Nick Saban says transition to Steve Sarkisian has been excellent

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (TNS) — Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian seems to be doing just fine in his first week taking over for former offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.

Sarkisian was handed his duties Monday, as Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced Kiffin would be stepping down to fully focus on his new position as head coach of Florida Atlantic. The decision came a week from when No. 1 Alabama will face No. 2 Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 9 in Tampa, Fla.

So far, the transition seems to be running smoothly.

“It’s been excellent. Very positive and very upbeat,” Saban said when asked how the players have responded to Sarkisian. “Practice has been good. Energy level is good. Attitude’s been really, really good.”

Before being named the offensive coordinator, Sarkisian was hired as an offensive analyst at the beginning of the season. As an analyst, he was able to oversee the offense but could not be involved in any of the coaching of the players. Now, in his new offensive coordinator role, Sarkisian has been seen talking with the quarterbacks during the media viewing period of practice.

“I mean, I think he’s probably a little more vocal,” Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson said of the difference between Sarkisian and Kiffin. “You know, Coach Kiffin, he was more so in the clutches dealing with the quarterbacks. I think Sark, he’s probably just a little more vocal than Coach Kiff, but that’s probably the only difference I’ve noticed between the two.”

Saban has reiterated several times this week that the only change in the Crimson Tide’s offense will be the person in charge of dialing up the plays. Three days into the change, Alabama players haven’t noticed a difference in playing style.

“Things haven’t changed too much,” Robinson said. “When you guys (the media) get a new offensive coordinator a week before the playoff game, the world’s coming to an end, but not here. We just do exactly what we’ve been doing all year. It’s just a new voice now, that’s it.”

When asked how much autonomy Sarkisian would have with the offense, Saban replied that he meets with the coaching staff periodically and that he has faith and confidence in what they are going to do.

“When I say to do something, everybody always says ‘OK coach, we’ll do the best we can to go get it done.’” Saban said. “But really, I philosophically don’t want to change a lot of the things that we’re doing, because I think it features our players well. I just think we have other guys that we need to get involved in what’s happening in the game.”

Saban also pointed out that while this is Sarkisian’s first week taking control of the offense, he’s been watching the team the whole year and has a good understanding of how things have been running.

“He knows the offense. He knows the players. He’s worked on the game plans every week,” Saban said of Sarkisian. “He knows the system inside and out, knows the terminology.”