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Does anyone have the scoop on the supposed behind-the-scenes issues on the 2018 team?
Posted on 1/18/21 at 12:52 pm
Posted on 1/18/21 at 12:52 pm
I've seen Josh Pate at 247 Sports as well as a few others hint at the issues our 2018 football team struggled with internally. It's one of the reasons why Saban decided to do a hard reset and wipe the slate clean with his assistants, bringing in fresh blood that more closely aligned to his new philosophy. This attitude also apparently affected a number of players. Does anyone have any idea what those issues were?
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Posted on 1/18/21 at 12:56 pm to RollTide1987
At an event, I have heard it directly from Saban's mouth that the recruiting focus a year ago (2019) was on players who felt that the game of football was important and that being a good teammate mattered. He specifically wanted local guys in the program who understood the importance of rivalries.
To me it fits in with the ever-evolving landscape of transfers and "opting out." You can fill a team with four and five-stars, but it's been demonstrated over these past few seasons that you have to get players who want to win for their team and their fans, and don't act like free agents looking to jump at the next best opportunity, or don't want to work hard because they are biding their time for the NFL.
To me it fits in with the ever-evolving landscape of transfers and "opting out." You can fill a team with four and five-stars, but it's been demonstrated over these past few seasons that you have to get players who want to win for their team and their fans, and don't act like free agents looking to jump at the next best opportunity, or don't want to work hard because they are biding their time for the NFL.
Posted on 1/18/21 at 12:56 pm to RollTide1987
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I've seen Josh Pate at 247 Sports as well as a few others hint at the issues our 2018 football team struggled with internally.
I never heard anything about that. Interesting. Wonder how much of it had to do with the QB position battle? I would guess it was mainly the defensive players though.
Posted on 1/18/21 at 12:58 pm to RollTide1987
From what I recall, there were a lot of rumors of assistant coaches who were super lazy, didn't play well with others, or both.
Posted on 1/18/21 at 1:15 pm to biclops
I heard Cochran was giving upper deckers
Posted on 1/18/21 at 1:22 pm to UASports23
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I heard Cochran was giving upper deckers
Sports trading cards? That doesn't make sense.
Posted on 1/18/21 at 1:24 pm to UASports23
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I heard Cochran was giving upper deckers
No way the facilities had toilets with tanks
Posted on 1/18/21 at 1:33 pm to RollTide1987
I think Locksley was/is extremely overrated as a playcaller.
Posted on 1/18/21 at 4:59 pm to 3moredays
quote:
From what I recall, there were a lot of rumors of assistant coaches who were super lazy, didn't play well with others, or both.
I can believe this.
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I think Locksley was/is extremely overrated as a playcaller.
I absolutely believe this.
As far as players and that shift in recruiting 2018-19, remember that DeVonta, Mac, and Najee, and many others on this year's team were among those Saban has called not just some of the best players he's had but also some of the best people. And Ruggs, Jeudy, and Wills certainly demonstrated they were good teammates by not quitting on the team for the bowl last year. If there were problems, I believe it would be staff.
Posted on 1/18/21 at 7:46 pm to BamaGradinTn
There were rumors a couple years before that that Kirby and Steele got into a fight.
Posted on 1/18/21 at 8:36 pm to Snout Spout
I’m curious to this as well. I heard rumblings of it at the time, and felt like it was staff-related based on that.
I think a lot of assistants are using Alabama to get their own step-up gigs, which is to be expected, but they’re not showing loyalty or respect on the back end, and may have even tried to get some players to transfer out with them.
I do think the Kirby situation caught Saban off guard. Not that he left, but HOW he left. Apparently the Sabans and Smarts were very close for a long time.
I think a lot of assistants are using Alabama to get their own step-up gigs, which is to be expected, but they’re not showing loyalty or respect on the back end, and may have even tried to get some players to transfer out with them.
I do think the Kirby situation caught Saban off guard. Not that he left, but HOW he left. Apparently the Sabans and Smarts were very close for a long time.
Posted on 1/18/21 at 9:21 pm to Orion6
That staff was hired to recruit, but they were almost all self focused, arrogant turds. By the end of the season, half the staff had one foot out the door having leveraged the brand Saban built to get better jobs. There was no loyalty and little effort left by years end. Gattis and Dan Enos are the two names I hear the most. Locksley is a good dude; but his offense was simplistic. Clemson had no problem figuring it out. Such a shame we wasted all that offensive talent and didn’t win the natty that year. Also, Savion Smith may be the worst corner of the Saban era. Dude was terrible.
Posted on 1/18/21 at 11:46 pm to tider04
quote:
Clemson had no problem figuring it out. Such a shame we wasted all that offensive talent and didn’t win the natty that year.
Three Heisman finalists at QB, a RB that finished 5th in Heisman voting, and four likely first-rounders at WR, one of who did win a Heisman.
Posted on 1/19/21 at 4:25 am to BamaGradinTn
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Three Heisman finalists at QB, a RB that finished 5th in Heisman voting, and four likely first-rounders at WR, one of who did win a Heisman.
When you put it like that it's insane that 2018 team didn't win it all. They certainly didn't underachieve during the regular season though as no one came close to beating them. It seems our problems began with the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta and just continued to snow ball until the Clemson game. I mean...look at this freaking roster:
Tua Tagovailoa - #2 in the 2018 Heisman Voting, 1st Round Draft Pick
Jalen Hurts - #2 in the 2019 Heisman Voting
Mac Jones - #3 in the 2020 Heisman Voting, Likely 1st Round Draft Pick
Najee Harris - #5 in the 2020 Heisman Voting, Likely 1st Round Draft Pick
DeVonta Smith - 2020 Heisman Trophy Winner, Likely 1st Round Draft Pick
Jerry Jeudy - 1st Round Draft Pick
Henry Ruggs III - 1st Round Draft Pick
Josh Jacobs - 1st Round Draft Pick
Jaylen Waddle - Likely 1st Round Draft Pick
This post was edited on 1/19/21 at 4:55 am
Posted on 1/19/21 at 5:33 am to RollTide1987
It really started to snowball against State. They produced the blueprint for slowing us down and since the only bullet Locks had in his gun was the RPO we couldn't counter. Then Buggs got hurt against the Barn on a dirty play and Miller got hurt against OU, which crippled our pass rush. Throw in our horrible red zone offense and Saivion Smith being absolutely godawful and you get the only blowout loss of the Saban era. 2016 is the one that pisses me off the most though. We were the better team even with Eddie and Bo getting hurt. Clemson shouldn't have won that game.
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