Bill O’Brien is the latest head coach at the University of Alabama to learn from Nick Saban.
He enters his first season as an offensive coordinator, and he inherits a talented quarterback room. After coaching elite names such as Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson in the National Football League, O’Brien now has the task of developing Bryce Young into a winner.
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He played in nine games last year; however, the sophomore had a great spring and a strong A-Day performance.
Young, a native of Pasadena, Calif., posted an incredible high school career. He tossed for 13,250 passing yards with 178 total touchdowns at Mater Dei, but now he is trying to become the fifth first-year starting quarterback to lead the Crimson Tide’s offense to a national championship. As a former five-star, Young has displayed the qualities that stand out to O’Brien.
During Sunday’s presser, O’Brien said Young is ‘well-coached.’
“He was well-coached in high school, and coached well last year at Alabama,” he said. “He’s a very bright young man. He works really hard, and he’s a really good teammate. He cares about his team.”
O’Brien has enjoyed coaching the quarterback room so far, but he knows the starter must be a coach on the field. With the multiplicity of looks on defense, the 51-year-old wants to have Young prepared for everything. O’Brien has seen the Tide evolve from a pro-style offense to a spread look. He has noticed the elements from Lane Kiffin, Brian Daboll, Michael Locksley, and Steve Sarkisian. O’Brien has his own style, but he expects to keep things in balance with Saban’s mindset. When it comes to comparing Young to other quarterbacks he’s coached, O’Brien is not one for comparisons.
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“Everybody’s different,” he said. “Everybody’s got their own unique way of playing the game.”
The main thing he wants is for everyone to fall in the flow of the offense. O’Brien wants Young to trust him and vice versa.
He also wants the players around Young to trust him. Alabama saw an offense under Sarkisian score 48.5 points per game. The potential to continue this success is possible under O’Brien, but he knows it starts with having Young comfortable.
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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.
