As soon as word of Steve Sarkisian leaving for Texas went public, and guys like Kyle Flood and Jeff Banks were set to join him in Austin, there has been a lot of chatter about the rebuild on offense that Nick Saban had on his hands in Tuscaloosa.
Sources shared with FootballScoop last week that former Texans head coach Bill O'Brien was set to be Sark's replacement for the Tide, filling a key opening for the defending national champs with a guy that has been a head coach (Penn State) at both the college and NFL level.
Bruce Feldman reported a few days ago that Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland was the choice to replace Flood on Saban's staff. Stoutland previously served as the Tide's offensive line coach on Saban's staff from 2011-12; however he is under contract with the Eagles. The Eagles' currently don't have a head coach though; but still Stoutland is under contract for now.
However, a report today shared a new name in the mix.
According to Cole Cubelic, former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone has emerged as a serious candidate in Alabama's search for their next offensive line coach. Marrone and Bill O'Brien are good friends.
Marrone is a coaching veteran with offensive experience at the college and NFL level in addition to his time as the head coach of both the Bills (2013-14) and Jaguars (2017-20) and at Syracuse (2009-12).
His college experience coaching the offensive line or tight ends includes stops at Georgia Tech, Georgia, and Tennessee.
As John Brice points out, Marrone's name has also come up recently in connection with the new head coaching opening at Tennessee.
Saban being able to fill the departures of Sark and Flood with two guys fresh off NFL head coaching stints would be a really impressive feat, but with the track record of success coaches under Saban have had rehabbing their careers, it shouldn't come as a surprise that guys with resumes like O'Brien and Marrone would be interested in a position on Saban's staff.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.
Tuesday update> ESPN is now reporting Marrone is expected to be the guy.
https://twitter.com/espnrittenberg/status/1351640202293424131?s=21