re: Is Saban the best at getting the most out of his players?

He went 6-6 with Shula players.

The 12-0 was after signing the best class in SEC history which contributed a LOT that year.

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So Saban can win with Freshman?

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Sounds like getting the most out of your players to me.

Yeah I think he's really good with that and i'll say Gary Pinkel high up there up too, overall it's some really good coaches in this league.

when saban does not have the best talent on the field, he loses with regularity. he lost regularly at Michigan state, he lost at the beginning of the lsu gig, he lost in the nfl, he broke even his first year at bama. he lost a game this season even when he had more overall talent, which is a compliment to the coach who kicked his arse with less talent.

yea it was so bad that time he beat number 1 ohio state in columbus with a bunch of scrubs

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There are plenty of coaches who could compete for championships year in and year out with the type of recruiting classes that are hired by Alabama

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I wouldn't say plenty.....a few maybe. One of Saban's main strengths is getting his players to remain even keeled from one season to the next. Typically, when Bama is highly ranked in the pre-season, that's how they finish. This isn't the case with every coach is it?

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Lets say you had a team full of 0, 2, and 3 stars . Would Saban be your first choice to get that team 10 or more wins

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Judging by Nick Saban's overall head coaching record, Hes the best at getting the best out his best players. It takes a different mindset to get the best out of players that are 3 star and below.

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Check his Michigan State record of championships and you will have your answer.

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Maybe you expect every one to be at the top of their profession from day 1 or be considered a failure, but that's just not real life.

Besides 1 year at Toledo a decade before he was at Michigan State, this was his first real head coaching job. I think it's safe to say he's come along as a coach since his time at MSU. Also the folks at LSU obviously thought he did enough at MSU to deserve a shot. Paid off well in the short time period he was at LSU.

And I also think it's safe to say he is a much better coach today than even when he was at LSU.

If you doubt Saban's coaching ability still to this day, especially after this year where he has adapted and brought in elements of HUNH and is still winning, then you just won't ever be able to recognize a good coaching job.

Or you're in denial. Yea, that's probably it.

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If you doubt Saban's coaching ability still to this day, especially after this year where he has adapted and brought in elements of HUNH and is still winning, then you just won't ever be able to recognize a good coaching job.

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That isn't coaching, thats adapting. You don't consider a business an innovator if they bring in practices that have been successful elsewhere for years.

I think Saban is a very good to great coach, if you just look at on the field calls, strategy, etc. He is probably the best recruiter ever, definitely in the modern era. When you put those together, along with his motivational skills, you have the most complete package in football.

Saban can be out coached. But the talent he recruits and his ability to get his players to play hard for 60 minutes makes up for the few mistakes he does make.