Nick Saban impressed with balance Tommy Rees brings to Alabama offense

Nick Saban is more than impressed with the job new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is doing in Tuscaloosa thus far.

At SEC Media Days in Nashville, the Alabama leader joined ESPN’s Matt Barrie on SportsCenter to elaborate on his feelings for Rees, believing him to be supremely intelligent, and loving the balance he’s bringing to the Crimson Tide on offense.

“Well I think Tommy’s one of the brightest young guys that I’ve come in contact with for a long, long time,” started Saban. “He’s done a fantastic job with out players, in terms of relationships. He’s very bright. He’s a good quarterback coach. I think that he’s a great presenter, and a good teacher. You know, all of those things are going to enhance us.

“I also think that one of the goals was to create more balance on offense. We’ve become such a passing team that I don’t think we’re controlling the line of scrimmage like we used to in the old days. I think that it’s important to playing good defense, but I also think that it’s important to having good balance on offense.”

That’s going to be music to Alabama fans’ ears. A more balanced attack is something they’ve been clamoring for, and it could lead to a return to form for the Crimson Tide.

Meanwhile, the age gap between Saban and Rees, 31, hasn’t been an issue. The offensive coordinator is one of the youngest at his high profile position as OC at a big named institution. Saban, 71, is 40 years older and has the young gun implementing some new schemes.

That’s not a problem for the head coach, who definitely isn’t as old as he feels, as he explained to the media.

“It’s great,” Saban said. “First of all, I still feel like I’m 39 and Tom is great. He’s mature. And he does a great job presenting to the players. He has good relationships with the players, he’s very bright, he understands the game. He’s a very good quarterback coach in terms of helping guys improve at that position, which I think is critical. 

“We don’t have any issues. He’s very respectful of what we want to do and how we want to do it and the guy’s hungry, wants to learn. I think he’s one of the brightest young coaches that I’ve been around for a long time.”

Rees coached at Notre Dame under Marcus Freeman last season. But when he got the call to serve as the new offensive coordinator under Saban, Rees couldn’t say no at that point.

With Tommy Rees and Nick Saban working together, the future is bright for Alabama, and it seems as if good times are on the horizon for the Crimson Tide.

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.