Nick Saban does not coach in the NFL anymore, but that certainly is not stopping NFL coaches from asking for his advice. While Saban had almost no success while coaching in the professional league, he does have a large amount of success in college ranks and facing the newest fad in the NFL, the read-option offense. The University of Alabama head football coach has faced the read-option offense more times than he would like. He told ESPN that several NFL coaches have visited his office asking for advice on how to defend against.
Saban knows how to win against almost every style of offense. Alabama is the two-time defending NCAA champions and a large part of that is due to Saban and his ability to adjust to any offense a team brings. The read-option started as a fad in college football with quarterbacks like Cam Newton and Robert Griffin III who then brought it to the pro ranks. Now, NFL coaches have been trying to adjust to it.
"Several NFL coaches have come to visit this year to say, 'How do you stop these guys?' Because they're not accustomed to seeing that," Saban said.
Saban notes that NFL defenses are built off the pass-rush so the idea of the read-option and a quarterback being able to run can throw off a defender. A pass-rush defense is needed to stop quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Drew Brees who are primarily pocket passers. However, that style of defense will not work around someone like Colin Kaepernick. Saban believes the San Francisco 49ers run the read-option better than any other team.
"I think the teams that do a really good job like the 49ers, they do it from multiple formation looks, so they make more defensive players have to understand how to do it, and I think that's the biggest challenge that they have right now," Saban said.
While Saban is busy giving advice to NFL coaches, he is also preparing the Alabama football to go on the defense of their championship title in 2013. The Crimson Tide just wrapped up the first team scrimmage in preparation for the Spring Game on April 20.
