Alabama's internal OC hire marks shift in staff strategy

Alabama Crimson Tide tight ends coach Nick Sheridan.

As Kalen DeBoer has been filling out his staff at Alabama, one thing has become clear: The Nick Saban School for Wayward Coaches is no longer taking applications. Instead, it appears coaching talent is being developed in-house.

For years, Saban was known for taking coaches who had struggled or made an off-field mistake and rehabilitating their careers. Think of Lane Kiffin, who was fired as USC’s head coach in 2013, a move that many thought would severely damage the future job prospects of a man who was once the brightest rising star in college and the NFL. He came to Tuscaloosa as offensive coordinator, parlayed his success with the Crimson Tide into a job at Florida Atlantic and now is head coach at Ole Miss.

In contrast, when DeBoer needed to replace Ryan Grubb, who left for the OC role for the Seattle Seahawks, he didn’t look across the top ranks of the sport for a high-upside coach with something to prove. Instead, he hired from within, promoting tight ends coach Nick Sheridan.

While promoting a familiar face comes with some benefits — for instance, Sheridan already knows DeBoer’s offensive scheme — it could also have some downsides. For one, Sheridan lacks the high-level experience to which many Tide fans had become accustomed.

It is true that he followed DeBoer as OC at Indiana, but Bloomington has a much different atmosphere than Tuscaloosa when it comes to football, and it certainly doesn’t compare well to the NFL. For years, he hired coaches of a certain pedigree, and Alabama fans got used to their OC being someone with head coaching experience in the collegiate ranks, or at least OC experience in the NFL.

In Saban’s final season, he changed up that formula, but only slightly; Tommy Rees was young, but he’d been OC at Notre Dame, a fellow blue blood. After so many big names over the years, Sheridan’s tenure as play caller will be the first time many Alabama fans are seeing a relatively green coordinator at work. If he succeeds, all will be well, but if the offense sputters, Sheridan’s resume could make recovery difficult.

After all, Kiffin wasn’t the only one who benefited from his time in Alabama. He brought an outside perspective that helped Saban modernize the Alabama offense and continue to win championships. If quarterback Jalen Milroe and the rest of the offense don’t grasp the new scheme before the season, Sheridan won’t be an outside voice bringing a new perspective to the discussion.

He is, however, willing to adapt if the situation calls for it, which is an upside to hiring someone without decades of experience. As former Hoosiers coach Tom Allen told 247 Sports, Sheridan showed his flexibility when he shifted from coaching quarterbacks, the position he played, to working with tight ends.

Alabama fans should be happy to hear that Sheridan has made big changes before. With his lack of experience when stepping into the high-pressure role of OC at Alabama, more adjustments may be necessary.

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