re: Alabama Hires Patriots' TE Brian Daboll as Offensive Coordinator

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George Godsey and Mark Helfrich are the names 247Sports has heard most often associated with the Alabama offensive coordinator opening.

The 38-year-old Godsey was expected to interview for the job Wednesday, according to BamaOnLine. He has a couple of things working for him, our industry sources are saying: One is his background working on Bill O’Brien and Bill Belichick’s NFL offensive staffs the past few years. Belichick’s endorsement would surely be a ringing one considering Nick Saban’s friendship with the ultra-successful Patriots coach.

Godsey, a former Georgia Tech quarterback, also once worked on a staff at UCF with Tide offensive line coach Brent Key.

Godsey was let go by Houston after this past season - but one source said he didn’t think Saban would judge Godsey too harshly based on the Texans’ quarterback situation.

We’re told by sources that Helfrich is not as strong of a candidate, though he does have an extensive background as a quarterback developer.

The bulk of that experience was in the Pac-12, just as was the case with Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian. That may work against Helfrich in this case, with one source indicating that Saban is considering gravitating back toward a more pro-style-centric play-caller.

The sources say it’s also possible that recently promoted assistant Mike Locksley could move into the play-caller role. If that does happen, Saban would likely still be on the hunt for a quarterbacks coach.

Locksley was promoted from an analyst position to a full-time assistant when Mario Cristobal left for Oregon. On Jan. 20, he was named co-OC with Sarkisian.

We’ve been told by those close to the program that FSU assistant Tim Brewster is under consideration for the staff’s other opening, vacated by Billy Napier taking the Arizona State OC position.

One source we spoke with believed Napier was ultimately passed over for the Bama OC role, prompting his decision to leave and take a play-calling gig. Those close to the program say Saban had known for a week or two that Sarkisian would take the Falcons job after signing day.

CHIP KELLY
Even before reportedly declining interest Wednesday, multiple sources were telling us that Chip Kelly to Alabama was a “fantasy.”

“Those egos in one room?” one industry source said, laughing. “I can’t even imagine.”

Another source thought there was enough mutual respect that Kelly and Saban at least talked about the job — and that they left the door open for Kelly to visit Alabama and exchange ideas with Saban.

He said Saban will “meet with anyone” if he thinks it’ll help his program stay sharp. Kelly has a similar penchant for consultation.

“They both love to tinker, maybe more than any coaches I’ve been around,” one SEC coach said last month, adding that Saban is not credited enough with how he’s been willing to adapt and evolve without losing balance.

The coach used Charlie Strong at Texas as an example of change causing unintended consequences.

“He repaired the offense only to kind of lose the defense,” he said. “(Saban) always has a feel of what to change and what not to change, what’s too much change.”

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