BREAKING Colin Hitschler has been informed he will not return to the Crimson Tide next year.

[JustNeedMe81]

probably more to it than they are letting on about

I already said it. scroll up. It's already out now. He didn't mesh well with players and coaches. Didnt do good job of recruiting.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Well clearly having someone on the staff that wasn't a friend was an issue...

I'm not against making changes, but some of the problems are his friends on the staff.

Yeah, hire the best for the job...........friend or not

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

I am just going to trust that DeBoer has a plan and see how it plays out.

Roll Tide!

All you can do.............I will withhold judgement on the offense for a little longer, but I dont think Sheridan is the answer, but I could be wrong

 

[gtgilbert]

I've been waiting for changes on the offensive side, specifically to replace a buddy of his. That's why I was fairly apoplectic to hear it was a defensive change and in fact another buddy coming onto the staff (already too much cronyism).

If he makes the change, like Saban did after the first season my concerns will be assuaged but jut not the first change I was expecting/hoping that's for sure.

Given everything else that was going on and how handcuffed the entire offense was, I think we have to give most of the O staff another season to see what they can do with a QB who can run more than 10% of the playbook, and who cares more about winning than about showing up the WRs who are not happy with him. I mean, the plays Sheridan were calling had WRs open all over the place, but he can't throw the ball for the QB.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Well, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. just posted that his coach was fired and said "thank you lord". I think that about sums it up.

Interesting..........so I guess he didnt really get along with the players

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

Already hearing the dre Jr post was fake. Comes directly from him per a source that knows him.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Maybe keep an eye on how things play out with a certain nfl coaching staff.

An NFL coaching staff far, far away?

 

[crimsonaudio]

Tommy Rees did a much better job with Milroe last year. Sheridan needs to go imo.

I mean, maybe?
2024 scoring offense: 33.8 ppg (#24)
2023 scoring offense: 34.0 ppg (#24)

2024 passing offense: 236.4 ypg (#56)
2023 passing offense: 220.6 ypg (#70)

2024 total offense: 410.2 ypg (#42)
2023 total offense: 393.1 ypg (#58)

ETA: initially mistyped 2024 passing offense numbers, corrected.

 

[some_al_fan]

It looks like Morrell is taking over that open defensive coaching slot as a LB coach: https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2025/01/alabama-football-staffer-gets-promotion-to-lbs-coach.html

 

[CB4]

If he was already coaching linebackers that means the linebacker coach is switching chairs or packing boxes as well.

Charles Potter says they will move other defensive coaches around.

Just me, and I’m old school….if you are canning a guy because he is toxic with the staff, or can’t recruit or can’t get the job done of the field, then okay he needs to go. But I just don’t want to see decisions made on coaches based on a popularity contest with players. I played for several coaches I didn’t like. Some were just plain jerks and terrible coaches. Others were tremendously demanding and tough. And I didn’t like them. But when I stepped back, I realized they were almost always “fair”. And they made me better. I didn’t like them at the time, but I grew to respect them. One of them now, almost 50 years later is one of my closest friends.

A good example recently is Najee Harris and Coach Saban. Najee will point blank tell you that he and Coach Saban butted heads often. And he came close to leaving, but he didn’t because he respected Coach Saban more than he like him. In the end, Najee became an ever better player and he probably made Coach Saban a better coach. And Najee was quoted as saying “I love that little man”.

Listen to Cole Cubelic talk about playing for Rick Trickett. Cole sure as heck didn’t like Trickett and he certainly is open to saying so. But think Cole will also say Trickett made him a better player.

My point? Relationships between players and coaches is a two way street, just like the relationship between a subordinate and manager in the workplace. Organizationally not everyone has to like each. But there must be mutual respect.

 

[some_al_fan]

Linguist will probably take over safeties, in addition to CBs.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

There's more out there than only Grubb.

Quite a few out there that can get it done

 

[KrAzY3]

with all firings and all this staff is gonna cost as much as Jimbo at end of third year

I'll just try to give the background for my opinion and then I'll probably try to walk away until we know for sure what next year's staff looks like.

A: I don't want DeBoer fired. I want him to succeed.
B: I think if he does keep Sheridan around as the primary play caller, he's actually setting himself up to be on the hot seat next year if that fails. If he makes changes now, at least it looks like he's being proactive.
C: Yes, Milroe was an issue but under this staff Milroe actually become a less effective passer. 7 less passing TDs, 5 more INTs, something happened to make things worse when they should have in theory become better.
D: Alabama was poorly prepared and coached for the Michigan game. This was very disconcerting given the time they had to prepare and personnel advantages they had. Most of the issues were on the offensive side of the ball.
E: I'm not saying fire Sheridan, but I think there needs to be at least one individual or individuals who meet the following criteria in my opinion. SEC experience, has play calling experience, can run a balanced offense.
F: I understand that current staff was a rushed hire, but that means now is the time to fix that. There are obvious issues on offense that extend beyond the QB and I reiterate that Milroe did worse this year than last.
G: The fact that instead of getting rid of a buddy, he just hired another buddy... that kind of set me off.

Given everything else that was going on and how handcuffed the entire offense was, I think we have to give most of the O staff another season.

Can't afford another season of missing the playoff. If this happens, it will put DeBoer on the hotseat. What will be the excuse then? Well, the issue is Sheridan, just replace the OC. Now is the time to make sure you have someone else that can call plays, not the end of next season. Sheridan has called plays for 3 seasons, we know enough to know he's not one of the best.

 

[countrytider]

I mean, maybe?
2024 scoring offense: 33.8 ppg (#24)
2023 scoring offense: 34.0 ppg (#24)

2024 passing offense: 326.4 ypg (#56)
2023 passing offense: 220.6 ypg (#70)

2024 total offense: 410.2 ypg (#42)
2023 total offense: 393.1 ypg (#58)

Overall numbers may be comparable, but the consistency was not there this year. That’s the difference in 12-2, and SEC champs vs. what we got this year.

 

[AlexanderFan]

Charles Potter says they will move other defensive coaches around.

Just me, and I’m old school….if you are canning a guy because he is toxic with the staff, or can’t recruit or can’t get the job done of the field, then okay he needs to go. But I just don’t want to see decisions made on coaches based on a popularity contest with players. I played for several coaches I didn’t like. Some were just plain jerks and terrible coaches. Others were tremendously demanding and tough. And
didn’t like them. But when I stepped back, I realized they were almost always “fair”. And they made me better. I didn’t like them at the time, but I grew to respect them. One of them now, almost 50 years later is one of my closest friends.

A good example recently is Najee Harris and Coach Saban. Najee will point blank tell you that he and Coach Saban butted heads often. And he came close to leaving, but he didn’t because he respected Coach Saban more than he like him. In the end, Najee became an ever better player and he probably made Coach Saban a better coach. And Najee was quoted as saying “I love that little man”.

Listen to Cole Cubelic talk about playing for Rick Trickett. Cole sure as heck didn’t like Trickett and he certainly is open to saying so. But think Cole will also say Trickett made him a better player.

My point? Relationships between players and coaches is a two way street, just like the relationship between a subordinate and manager in the workplace. Organizationally not everyone has to like each. But there must be mutual respect.

It was alluded to that Bama missed on some safeties and he was responsible for that. If so, then things must change. Got to have some players to coach.

 

[CB4]

Already hearing the dre Jr post was fake. Comes directly from him per a source that knows him.

Good. Thank you. Makes me feel better.

If the players had an issue with him there are other ways to manage it other than publicly via SM.

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

Charles Potter says they will move other defensive coaches around.

Just me, and I’m old school….if you are canning a guy because he is toxic with the staff, or can’t recruit or can’t get the job done of the field, then okay he needs to go. But I just don’t want to see decisions made on coaches based on a popularity contest with players. I played for several coaches I didn’t like. Some were just plain jerks and terrible coaches. Others were tremendously demanding and tough. And
didn’t like them. But when I stepped back, I realized they were almost always “fair”. And they made me better. I didn’t like them at the time, but I grew to respect them. One of them now, almost 50 years later is one of my closest friends.

A good example recently is Najee Harris and Coach Saban. Najee will point blank tell you that he and Coach Saban butted heads often. And he came close to leaving, but he didn’t because he respected Coach Saban more than he like him. In the end, Najee became an ever better player and he probably made Coach Saban a better coach. And Najee was quoted as saying “I love that little man”.

Listen to Cole Cubelic talk about playing for Rick Trickett. Cole sure as heck didn’t like Trickett and he certainly is open to saying so. But think Cole will also say Trickett made him a better player.

My point? Relationships between players and coaches is a two way street, just like the relationship between a subordinate and manager in the workplace. Organizationally not everyone has to like each. But there must be mutual respect.

Deboer has a track record of being very loyal to coaches and vice versa. Moving on this quick seems telling for me. But we will see as the real stories come out.

Our defense got a lot better when chuck morell took over linebackers. Kane would have only given that up if he needed to take the entirety of the coordinator duties. Thats my initial take, and a total assumption.

 

[some_al_fan]

I mean, maybe?
2024 scoring offense: 33.8 ppg (#24)
2023 scoring offense: 34.0 ppg (#24)

2024 passing offense: 326.4 ypg (#56)
2023 passing offense: 220.6 ypg (#70)

2024 total offense: 410.2 ypg (#42)
2023 total offense: 393.1 ypg (#58)

2024 Alabama offense was worse than 2023 because of lost fumbles and interceptions, but you can’t blame those on an OC.
2023, Milroe, 6 INT
2024, Miroe, 11 INT

That is the difference between W & L.

 

[CB4]

It was alluded to that Bama missed on some safeties and he was responsible for that. If so, then things must change. Got to have some players to coach.

I agree completely. Recruitment and development are key responsibilities of every coach. As is pulling in the same direction with the rest of the staff. If that wasn’t happening, it was time to move on.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Deboer has a track record of being very loyal to coaches and vice versa. Moving on this quick seems telling for me. But we will see as the real stories come out.

Our defense got a lot better when chuck morell took over linebackers. Kane would have only given that up if he needed to take the entirety of the coordinator duties. Thats my initial take, and a total assumption.

Sounds good