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Nick Saban's Tenure in Review: Season #10 - 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide
Posted on 4/28/24 at 10:56 am
Posted on 4/28/24 at 10:56 am
Nick Saban entered his 10th season as Alabama's head coach (seemingly) at the height of his powers. He had just won his fourth national championship (and fifth overall) the previous year and brought his vaunted Crimson Tide into the 2016 season as the top-ranked team in the land. The defense was expected to be stout, despite the loss of long-time Defensive Coordinator Kirby Smart to the Georgia Bulldogs, and the offense with Lane Kiffin at the helm was expected to be productive even with the question mark at QB.
What came next was one of the most dominant regular seasons in Alabama history followed by one of the most heartbreaking climaxes a team could have to end their season. Despite the disappointing way in which this season ends, it can't help but be noted that the 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide (the defense in particular) was among the most star-studded teams in college football history.
2016 Alabama Crimson Tide
Overall Record: 14 wins, 1 loss
SEC Record: 8 wins, 0 losses (1st in SEC West)
AP Poll Finish: #2
Coaches Poll Finish: #2
Offensive Coordinator: Lane Kiffin (first 14 games); Steve Sarkisian (final game)
Defensive Coordinator: Jeremy Pruitt
Permanent Captains: Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Eddie Jackson, and Cam Robinson
Consensus 1st Team All-Americans: Cam Robinson (T), Jonathan Allen (DE), Reuben Foster (LB), and Minkah Fitzpatrick (CB)
1st Team All-SEC: Jalen Hurts (QB), ArDarius Stewart (WR), Cam Robinson (T), Jonathan Allen (DE), Reuben Foster (LB), Ryan Anderson (LB), Minkah Fitzpatrick (CB), and J.K. Scott (P)
Heisman Trophy: Jonathan Allen (CANDIDATE - #7)
Total Offense: 455.3 YPG (#34)
Total Defense: 261.8 YPG (#1)
Average Talent Ranking on Roster: #1 (Per Rivals)
Schedule
vs. #20 USC (W) 52-6 [Arlington, TX]
vs. Western Kentucky (W) 38-10
@ #19 Ole Miss (W) 48-43
vs. Kent State (W) 48-0
vs. Kentucky (W) 34-6 [Homecoming]
@ #16 Arkansas (W) 49-30
@ #9 Tennessee (W) 49-10
vs. #6 Texas A&M (W) 33-14
@ #13 LSU (W) 10-0
vs. Mississippi State (W) 51-3
vs. Chattanooga (W) 31-3
vs. #13 Auburn (W) 30-12 [Senior Day]
vs. #15 Florida (W) 54-16 [SEC Championship Game]
vs. #4 Washington (W) 24-7 [2016 Peach Bowl]
vs. #2 Clemson (L) 31-35 [2017 CFP National Championship Game]
Leading Passer
Jalen Hurts
240-382 62.8 Pct 2,780 Yds 23 TDs 9 INTs
Leading Rusher
Damien Harris
146 Att 1,037 Yds 7.1 Avg 2 TDs
Leading Receiver
ArDarius Stewart
54 Rec 864 Yds 16.0 Avg 8 TDs
What came next was one of the most dominant regular seasons in Alabama history followed by one of the most heartbreaking climaxes a team could have to end their season. Despite the disappointing way in which this season ends, it can't help but be noted that the 2016 Alabama Crimson Tide (the defense in particular) was among the most star-studded teams in college football history.
2016 Alabama Crimson Tide
Overall Record: 14 wins, 1 loss
SEC Record: 8 wins, 0 losses (1st in SEC West)
AP Poll Finish: #2
Coaches Poll Finish: #2
Offensive Coordinator: Lane Kiffin (first 14 games); Steve Sarkisian (final game)
Defensive Coordinator: Jeremy Pruitt
Permanent Captains: Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Eddie Jackson, and Cam Robinson
Consensus 1st Team All-Americans: Cam Robinson (T), Jonathan Allen (DE), Reuben Foster (LB), and Minkah Fitzpatrick (CB)
1st Team All-SEC: Jalen Hurts (QB), ArDarius Stewart (WR), Cam Robinson (T), Jonathan Allen (DE), Reuben Foster (LB), Ryan Anderson (LB), Minkah Fitzpatrick (CB), and J.K. Scott (P)
Heisman Trophy: Jonathan Allen (CANDIDATE - #7)
Total Offense: 455.3 YPG (#34)
Total Defense: 261.8 YPG (#1)
Average Talent Ranking on Roster: #1 (Per Rivals)
Schedule
vs. #20 USC (W) 52-6 [Arlington, TX]
vs. Western Kentucky (W) 38-10
@ #19 Ole Miss (W) 48-43
vs. Kent State (W) 48-0
vs. Kentucky (W) 34-6 [Homecoming]
@ #16 Arkansas (W) 49-30
@ #9 Tennessee (W) 49-10
vs. #6 Texas A&M (W) 33-14
@ #13 LSU (W) 10-0
vs. Mississippi State (W) 51-3
vs. Chattanooga (W) 31-3
vs. #13 Auburn (W) 30-12 [Senior Day]
vs. #15 Florida (W) 54-16 [SEC Championship Game]
vs. #4 Washington (W) 24-7 [2016 Peach Bowl]
vs. #2 Clemson (L) 31-35 [2017 CFP National Championship Game]
Leading Passer
Jalen Hurts
240-382 62.8 Pct 2,780 Yds 23 TDs 9 INTs
Leading Rusher
Damien Harris
146 Att 1,037 Yds 7.1 Avg 2 TDs
Leading Receiver
ArDarius Stewart
54 Rec 864 Yds 16.0 Avg 8 TDs
This post was edited on 5/4/24 at 9:13 pm
4
Posted on 4/28/24 at 11:06 am to RollTide1987
Really wished that Lane Kiffin could have kept his shite together for another week and guided Alabama's offense with the feel he'd developed over the back half of the season. Sark was a good playcaller for us but I don't think he really understood how to run what Kiffin was doing to maximize Hurts' strengths.
Posted on 4/28/24 at 1:18 pm to RollTide1987
quote:
Jonathan Allen (DE), Reuben Foster (LB), and Minkah Fitzpatrick (CB)
Posted on 4/28/24 at 2:09 pm to RollTide1987
Jake Coker on that team and Bama beats everyone by 30 plus points.
Posted on 4/28/24 at 6:58 pm to Diego Ricardo
quote:
Really wished that Lane Kiffin could have kept his shite together for another week and guided Alabama's offense with the feel he'd developed over the back half of the season. Sark was a good playcaller for us but I don't think he really understood how to run what Kiffin was doing to maximize Hurts' strengths.
The back half of the season was when the offense started sputtering. They looked bad offensively against LSU, Chattanooga, Auburn, and Washington. Sarkisian's big mistake was the complete refusal to run the ball after Scarborough got injured. It was like he thought Damien Harris had never seen a snap or something. I will never understand it. If they run even three more times in that second half I think they win. Instead it was just hurry up into a three and out over and over until our defense couldn't hold up. Unlike many, I will never forgive Kiffin or Sarkisian for that whole scenario.
Posted on 5/2/24 at 12:00 am to RollTide1987
This team was a QB away from going down as the Greatest College Football team ever..and I don’t think their would be a debate
Posted on 5/2/24 at 9:59 am to CrimsonCrusade
The offense struggled down the stretch because they figured out how limited Hurts was when you took away what he wanted to do.
I'd argue at that point in his career he was a glorified wishbone QB and would've been benched for almost any of the Saban era starters.
AJ? Yes
Mac? Yes
Tua? Yes
Bryce? Yes
Coker? Yes
Sims? No
McElroy? Maybe
Milroe? Yes
I'd argue at that point in his career he was a glorified wishbone QB and would've been benched for almost any of the Saban era starters.
AJ? Yes
Mac? Yes
Tua? Yes
Bryce? Yes
Coker? Yes
Sims? No
McElroy? Maybe
Milroe? Yes
Posted on 5/2/24 at 10:07 pm to tide06
quote:
Sims? No
Over freshman Hurts? I’d say yes. As a runner Hurts was definitely better though Sims was no slouch there either. Even though he had his own struggles, Sims was still a much better passer than 2016 Hurts. Especially by end of the season when his confidence was so shot. He threw for literally 57 yards against UW.
This post was edited on 5/2/24 at 10:12 pm
Posted on 5/2/24 at 10:10 pm to CrimsonCrusade
quote:
It was like he thought Damien Harris had never seen a snap or something.
Had Jacobs too. Two future NFL starting RBs yet he had Hurts dropping back to throw like 35 times despite him clearly being very uncomfortable. Just run it a few more times and Clemson doesn’t have enough time to pull off that last drive
Posted on 5/2/24 at 10:55 pm to remaster916
I mean, Bama kinda did beat everyone by 30 points that year 
Posted on 5/4/24 at 9:36 am to Vulcan Materials
Most heartbreaking loss of the Saban Era at the end.
I know the offense let them get worn down, but I really thought the defense would rise up at the end and get the one stop for the win. It seemed like Bama's aura of invincibility went away on that 2017 January night...but still an elite program obviously
I know the offense let them get worn down, but I really thought the defense would rise up at the end and get the one stop for the win. It seemed like Bama's aura of invincibility went away on that 2017 January night...but still an elite program obviously
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