Joel Klatt believes Saban was outcoached in Alabama's collapse to Clemson | CFB | FIRST THINGS FIRST 

Did you expect Clemson to beat Alabama last night?

I see klatt, I click

C.C gone act like he knew trevor Lawrence as a kid

Can tell you non Clemson faithful, that Ross been doing this all year long

Them Clemson WRS tho

Klatt "Clemson has been the most dominant in the last 3 years, winning 2 of the past 3 National Championships". Alabama has won 2 titles in the past 4 years and played in the National Championship game 4 years in a row.

Trevor Lawrence roasted that Alabama defense and tua was tryna be to fancy and pretty and got exposed

Finally someone talking about Justin Ross. Those one hand catches were awesome.

SEC fan here. Glad to eat the humble pie. As a Tennessee fan I'm getting used to it and understand growing pains.

So we're not going to ask why Jalen wasn't put in right after halftime? Like if the 1st half wasn't bad enough to consider him

Nobody mentioned coaching continuity all season. All I heard was this was Bamas and Sabans best team ever because they have a top notch QB.. Clemson couldnt hold there jock straps.. I think if Kirby Smart and Lane Kiffen were still there it would be same result

Saban was outcoached?? Wow Klatt; did you figure that out all by yourself?? Pure genious....

Joel Klatt and Paul Finnebaum are great college football analysts. I love when Gus Johnson calls games on Fox and how Verne called games on CBS for the SEC

With that first argument you could just as easily say that Clemson should have been be very predictable since they have had the same coordinators.

As an Alabama fan this is good for Alabama. I felt like this year compared to years past like the 2012 and 2015 team. We didn't seem as focused. It was like we played throughoyt the season like why know we have more talent so we don't have to game plan as much.

How is Tua way more experienced than Trevor? Tua is 14-1, Lawrence is 11-0 as starters. Sorry, that’s not a huge experience factor or gap.

Dabo Swinney is a real Coach, not one who tries to overwhelm with talent alone.

Outcoached, outclassed and for once the officials were on the side of the team opposite of Alabama.

Saban is my favorite coach and I beleive he and his staff were out coached as well. There are a lot of things that go into being a coach and while Saban is a very good xs and os guy, he is not always the best. He lost to Ole Miss a couple of times because of that as well. But he does other things extremely well. He is a phenomenol recruiter. The best. He is great at deciding when to switch players in and out of the game (particularly his rbs). He is outstanding at managing the needs of his student athletes. he keeps his kids focused. He squashes the hype and the big head and feeds the hunger. he manages the game clock really really well. For whatever reason he rarely has kickers who are on the level of his other players. and sometimes he gets out coached. Why he only rushed 4 all night long and kept the lbs back when the opposing QB was carving him up is a real question. Clemson QB gets the ball away fast and he never was really rushed...unlike Tua. As long as Saban is there AL will win, but sometimes he gets out coached. And he certainly did poorly running the defense in this one. Venables did a great job against him even though his wr and rbs were doing a great job individually.

Think about how many 5☆ blue chippers that are going to and wanting to play for Dabo Swinney at Clemson. He just may be the first head coach to win the title 3, 4, 5 years in a row?!?! Its scarey to think about.

I said all year that Clemson had the best chance to really beat Alabama this year than they ever had. And that includes when they beat them for their 2nd natty. I also said that Dexter Lawrence wouldn't be missed in the title game either.

Thank you Joel Klatt

Bama's coming reloaded next year... But for now give it up to clemson

I think for the Alabama fan base, this was very eye-opening! It showed us that Clemson is indeed building their program to compete with us year after year. We're gonna have to work twice as hard now to plant that flag atop of the hill. @​

Alabama did not prepare tua for the looks Clemson’s defense threw at him ... totally out coached

Agree Joel!

That fake fg showed how panicked saban was. That was the moment you knew they were gonna lose.

Wow, Saban got outcoached, who would've guessed that? Thanks for the enlightenment Klatt 😂

It’s going to be the same 2 teams next year, hopefully it’ll be a watchable game next time.

Saban abandoned the run game way too early... he put the ball in Tua's hands and it cost him. Jalen should have started the 2nd half as well not that it mattered but still. If Jalen was playing like that he would have been pulled in the 1st half.

This is SEC?!? LOL!!!!! Georgia loses to Texas and Bama gets STOMPED by Clemson. Wasn't Georgia supposed to be the second best team in the country behind Alabama? Wow, talk about being overrated. Yes, the SEC is overall the most talented conference, but they're not so far ahead of the other conferences as they're perceived to be.

Joel Klatt thinks Saban was out coached?????? Wow!! How’d ya figure that one out Einstein!!

Sometimes you just get beat... it’s not that Saban has forgotten how to coach it’s just other schools hire coaches and pour money into their programs to beat them... Clemson included... and Clemson has an amazing program and deserves all the accolades and Alabama deserves a tip of the cap for a great season

Mr. Klatt makes a good point with Barnett and Snyder at NW and KSU turning doormats into powerhouse, but what of Barry Alverez at Wisconsin? Bucky won 6 games total in the 3 years prior to his arrival, and he takes them to a Big 10 title, a Rose Bowl win, and shouting distance from the super teams of that era. He would win 2 more Rose Bowls that decade, and fail to make a bowl only twice after that 1st Rose Bowl. He would retire from coaching after 2005 to concentrate on being the athletic director where he remains to this day. He would couch 2 bowls games after Bialma and Anderson jumped ship (Both of these individuals failed greatly at their new jobs) winning one of them. And last year, his 3rd hire, Paul Chryst had Bucky one win away from the Playoff.And it's not just the football team that has prospered during his tenure as AD. The Hockey team won a national title, Mens Basketball came within a win of one, and other sports have excelled as well, making Wisconsin a leading contender for the Director's Cup year in and out. The one thing that Swinney has done that Barry or the other 2 did not do is take his program to the National title. And if Chryst takes Bucky to the mountain top, one could make the case for Barry doing that too. I take nothing away from Dabo's achievements, nor do I diminish would Barnett and Snyder did, but I wrote this piece to make Wisconsin's case.

Staying on top is tougher than getting to the top. Try keeping 85 18-21 year olds focused and humble. As Bobby Bowden once said: "These kids think they can win simply because they are wearing a FSU uniform." Complacency is a killer. The real test is to see if Clemson can sustain.

Tua a real Heisman winner, eh?

Alabama got outscored 30-3 by Clemson to end CFP Championship and outscored 34-17 by Oklahoma to end Orange Bowl. Obviously playing nothing but cupcakes all year is leaving Bama ill-prepared to go 60 minutes with real teams.

When you get beat down like that coaching has very little to do with it...You simply got OUTPLAYED...No matter how good or bad coaching, at the end of the day PLAYERS have to perform..

Makes you think about how good Syracuse was this year and maybe the ultimate sleeper in college football next year 🤔🤔🤔

Bama has to learn how defend those BUNCH passes, where 3 receivers bunch up and the outside receiver lets the two inside receivers run out a couple yards and then cuts in behind them across the field. ANOTHER VERSION OF THE PICK PLAY .

We baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack 🤘

💯 agreed. Outcoached ! Fake field was horrible . The call and the play . 3 rd string QB following lead block by kicker w 6 yards to gain . Awful. Ppl called for mike Tomlins job when he called for fake punt last week . Ijs

Even after the 2 int's the game was still close. Bama just couldn't score when they were in the red zone. But even though Saban staff was out coached, he's still the goat by far.

Bama fan here-- I agree with Joel Klatt. I would add that Bama had zero returning starters in the defensive backfield. Still, the Tide’s performance was pathetic after going up 16-14, then going scoreless the rest of the game. Why didn’t Jalen Hurts get sick me serious playing time in the second half? The Tide’s DBs looked lost most of the night. The Tide defense wasn’t nearly as good this year as it had been for the previous ten years. Clemson deserves a great deal of credit. They clearly looked like the better team. But I wouldn’t write off Bama’s chances of beating Clemson in the future. Both programs have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the other teams.

Alabama's running game was actually moving the ball they just couldn't punch it into the endzone. Plenty of total yards just no points to show for it

Joel exposed and explains thoroughly the weakness of CEO style coach and what can happen due to turnover. The Saban way works, but there has to be continuity and there is nuance among staff. Kudos to stability!

What about the transformation of Miami in the 80’s? The school almost dropped their football program.

I believe the thrashing that Clemson gave Bama is going to have lasting affect on the Crimson Tide. It will be a stigma that they will have to contend with if they are to be considered a playoff team in 2019. The performance of Tua Tagovailoa in the second half of the title game was in a word dreadful. He looked dazed and had his confidence shaken badly. It will be up to coach Saban to guide him back into a realm of successful leadership if indeed he hasn't had his confidence shaken also.

Klatt........i click!!!!

I totally agree with Joe Klatt. Alabama loses players early and coordinators a lot. In the last 11 years Alabama lost OC Major Applewhite, Jim McElwain, Doug Nussmeier, Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, Brian Daboll, and Mike Locksley. DC Kirby Snart, Jeremy Pruitt, and now Tosh Lupoi. There is no continuity there and Clemson has not going through problem of revolving coaches like Bama have.

This was Saban's best Coached game ever. ENOUGH SAID. ALL FIVE STARS

Tua Turntheballova 😂

Outcoached... brilliant analysis

Bama was asleep that whole game. Saban was snoozin

Shout out to the Legend Bill Snyder!

Should've put Jalen in after halftime.

Something was going on all right. It is called a Pass Rush. Tuta met a Defense. A real Defense. Something he has seen this year.

It was the hardest game they played all year, and Bama wasn’t ready. The hardest opponent in the regular season was LSU. Then they almost lost to Georgia and almost lost to Oklahoma. That led to a beat down by Clemson. Maybe they should play some harder out of conference games, instead of playing Citadel, to better gauge how good they really are. If ND put weak schools on their schedule everyone would be all over it that they don’t belong in the top 5, Bama does it and they get to be #1.

It take three coaches to win championship not one one offense coaches to call plays one defense call defensive plays one head coach to make final decision that on paper that Alabama is the top team but on the battlefield when both sides r equal it changes everything

When Bama have coaches go somewhere else. Let them go. Mike Locksley should have never coached this game. The same thing happen when Lane got hire by Florida Int. That goes for any head coach. If you lose your OC or DC to another job, let them go. Don't have them coaching in your biggest games of the season. Also.....as Bama fan......we Clemson gave us payback from last year. They kicked our @$$

There will be some significant firings and additions in the coaching staff personnel at BAMA! The Tide will be back next year!

Don’t know if people know what out coached is. A QB making 2 turnovers that lead to points and missed throws isn’t out coached it’s a player not making plays. Best pass rusher has missed 3 straight national championships. Also in football there are coordinators you trust to make the right play calls.

Haskins would dne same thing torch that defense there defense is average at best there offense only thing that kept them ahead in games

This is one of Alabamas worst offense and defensive fronts Saban has ever had.It starts up front and ends up front Tua.Hurts Drew Breeze it doesn't matter .I'm a Bama fan I've knew this all year our upfront men are not what we've had in the past

2019 Poll: 1. Ohio State 2. ClumsyOn 3.? EbbTide 4. Michigan 5. PSU 6. Iowa 7. Wisconsin(edited) 8. Oklahoma(edited) 9.. ND(edited) 10. Maryland 11. Texas 12. Washington 13. Washington State(edited) . 25. Georgia

Nick Saban lost but at the end of the day he still holds the most championships... It's good for the team to lose to get even stronger.. They are coming... you can't hold them down they get even better all time after a loss... ROLL TIDE😍😍😍❤❤❤

Fear The Paw!!! 🐅

He was and admitted to it and that’s ok. It happens.

Since LSU beat UCF, do we get a share of the national title with Clemson

Can y’all plz plz plz quite acting like all of sabans success is from recruiting that is only 15% of the pie them boys have to be coached up and in 2008 when saban first got to bama he didn’t just start getting 5 stars he slowly built a dynasty and I know I know y’all he just lost but that’s the game of football you can’t win every game but the man hands down has built the most dominate college football program in history and if you can’t except that then your just who you are a hater and a sore loser

nope. i expected that score... but with bama on the business end.

I am a bit of an Alabama fan, so perhaps this comment is a little biased. I think Alabama got out-coached, but not out-played. Alabama was in the red zone three times and came away with zero points (I'll ignore the defensive holding penalty that wasn't called on Jeudy). Furthermore, Tua threw two picks - one of which was a miscommunication between him and the receiver, and the other on a well designed & disguised defensive play. Both lead to Clemson touchdowns. Plus Saivion Smith fell down on Ross' 74 yard touchdown. While I am not saying that differential outcomes in these situations would've put Alabama on top, it's worth noting that the game wasn't far from being very close.

They really got out coached in this game. How do you get in your opponents territory five times and not score. When they moved the ball into Clemson territory they tried to get cute. Half yard line and you take your big back out!!!

Continuity in coaching? Lol a Saban team? I’m sure they were fine with a change or two in coaches.

In 2017 Saban was out coached by Gus at Auburn and fro 3 quarters at Georgia in the SEC play off. He had a Tua on the bench during 7 quarters and did not use him. Tua would have left Bama had he not been played in the SEC play off game. Don't overrate Saban.

That means Saban out coached Dabo in Alabama’s 24-6 win over Clemson in last years playoff game? How stupid do we need to get with this?

Hats off to Clemson. I was pushing for Alabama to win because wanted Saban to get his 7th national title. Only that I would say that Saban should have done was let Jalen Hurst should played more because he is better runner and scamper. Hurst is to good not to be starting.

Bailed Lawrence out?! Where were you on Johnny Manzell? His whole college career was bailed out on wide receivers!

Who wants to watch these two football factories year in and year out?

This guy always speaks what seems to me to be true

Didn't Oklahoma throttle Bama a few years ago in a bowl game?

I just said that last night. Clemson prepared for Alabama for a month. Alabama had to take Oklahoma serious. If we could've played Notre Dame, the outcome would have been different.

Tua 38 TDs 0 Ints vs bottom defenses. 6Tds 6 Ints vs top defenses... "Real Heisman" Tua Turntheballova

If Big Dex had been playing the run would have evaporated. Run stuffing train in cleats.

Clemson were better this year, Lawrence had no pressure at all. Once he had, he was smart to throw on the sideline etc, Tua made bad decisions. Alabama coaching staff was outcoached and now you see losing staff year after year affects you, experience can t be replaced every year. Same thing will happen to Clemson trust me, next is Venables.

Retirement announcement close.

Saban's coordinators got completely out coached, his OC stated a couple weeks ago that he believed he did his best recruiting job for the current Maryland job he's headed for, you can't beat a team like Clemson when your own coaches aren't focused any better than that. But we've heard this before, the Saban era is finished, he's lost his edge, just more wishful thinking that will lead to another Bama championship

Mike Locksley didn't even come close to having bama's offense ready for the championship game .... WORST coached bama team i've ever seen

Wasn't this said about Urban Meyer seven years ago? The next great... Saban has a need to limit his buddy buddy with Dabo.

.. dude tried to say Clemson looked past ND and Alabama may not have had time to prepare for Clemson... bunch of BS .. quit looking for excuses... Clemson came out and punched em in the mouth and never looked back.. Clemson nearly beat them last year.. Good game Clemson. Go CANES!!

Joel Klatt, believes Saban was out coached. WOW. Joel I would have never figured that one out on my own. and on a side note,I thought all Chris Carter did was catch touchdown passes.

The SEC model is now in the ACC @ Clemson. It's @ Ohio State. They have that Bernie Mac mentality ("I ain't scared of you muthafuckas!"). That was my first impression of Deshaun Watson: Fearless. When you kick the bully in the nuts, he won't get up.

Oh my god I figured it out...Nick Wright is a shaved head Tom Green

Seeing that fake fg I knew Saban started to panic bro lol I never seen this side of him it was crazy

oof......somebodys about to pay for next year lol bamas coming

Alabama did not come into this game prepared. They looked dumbfounded and didn’t know how to respond when getting hit in the mouth.

CLEMSON saved College Football that Alabama is beatable... aGREED.. OUTCOACHED...

I'm very glad that Clemson totally humbled Bama! Bama was thinking they were invincible but they got exposed after playing inferior teams all year with maybe the exception of Georgia, Texas A&M and Oklahoma which had no defense. Clemson can match talent with Bama and that is why Bama got exposed and beat up. This was good for Bama in the long run. Bama is still a great team but this beat down will humble them and their fans who were probably starting to get arrogant. The SEC is also overrated. Clemson and Bama will probably play for the championship again next year unless Georgia, Ohio State or some other school can rise up to challenge them. I like this Bama Clemson rivalry, it's 2-2 with both teams bringing back a ton of talent! The 2019 season should be a great season and fun to watch.

Does the name Howard Schnellenberger mean anything

It's just a game and it's not the end of the world,a new season is coming just get ready to play again God bless Alabama.💕 I heard a lot of you talking so bad about Alabama, now you all got your curse on Tua and Alabama 👎