Three offensive coordinators in three months, Tuscaloosa?

Sometimes, life comes at you suddenly.

Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian has been named the Atlanta Falcons’ next coordinator, the team announced Tuesday.

One game in Tuscaloosa.  That’s all.

Multiple sources have confirmed to SB Nation that after meetings with Alabama head coach Nick Saban following the Championship, the relationship between Saban and Sarkisian deteriorated amid disagreements in “system philosophy,” per one source. Both parties planned to move on following Signing Day last Wednesday, and Saban was aware of Sarkisian’s contact with the Falcons.

One source described the problems between Sarkisian and Saban as “too similar” to the relationship between Saban and former coordinator Kiffin.

“There was an effort on Saban’s part not to repeat the same problem. This wasn’t going to work out,” a source close to Sarkisian told SB Nation.

The “same problem” covers lots of possibilities.  We talking personal issues on top of coaching philosophy conflicts?  Inquiring minds want to know.  If it’s the just the latter, where does Saban want to take the ‘Bama offense going forward?

46 Comments

Filed under Nick Saban Rules

46 responses to “Three offensive coordinators in three months, Tuscaloosa?

  1. ugadawgguy

    “The “same problem” covers lots of possibilities. We talking personal issues on top of coaching philosophy conflicts? Inquiring minds want to know. If it’s the just the latter, where does Saban want to take the ‘Bama offense going forward?”

    The obvious answer is “backward.” As in “grind it out.” As in “Alabama’s about to hire a more competent alternative to Jim Chaney.”

    Like

  2. Greg

    Thinks he just wants total control, an autocracy……”same is it ever since was”.

    Like

  3. Dylan Dreyer's Booty

    Saban hired both Kiffin and Sark with all their baggage. Not overly smart hiring by him. Weak link?

    Like

  4. fartwok

    I guess Art Briles will be joining the Nick Saban Former Head Coach Rehabilitation Program soon.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. W Cobb Dawg

    Aside from avoiding problem children, one wonders what saban’s looking for in his next OC? I think Bloomgren would be a good fit. Doubt he wants somebody who’d want to go wide open, like Heupel.

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  6. Defacto_Dawg

    Little Nicky seems to be growing in his appreciation, and utilization of, scapegoating.

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  7. Derek

    Mike Bobo.

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    • John

      Would probably be a good hire. Not really sure who the leading candidate might be. Gotta work with Saban who clearly has strong preferences and a particular type of O in mind.

      Like

    • Greg

      That would be a nightmare for the rest of the SEC….it is bad enough now.

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    • Otis Day

      and his crayons

      Like

      • AthensHomerDawg

        Wonder if the clown that made up the whole crayon meme fells silly now? Or is too goofy to know he’s a silly asshat? A touch arrogant too. Hoz it Hangin’ Hijo?

        Meh. Look around at all those brave souls that gave it a shot and rarely post anymore. Even Bernie (class act) has slowed his roll. Big HT to Bluto… HTPers. !!! Blogging ain’t easy. If only I spent more time on that side of the campus…. I coulda been a contender. 🙂

        Like

  8. Bigshot

    We all know Bama will not missed a beat. They already have a co-coordinator on staff. I believe his name is Chip Lyndsey

    Like

  9. Hmm, this could be very interesting if Saban decides to hire Helfrich.

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  10. Otto

    Mike Shula has experience with Dual Threat QBs. That would be fun torment Bammers with Lane and then bring in Shula.

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  11. Mayor

    Sark didn’t have a chance. Bama lost the only game he was OC. Not going to happen again.

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  12. AusDawg85

    A guy who doesn’t drink, hit on his daughter and knows to pound the rock when you can…

    ….Mark Richt.

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  13. 3rdandGrantham

    One source described the problems between Sarkisian and Saban as “too similar” to the relationship between Saban and former coordinator Kiffin.

    No surprise, as both Kiffin and Sark are both west coast guys with west coast mentalities. Thus, both are more laid-back, don’t believe in, say, 7 am meetings, and both have interests outside of football. This doesn’t exactly mesh well with Saban, who believes in committing 100% of your life to football.

    Like

    • No One Knows You're a Dawg

      Or maybe the “too similar” talk is Bama spin for “YOU DON’T LEAVE BAMA, BAMA LEAVES YOU”

      Like

  14. Go Dawgs!

    I guess the Falcons saw Alabama blow a lead in a championship game to Clemson and figured Sark would be a good continuity pick in Atlanta.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bulldog Joe

      Even after a few cold ones, I figure he knows to run the football on 3rd and 1 with 16-point 4th quarter lead.

      Like

      • You folks saved me the trouble, at least he knows to run the ball on 1st and 10 on the 22 with a 8 point lead. Gads memories of Seattle passing at the one yard line. ARGH.

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        • Bulldog Joe

          The 49ers should know there is more where that came from, if they ever get to play a game that matters

          Legacy coaches should come with their own warning labels.

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          • Macallanlover

            More than that one call on 3rd and 1, what was with snapping the ball with 17-25 seconds left on the play clock on every play of that drive? Pretty elementary for the HC, OC, and QB to figure that out. Pats wouldn’t have had enough time to drive 90 yards without the extra 90+ seconds they were gifted. (I didn’t go back back and calculate it exactly but watched those plays and the clock closely on that whole Falcon drive.

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            • Bulldog Joe

              Moral of the story is don’t put your offense in the hands of another team’s head coach.

              Seems like we’ve had this conversation before…

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              • Bulldog Joe

                It is important to know the Patriots also covered the spread in overtime.

                THIS better explains the outrageous play calls.

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  15. Rocker leaving. This is why it’s a bad idea to gloat in the misery of others.

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  16. mant

    Looks like Rocker is no longer part of the UGA Staff according to @Dawg_Post

    Like

  17. Greg

    and now we have news that Tracy Rocker is gone….boy I hate that.

    Like

  18. Got Cowdog

    “First the women, den de whiskey. Dat’s de devil’s double whammy.”
    Scatman Crothers, from some movie I saw in the early 80’s. I believe there was something about sausage as well but I might have imagined it.

    Like

  19. 69Dawg

    Let’s face it Alabama could win the SEC with a high school coach calling the offense. Rumor out of Alabama is he is recalling Napier from ASU. Don’t lose sleep over Nick, lose it over Nick Jr.

    Like

  20. Burt Whole

    Looks like Chip Kelly is headed to Tuscaloosa.

    Like