Nick Saban’s most underrated characteristic, adaptability

Nick Saban has done more than just win consistently at Alabama, he’s done it without being rigid in his approach to certain things.

After four National Championships and four SEC Championships, Nick Saban is essentially royalty in Alabama. Perhaps more important is the context of his winning ways. If you don’t recall, let me hold your hand as we take a stroll down memory lane.

You see, Saban guided the Alabama football program from its darkest days. After an era of Alabama football led by Gene Stallings and hallmarked by a National Championship in 1992, Alabama turned to three different Mikes – Mike DuBose, Mike Price and Mike Shula – to take the wheel.

That didn’t exactly end well, as DuBose went 3-8 during the 2000 season, Price never coached a game after a personal scandal, and Shula looked like a deer in the headlights each week on the Alabama sideline.

It started to look like Alabama may never be the same again, and that all of the glory and prestige Bear Bryant infused into the program with his bare hands and feet would be undone. The Tide was becoming the laughingstock of the SEC, and were card-carrying members aboard the hot mess express.

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It was a dark time – that is, until the godly light of Saban shined forth into the abyss.

Winning championships is one thing, but pulling Alabama out of its downslide was another. But, all factors combined have given Saban an unrivaled reverence throughout Dixie.

Between recruiting, game-planning, chewing Lane Kiffin’s tail, and the totality of ‘The Process,’ Saban has been established as the greatest college football coach today, maybe of all time (yes, ‘The Process’ has entered proper noun categorization. We capitalize that now).

Saban is often heralded for his elite recruiting classes and a knack for getting the commitment. He holds everyone accountable for their actions, including himself. He runs every facet of his program as if it were his business. It’s clear Saban is the type of driven man who could do anything that he wanted, and could do it better than anyone else in the field.

Perhaps his greatest strength is also one that goes largely unnoticed: his adaptability. Great leaders are always ahead of the curve. Saban is no different. He’s been able to identify trends in the college football landscape and adjust.

When you look back at Saban’s first National Championship season (2009), you’ll notice that his team held opponents to seven or fewer points in six of fourteen games. Two of those came against ranked Ole Miss and South Carolina teams. Only four opponents scored 20 or more points on Alabama that season. In fact, the most points scored on that team took place in the season opener, when Virginia Tech scored 24 points in a losing effort opposite the Tide.

As Saban’s star continued to shine, his defenses continued to show their teeth. So, what happened? Naturally, as Saban out-coached the SEC repeatedly, people began to lose jobs and an influx of emerging coaches were brought in for one purpose: to catch Alabama.

Innovators of offense like Gus Malzahn and great recruiters like Hugh Freeze infused the SEC West with new challengers. Saban was very vocal against fast-tempo offenses, and his teams struggled against them. Alabama has lost five games since 2013 – three of those losses have come at the hands of Malzahn and Freeze.

Not to mention, as Saban’s reputation approached legendary status, his assistants were constantly being hired out from under him. It became evident that Kirby Smart was destined to become a head coach after years of coordinating one of the best defenses in college football.

So, what was Saban to do? Cling to what had worked for so many seasons prior like Les Miles did at LSU? Or, adapt? Guess what – he adapted. Where is Miles now? Filling his bank account with a huge buyout.

But Saban hired Lane Kiffin to become the team’s offensive coordinator. Thanks to Joey Freshwater himself, Alabama’s offense is now its greatest strength.

The vaunted Alabama defense allowed 40 points from Clemson in last year’s National Championship, but it didn’t matter because Alabama’s offense was able to score 45.

In 2015, Alabama scored 30 or more points in 11 of 15 games. The fewest generated came in a 19-14 win over Tennessee. The defense held opponents to seven or fewer points in only four of those 15 games, and allowed two teams to score 40 or more. Mind you, it was still an incredible defense, but that season marked a noticeable shift for Alabama.

Now the Crimson Tide can seemingly score at will against any opponent they face.

Next: Saban Discusses Les Miles and Freshmen Players

Call him a football genius, a warm and welcoming recruiter, a snazzy dresser – whatever. Just realize that one of the most underrated contributors to Saban’s success is his ability to adapt to today’s game.