Alabama Crimson Tide (official thread of Football, Fake Championships and Banjo)

[pnuts34]

After the euphoria from this class subsides. I wonder how Bama finds immediate success with a roster full of players who are in their 1st year with the program. And to raise another question: Who steps into the HUGE shoes of Bryce Young? Milroe and Simpson were former highly rated QBs, but that means nothing now. Bama has whiffed on a number of highly ranked RBs, OL AND WRs recently. Are we supposed to think they fixed all of that, with I'm sure new asst coaches as well? They make a lot of headlines because of their recruiting prowess, and past success, and they have earned the accolades. But IMO, Bama resembles Miami's recruiting class. Heavy on star power and transfers, but I question how can you build a team like that? Many frosh on both teams will be HEAVILY relied upon to immediately start, one thing that has never changed over generations, is that true frosh are unreliable. And how much team chemistry can be built with the other portion of the starters being transfers(ahem mercenaries)?

 

[cincibuck]

After the euphoria from this class subsides. I wonder how Bama finds immediate success with a roster full of players who are in their 1st year with the program. And to raise another question: Who steps into the HUGE shoes of Bryce Young? Milroe and Simpson were former highly rated QBs, but that means nothing now. Bama has whiffed on a number of highly ranked RBs, OL AND WRs recently. Are we supposed to think they fixed all of that, with I'm sure new asst coaches as well? They make a lot of headlines because of their recruiting prowess, and past success, and they have earned the accolades. But IMO, Bama resembles Miami's recruiting class. Heavy on star power and transfers, but I question how can you build a team like that? Many frosh on both teams will be HEAVILY relied upon to immediately start, one thing that has never changed over generations, is that true frosh are unreliable. And how much team chemistry can be built with the other portion of the starters being transfers(ahem mercenaries)?

The smart ass deep within me wants to ask how this description differs from Ohio State? I think Urbs and Day are from the Saban mentality, the difference being that the Big Ten has not allowed over recruiting and shoving 'have not's" out the door to create more freshman slots. Am I right?

 

[pnuts34]

The smart ass deep within me wants to ask how this description differs from Ohio State? I think Urbs and Day are from the Saban mentality, the difference being that the Big Ten has not allowed over recruiting and shoving 'have not's" out the door to create more freshman slots. Am I right?

Not at all are the coaches the same. Day has frusterated a chunk of the fanbase because he doesn't want to mess up chemistry by just bringing in transfers. Saban has been doing the polar opposite and creating most of his team with transfers and NIL inducement. I can't speak for Urban because he hasn't had to coach in the new CFB climate. But Day and OSU are literally the exact opposite of the strategy that Saban and Bama have employed. The rest of your statement about the B1G is correct though. But the Portal has made it so you don't have to force anyone, they can now leave on their own(or when they're tampered with)

 

[Jaxbuck]

Not at all are the coaches the same. Day has frusterated a chunk of the fanbase because he doesn't want to mess up chemistry by just bringing in transfers. Saban has been doing the polar opposite and creating most of his team with transfers and NIL inducement. I can't speak for Urban because he hasn't had to coach in the new CFB climate. But Day and OSU are literally the exact opposite of the strategy that Saban and Bama have employed. The rest of your statement about the B1G is correct though. But the Portal has made it so you don't have to force anyone, they can now leave on their own(or when they're tampered with)

Day taking the exact opposite path as Saban is one of the things that has made me question Day. People didn't want to hear this part of it last year but here we are and the gap is widening.

No one knows what the best approach is here but you can't discount the disparity in Saban's track record and Day's.

 

[pnuts34]

Day taking the exact opposite path as Saban is one of the things that has made me question Day. People didn't want to hear this part of it last year but here we are and the gap is widening.

No one knows what the best approach is here but you can't discount the disparity in Saban's track record and Day's.

One coach is in the CFP, and the other will be at home watching it...
Nobody still knows what's the best strategy. So what gap is widening?

 

[Jaxbuck]

One coach is in the CFP, and the other will be at home watching it...
Nobody still knows what's the best strategy. So what gap is widening?

Saban continues to use the portal more, Day less. Use of portal gap.

Anyone who wants to put their money down on Day vs Saban can do so. Certainly a bold call.

 

[CMic]

Saban continues to use the portal more, Day less. Use of portal gap.

Anyone who wants to put their money down on Day vs Saban can do so. Certainly a bold call.

I don't see the portal usage as a strategic issue this year - we've been active in multiple areas. It's more of an execution/success issue.

Last year:
- Offense - Didn't go after much as there weren't many holes. I recall going after the OK TE.
- Defense - got the OKSt Safety - think the coaches overestimated our CB and DT rooms (not sure how many decent DTs are out there).

This year:
- Offense - obvious holes in OL - went after a couple of transfers, didn't get any yet. Questions at TE - went after the MD TE, didn't get.
- Defense - going after several DBs

 

[pnuts34]

Saban continues to use the portal more, Day less. Use of portal gap.

Anyone who wants to put their money down on Day vs Saban can do so. Certainly a bold call.

I hear you. But simply bringing in transfers for the sake of bringing in a transfer isn't the best strategy. Just shows that your coaches have failed at developing, and have left recruiting holes.

But at the end of the day, it comes down to NIL, and that doesn't fall on either coach. And we've been in the discussion on countless threads. I'm sure Day would've loved to get more transfers, and get more 5stars, but he doesn't control the collectives...

 

[Jaxbuck]

I don't see the portal usage as a strategic issue this year - we've been active in multiple areas. It's more of an execution/success issue.

Last year:
- Offense - Didn't go after much as there weren't many holes. I recall going after the OK TE.
- Defense - got the OKSt Safety - think the coaches overestimated our CB and DT rooms (not sure how many decent DTs are out there).

This year:
- Offense - obvious holes in OL - went after a couple of transfers, didn't get any yet. Questions at TE - went after the MD TE, didn't get.
- Defense - going after several DBs

He keeps saying he wants to keep portal adds limited while Saban is turning over 40+% of his roster as is the rest of CFB by the averages we have seen.

Time will tell.

 

[Jaxbuck]

But simply bringing in transfers for the sake of bringing in a transfer isn't the best strategy. Just shows that your coaches have failed at developing, and have left recruiting holes.

Totally agree but I don't see Saban doing that. I see him straight up using it to turnover his roster like he used to do with oversigning.

Developmental failures don't have to mean much in this new portal era.

 

[Onebuckfan]

Md TE to Bama.

 

[pnuts34]

Totally agree but I don't see Saban doing that. I see him straight up using it to turnover his roster like he used to do with oversigning.

Developmental failures don't have to mean much in this new portal era.

Those failures do matter when the Portal transfers don't hit(i.e. Burton and Ricks)

 

[Jaxbuck]

Those failures do matter when the Portal transfers don't hit(i.e. Burton and Ricks)

Oh yeah, ultimately a miss is a miss but you've got a lot more to go on with portal kids (would seem to be the logic-I'm not sure I agree).

 

[pnuts34]

Oh yeah, ultimately a miss is a miss but you've got a lot more to go on with portal kids (would seem to be the logic-I'm not sure I agree).

Like you've said, it'd be bold to bet against Saban. And this NIL and Portal will be interesting to follow until rules are finally laid down. But right now, IMO, Bama looks no different than Miami or even aTm on paper. But one program has a legendary HC, and has had a top QB to keep the wheels from falling off.

 

[CMic]

He keeps saying he wants to keep portal adds limited while Saban is turning over 40+% of his roster as is the rest of CFB by the averages we have seen.

Time will tell.

I believe Saban would also prefer to keep portal adds limited.
However, portal departures will force your hand. You assume that Saban's departures are strategic, but he states that he's lost many experienced back-ups that he didn't want to lose.

For tOSU, I'm guessing we'll need to add 5 or so portal players this year just to hit the 85. I'm assuming ~5 portal transfers in addition to the NFL departures.