re: After processing all that has happened... I think Bama will be much improved

The Eye of Sauron sees all, eh? I agree with your points. I think my pithy analysis reduces down to this: we downgraded at head coach but upgraded at nearly every new hire for on-field staff.

You can't help but be a downgrade when replacing Nick Saban at head coach, no shame in that...he's got big shoes to fill. But the late stage Nick Saban era staff was piss poor compared to its zenith in the mid 2010s.