Alabama vs. Auburn: Key Assistants Being Targeted for Head Coaching Gigs

It happens every year regardless of the school; assistants leaving for a head coaching gig en route to creating their own path and beginning the journey to cement themselves in the lore of college football.

Well, on Saturday kicks off another Iron Bowl game between Alabama and Auburn and there's sure to be some assistants being scouted by schools in the search for a new head coach.

Jim McElwain, Alabama

Jim McElwain runs a pretty balanced offense for being a former QB, as well as a former QB/WR coach. That being said, why air it out all day when he's had RBs such as Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson comes through Alabama?

In addition, QB A.J. McCarron has only thrown five INTs this season. And when he was in college, former Tide QB Greg McElroy never threw more than five picks either. So it's clear that McElwain knows how to get the most out of his offense.

With that, a good head coaching fit for McElwain would be the Kansas Jayhawks. Currently the Jayhawks struggle to score points. And despite having a poor passing game, their ground game is respectable.

If McElwain were to takeover, the passing game would see solid improvement while the ground game would dominate. Their average points scored won't increase a dramatic amount. However, he'll make them quite an efficient offense in the Big 12. 

Trooper Taylor, Auburn

Auburn assistant head coach Trooper Taylor knows how to win and be effective, period. He's worked under some excellent head coaches prior to Auburn, such as Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee and Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State.

Now under Gene Chizik and winning the 2011 national title, Taylor has become one of the best assistants in the nation. And even after the loss of Cam Newton the Tigers offense continues to put up points.

That said, a solid fit for Taylor's first head coaching gig would be the UAB Blazers. The Blazers currently have a decent passing game but they fail to really make drives pay off.

Taylor would not only increase the presence of an already solid passing attack, but he's getting potential talent with that, especially since the Blazers upset then-No. 20 ranked Southern Miss.

And if you want to compete at a high level in the Conference USA, having an unstoppable passing game will get you to the top. Just look at Houston.

Burton Burns: Alabama

In helping fellow Tide RB Mark Ingram win the Heisman Trophy, as well as getting Trent Richardson into the mix, Alabama's RB coach Burton Burns knows how to coach a dominant ground game.

And it's not like he's doing it against weak defenses either, as the SEC has arguably some of the best to go up against. Therefore, with a ground and pound philosophy in mind, the Big Ten is perfect for Burns.

To be more specific, the Illinois Fighting Illini. This season the Illini began 6-0 but have lost five straight. Current head coach Ron Zooks has never had a 10-win season as a head coach.

Well, time for a change and Burton Burns would surely welcome the Big Ten's Ora of running the football. Thing is, Illinois can't run the ball against solid defenses.

So, with experience against some of the much faster defenses, Burns will easily adapt and make the Illini a force to be reckoned with in the Midwest.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27