Before landing the head coaching job at Michigan State, Alabama head coach Nick Saban worked as the Browns defensive coordinator for Bill Belichick in Cleveland. It was in Cleveland the two coaches came up with the foundations of the complex defensive secondary strategy the two still utilize to this day.

Obviously, the scheme works quite well, but according to former Alabama defensive back Mark Barron, the system isn’t for everyone. In fact, Barron’s current Rams team runs a system that he defines as less ‘complicated’ than the one currently run in Tuscaloosa.

“The way the program is ran, it’s pretty much like an NFL program,” Barron said on After Hours with Amy Lawrence. “It might be even more complicated. Well, actually, I know for a fact that it’s more complicated than a lot of NFL systems.

“It’s just having to learn that and go through that whole process of putting in the work. The work that it takes to be successful at Alabama, that’s what prepares you for the work you have to put in (to) have success in the NFL.”

Judging by comments like these, it’s easy to see why so many of the nation’s elite defensive backs want to come play for Saban and get a master’s degree in secondary play before reaching the NFL level.

Whether it’s the complicated defensive back schemes or the talent front seven of the Tide, or likely the combination of both, it’s working this season as Alabama ranks No. 2 in the SEC pass defense heading into the Arkansas game.