Nick Saban’s confidence in Tommy Rees sets expectations for quarterback battle

Alabama‘s offense has been one of the major talking points of the offseason, as the Crimson Tide were forced to replace star quarterback Bryce Young and former offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.

The Crimson Tide quarterback competition still continues this offseason, but their new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has already been added to their staff. And at SEC Media Days in Nashville, On3’s Andy Staples and Jesse Simonton believe that head coach Nick Saban‘s comments regarding Rees said a lot about their ongoing competition under center.

“I think something else that Nick Saban said today also should perk up our ears a little bit, they made the coordinator change. He seems to be very comfortable and confident in the fingerprints I think Tommy Rees is putting on Alabama’s offense,” Simonton said. “And so even though we don’t know who is going to be behind center, I think what they look like offensively is going to be different. He thought even though they had this Superman at quarterback, Nick’s words today were we were too pass happy, we leaned too much on Bryce Young’s heroics.”

Nick Saban has to adapt and win in a variety of ways during his lengthy tenure in Tuscaloosa, from seasons like 2020 where Alabama ranked No. 3 in the nation in passing to 2017 where they rushed for 250.6 yards per game. But in both instances the seasons resulted in national championship wins.

“And I’d say that probably goes back to 2020 before Bryce Young was even the starter when you had Mac Jones throwing to an absolute crazy wide receiver group where you get comfortable with that. You get comfortable with moving the ball that way and I realize a different coordinator Bill O’Brien came in after that, but Bryce Young is also that kind of security blanket where we’ll just let Bryce handle it,” Staples explained.

A slew of talent at the quarterback and wide receiver positions as of late have in a way forced Saban to lean into the strengths of those offenses. But with the Crimson Tide quarterback battle still underway, going back to a more physical offensive style reminiscent of a familiar conference may be what we see from Alabama this upcoming season.

“Well again, Georgia and Alabama are going to be linked forever in the modern [era] because of Kirby (Smart) and Nick’s relationship. But I think it’s also very easy to draw a line between these two programs right now and say Nick woke up and realized hey, what they’re doing in Athens where you can be a dynamic offense and while mauling people, let’s get back to that,” Simonton said.

“And look, we know that makes a certain type of Alabama fan very very happy,” Staples added. “There’s a run the damn ball crowd that even as much as they enjoyed the 2020 national title run, it doesn’t feel right to them that Alabama wasn’t necessarily capable of lining up and just running it down somebody’s throat.”

Staples and Simonton believe that the days of Alabama’s strength being in their backfield may be back, boasting an intimidating unit that may lead the way for the Crimson Tide offense, especially if there are question marks at the quarterback position.

“And now you look at the guys they have in the backfield I mean Roydell (Williams), Jase (McClellan), but then the guy that I think we believe at On3 may be the best, the dude’s gonna be a stud. Justice Haynes,” Simonton said with Staples agreeing. “I think by the end of the year could be the best tailback in the SEC and we’re talking about a freshman, I mean that’s something, he has Todd Gurley-esque freshman-type potential.”