Raw honesty came from Pete Golding, but Nick Saban spoke about the Alabama standard on Monday.
It is an understatement to note how the Crimson Tide was not dominant on defense last year.
People recognize the 18.5 points per game allowed and the two 40-plus point performances of Louisiana State University and Auburn University; however, coaching was only part of the problem. One can blame Golding for the lack of X’s and O’s and not getting the right personnel on the field at times, but some aspects of the game fall on the players to perform correctly.
Upon entering the Alabama Players’ Facility and Bryant-Denny Stadium, there are terms that stand as the core principles Alabama football was built on. Words like discipline, determination, excellence, pride, toughness, dedication, competitive, commitment, effort and energy are things that cannot be coached
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One has to have these values instilled in them from childhood.
While its offense embodied the principles, veteran players on defense did not.
During its national championship runs in 2009, 2011-12, 2015 and 2017, Alabama was player-led and Saban did not have to remind the team on the importance of having a winning attitude.
He stressed over it too much last season, and it grieved Saban to have to constantly do it.
“Me personally, I’m not pleased with the way we played last year,” he said. “We had a lot of adversity as a team. We lost some good players to injuries, but there were opportunities for other players to step up and be able to play. I don’t think that last year’s team reflected the culture of what we are trying to develop here. We want to make sure we re-establish that culture and it comes from the buy in of every player.”
Golding will do his part in cleaning up the schematics, but the core values must be done in order for Alabama to return to winning titles.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
