Alabama Football: What now, after Brian Daboll returns to the NFL?

After the Iron Bowl, many Alabama football fans wanted Brian Daboll out. Sentiment changed with the national championship and now he is leaving for the NFL.

It is not easy being an Alabama football Offensive Coordinator. Fans expect a national championship every season. Nick Saban is a defense-first, mostly old-school coach. Among Saban’s Crimson Tide OC’s, only Jim McElwain really flourished.

Two current New England Patriots coordinators are expected to get NFL head coaching positions. The Colts have Patriots, Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels as a top candidate. Same with Detriot and Patriots Defensive Coordinator, Matt Patricia. Recent speculation had Daboll becoming OC for either McDaniels or Patricia.

Buffalo Bills hire Brian Daboll

Going to the Buffalo Bills is a homecoming of sorts for Canadian-born Daboll. He played both high school and college football in western New York.  Nick Saban’s role (if any) in Daboll’s transition is not known. Preceding Brian Daboll as Alabama football offensive coordinators, Applewhite, Nussmeier, Kiffin and Sarkisian were encouraged to pursue other options.

A 4th Offensive Coordinator in three seasons

The change is sudden for Tide fans still celebrating the Daboll-Tua offense only seen less than a week ago. Nick Saban now must select and hire his fourth OC in what will be three seasons. It is no secret, Alabama football assistant, Mike Locksley wants the job. Locksley has seven seasons of offensive coordinator experience starting at Illinois in 2005 and including three years at Maryland. In 2015 during his last Maryland season, he was also interim head coach. Locksley also had a short tenure as New Mexico’s head coach between Illinois and Maryland stints.

Similar to last season’s Tosh Lupoi and Jeremy Pruitt job titles, Locksley is already a Co-OC and wide receivers coach for Saban. Until a couple of days ago, Locksley appeared to be Willie Taggert’s top choice to become OC at FSU.

Saban will have plenty of good options

Plenty of other names will be thrown around by fans, from Mike Shula to Hugh Freeze and will include Dan Werner, Dan Enos and Matt Canada. Only Nick Saban knows which direction is preferred and he may not know yet how this will play out. This time last year, no Alabama football fan could have predicted Brian Daboll would be the new hire.

Saban acting quickly makes sense for recruiting. But getting the best option may take a little time. Recruiting was not a Brian Daboll strength and there may be little risk of losing any priority recruits.

Next: Trent Dilfer believes Tua can win Heisman

Alabama football fans, Bama Hammer will stay on top of all the new OC buzz. Check in with us often.