Alabama football increased its focus to reclaim the crown as national champions with the coaching hires it made in the offseason.
Nick Saban pulled in four on-field assistants – Eric Wolford, Travaris Robinson, Coleman Hutzler, and Joe Cox – and several off-field analysts. He enters his 16th season as Alabama’s head football coach, and Saban’s focus is on winning national championship No. 8 for his career.
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Todd Grantham and Zach Mettenberger competed against Saban.
Photo of Todd Grantham calling plays for Florida’s defense in 2021 season comes via Kim Klement of USA Today Sports.
Grantham, 55, is one of the best defensive minds in college football.
He served as a defensive coordinator at three Southeastern Conference schools – Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi State – and Louisville. Grantham’s defense focused on sacking quarterbacks, creating turnovers, and scoring points. His unit for the Gators became one of two defenses that limited the Crimson Tide’s offense under 40 points (31) in 2021. Grantham brings an intensity in play-calling and strategizing to help Pete Golding become even better.
Mettenberger, 30, played quarterback at Louisiana State University from 2011 to 2013.
He suffered defeat to Saban and the Tide as a starter for the Tigers in 2012 and 2013, but Mettenberger played well in both matchups. He completed 40 of 58 passes for 539 yards and two touchdowns. Mettenberger finished 2013 with 3,082 passing yards and 22 touchdowns to eight interceptions. After a few years in the National Football League, Mettenberger started his coaching career at Hillsboro (Tenn.) High School and Father Ryan High School. He was an offensive coordinator and assistant coach. Mettenberger is a good addition on offense to assist Bill O’Brien. Coach Saban is excited to have Grantham and Mettenberger. He explained the hirings of both as analysts to the coaching staff after the opening of spring practice.
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“Todd’s been a defensive coordinator, in college, in this league (SEC) for a long time,” Saban said last week. “So [Grantham] can add significant knowledge and experience on how to help solve some of the issues and problems that we have. And I think, you know, Zach is a very, very good young guy who’s very bright and has a bright future,” Saban said. “I’m sure he’s going to learn, and he’s got great work ethic, and he’s been very committed to doing a good job since he’s been here.”
Alabama’s defense tightened up late in the 2021 season, but the addition of Grantham makes it dangerous for the fall.
The Crimson Tide’s offense had explosive moments last year, but Alabama also had inconsistent moments.
The addition of Mettenberger will help generate balance.
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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.
