Paul Finebaum offers insight into approaches by Nick Saban, Lane Kiffin
Paul Finebaum chimed in with his thoughts on Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin heading into the Week 4 matchup between No. 13 Alabama and visiting No. 15 Ole Miss.
Alabama is coming off an underwhelming 17-3 victory at South Florida. The ESPN analyst lit into the Crimson Tide for their performance during an appearance on McElroy & Cubelic In The Morning.
“The coaching staff has to figure out which direction they’re going in…What I saw the other day was a complete and total embarrassment,” Finebaum said. “I just have to wonder where the leadership is coming, not so much on the football team but in the coaching room. Because I really don’t understand what the philosophy is right now under Tommy Rees.”
Finebaum believes that Nick Saban isn’t able to employ his typical tough love approach with this current Alabama squad.
“It’s pretty obvious and self-evident that Nick Saban doesn’t think he can do that. Why otherwise would we see this kinder or gentler Nick Saban? Clapping his hands and congratulating his team on how proud he was of how hard they fought,” Finebaum said. “That’s not the Saban that we would’ve seen. I’ve seen Saban angrier after a national championship win than what I saw Saturday. That has to be troubling.”
However, Finebaum doesn’t expect Saban to revert course and switch back to his old style.
“I would lean towards trying to deal with what he’s seeing in front of them. You don’t want to completely lose the locker room. I don’t think we’re there yet,” Finebaum said. “…I think the temptation for Nick Saban is to do what he’s always done. But I do trust him in this particular manner to go with his gut on what this team can handle.”
Meanwhile, Finebaum addressed a recent tweet by Kiffin that speculated that Alabama changed its defensive play caller.
Finebaum gives credit to Kiffin for his gamesmanship and social media approach.
“It’s impossible to get inside his head because he’s a genius inside this child-like figure, not because of his coaching, but because how he handles things on social media,” Finebaum said.
Finebaum believes the season is on the line for Alabama in Week 4.
“Saturday is the entire season,” Finebaum said. “If Alabama loses this game, they are essentially out of the Playoff conversation and reeling from an SEC West standpoint.”
Ole Miss at Alabama is slated for Sept. 23 at 3:30 p.m. EST and will be televised on CBS.