to the line of scrimmage. There have been far too many negative or no-gain runs — 17.2 percent of running back rushes, which ranks 71st, per TruMedia. That has to change.
Alabama’s average distance to go on third down is 7.5 yards, which ranks 92nd. It’s hard to have a successful offense when you live in second- and third-and-long. That’s just a fact. I do wonder, though, what happens if McClellan becomes the back and they commit to giving him 20 carries a game because I think you’re right. He seemed to get better as the game went on.
(Top photo of Jase McClellan and Bryce Young: Justin Ford / Getty Images)