Alabama Football may not need a high profile Defensive Coordinator

Alabama football fans are anxious for Nick Saban to hire a high profile Defensive Coordinator, but does the Crimson Tide already have what it needs?

Assuming all the frequently reported, new Alabama football hires are correct, Nick Saban has already infused his staff with four new hires. New for the Crimson Tide offense are Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood. On defense, Saban has added Sal Sunseri and Charles Kelly.

The biggest staffing question remaining unanswered is the Defensive Coordinator position. It is generally believed Pete Golding will at least be a co-DC. Nick Saban is believed to highly value Golding’s coaching skills. Numerous insider reports state midway during last season, defensive play-calling was mostly turned over to Golding. Admittedly, some Alabama football fans find no reassurance Golding was making calls while the Sooners and Clemson ran up massive yards.

A more prevailing fan opinion is trust in Nick Saban – in all things. Saban’s faith in Golding is enough to satisfy most Crimson Tide fans. Nick has not yet put together all the 2019 staffing pieces and questions remain. Is Saban still looking for a high-profile DC? Dave Aranda has been rumored to have been approached by Saban.

Aranda seems to be a stretch given LSU has already shown a determination to never get outbid for his services. Another popular name, though not matching Aranda’s profile, is Washington’s Jimmy Lake. Lake is co-DC for the Huskies and the highest paid assistant ever on the Washington staff. Depending on which insider you choose to believe, Lake did or did not interview for the Tide DC position. Also, he did or did not receive an offer, which he did or did not turn down.

Washington message boards are filled with assurance Lake is not leaving the Huskies and will get another nice raise in the process. With no current Aranda buzz and apparently no chance for Lake, Nick Saban may or may not be chasing another high-profile DC. The recently reported hiring of Charles Kelly may mean Saban already has a co-DC to pair with Pete Golding.

Some Alabama football fans question if a Golding – Kelly duo can revitalize the Crimson Tide defense. Kelly had many FSU detractors in his four seasons as the Seminoles DC. Kelly spent 2013 coaching FSU linebackers. He was DC and defensive backs coach for the Noles in 2014-2017. He spent last season working for Jeremy Pruitt at Tennessee.

Some Crimson Tide fans are concerned Golding lacks sufficient DC experience at the Power Five level. Kelly can bolster that deficiency, as can Sal Sunseri who spent a season at Tennessee as DC. Golding actually has considerable DC experience, though at a much lower level of competition. Golding worked as a DC for nine seasons before coming to Tuscaloosa. Those nine seasons were spent at Tusculum, Delta State, Southeastern Louisiana, and Texas-San Antonio. Golding’s 2017 UTSA defense was a top ten FBS unit.

Given Nick Saban is widely recognized as a defensive Guru, luring guys like Aranda or Mike Elko last year, may never be possible. Any Alabama football DC must run Saban’s defense and Nick will never relinquish total control of a Tide defense to an assistant.

Is the Golding – Kelly combo a done deal? Absolutely not. Stay tuned to Bama Hammer for the latest updates.