Paul Finebaum: 'I think everyone is surprised that Bill O'Brien is still there'

Paul Finebaum was surprised to see Bill O’Brien return for a second season as the Alabama offensive coordinator. O’Brien had been rumored to be a candidate for several NFL jobs, but ultimately decided to come back to Tuscaloosa and stay committed to Nick Saban.

After a disgruntled Crimson Tide fan called in to the Paul Finebaum Show on Monday to complain about O’Brien’s play calling Saturday in a 24-20 win against Texas A&M, Finebaum agreed.

“I think everyone there is surprised that Bill O’Brien is still there,” he said. “I thought he would leave after last year. He didn’t. I don’t know what his status is in terms of future jobs. He’s always mentioned for jobs, (but) I haven’t seen anyone offer him one yet.

“All I know is he has come up with some inexplicable calls. It seems simple, and he complicates it. When you have a team with as much talent as Alabama, you don’t need to complicate the simplicity. I don’t know if I would go as strongly as you did, but I would also tell you that the people that I hear from in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham and around the state, they all feel the same way.”

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Alabama turned the ball over four times Saturday against the Aggies, including three fumbles. With starting quarterback Bryce Young sidelined, the Crimson Tide leaned heavily on the run, totaling 51 rush attempts to just 19 pass attempts. Despite this, all three of their touchdowns came through the air.

The caller also pointed to some perceived tension between Saban and O’Brien on the sidelines, saying at one point the TV broadcast showed Saban yelling at O’Brien. Paul Finebaum then responded by saying Saban is as much to blame for the offensive struggles as Bill O’Brien.

“Ultimately, the offensive coordinator is supposed to know what his players are good at and what they’re not good at,” he said. “When everyone in the stadium and watching on television can figure out what you just said, it’s a problem. By the way, it’s on Nick Saban. Nick Saban should never have to be seen mouthing those words on the sideline. Nick Saban is the head coach. I realize he spends the majority of his time tutoring the defense, that’s his specialty. But it’s not a surprise what’s called.

“I remember a number of years ago, the head coach at Alabama criticized a play call that cost Alabama the Iron Bowl. By the way, the guy who made the call his won a Super Bowl since. After the game, the coach fired him because of a play call that cost them the game and the head coach didn’t know it. How can you not know what’s going on on your sideline?”

O’Brien has previous experience both as a college football and NFL head coach, and will likely be a candidate for many of the openings in college at the end of this season. But in the meantime, his focus is on the Crimson Tide, and he’ll hope for better results this week when they face No. 6 Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. ET in Knoxville.