I agree that there were definitely cracks in the culture going back to 2022, but what is so striking to me is Saban’s last year and the adversity he faced and overcame, and had us on the brink of nearly returning to the NC game. I still believe it was his best coaching effort, given what was stacked against the team. This roster on paper is more talented, but produces less. And that squarely falls on coaching.
My biggest frustration is defensive scheme. Saban’s 3-4 base defense would often feature 4 d-lineman, as they would revert to a 4-3, sometimes or a 4-2-5 as needed. The knock on Saban (and by extension now Kirby’s) defense is the complexity. When Smart left for UGA, getting Pruitt back and having him simplify the defense was fantastic. Wommack’s defense looks dazed, confused, and slow.