Tommy Rees says learning curve within Alabama's offense has not been steep at all

Tommy Rees is coming into a unique situation as Alabama‘s new offensive coordinator. Instead of bringing his own offense to Tuscaloosa, Rees will instead be tasked with learning the schemes Nick Saban has already implemented for the Crimson Tide offense.

There hasn’t been any pushback on Rees’ end, as he has now seen the benefits first hand of retaining an offensive system between coordinator tenures.

“First of all, I think it’s the right way to do it. There’s been a system in place here for however-many years, and players here that are familiar with the terminology, with what you’re trying to accomplish,” Rees said during Alabama’s media day. “To say one guy is going to come in here and change everything would be the wrong way to approach it.

“To come in here and say we’re going to change all these things would be foolish. There’s certain things that we want to do or alter or look at to enhance it, but a wholesale change would never make sense.”

Alabama is retaining a fair few starters on the offensive end, so keeping the playbook to what those players already know will only benefit the Crimson Tide long-term.

“I do think we’re probably going to look different than when I was elsewhere because our personnel is different,” Rees said. “There’s different strengths, there’s different areas that we can take advantage of. … Our mantra is ‘win with people.’ And we’re going to find ways to allow our players to be in positions to have great success.”

Of course, Alabama is turning a new leaf at the quarterback position. An heir to Bryce Young‘s throne is needed, and heading into fall — three men are in contention: Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson or Tyler Buchner.

Jalen Milroe is a viable option, as he has experience sitting directly behind Bryce Young, and ended up being No. 2 on the depth chart last season having finished the 2022 season totaling 297 yards on 31-of-53 passing with five touchdowns and three interceptions. 

He also contributed 31 rushes for 263 yards and one score. If experience is important in Saban’s system — Milroe might be the man for the Crimson Tide. Elsewhere, however, Buchner joined the team after spring training and is still adjusting to the Crimson Tide’s system and style, while Simpson has the smallest sample size of the bunch.

Time is ticking until the Crimson Tide’s season begins, and a starter will have to be named sooner rather than later.