It’s been three calendar years since Nick Saban last hoisted a national title trophy, the two seasons in between matching the maximum wait that Alabama fans have had to endure in the Saban era. Spoiled we are, but while Alabama is back in the College Football Playoff, they aren’t necessarily favored to win it this time. The Tide’s semifinal opponent, Michigan, has been installed as a slight betting favorite from the jump and that hasn’t changed. Should the Tide survive Michigan, they will face either a Texas team that took Alabama down in Tuscaloosa early in the season, or a Washington squad that will have beaten Texas.
For an Alabama team that has its flaws, the sledding is going to be tough.
Still, it’s far from inconceivable that this Alabama team will be the one left standing in the end. Here are some keys to Nick Saban winning his record 8th national title.
Saban’s adaptability to stay ahead of the college football curve has been perhaps his most remarkable trait, and this year is no exception. Years after consciously shifting toward lighter defenders in the front seven in effort to combat fastball, spread offenses, he saw a trend shift back toward running the football in recent seasons. In turn, the Alabama roster added substantial weight in the offseason.
On the offensive side, Alabama’s line famously (infamously?) averages well over 330 lb. per man, including a left side pair in Kadyn Proctor and Tyler Booker who tip the scales at more than 700 between them. Returns weren’t great early in the season, and Proctor still struggles at times with the speed rush, but late in the season they were far more effective leaning on defenses. Michigan boasts more girth up front on defense than most, so this will be a battle to watch.
Saban’s adaptability to stay ahead of the college football curve has been perhaps his most remarkable trait, and this year is no exception. Years after consciously shifting toward lighter defenders in the front seven in effort to combat fastball, spread offenses, he saw a trend shift back toward running the football in recent seasons. In turn, the Alabama roster added substantial weight in the offseason.
On the offensive side, Alabama’s line famously (infamously?) averages well over 330 lb.
per man, including a left side pair in Kadyn Proctor and Tyler Booker who tip the scales at more than 700 between them.
Returns weren’t great early in the season, and Proctor still struggles at times with the speed rush, but late in the season they were far more effective leaning on defenses.
Michigan boasts more girth up front on defense than most, so this will be a battle to watch.
Defensively, Saban has added about 60 lbs. total to his line compared to recent seasons, headlined by Jaheim Oatis and Tim Keenan III.
Both men are listed in the 330s on the roster, but nobody believes that they are quite that svelte.
This will be something of an adjustment for Michigan. For some reference, the two-deeps of Ohio State and Iowa have exactly one DL between them that weighs in at over 300 lbs.
If Keenan and Oatis are able to keep the linebackers clean, that will go a long way toward shutting down the Michigan run game.
