SEC Extra Points with Barrett Sallee: Nick Saban's Defense of D.J. Pettway

Right Message, Wrong Idea

Alabama head coach Nick Saban went off on a passionate defense of defensive lineman D.J. Pettway's second chance with the Crimson Tide this week.

Pettway returned to Alabama from East Mississippi Junior College this season and registered 21 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack, disrupting plays in the backfield early and often. More importantly, he graduated in three-and-a-half years.

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His return was certainly controversial.

Pettway was dismissed from the program in February 2013 after a robbery on campus, which sent his career on the one-year detour to junior college. When asked about Pettway's 2014 season, Saban fired back at critics of his methods on Saturday, according to Drew Champlin of AL.com.

"Where do you want them to be? Guy makes a mistake," Saban said. "Where do you want them to be? You want him to be in the street or do you want them to be here graduating?"

Saban's message is on point. The goal for every college football coach is to win games and give players the chance to live their dreams and prepare them accordingly, even if there are some speed bumps along the way.

It's going to fall on deaf ears, though.

Being involved in an on-campus robbery, even if you're not the primary participant, is more than a speed bump though. People who already have their minds made up on how Saban handled the Pettway situation aren't going to be swayed by his justification for his methods, and all this does is bring the issue back to the forefront during a time when even more eyes are on Alabama than normal.

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Right Man for the Job

One more coaching domino has fallen.

Missouri has named the replacement for departed defensive coordinator Dave Steckel, who left the program in December to take the head coaching job at Missouri State. The school announced on Tuesday that Memphis defensive coordinator and former Tiger Barry Odom will take over as the leader of Missouri's defense.

"It goes without saying how excited I am to have this opportunity," said Odom in the release. "I have such a deep respect for the success that Coach Pinkel and his staff have had since I've been away. Transitioning to a new conference is very challenging, and all they've done is get better at everything."

It's a home run hire for head coach Gary Pinkel and Missouri, as USA Today's Dan Wolken notes.

Odom was at the forefront of Memphis' return to dominance. Under his guidance, the Tigers finished fourth in the American Athletic Conference in total defense (349.5 yards per game) and second in yards per play (4.74). His defense posted 30 sacks and a conference-best 87 tackles for loss.

That bodes well for Missouri, which has risen to prominence in the SEC East over the last two seasons with a stifling pass rush and the ability to consistently put opposing offenses behind the sticks. That trend will continue with Odom running the show, which will keep the Tigers in the hunt even if key pieces of the roster turn over again this offseason.

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Belk Bowl Dripping with Coaching Intrigue

If you're looking for a coaching matchup that's just dripping with intrigue, look no further than the Belk Bowl between Louisville and Georgia.

Former Georgia and current Louisville defensive coordinator Todd Grantham will take his Cardinals defense—which ranks sixth in the country (293.3 yards per game)—up against his former program, which wasn't exactly thrilled with his performance during his final two seasons in the Classic City.

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On top of that, Georgia head coach Mark Richt could return to his roots and call plays for the Bulldogs for the first time since 2006 now that offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has taken the head coaching job at Colorado State.

If he doesn't, it could serve as an opportunity for one of Richt's assistants to audition for the role full time or for Georgia to try out a system with two coaches working together, like Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee do on the Plains.

If that isn't enough, the idea of Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino teaming up with Grantham to beat the Bulldogs won't sit well with Georgia fans who double as Atlanta Falcons fans on Sundays.

Recruiting Bust

One of South Carolina's most promising players may be on the way out.

Wide receiver Shaq Roland—a former "Mr. Football" in the state of South Carolina in 2011—has left the team, according to John Whittle of 247Sports. Roland was often in the doghouse, but this appears to be his decision and not one dictated by the coaching staff, according to the report.

Roland caught 26 passes for 356 yards and four touchdowns this season and has totaled 891 yards and 10 touchdowns in his three years in Columbia.

The former 4-star prospect and 40th-ranked player in the class of 2012 showed flashes of brilliance during his Gamecock career, but he never developed the consistency as a deep threat that the staff wanted to see when it signed him out of Lexington (South Carolina) High School.

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Quick Outs

• Marcus Lattimore will be an ambassador for South Carolina, according to David Cloninger of The State. This was reported ever since injuries forced Lattimore to retire from the NFL, but now his role is a little more defined. He'll work with the program's administrators and coaches essentially as a special assistant. 
• Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp thinks it's realistic that his defense could be top 10 nationally in 2015, according to Brandon Marcello of AL.com. Those are lofty expectations, no doubt, and perhaps unattainable in Year 1. For Auburn to be successful, though, he doesn't really have to meet them. As long as there's at least marginal improvement, the Tigers will be in the thick of the SEC West and playoff races.
• It appears LSU head coach Les Miles is still playing coy regarding quarterbacks Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris, based on his comments following practice on Monday. Jennings will likely be the No. 1 option vs. Notre Dame, but if Harris doesn't see significant time, you have to wonder how legitimate an offseason quarterback battle really is. 

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.