Alabama Football: Sarkisian could become Saban’s best OC by Ronald Evans Alabama football, Offensive Coordinator, Steve Sarkisian spoke to the media before Fan Day. Based on his attitude and comments, the Tide offense can be better than last season.

Press conferences don’t win football games. But Alabama football fans have a good reason to believe in Steve Sarkisian. Watching and listening to Sark, it is easy to be enthusiastic.

Our excitement leads to two bold suppositions. The 2019 Crimson Tide offense can be better than the record-setting offense of 2018. Steve Sarkisian can become the best OC of the Alabama football, Saban-era.

Why such optimistic speculation? It is not all about Sark. The Alabama football roster is loaded with talent. Tua is arguably the most gifted quarterback in college football. The Tide is loaded at running back. It has the best wide receiving group in Crimson Tide history and the best nationally this season.

The offensive line must prove itself and the tight end roster is not deep. Those two units don’t have to be great. Very good should be enough, given the abundance of talent elsewhere – and there is little reason to doubt very good is achievable.

So Sark has the weapons. He also has a track record of being a skilled tactician. Jim McElwain is underrated for his Tide offenses. Lane Kiffin used wizard-like skills to befuddle defenses. Sark is like neither and he could become better than both.

Based on Sarkisian’s comments on Saturday, the new Crimson Tide offense will be so multi-faceted, it will be difficult to label. It will blend Sark’s West Coast roots with RPO, power running and play-action passing.

As Sark said in the video below, it all starts with the running game. From that, he wants efficiency in the passing game. The Tide’s ‘Red’ formation will be featured. That formation is four wides, one running back and no tight ends. Sarkisian explained his potential use of the formation,

We’ve got to continue to try and develop that package to make sure when we use it we’re not just throwing four wide receivers on the field, but there’s a rhyme and a reason why we’re doing what we’re doing.

That is the tactician in Steve Sarkisian talking. For those Tide fans unsure of Sark’s tactical skills, a little history should help. Sarkisian was an outstanding quarterback at BYU. He was coached by Norm Chow who is considered one of the best offensive minds ever, at any level of football. Sark does not get much credit for it, but he helped Lane Kiffin learn from Chow at USC. Bottom line, Tide fans would have to go back to Homer Smith for an Alabama football OC who understood offensive football more than Steve Sarkisian.

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by RollTide66

Atlanta

Member since Nov 2015

3005 posts

Posted on 8/4/19 at 11:21 am to RollTide66

Alabama Football: 10 player nuggets after two practice sessions by Ronald Evans

quote:
Saturday’s Alabama football Fan Day was the second practice session of fall camp. Check out these 10 nuggets about Crimson Tide players.

After two practice sessions, it is far too early to come to any conclusions about Alabama football players. That does not mean there are no items of note about players in the early sessions.

Until there is full contact action in pads and at least a scrimmage, we will not offer any predictions. In the interim, all observations are hints about what may transpire.

Before diving into the nuggets, there is a bit more information on injured players. As expected LaBryan Ray and Miller Forristall did not work Saturday. Joining them on the missing list was defensive back, Nigel Knott. Knott’s ailment is not known. Nick Saban said Knott is out for medical reasons. Five other players were in black, no-contact jerseys Saturday. They were Najee Harris, Darrian Dalcourt, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Xavier Williams and Scooby Carter. None are believed to have any serious problem.
Ten Alabama football player nuggets

Multiple reports state Terrell Lewis is in great shape following his injury recovery. Terrell has stated he believes he is at 100 percent. On Saturday, Nick Saban said, "We’ll probably try to manage his reps to some degree, but he practiced all day yesterday. He’s worked hard all summer. He is back to a level higher than he was before he got hurt two years ago."

Those are the most welcome words heard by Alabama football fans since early January. A healthy Terrell Lewis, perhaps a better player than ever before, could redefine the Crimson Tide defense.

-Jared Mayden is in the mix to start at safety in the nickel defense. He will have to beat out Shyheim Carter to do it.
-Early indications are the Tide defensive staff prefers Patrick Surtain II at Star. In that case, the corner opposite Trevon Diggs could be Josh Jobe or Shy Carter can play the third corner.
-Justin Eboigbe will not be the starter at defensive end once LaBryan Ray returns, but the freshman will be a big part of the rotation this fall.
-Ale Kaho is still working for playing time. He has reportedly added 10-15 pounds. He got some work Saturday with the outside linebackers.
-Ben Davis appears to have a shot at the two-deep at outside linebacker.
-Evan Neal worked some at left guard with the first unit. When Neal came in, Emil Ekiyor moved to center.
-As of Saturday, the second unit cornerbacks appear to be freshman, Brandon Turnage and redshirt freshman, Jalyn Armour-Davis.
-Freshman running back Keilan Robinson had surgery for a meniscus repair in April. There was doubt about him being full speed until mid-season. He may not be at full speed yet but two practices show he may not be far off.
-There will be a punter battle between Skyler DeLong and freshman, Will Reichard.