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re: Official Alabama assistant coaching search thread: staff complete Edition

Posted on 1/10/18 at 4:05 pm to
Posted by biggsc
32.4767389, 35.5697717
Member since Mar 2009
34209 posts
Posted on 1/10/18 at 4:05 pm to
Per BOL:
Things we're hearing:

** Derrick Ansley moving on to CSU made perfect sense given Nick Saban's decision to go another direction at the coordinator level. Ansley has had opportunities to move up and with UA not a possibility this time around, taking over the D in Fort Collins is the move for the young assistant.

** Expectation continues to be for new defensive staff hire Pete Golding and co-DC/outside linebackers coach Tosh Lupoi to work together in coordinating the front and back ends of the defense. Not exactly sure how the titles will work at this point, but a combined effort is expected.

** Given the departure of Ansley and Golding's background in the secondary, Golding looks to be the obvious choice to coach DBs. That said, we're told that in addition to LB coaches, Saban is also vetting potential candidates who are secondary guys. Again, the call at this point would be for Golding to coach the secondary with a LB coach coming in to replace Jeremy Pruitt at the spot.

** As Josh Newberg Noles247 reported moments ago, Mike Locksley is in the mix for a position at FSU. Locksley would like to make the move back up to the coordinator level, but it isn't clear if new FSU coach Willie Taggart will offer Locksley a title that includes a coordinator designation, something he already has at UA as co-OC to Brian Daboll. Former UF coach Jim McElwain made a similar run at Locksley a year ago but wasn't willing to meet all of Locksley's demands.

** While much of the focus is on the defensive side of the ball at UA, we're hearing that changes on the offensive side of the ball are a possibility -- and they may not be limited to just one spot. The feeling right now is that Daboll will be back for the 2018 season, but, again, a volatile job market could change things in a moment's notice (see: Steve Sarkisian a year ago). If Locksley makes the equivalent of a lateral move to FSU, it will be taken as a sign that Daboll will be around next season, making it impossible for Locks to move up at UA for the time being.

** Pruitt made a strong run at UA strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran only to come up short. Cochran has reached a point in Saban's inner circle where he's not only a valuable presence but a trusted voice as well. Something to consider when looking at decisions for on the field staff.

** As for a timeframe, we're told staff moves will go down sooner rather than later. In other words, prior to NSD in some -- if not all -- instances.

TR
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