Nick Saban announced Thursday Jeremy Pruitt will remain the Alabama football defensive coordinator through the Playoffs? Let’s discuss why that is a bad idea.
Alabama football will have a Tennessee Volunteer head coach as defensive coordinator throughout the Tide’s Playoff run. The first and probably most correct response from Tide fans is trust Nick Saban in all things. Saban has football knowledge and inside organizational knowledge beyond the comprehension of even the most knowledgeable fans.
If Nick wants Jeremy to coach the Tide defense in the Playoffs, there is no doubt in Saban’s belief it will be best for the Alabama football team. From Saban’s perspective, it worked with Kirby and will work with Jeremy.
Even if you believe Nick Saban is the best coach in the history of college football (and he may well be), he could be wrong this time. For all his considerable talents, Nick is no oracle. He can neither see nor predict the future.
What Nick Saban knows is that he and other coaches are professionals. During the introductory CFB Playoff media event on Thursday Nick said,
"Most of the really good coaches that have great competitive character are always going to do what’s best for the players. Kirby did a good job and I’m sure Jeremy will too."
However, while Jeremy Pruitt is doing what’s best for Alabama football players he will also be doing what is best for his new employer, the University of Tennessee. There will be conflicts. There were conflicts with Kirby and there will be conflicts with Jeremy.
Pruitt will be dividing his time between the camps of two football armies. Even if there is no reason to question his loyalty there is ample reason to believe neither Alabama football or Tennessee will receive his full attention.
While preparing an Alabama football defensive game plan, coaching Tide players and leading Tide defensive coaches, Jeremy Pruitt will also focus on external factors. Pruitt will be building a Tennessee football staff, some of whom may come from the current Alabama football staff.
Suddenly Pruitt’s magic recruiting touch has been brought to bear for the Vols which means against the Tide. Priority Tide recruits such as 4-Stars J.J. Peterson and Jacob Copeland will be chased by Pruitt to become Vols. While preparing for a Playoff game, Pruitt will pursue those two and others.
Perhaps such recruiting competition does not faze Nick Saban. What about other Tide coaches, particularly Tosh Lupoi and Derrick Ansley? Those two coaches will still report to a coach trying his best to pull 2018 recruits away from Alabama.
It is also surprising Nick Saban is willing to accept these distractions and potential conflicts. A coach who zealously guards against external factors impacting his team – has allowed the opportunity for just that to happen.
Some months ago we suggested the Saban Process is a quest for clarity. You can read the entire piece Saban Process is a quest for clarity, but here is a short excerpt,
"think(ing) about the vaunted Saban process, one word comes to mind, clarity. The process is designed to maximize clarity in settings at risk for confusion and chaos."
Keeping Jeremy Pruitt as defensive coordinator while he also works as Tennessee’s head coach puts the Crimson Tide’s clarity at risk.
Some Alabama football fans are fearful the old conniver, Phil Fulmer will do anything to damage Alabama football. He has that history, known to Tide fans well versed in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
Concern about Phil’s impact on Alabama football over the next month may be an absurd conspiracy theory. Or not.
ICYMI: Phil Fulmer’s old tricks are well known by Tide fans
In the story we cited above we concluded the Saban process is
"Leave nothing to doubt is a short jump to leave nothing to chance. Seek clarity in all things. That is the Nick Saban process."
For the next month, Alabama football will have unnecessary doubt and undue chance. We cannot find clarity in that. Nick Saban is no doubt doing what he believes is in the best interests of his players. We certainly hope he is correct but we have doubts.
Next: Is the Tide O-Line a Strength or a Weakness?
Will coaching distractions or conflicts over post-season coaching attrition threaten the Tide’s Playoff chances? We will report on every morsel of information we can find. Check in with us often.