re: Bama Football Tidings

LINK ]Sources: Steele heads back to Alabama as defensive coordinator (espn)

LINK ]After The Whistle: Grading Alabama's coordinator hires (247)

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TOMMY REES, KEVIN STEELE LAND AT ALABAMA

Watching Notre Dame's bowl win over South Carolina last season, the singlemost important factor in the contest wasn't on the field, but worked in the booth for the Fighting Irish. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees was a magician against the Gamecocks, keeping the defense off-balance with an array of well-executed third-down decisions and a ground-and-pound approach in the second half that seemed to take the life out of the opposition. Remember when that was Alabama's mantra with gargantuan-sized running backs and elite offensive line play?

Notre Dame's game-winning drive spanned 80 yards over 12 plays and took 6:04 off the clock, a mentality Alabama fans can look forward to in 2023. The hotshot play-caller helped quarterback Tyler Buchner prepare for his first start in several months throughout bowl practice and he finished with a career-best five touchdowns against the Gamecocks, accounting for 334 yards of total offense. Rees put him in position to succeed and outside of a couple bad decisions leading to turnovers, Buchner was a difference-maker under center.

In mid-October last season, I cautiously noted "nine reasons Saban had lost his grip" on the playoff race after the loss at Tennessee exposed underlying issues for the Crimson Tide. Bad secondary play and widespread discipline issues on both sides of the football led Alabama to become one of the most penalized teams in the country. Those were the flies in the ointment at the time for the Crimson Tide, which lost at LSU a few weeks later and failed to win the SEC West.

Part of the issue was Alabama’s coaching staff beneath Saban under-performing when provided with spotlight opportunities and the writing was on the wall that changes were going to be made in Tuscaloosa at season's end. Bill O'Brien was on an expiring contract, but left on his own accord, as did Pete Golding, who bolted for Ole Miss. And now that the smoke has settled, Rees feels like the right fit at the right time for Saban, whose offense will return to balanced looks in 2023. The addition of Steele means this Crimson Tide defense will get back to basics and strengthen its physical mentality. When Alabama is elite on that side of the football, the Crimson Tide bring the fight to the opposition. That's what Steele's units try to do in a nutshell. Both of these hires get B+ grades and should help Alabama return to the national championship picture.

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anyone got an updated roster with new coaches yet

LINK ]13 former Alabama players land invite to NFL Scouting Combine (On3/BI)

I don't think we should be in the top 10 to start next season. But, the media will see it otherwise. I think we have too many questions right now with coaching and personnel to be a top 10 team.

I'm sorry, I know we shouldn't be personal around here.

But Shaft, you are a fricking idiot and your "I know more about CFB than anyone else and Bama sucks" schtick is getting fricking old. We could be replacing every single starter, and with our recruiting we would still be a top 10 team. You don't seem to realize how bad most of the top 10 is most years.

TCU was in the top 4, and our second team would have beaten them. KSU was top 10 when we beat them. Tulane and Utah were too. 4 loss Utah was a top 10 team to end the year.

Bama should be a top 2 team next year based on recruiting and Nick Saban alone. Period.

edit: and I acknowledge there are question marks everywhere.

How do you let an opinion drive you to such lengths? It's sad. Get a grip.

If it was all about talent we would have won a natty or at least made the playoff. We will have a new QB, some new OLmen, new OC and DC. So, in my opinion, we have too many question marks to be a top 10 PRESEASON (preseason rankings don't mean anything anyway).

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What makes you think anyone here cares?

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Why are you talking to me?

I think I saw ESPN have us at 5 and UGA at #1. I can see us at 5 but not UGA at 1.

It’s all about the QB play in the end