Alabama Football: Grading the Nick Saban post-Natty loss staff response

Alabama football coach, Nick Saban is a model for determination and resilience. His response to the Tide being outcoached and outplayed against Clemson deserves an A+ grade.

For those, not Alabama football fans, reading this because Nick Saban is a force that cannot be ignored – we suggest making some notes. We know what many of you are thinking. You are hoping the Clemson beatdown is a Crimson Tide tipping point.

In Athens, Auburn, Knoxville, Gainesville, Baton Rouge and College Station fans are licking their chops. Nothing stirs as much emotion as the prospect of dethroning the King of college football. Our advice is don’t hold your breath. Your King-of-CFB wannabees are still eclipsed by Nick Saban. Saban cannot be out-worked and he will not accept even a sliver of reduced expectations for himself, his staff and his team.

A thorough butt-kicking by Clemson was a new experience for Nick Saban. We are sure the result did not shock him and it may not have even surprised him. Few noticed but during the season he issued warnings. As Nick put it, the Crimson Tide was like a “fancy sports car” that unseen was leaking oil. Injuries depleted a roster that at some position groups could not absorb the attrition.

Most worrisome of all was the coaching staff. Selected with perhaps too much priority placed on recruiting prowess, some were not producing on the practice field. Saban decided his offensive line, defensive line and linebackers needed better coaching. He also recognized game decisions were a problem on the defensive side of the ball. Many of the eventual decisions to rebuild the staff were made while the Alabama Crimson Tide was rolling through an undefeated season.

Saban waited to make coaching changes because acting too early would have been foolish. When patience was no longer required, he acted quickly. In a couple of cases, he also had to adapt to coaching exits he did not anticipate.

Now Nick Saban and Alabama football have a new staff for 2019. There is some sorting out left to do. Craig Kuligowski is yet to find a new employer. The unofficial new hires don’t have firm position assignments. What we do know is the new staff will be older and wiser. The younger assistants are fewer in number and they are now balanced by an abundance of football knowledge.

Some Alabama football fans yearned for a high-profile Defensive Coordinator. More than a few are skeptical about Steve Sarkisian’s return. Most Tide fans realize the new hires of Charles Kelly, Charles Huff, Sal Sunseri, Brian Baker, Kyle Flood and Holman Wiggins are solid – make that more than solid. Huff, Baker and Flood are home-run hires. Time will tell but the 2019 staff could be Saban’s best ever. In a preliminary review, we give Saban an A+ for the rebuild.

The help Sunseri, Baker and Kelly will provide to defensive coordinator, Pete Golding cannot be ignored. Nick Saban has acted decisively and apparently also wisely. Crimson Tide fans need not worry about unseen leaks from the engine in 2019.