With the news from Yahoo Sports that former Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos is headed to Alabama as quarterbacks coach, speculation is rampant about the Crimson Tide’s offense.
But the guess here is, no, the Crimson Tide won’t be going to a true pro-style offense, even though that is what Enos has primarily coached.
And, no, they won’t be a real spread team, either.
It will likely be something in between. Especially after they look at the film of Alabama’s second half comeback against Georgia for the national title with freshman Tua Tagovailoa replacing Jalen Hurts at quarterback.
You can bet Nick Saban keeps looking at it and shaking his head. But the one thing Saban is willing to do is change and be very flexible offensively, especially when it comes to incorporating spread and tempo because, well, it’s the one thing that gives him fits as a defensive coach.
Coaches tend to copy what gives them problems.
For Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, it has to be disturbing, as Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports pointed out:
Enos’ move away from Michigan is surprising, as he was officially announced as being hired there on Jan. 8, and it was later identified that he’d coach wide receivers. Jim Harbaugh hired Enos as part of the puzzle to fix Michigan’s ailing offense, which finished No. 105 in total offense last year and No. 110 in passing offense. But Enos will be leaving Ann Arbor for Tuscaloosa, another bad turn for Michigan’s beleaguered offense.
Apparently, Saban had a better offer. Let’s face it, being the quarterbacks coach and associate head coach at Alabama is a better gig than whatever Michigan was going to do (and they still hadn’t formalized his position there).
Enos got caught up in the purge after Bret Bielema was fired at Arkansas in November, despite having an offense that put up big numbers … at times.
Those included the Arkansas’ single-game SEC record with 661 total yards against Mississippi State in 2016 and the second most total yards in a season with 6,051 in 2015.
But the last two seasons nothing seemed to flow smoothly with the offense, although there are some former staff members who will tell you that was more Bielema’s directives to Enos than anything Enos really wanted to do.
He will have the same issues at Alabama, but far better talent to make his style work.
