Alabama Football: Tommy Rees hire aligns with offensive recruiting shift

The hire of new Alabama football offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has received mixed responses from the fan base. While he still has to prove himself on fall Saturday afternoons, I think the addition of Rees moves the program a couple steps in the right direction.

Many Alabama football fans were hoping for an offensive coordinator that would instill a high-caliber passing attack, such as Joe Brady or Garrett Riley. While such a hire would’ve generated excitement, the buzz would have mostly been a product of nostalgia. A big-name hire like Brady or Riley would have appeased fans who reminisce about the explosive offenses of Steve Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin.

While high-scoring, electric offenses are fun to watch, the college football pendulum appears to be swinging in the other direction. Coach Nick Saban is keenly aware of that shift. When the transient college football landscape is taken into account, the Rees hire suddenly begins to make a lot more sense.

Alabama Football and the changing CFB landscape

About a decade ago, a series of college football rule changes shifted the game in favor of offenses. The elite teams quickly discovered that a talented quarterback and the ability to scheme athletes in space would give their offense an almost insurmountable advantage over even the best defenses.

To fit this style of play, offensive linemen and defensive players gradually adapted, getting smaller and faster to keep up. In the present day, defenses have started to adjust and catch up with their offensive counterparts. A strong defense and physicality on both lines of scrimmage are once again major advantages.

Alabama’s 2023 recruiting class is reflective of this stylistic shift, and the hire of Tommy Rees complements what could be a modification in offensive philosophy.

Alabama Football: A new offensive approach

In the most recent cycle, Alabama football landed 5-star offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor and 4-star offensive linemen Wilkin Formby, Miles McVay, Olaus Alinen, and RyQueze McElderry. This quintet, on average, stands at just under 6’6” and weighs nearly 330 pounds.

It is a massive group of maulers that could bring a bully-ball attitude back to the Alabama offense.

Alabama ultimately did not have the dominant offensive line to usher in a power running game in 2022, but that could change in 2023.

The return of players like Tyler Booker and JC Latham, in combination with some of the new guys, should give the Crimson Tide a rebranded offensive line.

The Tide also brought in two talented and physical backs in Justice Haynes and Richard Young. This duo will join three returning running backs in Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, and Jamarion Miller that also don’t mind dropping their pads.

Incoming transfer tight end CJ Dippre has the frame to be an effective in-line blocker. Returning tight end Robbie Ouzts is one of the most aggressive blockers on the roster, and should thrive in an H-back role. Fellow tight end Miles Kitselman is another blue-collar worker who could contribute in jumbo packages.

Lastly, Alabama football will trot out a new starting quarterback in 2023. Regardless of whether it is Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson, or someone else, Bama will do as much as it can to lighten the load on its QB’s shoulders.

Expect the Crimson Tide to lean on the run early while incorporating quick-read, high-percentage passes. Tommy Rees is the right man to implement this new style.