Saban - best ever and will never be topped

[Apoplectic_Objurgator]

Deserves all the respect and accolades.

Now ncaa cut scholarships to 55 and level
The field the game has lost
A step

 

[Maroon Eagle]

He adapts better than any other coach in the game and takes full advantage of his resources.

 

[PineGroveBully]

Can we limit his supply of little Debbie oatmeal pies ?

 

[Trojanbulldog19]

He adapts better than any other coach in the game and takes full advantage of his resources.

True the best coaches adapt and evolve over time and keep changing their systems to find the best ways to beat their opponent and dominate. Coaches that can’t learn and adapt usually don’t make it. Saban 2009 would just bludgeoned opponents with defense and pounding the ball down your throat to today they throw it over you around you and still run through you. It’s amazing to see the evolution. 5 stars every definitely makes that easier but his way of coaching and understanding the games is just one the best we will ever see

 

[PineGroveBully]

If only he had of chosen Drew Brees instead of Daunte Culpepper when he was with Miami.....

 

[Ranchdawg]

He could have been a mediocre NFL coach or a giant riding on booster shoulders. He choose wisely. Glad I don't waste time watching the highest paid college team play football. Did anybody seriously believe anyone else had a shot at the NC this year?

 

[Maroonthirteen]

True the best coaches adapt and evolve over time and keep changing their systems to find the best ways to beat their opponent and dominate. Coaches that can’t learn and adapt usually don’t make it. Saban 2009 would just bludgeoned opponents with defense and pounding the ball down your throat to today they throw it over you around you and still run through you. It’s amazing to see the evolution. 5 stars every definitely makes that easier but his way of coaching and understanding the games is just one the best we will ever see

Yep. Also he seems to lose a major assistant every season and rebounds with another guy.

Saban is as talented as his players.

 

[PirateDawg]

NFL Champion should get first 7 draft picks!

That way it would be as fair as college football!

Deserves all the respect and accolades.

Now ncaa cut scholarships to 55 and level
The field the game has lost
A step

 

[Leeshouldveflanked]

Alabama- The Original Network.

 

[$altyDawg]

This is true. He gets the best players and gets the most out of them.

 

[Russ Wheeler]

There's never been anything special about his X/O coaching, which is probably why he failed in the NFL. What he has mastered is recruiting at the college level, and then keeping them motivated. Of course, he now has an atmosphere where 5 stars compete with 5 stars, so it's easier, but he gets credit for building it.

 

[Russ Wheeler]

True the best coaches adapt and evolve over time and keep changing their systems to find the best ways to beat their opponent and dominate. Coaches that can’t learn and adapt usually don’t make it. Saban 2009 would just bludgeoned opponents with defense and pounding the ball down your throat to today they throw it over you around you and still run through you. It’s amazing to see the evolution. 5 stars every definitely makes that easier but his way of coaching and understanding the games is just one the best we will ever see

I don't buy this huge adaptation or modernization deal. The rules changed and dictated that you could hardly hit a QB or WR anymore, so sure, it pays to pass more. And obviously he's got his pick of the best players, so this is what you get. Nothing genius about what he's doing. He could run any scheme he wanted.

Keep in mind, I do agree that him adapting to those rules is a good move. But let's not give him TOO MUCH credit for doing what every Tom, Dick and Harry knows you should do.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

What incentive does the NCAA have to do this?

Now ncaa cut scholarships to 55 and level

They are making tons of money with the current system. The big programs benefit the most and they are the ones who call the shots. The NCAA has no reason to change anything. Equal competition is nowhere in their plans.

 

[Apoplectic_Objurgator]

There's never been anything special about his X/O coaching, which is probably why he failed in the NFL. What he has mastered is recruiting at the college level, and then keeping them motivated. Of course, he now has an atmosphere where 5 stars compete with 5 stars, so it's easier, but he gets credit for building it.

I personally know two 5 stars that went to bama. They were some of the best to play ball in my small town. They were sent packing in less than a year. The saban standard is high

 

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

He's the world checkers champion. Impressive, but it's not chess.

 

[Maroonthirteen]

1996-2009. All you have to do is look at that era to understand this doesn't automatically happen at Alabama. Saban has lead that program to its highest level.

As for "he does nothing special X and Os wise"....... that's comical. His defenses are extremely sophisticated and require a lot of the players mentally in preparation and execution.

 

[msstatelp1]

I personally know two 5 stars that went to bama. They were some of the best to play ball in my small town. They were sent packing in less than a year. The saban standard is high

I think this is what hurt him at the pro level. He's totally in charge at Bama. His way or the hiway. He couldn't do that in the NFL with the owner having a say and the players having a say, etc.

 

[Mobile Bay]

There's never been anything special about his X/O coaching, which is probably why he failed in the NFL. What he has mastered is recruiting at the college level, and then keeping them motivated. Of course, he now has an atmosphere where 5 stars compete with 5 stars, so it's easier, but he gets credit for building it.

And he is better at shutting down ego's than anybody else. They always play 100% as a team. No individuals on the field.

 

[Russ Wheeler]

As for "he does nothing special X and Os wise"....... that's comical. His defenses are extremely sophisticated and require a lot of the players mentally in preparation and execution.

Not it's not, it's common sense. His players don't have to think much, which again, is one reason why he's a great college coach. And they are always elite fundamentally. But it's the personnel that makes it go at a dynasty level. He definitely is great at the mental part, but again, that's not what I mean by X/Os.

 

[jdbulldog]

There are a lot of good coaches who cannot take the best players and win just about every game they play. Saban is one who can. He deserves all the credit in the world.

 

[Maroonthirteen]

Also, Jesse Palmer had a great point last night. Bear won NCs playing 11 games. Saban is winning NCs playing 14-15 games.

 

[patdog]

It was just a different era back then. Bear only had to play 6 SEC games and you rarely had the #1 and #2 teams matched up in a bowl game (much less a semi-final round against #3 or #4), but he wasn't able to recruit nationally or hire unlimited analysts like Saban can. The level of dominance Saban has achieved is unprecedented and it's not even close. Part is because he's the smartest and most adaptable coach ever, and part is because of the advances in recruiting, technology and data analytics available now. But I think overall, it's bad for college football.

 

[o_HuntDawg]

Not it's not, it's common sense. His players don't have to think much, which again, is one reason why he's a great college coach. And they are always elite fundamentally. But it's the personnel that makes it go at a dynasty level. He definitely is great at the mental part, but again, that's not what I mean by X/Os.

Couldn't disagree with this take. If you've ever listened to analyst or people that really know football, then they'll tell you that the defense is very complex. Lots of checks and you have to have guys that understand what everyone else does on every play. Everyone else being the key phrase

To say his players don't have to think much is one of the most comical things I've heard.

Now the front 4, thats easy, just line up and beat the guy infront of you.

The back 7, is as complex as any in football. Which is why some elite players can't play for him or it takes them a few a year or two to understand the system to be able to play in it.

I've watched analyst talk about it and even saban on breakdown of certain plays. One motion can change the blitz/coverage for all 7 guys in the back, and they all have to be smart enough to know it to play FAST like you said. But its complex and Hes very good at teaching it and finding players that fit his system.

FINALLY-- if sabans defense was easy to run... it would be copy-catted by everyone in the country, yet it hasn't been and can't be.

 

[patdog]

He didn't exactly fail too badly at the pro level. He was 15-17 at a very poorly manged team. In the season before he got there and after he left, they were 5-27. Of course he would have never matched his college career in the NFL, but he could have been a consistent playoff coach with a Super Bowl title at the right team.

 

[Shmuley]

Can we offer to put up his statue at DWS if he agrees to retire?

 

[QuadrupleOption]

Deserves all the respect and accolades.

Now ncaa cut scholarships to 55 and level
The field the game has lost
A step

The thing that keeps coming to mind for me is that once Saban retires, who's going to be the poor bastard they hire to replace him? There's no way to sustain that type of success unless you find a guy with the same attributes as Saban. Good luck with that.

I mean, they'll still be good, but not dominating like they have been since his second season. His teams have lost 17 games TOTAL since 2007. That's insane.

 

[ronpolk]

Best college coach ever for sure.

Just remember he couldn’t cut it in the NFL and tucked his tail and ran after he realized he made a bad QB decision.

 

[PineGroveBully]

Hands down the best football coach under 5’7 in the history of the sport

 

[PirateDawg]

Let's hope he wins 10 more NCs at Alabama!

 

[PirateDawg]

So you're friends with players that were thrown off teams. You hang with some neat folks.

I personally know two 5 stars that went to bama. They were some of the best to play ball in my small town. They were sent packing in less than a year. The saban standard is high