Alabama Football: Report Cards for the New Coordinators

With 33 percent of the season in the books, let’s take a look at how the two Alabama football coordinators are doing at their new posts.

The primary, non-player-related concern coming into the 2018 season was how the Alabama football team would perform with replacing both of its coordinators. After four games, it is time to take a step back and remember this is Nick Saban’s team. You remember Nick Saban? Six-national-titles, 136-wins-at-‘Bama-alone, Nick Saban?

We’ve come to realize that with the Alabama football recruiting machine he has created and his indelible footprint on the program, it hardly matters who the play callers are on both sides of the ball. Remember Doug Nussmeier.

Here, we’re going to take a look at how the next men up (Mike Locksley and Tosh Lupoi) are doing four games into the season.

Mike Locksley (Offense)

For the first time since 2013, an Alabama football OC is perched up in the press box. Coach “Locks” as he is affectionately known by his players is a career assistant who did special things at less-than-stellar programs like Illinois and Maryland and, with an overabundance of talent at his fingertips in Tuscaloosa, he may be on to his finest work yet.

First, we need to get this out of the way: the talent he has to work with would make any coach look good. Tua Tagovailoa, Damien Harris, Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Jonah Williams, Alex Leatherwood are just a few of the key contributors on an offense that’s averaging 539.5 yards (10th in the FBS) and 53.8 (3rd) points per game. These are both records for the team under Nick Saban through the first four games.

Still, none of this should take away from what Locksley has done to this point. Though some of the principles used under last year’s OC Brian Daboll are still there, there are wrinkles that Locksley has added that make this Alabama football offense look nearly unstoppable. With the added bonus of Tua’s elite arm, Locksley has this team running RPOs, bubble screens, play action, jet sweeps, go and post routes, etc. sometimes all in a single possession.

It’s something else to watch. Also, the ball is being distributed on a near-constant basis to all of its main receivers. Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith and Irv Smith, Jr. all have over 10 receptions, each scoring at least twice.

And while the A&M game was not a great example of how effective the run game can be, both the Harris’ and Josh Jacobs are getting involved early and often. Locksley has done a great job of utilizing them in different packages. Damien is the most complete of the three, Najee is the most powerful and Josh can be used just as effectively in the passing game as he can behind the QB.

The only real mystery to this point is the offensive line. The pass protection is elite, allowing only three sacks, but the run game hit a snag last week, only accruing 109 total yards. Locksley and his OL coach Brent Key need to find a solution, because contrary to popular belief, Tua can’t do it alone. He’s going to need contributions from the backs for the Tide to be championship-capable.

That being said, Locksley has done a fabulous job, I believe he will be a Broyles Award Finalist at year’s end and I give him an “A”.

Tosh Lupoi (Defense)

As a first timer at the defensive coordinator position, Lupoi had a lot working against him. When Kirby Smart took over the Alabama football defense in 2009, he had most of 2008’s personnel, save for Rashad Johnson, at his disposal. When Jeremy Pruitt replaced Smart in 2016, Pruitt had arguably the most loaded squad in Alabama’s illustrious history executing his calls.

Lupoi, on the other hand, lost the entire secondary from 2017 and three NFL first rounders. That’s not an easy way to start a new job. However, Lupoi has done a great job. While some of the stats may not show it ( currently No. 26 in total defense), the 2018 defense is playing way above its head right now.

At the end of the day, it’s Nick Saban designs the plays and it’s the coordinator’s job to make the calls on game day. Saban has to have the utmost trust in the guy doing the play-calling. The fact that he promoted Lupoi from OLB coach/co-defensive coordinator to the guy shows the belief Saban has in him.

Some of the staples of “Tosh Lupoi the Position Coach” is that his players know how to get after the quarterback and, honestly, that hasn’t changed since taking over as DC. Currently, the Alabama football defense is tied at No. 2 in the FBS in team sacks with 16 and defensive end Isaiah Buggs is tied for No.2 in the country with five sacks.

And while statistically, it doesn’t look like the Tide’s overhauled secondary is finding much success, allowing 217 yards per game, they’re tied for second in the FBS in interceptions with seven (admittedly, Mack got one, but we’ll count it) and first in the FBS in pick sixes with three. On top of that, they’re No. 8 in the FBS, allowing only 24 percent of 3rd downs to be converted.

Lupoi is overseeing a blend of “bend but don’t break” and “bring the heat” defense. While it’s not fun to watch Kellen Mond escape the pocket and scamper for 54 yards, we have to realize this is an inexperienced squad that’s gone up against four relatively prolific offenses to start the season. Lupoi’s blend has worked so far with Alabama football No. 4 in the FBS in scoring defense.

The re-tooled Alabama football defense is doing fine and so is Tosh. I give him a “B+” with room to grow.

If either Locks or Tosh wants to do some experimenting, the next two games afford that opportunity. At least for Tosh, the priority will likely be playing as many young defenders as possible.