So what did Saban "Inherit" from Wanny?

[dQbell]

I know the "Wanny Years" were a huge let down, and I know many saw it coming, but I have seen quite a few folks saying Saban inherited a mess. Did he? If you feel that way, I'd like to hear specifics. Probably the worst thing that happened last year was Williams up and leaving, but could David prevent that? Maybe the worst thing Dave did was go after the Fiedler clone in Feeley. I just don't see that Saban inherited a bunch of bad stuff.

 

[byroan]

Saban inherited a bunch of players who suck. He just couldn't get rid of all of them in one year. He also inherited players who didn't know what real coaching was like.

 

[ether79]

Saban inherited a bunch of players who suck. He just couldn't get rid of all of them in one year. He also inherited players who didn't know what real coaching was like.

...............but he is doing miracles so far with those players.

 

[Dolfan984]

He inherited a core group of aging but still good vets, (brought on by JJ not Wanny)
and a bunch of crap...except Chambers, Booker, McMike, and some of the O-line.

 

[Maynard the Hammer]

Saban inherited a bunch of players who suck. He just couldn't get rid of all of them in one year. He also inherited players who didn't know what real coaching was like.

i honestly think even taylor, zack, chambers were infected with wanny-itis and were beginning to accept complacency

this was a franchise on the brink of a total collapse. not many people, besides serious fans and local media understand this

 

[byroan]

...............but he is doing miracles so far with those players.

Which players? The ones who suck or the ones who didn't receive coaching? There's not many players left who suck. The ones that are still around are the talented ones.

 

[Boik14]

I dont even see the point of this thread.

Are you trying to insinuate that Saban had players here? The good ones he had were left from the JJ era. Then he brought in 20 new bodies which is what you do when last years team was stale and 4-12.

Are you trying to find credit for wanny? There is none to give. Even if we hypothisize that we were better then our record, we still only went 1-7 with Wanny. The biggest problems with Wanny were that he played not to lose instead of trying to win (for ex. he insisted on the same stale schemes with safe ball control plays and the same base 4-3)

Yeah Ricky left. But if 1 player aside from your Qb is going to make or break your football team youre probably not that good anyway.

AJ Feeley wasnt even as good as Jay Fiedler, especially not in Fiedler's better seasons prior to last year. Im not sure if that was wanny to Rick but they both sucked and Im glad theyre gone. Soon Aj will follow, good Lord willing.

Bottom line is this team had a lot of work to do in a lot of areas and Saban has started to rework things. He's the 1 behind this team's exciting start. It has absolutely nothing to do with Wanny except that Saban is still cleaning up that putz's mess.

 

[ether79]

Which players? The ones who suck or the ones who didn't receive coaching? There's not many players left who suck. The ones that are still around are the talented ones.

Right I'm not trying to disagree with you . He got rid of the players that had no right to be in his system and allowed the ones who only needed the right coaching to stay - our playmakers on either side of the ball in that regard.

 

[byroan]

Right I'm not trying to disagree with you . He got rid of the players that had no right to be in his system and allowed the ones who only needed the right coaching to stay - our playmakers on either side of the ball in that regard.

Yeah, I knew you weren't disagreeing. Just seeing which players you meant.

 

[ether79]

Yeah, I knew you weren't disagreeing. Just seeing which players you meant.

 

[Coral Reefer]

I know the "Wanny Years" were a huge let down, and I know many saw it coming, but I have seen quite a few folks saying Saban inherited a mess. Did he? If you feel that way, I'd like to hear specifics. Probably the worst thing that happened last year was Williams up and leaving, but could David prevent that? Maybe the worst thing Dave did was go after the Fiedler clone in Feeley. I just don't see that Saban inherited a bunch of bad stuff.

You don't? :confused:

How bout an aging Defense lacking depth because of horrid personnel and draft moves.

How bout the entire team lacking depth because of horrid personnel and draft moves.

How bout a lack of draft picks?
2nd and 3rd round picks traded for nothing.
Hard for an incoming coach to put his mark on things when his first draft was squandered away the year before.

How bout a complete hole at the QB position.
No developmental QB's with any exciting potential because QB is a position that Wanny admitedly puts little importance on and one which Saban puts great importance on.

How bout a disaster of an OL.
Again a position that Wanny admitedly put little importance on. He believed that you don't invest much into OL and that you can win with marginal talent there.
Obviously, dead wrong! Saban inherits an OL with almost zero talent and certainly no young players to build any future foundation upon.

Wanny left huge problems for Saban to overcome but the man is up to the task IMO. You just have to look at the value he squeezed out of his first draft and how his coaching has elevated the play of the players we have now.

 

[ether79]

Yeah, I knew you weren't disagreeing. Just seeing which players you meant.

Uh.. McMike, JT, Zach, CC, JS, uhhh, Marty, uhhh, JZ, Maddy, uhhhhhhhh.........

 

[Boik14]

I left out that Wanny had nothing to do with acquiring:

Frerotte (who can at least manage a game)
Heath Evans (leadership + work ethic + decent FB)
McDougle (at least OL depth)
Lorenzo Diamond (A backup Te who can catch unlike taht bum Lee)
Holliday
Traylor
Carter
Spragan
Schulters
Tebucky
Any of our 7 picks (Roth, RB, Channing, Vickerson, Wright, Alabi, Daniels)

I mean that is roster turnover at its finest. All short contracts for the FA's. Blending vets and young players. Finding FA's with something to prove and in a couple cases like Spragan who could start for quite a few teams. I mean really give it up for St. Nick. This man is good and he's only going to get better.

 

[Coral Reefer]

I left out that Wanny had nothing to do with acquiring:

Frerotte (who can at least manage a game)
Heath Evans (leadership + work ethic + decent FB)
McDougle (at least OL depth)
Lorenzo Diamond (A backup Te who can catch unlike taht bum Lee)
Holliday
Traylor
Carter
Spragan
Schulters
Tebucky
Any of our 7 picks (Roth, RB, Channing, Vickerson, Wright, Alabi, Daniels)

I mean that is roster turnover at its finest. All short contracts for the FA's. Blending vets and young players. Finding FA's with something to prove and in a couple cases like Spragan who could start for quite a few teams. I mean really give it up for St. Nick. This man is good and he's only going to get better.

Agreed, Saban did wonders in one offseason.
If he stays consistent with this type of FA and draft acquisitions this team is going to be scary.

 

[Maynard the Hammer]

he inherited 4 good players on defense in the twilight of their careers and one he couldnt afford

and 3 or 4 known talents on offense...thats pretty much it