Nick Saban questions title hopes; 3 reasons Alabama can win it
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (BVM) — Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban knows what it takes to win a national championship, but on Thursday he revealed that he isn’t sold on his 2023 squad’s chances.
“I don’t know if this team is talented enough to win a national championship,” Saban said on his radio show. “But I do think they’re showing signs of having the right stuff. We have a lot of really great guys on the team, we don’t have a lot of complainers, we don’t have a lot of negative people. A lot of people are positive, a lot of people buy into doing things to the standard that we want them to do.”
Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. were important players last season, but with those two in the NFL, the Crimson Tide appear to lack talent, but here’s how they can win a national title and prove the Alabama dynasty isn’t dying.
Defense
Alabama is known for having stout defenses and proved it last season with the No. 9-ranked defense in the nation. However, the Crimson Tide gave up a combined 84 points in their two losses and 180 rushing yards in six different games. But they hit the transfer portal and brought in players like Georgia transfer Trezmen Marshall to help solve that problem.
New coordinators
Saban also hired former Miami Hurricane defensive coordinator Kevin Steele and former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and the two of them will be instrumental to Alabama’s success this season.
The Crimson Tide had Bill O’Brien calling plays last season and they finished as the fourth-best offense in the nation. Rees will aim to replicate that success with redshirt sophomore Jalen Milroe, who was named QB1 on Friday, beating out Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner and redshirt freshman Ty Simpson.
Nick Saban has named Jalen Milroe QB1 for Alabama. pic.twitter.com/JnVAQ7vWZS
— Saturday Down South (@SatDownSouth) September 1, 2023
Motivation
The final key for Alabama is simply motivation and Saban’s comments will surely spark his team to play at the level it’s capable of. He’s proved to be a predominant motivator in the past and that was seen when the Crimson Tide missed the College Football Playoff (CFP) in 2019 and followed that season up by going undefeated and hoisting a national title in 2021.
“I don’t know if we have enough talent to do it, but so far … I have been encouraged by the competitive character this team has,” Saban said on his radio show.
Alabama may not have the top-tier talent it’s used to having, but with Saban at the helm and other factors, there’s no reason it can’t be in the middle of the CFP race this season.
