Seems like a slight shot at the previous weight admin.
Alabama Hires David Ballou as New Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Thread starter NationalTitles18
- Start date
Wow...there's a lot in that statement. I wish we could see him working with the athletes right now...hopefully all that will work out sooner rather than later.
It sounds to me like we will see it immediately when we finally see the Tide in action this fall. I imagine the biggest appreciable differences will be in some of the bigger, bulkier players as opposed to someone like Waddle. But only imagine if he saw just a slight increase!!!
Exactly. If we get half the results they got at Indiana, this may be Saban's best hire ever.
So, we need a large supply of the letters "G" and "H?"
I'd be happy if we did not have a platoon of 4 and 5 star athletes on crutches at the season kick-off.
Alabama-Football-was-on-January-shortlist-for-David-Ballou-Dr-Matt-Rhea-146889795
Above is a link to a good article and video about Ballou and Rhea. I am so glad Saban hired these 2 guys! Once recruits are allowed to visit campus again, I think this new program will help recruiting. The new facilities will be an added bonus too.
Above is a link to a good article and video about Ballou and Rhea. I am so glad Saban hired these 2 guys! Once recruits are allowed to visit campus again, I think this new program will help recruiting. The new facilities will be an added bonus too.
I'm now about half convinced that Jeff Allen and more than likely Nick Saban have known we'd fallen behind in S&C. I think a very good sign this was the case is when we started hearing rumblings it was being used against us on the recruiting trail, i.e. LSU/Orgeron.
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Honestly, he didn't have to bring it up for it to affect recruiting. Though I'm sure he did.
Another article from the same interview, this one from Rivals.
A couple of things stuck with me from this one:
1. Rhea and Ballou are meant for each other. That article shows how their ideas mesh, and how far ahead of other programs they are. They are completely bought in to their concepts and to their respective roles. Neither would be as successful individually as they both are as a team.
2. They have programs tailored to individual players, and they're based on what data says about that specific player's strengths and weaknesses. The data also drives what Ballou emphasizes for that player.
I'm sure that workouts for OLs are fundamentally different from those for WRs, and that there is similarity in the programs for each respective position. What I think is different now is that, for example, Deonte Brown's program will probability emphasize flexibility, footwork, positioning and leverage to improve his pass blocking. Whereas RS Fr. Emil Ekiyor might have more brute strength work in his, to help him close the gap with older, more experienced players.
At the time we lost Cochran, I was concerned about the S&C program. I now think that part of the process has taken a big step forward. It's a shame that it can't really take full root now because of the lockdown.
Also, I'm not blind to Cochran's strengths, primarily his over-the-top personality. So I have a bit of concern about his ability to sell UGA on the recruiting trail. The more cerebral approach that Ballou and Rhea have can sell as well....it's just a different sales method. Additionally, I fully expect Cochran to use all his considerable inside knowledge against us ahead of this fall's UGA game, assuming there is a season.
alabama.rivals.com
A couple of things stuck with me from this one:
1. Rhea and Ballou are meant for each other. That article shows how their ideas mesh, and how far ahead of other programs they are. They are completely bought in to their concepts and to their respective roles. Neither would be as successful individually as they both are as a team.
2. They have programs tailored to individual players, and they're based on what data says about that specific player's strengths and weaknesses. The data also drives what Ballou emphasizes for that player.
I'm sure that workouts for OLs are fundamentally different from those for WRs, and that there is similarity in the programs for each respective position. What I think is different now is that, for example, Deonte Brown's program will probability emphasize flexibility, footwork, positioning and leverage to improve his pass blocking. Whereas RS Fr. Emil Ekiyor might have more brute strength work in his, to help him close the gap with older, more experienced players.
At the time we lost Cochran, I was concerned about the S&C program. I now think that part of the process has taken a big step forward. It's a shame that it can't really take full root now because of the lockdown.
Also, I'm not blind to Cochran's strengths, primarily his over-the-top personality. So I have a bit of concern about his ability to sell UGA on the recruiting trail. The more cerebral approach that Ballou and Rhea have can sell as well....it's just a different sales method. Additionally, I fully expect Cochran to use all his considerable inside knowledge against us ahead of this fall's UGA game, assuming there is a season.
Meet the strength staff: Alabama releases video with Ballou, Rhea
Alabama provided a look at its new strength and conditioning coaches, David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea, on Wednesday
And although Saban does not engage in dirty tactics in recruiting, someone else from another team might bring up all the injuries under Cochran's tenure to use against UGAAnother article from the same interview, this one from Rivals.
A couple of things stuck with me from this one:
1. Rhea and Ballou are meant for each other. That article shows how their ideas mesh, and how far ahead of other programs they are. They are completely bought in to their concepts and to their respective roles. Neither would be as successful individually as they both are as a team.
2. They have programs tailored to individual players, and they're based on what data says about that specific player's strengths and weaknesses. The data also drives what Ballou emphasizes for that player.
I'm sure that workouts for OLs are fundamentally different from those for WRs, and that there is similarity in the programs for each respective position. What I think is different now is that, for example, Deonte Brown's program will probability emphasize flexibility, footwork, positioning and leverage to improve his pass blocking. Whereas RS Fr. Emil Ekiyor might have more brute strength work in his, to help him close the gap with older, more experienced players.
At the time we lost Cochran, I was concerned about the S&C program. I now think that part of the process has taken a big step forward. It's a shame that it can't really take full root now because of the lockdown.
Also, I'm not blind to Cochran's strengths, primarily his over-the-top personality. So I have a bit of concern about his ability to sell UGA on the recruiting trail. The more cerebral approach that Ballou and Rhea have can sell as well....it's just a different sales method. Additionally, I fully expect Cochran to use all his considerable inside knowledge against us ahead of this fall's UGA game, assuming there is a season.
Meet the strength staff: Alabama releases video with Ballou, Rhea
Alabama provided a look at its new strength and conditioning coaches, David Ballou and Dr. Matt Rhea, on Wednesday
And therein lies the problem.
I don't think Cochran's ready to be thrown to the wolves as a Special Teams Coach in the highest level of college football. I know Saban didn't think so, and I really don't think Kirby did either. So look for UGA's special teams to struggle, especially on KO and Punt coverage.
But whereas before Cochran couldn't go on the road recruiting as an S&C Coach (he had his influence on campus), now he can.
At first, I was highly concerned about Cochran's exit. But as I've seen Ballou and Rhea's philosophy, I've come around to believing that losing Cochran led to a material upgrade in S&C.
That doesn't mean Cochran all of a sudden went to trash....I do think he'll be a good recruiter for UGA.
But that kind of over-the-top personality doesn't let severe butthurt go unavenged. And the rumored circumstances of his exit from Tuscaloosa (significant conflict with Saban) would tend to lead to retribution (read: dirty tactics) on the recruiting trail. I'll be surprised if he doesn't.
precisely...………………..but it will still be used against him, whether he is or not. And I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't engage in dirty tactics
I wholeheartedly agree. The more information I can find on Ballou and Rhea, the more impressed I become, which got me to thinking about this question: From a purely S&C perspective, would no 2020 season be more to our advantage than having a season?
I think with the guys we had decided to return for another season, it would be a crying shame if we didn't play this year. I can't imagine those guys waiting around another full year to play unless missing this season somehow derailed their draft stock.
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