Nick Saban's To Do List:1. Fix Alabama's Kick Coverage! 2. Make Sure I Fixed It!

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

When you watch the Alabama Crimson Tide this year there are two things that are undeniable:

1. Alabama is a very good football team.

2. Alabama's kick coverage stinks.

Every time Alabama tees up the football Alabama fans hold their collective breath.

Why?

Because they know the next 15 seconds could change and the momentum or even the outcome of the game.

I'll just say it, Alabama kick coverage is awful.

It is the Crimson Tides Achilles’ heel. 

Saban's response was direct as usual, “We’re over-squeezing the field, not staying in our lanes,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said Monday. “I don’t think it’s a personnel issue as much as it is a responsibility and discipline issue of recognizing where everybody’s supposed to fit.”

Saban said he didn’t recall past teams giving up many kick returns for touchdowns — “let alone back-to-back in games.” 

In other words a team as talented as Alabama, that is so well coached should not have this much trouble covering kicks.

The statistics support my claim.

Alabama has allowed a whooping 428 return yards on kickoffs in just two games for an average of 28.5 per kick. If that wasn't bad enough for you then try having two kickoffs returned for touchdowns leading to lead changes and I think you get the picture. 

In total Alabama has allowed 3 touchdowns in the last two years tying the number scored on the Crimson Tide between 1973 and 2002.

Alabama was ranked No.75 in kickoff coverage last year and that statistic has not improved, in fact they have gotten worse. 

Alabama is currently ranked 113 out of 120 teams in the country in kickoff coverage...OUCH!

So this is not a new problem, and it certainly hasn't been addressed yet.

Blame it all on the kicker?

Possibly, but Leigh Tiffin is a solid place kicker and he ranks No. 2 nationwide as a field goal kicker. Having said that he very seldom kicks the ball deep into the end-zone?

Is that by design or is it lack of leg strength?

Only he and the coaches know the answer to that question. 

Blame it on the coaches?

Bobby Williams is the special teams coach, but if he were the entire problem wouldn't all the Special Teams be struggling? Wouldn't Alabama be having punts and field goals blocked, then there is the punt coverage?

I will say this, if there is another touchdown scored on the kicking team this year I would certainly give another coach a chance to solve the problem if I were Saban.

Is the problem is isolated to kickoff coverage?

Yes, Alabama punt coverage is much improved this year. 

Alabama's P.J. Fitzgerald is averaging a very respectable 46.5 average with only a 4.7 average on returns. Alabama ranks No. 39 in punt coverage and Fitzgerald ranks No. 18 in punting. That adds up to an acceptable No. 26 ranking in net punting yards.

That is not that great, but it's not too shabby either.

So the question is what is Alabama doing on punt coverage that they are failing to do on kickoff coverage?

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