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Saban: Early signing period screwed up our recruiting last year
Posted on 12/20/18 at 5:53 pm
Posted on 12/20/18 at 5:53 pm
quote:
Alabama finished with the nation’s No. 5 recruiting class last year, ending a seven-year run on top of the recruiting world according to 247Sports.com’s composite ratings.
But the Crimson Tide has returned to form with its 2019 class that’s ranked No. 1 midway through the Early Signing Period.
So what caused that brief slip in recruiting last year? Perhaps the best explanation is that the Class of 2018 was the first to feature an Early Signing Period, which Saban doesn’t seem to be a huge fan of due to the way it shifts recruiting tactics.
Yet Alabama seems to have adjusted in a hurry, and Saban explained what he and his staff did differently this time around when it came to inking prospects in December.
“I think we figured out that you need to get ahead on more players, that more and more players are going to make this their signing date,” Saban said during his Wednesday press conference. “So you’ve got to start the process earlier, you’ve got to get more players in here earlier, you’ve got to develop relationships with them. So I think that’s what we did a little better.
“I think last year, we sort of tried to save more spots for guys that didn’t sign early. And then with all the coaching turnover we had, we lost a lot of relationships with those guys, and I think it hurt us in the end. This year we were probably a little more aggressi
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This post was edited on 12/20/18 at 5:55 pm
Posted on 12/20/18 at 5:56 pm to Bench McElroy
The man adjusts like no one else in the business. I believe Colin Cowherd refers to the technique as "pivoting."
Posted on 12/20/18 at 5:59 pm to RollTide1987
Alabama has a Saban problem
- Colin Cowherd
- Colin Cowherd
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:00 pm to Bench McElroy
Probably Saban’s best attribute as a coach - ability and willingness to change and adapt. He’s had so much success it would be easy to try and “stick with what has worked before” but if something that worked before isn’t working as well anymore he changes it and quickly. From recruiting, to style of offense, to type of defensive players he recruits, he continues to learn from others and then do it better.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:01 pm to Bench McElroy
Was it because they weren't used to making the payments so early?
They seemed to make it work this season. Only took one season to adjust and get the donors to get that money a little faster.
They seemed to make it work this season. Only took one season to adjust and get the donors to get that money a little faster.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:02 pm to RollTide1987
JMO but I would bet 90% of the HC's at the top 20 programs don't like the early deal. The lesser programs HC's are in favor because the Top Dawg programs can't come in an poach the better recruits those last two weeks before the old NSD due to them missing out on their A-list players.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:07 pm to Bench McElroy
Every SEC West team had a better class this year than they did last year. Alabama went from 5th to 1st. That is the second smallest improvement in the division.
Saban can blame last year’s class vs this year’s on anything he wants, but it was really just standard variance.
Saban can blame last year’s class vs this year’s on anything he wants, but it was really just standard variance.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:12 pm to skadoosh14
quote:
Saban can blame last year’s class vs this year’s on anything he wants, but it was really just standard variance.
It's the highest rated class in Alabama history.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:20 pm to RollTide1987
According to what? Your total points are still less than 2017’s class according to 246, so we’ll have to wait until your remaining 2-3 croots sign.
Point is, this isn’t a redemption story. Alabama had a down year last year. It happens.
Point is, this isn’t a redemption story. Alabama had a down year last year. It happens.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:31 pm to skadoosh14
quote:
According to what?
Average rating per recruit:
2007 - 87.81 (25 commits)
2008 - 91.20 (32 commits)
2009 - 91.39 (27 commits)
2010 - 89.95 (25 commits)
2011 - 92.19 (25 commits)
2012 - 93.40 (26 commits)
2013 - 93.25 (26 commits)
2014 - 93.65 (26 commits)
2015 - 93.73 (24 commits)
2016 - 92.54 (25 commits)
2017 - 93.76 (29 commits)
2018 - 91.94 (22 commits)
2019 - 94.04 (26 commits)
quote:
Point is, this isn’t a redemption story.
No one is calling it a redemption story. People are simply pointing out that Saban believes the early signing period hurt our class last year. He didn't hurt us this year because he changed how he went after recruits.
This post was edited on 12/20/18 at 6:34 pm
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:34 pm to Bench McElroy
Nothing personal but your head coach is a pussy. You know it and I know it.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:36 pm to RollTide1987
I think the point is why is Saban getting more credit for adjusting than the improvement every other coach made? A marginally better #1 class compared to 10 other #1 classes...yawn
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:37 pm to lsufball19
quote:
I think the point is why is Saban getting more credit for adjusting than the improvement every other coach made?
Why does the coach of the #1 team generally get more credit than the coach who finished with the #2 team? Because he did it better.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:38 pm to Bench McElroy
That's funny.
Saban and I agree in our dislike of the early signing period.
You are tying recruits down before the "silly season" when all of the assistant coaches shuffle around. Kids are committing to the individuals who promise the parents that they will keep a watchful eye. And then that coach leaves but the LOI is already turned in.
Saban sees it.
He knows it screws the kids.
But adapt, baby. Adapt.
Saban and I agree in our dislike of the early signing period.
You are tying recruits down before the "silly season" when all of the assistant coaches shuffle around. Kids are committing to the individuals who promise the parents that they will keep a watchful eye. And then that coach leaves but the LOI is already turned in.
Saban sees it.
He knows it screws the kids.
But adapt, baby. Adapt.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:41 pm to RollTide1987
quote:
Why does the coach of the #1 team generally get more credit than the coach who finished with the #2 team? Because he did it better.
Still over your head
Saban has signed 10 #1 classes at Alabama. He made no more impressive an adjustment to the the new signing period as any other coach did. As another poster already pointed out, last years class had nothing to do with the early signing period but was simply standard deviation. But people can’t help themselves but to create more reasons to kiss Saban’s arse
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:44 pm to meansonny
quote:
But adapt, baby. Adapt.
Like someone else said, that's one of his best qualities. Lots of really, really good coaches stubbornly hold on to what they like to do even when it starts to produce diminishing returns (cough *Les Miles* cough).
Saban just adjusts and moves on.
Remember "Is this really what we want football to be?" Crowd said yes. It's a safe bet Saban still doesn't like it, but he's now running it as good or better as anyone in the nation.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:46 pm to JoseyWalesTheOutlaw
Well thats why it was created.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:49 pm to labamafan
Excuses are like assholes - everybody has one.
Posted on 12/20/18 at 6:54 pm to Bench McElroy
So being caught off guard about the impact of early signing period (when other coaches were not) is now some sign of genius. Not that he’s not a great coach and recruiter, just that it’s funny that everything he does is proof of his god like genius to Bama fans.
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