Jumbo Package: Gump Day!

Alabama Football: With Pete Golding holding steady, Tide turnover minimal

There was good news for Crimson Tide fans on Tuesday when it was learned co-DC, Pete Golding had turned down a wad of money to become the defensive coordinator at Ole Miss. Golding is one of several rising stars on Saban’s staff. He is valued as a very good coach and a superb recruiter.

The other rumor about Golding has been he would leave the Tide to become the next DC at Oklahoma. Apparently, that idea is also not moving forward. Alabama football fans, before resting too easy about Golding, some Sooners believe discussions are just on hold until after the Playoffs. Tuscaloosa insiders believe Golding is not going anywhere.

The coaching staff that Saban assembled for 2018 after such massive departures last season have been absolutely phenomenal. Gattis and Enos look like two of the best in the business, so keeping them on board for the offense in 2019 will be huge. The question will be how they replace Locksley’s role?

Does Gattis become the in-booth coordinator and playcaller while Enos stays on the field as the QB coach and Co-coordinator, or vice versa? Or does Saban hire someone else entirely to take over for Locksley? Does Butch Jones get promoted?

Defensively, keeping Golding will be huge as well. He’s done wanders with a secondary that came into the season totally green— only two full starts of experience by any of the 6 new members.

A few potential candidates for Alabama offensive coordinator

Recently fired as head coach at North Carolina, Fedora is known for his creative offenses. He was OC at Florida and Oklahoma State before turning around the Southern Miss program as head coach from 2008-11 before heading to North Carolina. The spread offense was a big part of his rise in the coaching world. Fedora reportedly turned down the Alabama offensive coordinator job in 2007, according to The Oklahoman.

If not Gattis or Enos, might Larry Fedora be an option? It would be right on par for Saban to take another creative genius of a coordinator who’s recently failed as a head coach. Even if not as the coordinator, Fedora might be at the top of the list to be the next in a long line of analysts... Taking Butch Jones’s spot, perhaps?

Column: Who could stay and who could go from Ryan Day’s coaching staff?

Greg Studrawa: Offensive Line Coach

Coach Stud has been the subject of a lot of discussion this season, as people have questioned the lack of run-blocking ability from his unit. However, the Buckeyes were 17th nationally in sack rate (3.6%), and their protection was a big part of why Dwayne Haskins was able to complete 43 touchdown passes when “kept clean,” the most in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.

However, Studrawa has only been at Ohio State for one season longer than Day, and might have come into his job in Columbus thinking that he would be operating a different scheme than he presumably will be under Day. After all, he did come from the run-focused Les Miles program at LSU. Despite criticism this season, Stud’s units have been strong in his three years in Columbus, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Day brings him back.

With Urban Meyer retiring from Ohio State, there could be a free for all for teams wanting the Buckeyes’ assistant coaches. Some may stay, since current OC Ryan Day will be taking over as head coach, so it’s unlikely there will be a total upheaval.

But know that every assistant on that team are going to have their resumes being passed around, if maybe quietly. Might Studrawa be a possibility? Maybe just to keep in the back pocket in case Brent Key moves on to somewhere else?

Urban Meyer’s retirement could affect Alabama’s recruiting

Urban Myer’s departure has caused college football fans’ to become intrigued about how the Buckeyes’ 2019 class will shake out. The Tide have made it clear, that they would like to add Buckeyes’ commit and 4-Star defensive back, Jordan Battle. He took an official visit to Alabama on Nov. 9.

Alabama’s coaching staff is hitting the road and visiting several recruits at the moment. Battle will most definitely get a visit from Alabama and the Tide will be the favorite if he chooses to de-commit from Ohio State.

4-Star wide receiver, Jameson Williams, is another Buckeye commit, that the Tide was in the running for before his commitment. He could be another recruit to look out for. Although, Alabama has shown that they do not mind just having one wideout commit in the 2019 class.

Personally, I don’t think Saban will be happy with a single wide receiver for 2018. Not with a trio of current sophomores all likely going pro just one year later.

Battle, too, was a top priority prospect, especially with Alabama’s current safety depth.

Alabama Recognizes Scout Team Players Of Week

There is no Alabama Scout Team player of the year, but two men were particularly notable for the number of weeks they were cited by Bama coaches.

This year both defensive lineman Christian Barmore and linebacker William Cooper were named scout team players of the week on nine occasions.

Typically, a number of those on the scout team are walk-ons — Cooper, for instance, is a 6-2, 236-pound sophomore from Huntsville who has been listed on Bama rosters both as a defensive lineman and linebacker.

There are also scholarship players, primarily young players. Barmore, 6-2, 295, freshman, was one of the nation’s top defensive line prospects but suffered a preseason injury that kept him out of some work.

I really liked Christian Barmore coming out of high school, and expected him to be able to contribute this season. The injury derailed him, but he will have every opportunity in 2019 to take a starting job. Isaiah Buggs will be gone, and Quinnen Williams and Raekwon Davis are also both likely to leave for the pros. If that happens, There will be three wide open spots to fight for, with really only LaBryan Ray with any sort of leg up on the rest of the competition.

Barmore was an explosive prospect with absolutely nutty acceleration for a nearly 300-lb man, but lacked hand technique and block-shedding moves. With a season of working with Coach K, he might be my darkhorse candidate for for the 2019 season.

Jarran Reed tough on Nick Mullens in Seahawks’ victory

Seattle sacked Mullens three times and put him on the turf 15 times legally, with one of the sacks and six of the quarterback hits belonging to Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who also picked up a roughing-the-passer penalty in the game.

“He has really picked up,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said of Reed after Sunday’s game. “I think he expects to get to the quarterback more than he used to, and he wanted to develop his pass-rush game. He worked hard at it, and I think his mentality to rush the passer is just the best it’s been.

“At Alabama, they just kill that line of scrimmage, and they do a great job of it and that’s what was expected of him. He was a great run defender, and he came in here and was able to do that. But I think he’s just expanded the scope of his game, and it’s obvious. He’s been a nice factor.”

In his third NFL season since joining the Seahawks as a second-round draft choice from Alabama, Reed has become a contender for Pro Bowl recognition.

Jarran Reed has been an absolute force this year, and it’s been in the pass rush. He’s been brutal when bull rushing centers and closes on QBs with a ferocity. Interestingly, I think he’s actually regressed some in his run defending than when he was at Alabama. Just a totally different player, but with the same fiery attitude on the field.