SEC Network's Cole Cubelic makes case for Jeremy Pruitt as the 'No. 1 choice' for Alabama defensive coordinator

Alabama and head coach Nick Saban are in the market for a pair of coordinators this offseason. And when it comes to replacing defensive coordinator Pete Golding, SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic thinks a retread with Jeremy Pruitt could be a successful pairing.

Speaking on “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Wednesday, Cubelic explained why Pruitt — Alabama’s defensive coordinator until his lackluster run as Tennessee’s head coach — could work running it back with Saban. A lot of it has to do with his creds and ability to challenge the head coach on things.

“And I think that’s the reason that Nick Saban, probably it’s his No. 1 choice. He knows what he’s going to do, he knows that they can work off one another. I also think, Paul, that there’s a part of Jeremy Pruitt that understands how and can go toe-to-toe with Nick Saban,” Cubelic said. “And when I say that, I don’t mean they’re having a boxing match in the facility. But he can challenge Nick Saban on ‘Why are we calling this here? We need to be running this. We don’t need to be in this alignment. We don’t need to be in this personnel grouping here. This is what we’re probably going to get.’ And Nick Saban has enough respect and understands that Jeremy Pruitt is not doing that just to prove that he has some sort of authority or puff his chest out at the head coach.

“He’s doing that because it would be what’s best for his defense. And I think Nick Saban probably feels like he needs a little bit of that. He needs a little bit of counter to what he thinks on a daily basis defensively inside that facility.”

There is one issue that Pruitt would need to contend with since leaving Alabama for Tennessee: The defensive talent at Alabama is a half-step down from what it once was.

“One thing that would be very different for him would be the level of talent. They lost a lot in the secondary, they’re not near as talented as they were at linebacker when he was there previously and they don’t have the interior defensive linemen, outside of one in Jaheim Oatis, that he’s used to having when he’s previously been at Alabama. But, Jeremy Pruitt can coach ball. He can coach defense. He can game plan. He can adjust in-game. He just has that fifth sense, that extra sense of ‘This is what is going to happen, this is what the opposition is going to do.’ Probably because he grew up around ball his entire life. Are there still some hurdles in the way of that? I believe that there are. I don’t believe they’re insurmountable hurdles.”

There is, of course, the matter of how Pruitt’s tenure at Tennessee went. Simply: Not good. The Volunteers never got right on the field and Pruitt was eventually jettisoned amid a spate of NCAA infractions.

While he’s stayed in coaching — including a stint working with the New York Giants — a return to the Alabama sideline would be a step-up in visibility for Pruitt. Cubelic doesn’t think it would be worth walking away from a darn good defensive coach.

“Well it’s not hard to unpack from a standpoint of ‘Could he put a quality defense on the field?’ I’ve seen him do that. I’ve been on recording saying Jeremy is one of the best in-game coaches on that side of the football that I’ve ever seen. I’ve called games, been on the sideline, Paul, and seen him screaming out the other teams plays, that they’re about to run. And it’s that play,” Cubelic said. “I know how he communicates that side of the football, teaches that side of the football. He could be successful there.”