Alabama may have seven new assistant football coaches this year, but not all of them are strangers to the program.
Steve Sarkisian is back as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator and play-caller, returning to the role he held for the final game of the Crimson Tide’s 2016 season that ended with a loss to Clemson in the title contest of the four-team playoff. Sarkisian was an offensive analyst for most of the 2016 season under coordinator Lane Kiffin, but Saban parted ways with Kiffin after Alabama’s mundane showing during a 24-7 win over Washington in the Peach Bowl national semifinal.
The Tide managed just 326 yards versus the Huskies, using Ryan Anderson’s 26-yard interception return for a touchdown just before halftime to gather some breathing room at 17-7.
Alabama performed better offensively under Sarkisian in the 35-31 setback against Clemson, but the Tide were outgained 511-376. Worsening matters was the fact Alabama had a 150-92 advantage in yardage through the first five possessions for each team and a 14-0 lead.
“The guy did a really, really good job when he was here before,” Saban said last Friday after his team’s first spring practice, “and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him for what he did as an offensive coach before he came here. I don’t think it’s fair to criticize when a guy takes over a job one week before a game and has to go try and implement something because of the circumstances that we were in.”