Nick Saban details how former assistants identify key to beating Alabama

Nick Saban’s former assistant coaches have started to win some more games against him of late after a long run of the master continuing to school his pupils. Following the latest loss, this time to Texas head coach and former Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, Saban reflected on how some of his former assistants have beaten him.

During what will be a weekly appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Saban shared how Sarkisian and others have gotten a leg up. It starts with studying the head coach and keeping notes of trouble spots for Alabama while up close and personal.

“I think what I’ve learned is I don’t take notes on myself, those guys take notes,” Saban said with a grin. “They have all those notes and say, ‘Well, what gives them problems?’ And they know most of the things that give us problems, which we saw.”

Texas did a number of things to stymy Alabama on Saturday. The big, athletic Texas defensive line allowed the Longhorns to drop bodies into coverage and challenge Jalen Milroe. Sarkisian had a deft hand in play calling, dialing up shot plays and manipulating coverages brilliantly when Texas was on offense.

And it all resulted in a 34-24 win for the Longhorns.

“So that’s good. I think that’s good coaching on their part. It’s good development for them and their future and they’re ready to take advantage of an opportunity when it comes,” Saban said.

He wasn’t surprised to see Sarkisian make this evolution into a high-level coach after the years he spent with him on the Alabama staff.

Saban sang his praises, and those of Texas, to McAfee and Co after Sarkisian led the Longhorns into hostile territory and pulled off something not many former Saban assistants have.

“But I’ve always said Sark is one of the best coaches we’ve ever had the opportunity to work with on our staff. And he’s certainly done a really good job at Texas and I think that Texas has a really good team,” Saban said. “I felt that when we were going into the game to play. I think we have a really good team as well. But they have an experienced quarterback, they’ve got really good skill guys on offense. They got great balance. They’re very well coached and their defense is playing better. So this is a really, really good team and I think the season will bear that out.”