There are just too many variables. I don't think you can reasonably predict your offense's performance next year by looking at how many times they were in the "red zone" last year. Bama's talent on the field and coaching from the sidelines will be different next season for sure. But, the defenses they will face will have different talent and in several cases, different coaches and defensive schemes. I think Tennessee has been inside the 20 (which lots of us think of as the" red zone") more times in the last two seasons than any other team in the SEC. They just have not been able to get it across the goal line. Fulmer has been complaining about it since the LSU game last year. Lots of teams regularly get run over between the 20's but tighten up inside the "red zone" and don't get scored on that frequently. Being in the red zone frequently is not necessarily an indication of superior offensive talent on the field, and lack of scoring from the "red zone" is not necessarily an indication of faulty offensive coaching from the sidelines. There is a defense out there and defensive coaches on the other side of the field who have a lot of impact on these things. All that said, it sure is fun listening to Bama fans who seem to spending a lot of time justifying hiring Nick - from their unique perspective. ldskule:
If Saban were to win a NC at Bama within the next two to four years, his bidding price would jump to ten million a year and a contract of no more than three years.
Anything alabama did last year is out the window with the new 2nd rate coaching staff they have. Why 2nd rate? Saban got 3 times as many no's then yes' when trying to hire coaches. Will bama be better then last year? They should be with Saban there. I suspect they will have somewhere around a .500 season. Too many teams will be fired up to play them, and not just beat them, but beat them bad. Saban NEVER had to climb the mountain he now has to climb when he was at LSU. Saban's an average coach with lots of hype. Vandy will beat bama by 10 or more points when they come to Nashville. The pressure on Saban will be huge in his second and 3rd year. I predict there will not be a year 4 and he will never coach in the SEC or NFL again. Question: Had Saban not won the NC at LSU would he be the 4millman at bama? Just a few points put LSU in the BCS championship.
LSU was interested in Major Applewhite as a QB coach. It is a vested risk with him as an OC(I cannot remember who else they hired to help call plays; Terry wil be all over your post to correct me anyway). Kevin Steele, the DC, was a major coup from FSU. He had long been considered one of the candidates to replace Bobby Bowden.
If Bob Stoops hadn't of won his national championship at OU would OU have still given him that huge raise the next season? If Michael Jordan hadn't of won six championships and played like he did would he still be considered one of the greatest players of all time? Athletes/Coaches win championships the truck load of money follows. Not sure how Saban's is any different.
Neither were his first choices. MA has always wanted to be at Bama and Steele wanted to be guaranteed to be the next HC after Bowden. Since that did not happen he left. Each coach has some nice strengths which does not compensate for all the weaknesses of an average staff.
What specifically is "average" about the staff and what are "all the weaknesses"? Steele has been apart of some very very stout, agressive and successful defenses at FSU, one of the S & C coaches I believe was a former LSU coach, the rb's coach is said to be one of the best rb's coaches and recruiters in the nation. But then again I haven't closely followed any of these guys other than hearing their names in the media while at other schools. Obviously you have more inside and in depth information regarding their coaching abilities.
Saban wanted to bring in Tommy Moffitt, the S & C coordinator for LSU, but he turned Saban down twice.
