Alabama Football: The relative merits of going fast or slow on offense

The offseason is the time to debate run-pass balance and how fast or not, the Alabama football offense should go next season.

Alabama football fans are more than slightly curious about the Crimson Tide, Steve Sarkisian version of the West-Coast offense. As we have opined before, Sarkisian appears to be the offensive coordinator whose play designs best fit Nick Saban’s overall plan since Jim McElwain. That statement is not meant as a slam against Lane Kiffin. Lane took the Alabama football offense far from where it had been and much farther than it would have ever gone had not Nick Saban rolled the dice with him.

What Lane Kiffin accomplished with Blake Sims was remarkable. But Lane wanted to hurry to the line, so he could quickly analyze the defensive mismatches. Going back to Lane, Alabama football offenses have hurried a lot. There are clear advantages in hurry-up. It builds off momentum. It does not give a defense, much less an opposing defensive coordinator time to think.

It is, however, a weapon often utilized by less talented teams, trying to minimize the strengths of a defensive opponent. Auburn is one, but far from the only example. For fans enamored with multiple offensive styles and not just the most popular frenzy of the day, always going fast does not make sense. Why would a team with a solid lead in the final quarter, continually snap the ball with 10-15 seconds on the play clock? Sometimes it is warranted, often it isn’t, and teams throughout college football do it frequently.

Getting back to Sark, the West Coast and how to win another championship. The West Coast like many offenses can go fast or slow. Also like most offenses, it is designed to take what a defense gives. It is interested in spreading the field horizontally and vertically. Plus, it has no aversion to running the football up the gut of a defense.

Some Alabama football fans are asking would Sark’s latest West Coast function better with a little less passing, a little more running and not always be in a rush to do either. It is a fair question. If next season’s offensive line, particularly after Deonte Brown’s return, is best suited to running over people, why not run more frequently? If they are not quite so adept at protecting Tua, along typically quick West Coast throws, could RPO also be used less?

Throwing in more power running could open up play-action passing. Isolate one of the quartet of the best wide receivers in college football on a safety and Tua’s accuracy will be even more lethal.

What does Nick Saban want? He wants a balanced offense and he wants explosive plays. He also wants Tua to be healthy throughout a long season. The answer, at least partially, is do not leave Tua vulnerable in the pocket more than is necessary. If all three stay healthy, Najee Harris, Brian Robinson and Trey Sanders combined are a weapon maybe no other team has. If the O-line is up to the task, let them loose.

When the only way to slow the Tide’s rushing attack is to load the box, Tua will feast on multiple, open targets who are TD threats with every catch.

The other clear advantage of sometimes easing back on the throttle is time for players to catch their breath, particularly a defensive line sitting on the sideline. Even the offensive line could benefit.

Alabama football fans, ask yourself this question. Doesn’t the offense described above sound like one Nick Saban would love? Our guess is he already does.