Alabama Football: With O’Brien to Pats a new OC soon

With Tuesday’s announcement that Alabama Football ‘officially’ has an opening for an OC and QB coach, Nick Saban’s pace is expected to quicken.

Unlike the DC situation of not knowing the future NCAA status of Jeremy Pruitt, Saban can move forward with Bill O’Brien’s replacement.

Following message boards over the last few weeks, it appears even the most popular candidates are unsatisfactory to some Crimson Tide fans. The only potential hire with apparent across-the-board support is former LSU coach, Joe Brady. However, there has also been no indication Brady is interested in leaving the NFL.

Lots of names are included on multiple, media ‘hot boards’ but based on fan responses the top four, other than Brady, are Dan Mullen, Jeff Lebby, Brian Johnson and Kliff Kingsbury.

There has been zero public indication Kingsbury wants to return to coaching in the near future. The other three have solid resumes, especially Mullen with his two, SEC head coaching positions.

Some Crimson Tide fans speculate about which of the potential OCs has a system that best fits Nick Saban’s offensive goals. That is a bit off track. Alabama Football has an offensive system, defined by Nick Saban and every OC, adapts to it. Saban has already said he intends to use more RPO and more tempo in the 2023 system.

So whoever is the next OC hire, will bring fresh perspectives, but not a rebuilt Alabama football offense. Fans can come up with reasons to conclude neither Mullen, Lebby and Johnson would come to Alabama without weaknesses. To the extent that is accurate, it is also unrealistic. Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian brought baggage to Tuscaloosa with them. Except at the end with Kiffin, both did masterful jobs, shaping Nick Saban’s offense in new directions and also tutoring Crimson Tide quarterbacks.

Alabama Football Continuity

At this point in Nick Saban’s career, it seems he would want to add an OC who would give the Crimson Tide more than a couple of seasons. And the next Tide OC may think five or six seasons into the future, Nick Saban might decide to walk away, leaving a most attractive head coach opening.

Logically, all Alabama football fans can conclude Nick Saban will make the best choice. Emotionally, the thought of the next OC possibly being Derek Dooley or Greg Roman, or some other mundane hire, troubles many Alabama Crimson Tide fans.

A hunch is a decision will be made soon, as in sometime this week.