Nick Saban needs to stop making excuses and solve Alabama's real problems

[KamaAina]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nick-saban-needs-to-stop-making-excuses-and-solve-alabama-s-real-problems-175936781-ncaaf.html

You remember when the Alabama coach was dismayed by the accelerating pace of play brought on by no-huddle offenses? His objections were all about player safety, of course, and had nothing to do with Southeastern Conference Western Division opponents like Auburn and Texas A&M bringing an uncomfortable tempo into Saban's backyard.

Now, it's that meddlesome National Football League and its problematic draft schedule. A coach who sells the NFL to recruits like nobody else seems to think the league's disclosure of draft information to his players hurt Alabama's focus and preparation for the College Football Playoff semifinal last season.

Players requesting draft feedback from the NFL have to declare by Dec. 15. Saban said here Tuesday that the feedback was received around Christmas. The playoff game against Ohio State was played Jan. 1, with the Crimson Tide losing in a sizable upset.

"Our team chemistry from the SEC championship game to the playoff game was affected by something," Saban said. "... We had six guys in this situation this past year and 11 the year before. So we're trying to get ready for a game, and all of a sudden a guy finds out he's a first-round draft pick or a guy that thought he was a first-round draft pick finds out he's not a first-round draft pick, and we're trying to get ready to play a playoff game. I think it would be better not to submit that information to a player until he was finished competing in college."

They better have one of these on the sidelines at Bryant-Denny.

[hughee99]

1. While I don't think this is the cause of Alabama's problems, I do agree that it might be better

to put off the draft stuff until after all the games have been played.

[Auggie]

2. I agree