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Alabama Football: 3 things Steve Sarkisian will bring to Tide in 2019

By Dakota Cox

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Head coach Nick Saban (L) and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian of the Alabama Crimson Tide stand on the sideline during the second half of the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 09: Head coach Nick Saban (L) and offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian of the Alabama Crimson Tide stand on the sideline during the second half of the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws the ball against the Clemson Tigers during the third quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Levi’s Stadium on January 07, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide throws the ball against the Clemson Tigers during the third quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Levi’s Stadium on January 07, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

3. Wrinkles in the passing game

Assistant coaches don’t always change offensive schemes at Alabama. Nick Saban has a system and a process, and assistants add to it. Players change the system more than coaches do. It has evolved over time, but not always because of the coordinators in the situations.

In terms of general schemes, Alabama will be a lot like what they were last season. Last year, they relied on the run-pass option with some spread schemes. Tua Tagovailoa would often fake the handoff to the back and go for the pass to Jerry Jeudy. This was incredibly effective, and I don’t see it going anywhere any time soon.

What Sarkisian will bring to the offense will be additions to the system. He might have additions to the route tree or some patterns for the receivers to run. He had a lot of talent in Atlanta with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. I’m sure he picked up a few tricks by seeing them play off of each other in the NFL that will work with Jeudy and Henry Ruggs.

Alabama shouldn’t want to change the offense that much. The RPO worked extremely well last season for the Tide. I’m sure Saban will want to keep with what works.

The more he adds to the passing game, the more the running lanes will open up for Najee Harris and Brian Robinson. Sarkisian is experienced when it comes to schemes in the passing game. He won’t completely change the playbook, but he will add some good things to it.

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