The problem with trying to stop the Hurry-Up No Huddle is that you honestly have to out-talent and out-execute teams rather than out-scheme them.

Traditionally, your best athletes are on offense. That makes it tough to do. Saban's challenge will be developing players that can play pattern-match coverage without giving up tons of yards on mental mistakes and running/option plays. Oh, and get pressure on the QB while containing a potential dual-threat.

There's a reason he's paying Kirby Smart >$1 million/year.

But Saban helped develop the pattern-match defense with the Browns based on the weaknesses of the initial Dick Lebeau Zone Blitz schemes, so he'll have to innovate further. The problem is that it's not just one scheme you have to stop. The Air Raid and other versions of the Spread offense have completely different tendencies, plays, and route trees. You can't just stop the West Coast and be golden.

If Saban sticks to his general system scheme, he'll always be vulnerable. The mental stress associated with playing pattern-match defense is what made the transition of hurry-up, no huddle so popular in the NFL, particularly with the emergence of quality passers that can also run effectively.

Time will tell, but to crown Saban immediately is a mistake in my opinion.

This post was edited on 5/2/13 at 4:35 pm