SECMD22: New world of Saban in full view at Media Days
Nick Saban had plenty to smile about when discussing the upcoming season for the Alabama Crimson Tide. (Courtesy Unv. Alabama Media Relations)
By TIM GAYLE
If you were looking for any insight into Alabama’s upcoming football season, you weren’t going to get it from Nick Saban at SEC Media Days.
Saban, speaking at the annual event in Atlanta, spent less time talking about his team and more about the value of a collegiate football career with the Crimson Tide.
Welcome to the new world of college football, where name, image and likeness, along with the transfer portal, have created a shaky future based on the whims of players who are challenging traditional ideas regarding recruiting and transfers.
Yes, Alabama is in its traditional position of being a team that can determine the championship on a conference and national scale, but getting to the end of the season can be challenging for any team, regardless of record, because of the team chemistry. The Crimson Tide added five players via the transfer portal -- Vanderbilt offensive lineman Tyler Steen, Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia receiver Jermaine Burton, Louisville receiver Tyler Harrell and LSU cornerback Eli Ricks -- but while the expectations for those players are high among fans and college football analysts, how they fit into the Crimson Tide football puzzle remains to be seen.
“As we always do, it’s kind of like here we go again in making predictions about how young people, adolescents, will perform in the future,” Saban said. “So that’s why we play the games, that’s why we have a season, so that we can sort of see how we grow and develop, how the team develops, sort of all the things you need to develop on a team, the togetherness, the positive energy and attitude, people
being responsible for their own self-determination, the work, preparation, ability to overcome adversity, pride in performance that allows the team to play with the consistency you need to be successful for the entire season, especially in the SEC, which is a very challenging league.
“I think it's also more difficult than ever to sort of predict how your team is going to develop in all these areas because we have more turnover on rosters in terms of how do you create a sense of object constancy, which we all strive for in our lives, sense of belonging, sense of family, sense of
consistency in what's coming next, what the challenges are, who I am, where I'm going, how I'm going to get there.
“I think it's also probably because of a lot of the changes that we have in college football as we move forward. It’s also very, very important to stay focused on what do you need to do to have a program that creates value for players and their future in terms of their personal development, their academic development, ability to develop a career off the field, which really prepares them for their future after football, and how can they develop a career as a football player.”
Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young returns at quarterback, but he’s about the only sure thing on an offense that includes four other returners -- tight end Cameron Latu, a former defensive player who has shown flashes of brilliance but still needs improvement to be an every-down player for the Tide; left guard Javion Cohen, as good as any guard in the conference but one who has battled off-the-field issues this summer; right guard Emil Ekiyor, probably one of the more consistent linemen on the team; and center Darrian Dalcourt, who battled injuries and replacement Seth McLaughlin late last season.
If those three linemen return to 2021 form and Steen can step in as a tackle, the other tackle position could be filled by either JC Latham or Kendall Randolph and be a good unit, although it wasn’t particularly stellar last season.
“I think that’s one of the biggest challenges, the offensive line rebuild that we need to do,” Saban said. “I’m excited about the coach that we have at that position. Coach (Eric) Wolford has done a really good job with the players and relationship building, fundamental progress. We do have some new players that may contribute to that that weren’t there in the spring. That’s something that we’ll have to sort of assess in fall camp.”
Obviously, one of those is Steen. Another is five-star freshman Elijah Pritchett. Wolford worked his magic last year at Kentucky and served previously at South Carolina. Before that, he was the offensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
“I’m super excited to watch them and to see this process,” Young said. “I feel like they have learned a lot. We had our three interior guys coming back, and we have some guys stepping up and
starting to play.”
There are also obvious questions at wide receiver, a position that was exposed late last year as Jameson Williams and John Metchie were sidelined by injuries. JoJo Earle and Ja’Corey Brooks made contributions last year and can help Burton and Harrell, but the group remains a mystery entering fall practice. Junior Traeshon Holden and freshman Aaron Anderson are among those who could emerge as targets this fall.
At running back, Gibbs will battle Trey Sanders, Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams and freshman Jamarion Miller for playing time in a group deep with experience but shallow on proven leadership. Placekicker Will Reichard and punter James Burnip also return as assets for the Tide.
Defensively, the Tide is scary good on paper with seven returning starters and no weaknesses, although games are never played on paper.
Two of the three defensive linemen return -- DJ Dale and Byron Young -- but replacing Phidarian Mathis will be a key concern and obviously the group needs proven depth. Justin Eboigbe, Tim Smith and redshirt freshman Damon Payne are among those who could step into a starting role but others need to develop.
Inside linebacker Christian Harris must be replaced and backup Ian Jackson or freshman Shawn Murphy are possibilities, but the other inside position is anchored by Henry To’o To’o and the outside linebacker position includes some of the best players in the business, including starters Will Anderson and Dallas Turner and backups Kendrick Blackshire and Chris Braswell, along with incoming freshman Jeremiah Alexander.
In the secondary, Alabama often played six players last year that included safeties Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellums, cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Jalyn Armour-Davis and nickelbacks Malachi Moore and Brian Branch. Jobe and Armour-Davis were sidelined with injuries late in the season and were replaced in the lineup by Kool Aid McKinstry and Khyree Jackson.
Battle, Hellums, Moore, Branch, McKinstry and Jackson return, along with Ricks at cornerback and redshirt freshman Terrion Arnold at safety, giving the Crimson Tide the potential to have one of its best secondaries ever.
But Saban never makes predictions, comparisons or answers hypothetical questions, so don’t ask him what he thinks of the potential.
“The biggest challenge is how do we replace the corners that we lost because corner is probably the one position that puts the greatest restriction on what you can do on defense,” Saban said. “That’s going to be a significant challenge for us.
“Are the players on our team all going to buy into the principles and values and standards of the organization so that we can create the kind of identity that will create the kind of consistency and performance we need to have an actual team? I think that one of the most important things for Bryce or any player who has success is to understand that success is not a continuum. Success is momentary. So if you’re going to continue to have success, you have to stay focused on the things you need to do to improve, to prepare, to lead, to impact and affect other people around you.”