David Pollack on Alabama offense: ‘Is Nick (Saban) going to go back into his shell?’

David Pollack on Alabama offense: ‘Is Nick (Saban) going to go back into his shell?’

David Pollack, like most of college football, is interested to see what Nick Saban and his Alabama Crimson Tide offense unveils this season.

Pollack, who joined Greg McElroy on “Always College Football,” talked about the new-look offense under coordinator Tommy Rees.

“If they lean more on their defense and more on their run game, they’re going to have put less on the quarterback’s shoulders,” Pollack said. “How can Alabama regain what they had 10 years ago? Maybe that murder-ball as opposed to a little bit more spread, a little bit more airing it out the last couple of years.”

While Alabama has yet to name a starting quarterback, Pollack is a big fan of Rees and knows one quarterback would run wild in the former Notre Dame coordinator’s offense.

“After watching Tommy Rees the last couple of years, I love that cat,” Pollack said. “I think he is really, really good. I think he brings an edge and a mentality to them. That dude don’t play around. …

“You think about (quarterback Jalen) Milroe in that offense and what he could do with his unbelievable freakish running ability. I find it hard to believe that’s what Nick will go back to, but Rees does a great job of pre-snap motion and flooding zones. Unbelievable job of just understanding what defenses are in and using it against them.”

Still, Pollack questions whether Alabama can’t get back to 3 yards in a cloud of dust.

“Is Nick going to go back into his shell and play that kind of ball? I think ball has changed so much,” Pollack said. “I don’t think you can. … I would love to tell you; you can win with defense, and you can win with the run game. I don’t think so.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.