Over the bye week, Alabama OC Ryan Grubb and QB coach Nick Sheridan spent some time with former NFL head coach Jon Gruden. Gruden is one of the most respected offensive minds in the game of football, and Grubb and Sheridan went to pick his brain.
Gruden was a head coach in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders, leading the Buccaneers to a win in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Coaches and players frequently visit Gruden to grind through tape and get his perspective. While he's been out of coaching for a few years, Gruden has fully immersed himself in football media by working for Barstool Sports.
During a discussion with Grubb and Sheridan, Gruden could not have been more impressed with what he saw from Alabama's offense on tape. In his praise, Gruden gave a recruiting pitch that you can bet will be used by Kalen DeBoer and the recruiting department moving forward.
"When I watch Alabama, I see an offense I want to play in," Gruden said. "If I'm a young player, I want to go play at Alabama."
Jon Gruden is impressed with Alabama's offense and Ty Simpson
Gruden had a lot of praise for Alabama QB Ty Simpson while talking with Grubb and Sheridan this week.
Alabama's first-year starting QB has exceeded all reasonable expectations. He's at the forefront of the Heisman Trophy conversation and has led the Crimson Tide to seven straight wins since the season-opening loss to Florida State.
It's how Simpson and Alabama responded to early adversity that has been most impressive to Gruden.
"I was kinda excited when you guys lost that first game because I wanted to see what would happen when adversity hit," Gruden said. "Alabama doesn't lose very many games...Ty Simpson showed me something big time."
Simpson has been the catalyst for Alabama's resurgence since the deflating defeat in Tallahassee. Simpson made a promise to the Crimson Tide's fanbase in the aftermath of the loss to Florida State that they would get things figured out.
He delivered on that promise. Alabama has won seven in a row, including five straight against ranked SEC opponents and a fifth on the road against South Carolina last weekend.
Alabama still has a gauntlet ahead of it. LSU and Oklahoma, in back-to-back weeks, even at home, will be challenging games. So, too, will the looming Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium in late November.
The vibes are high in Tuscaloosa, but November brings the games you are going to remember.