Alabama Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Cyrus Kouandjio wasn't bitter when he heard his position coach was leaving Alabama this offseason. The Crimson Tide's hulking left tackle was surprised when he saw offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland had accepted a position with the Philadelphia Eagles, but he wasn't disappointed with the news. After all, one day he'll be off to the NFL, too.

"I'm proud," Kouandjio explained. "I texted him that morning. It's the best thing in the world to be recognized. He's a really great coach and I feel happy for him that he's been recognized by an NFL team."

If Kouandjio continues on this path, he could have his own name called by a professional franchise soon. NFL draft analysts have said that he would have been a first-round pick this year if he were eligible.

That speculation will have its day, maybe a year from now, maybe in 2015. In the meantime, Kouandjio and the Alabama offensive line are in transition. With Stoutland gone, they are getting to know their new position coach, Mario Cristobal.

Cristobal, 42, is nearly a decade younger than his predecessor. Stoutland was no slouch, but Crisotbal is another level of energetic. He's ambitious, upbeat and inspiring -- traits that landed him Florida International's top coaching job at the early age of 36. His practices are uptempo and his coaching style is hands-on. He has already made his mark on the recruiting trail in South Florida, and now he's making an impact at Alabama during spring practice.

"I think the players like him," Alabama coach Nick Saban said of Cristobal, one of three position coaches he hired this offseason. "He’s done a good job teaching them. He’s got good energy and enthusiasm. He brings some new ideas. That’s always welcome when you have new coaches join the staff."

Said Kouandjio, regarding the difference between Cristobal and Stoutland: "I mean it’s kind of early to say, but they’re both good coaches. They’re both really technical coaches. They’re really down with the little things. They both push you and are really high-energy coaches. I mean you have to be a high-energy coach to coach the O-line because that’s the one position on the field where you can’t get lazy."

Cristobal won't have the opportunity to sit on his hands, especially this year as he must find a way to replace three starters on the offensive line: All-SEC performers D.J. Fluker, Barrett Jones and Chance Warmack.

So far, Kouandjio said they're "doing pretty good."

"There’s always room for improvement and the sky’s the limit for us. ... We have a lot of different characters on the offensive line right now, and, we’ll be all right."

Saban said the transition has been smooth thus far.

"So everything about this so far from a transition standpoint has been positive," he said. "But that’s a work in progress, too. Consistency in performance over the long haul is what’s going to be important to helping us develop and helping our staff develop, as well."

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- At a certain point, there's too much work to be done on the football field. So much so that the idea of competition goes out the window. With three vacant starting positions on the Alabama offensive line this spring, the idea of actually battling for playing time is unthinkable, at least to left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio.

The depth chart, he noted, is still open.

"Everybody is just working," Kouandjio said following Wednesday's practice. He and guard Anthony Steen are the only two returning starters on the line. "At this time, we're not even thinking about competition."

They might be the only ones, though.

If Alabama is going to have anywhere near the success it had last season, the offensive line must come together, and in a hurry. Kouandjio might have the luxury of feeling good about his position on the depth chart, but he's the exception to the rule, as Alabama must replace three NFL-caliber offensive linemen in Barrett Jones, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker. That's not to mention the other seven former starters now plying their trade elsewhere.

At least Kouandjio would admit that practice felt different without his former teammates around.

"It feels weird," he said. "I've been with those guys for a long time."

But he's been with his brother, Arie, longer. And with Warmack gone, Arie has a chance to start alongside his twin at left guard. He'll have to fend off Kellen Williams for the spot, but so far he's the favorite to win the starting nod.

Chemistry, the glue of any good offensive line, is already set on the left side. After playing together in high school, the Koundajios don't have to say a word to communicate to one another.

"It's my brother" Cyrus said, "of course we already have camaraderie. We already understand each other.

"I love playing with my brother. He's always pushing me, and I'm always pushing him."

The camaraderie of the line as a whole won't come from either Kouandjio, though. Ryan Kelly, the man charged with replacing Jones at center, is looking to make his stamp as the leader of the unit now. And as Cyrus put it, he brings a lot to the table, rivaling Jones in at least one respect.

"He's the most professional person I know," Cyrus said of Kelly. "He's really serious, and that's the perfect center right there. Most centers have to be really tough, and I trust him 100 percent. I trust him as much as I trusted Barrett Jones last year.

"I think things are looking good for him."

Cyrus also singled out rising sophomore Brandon Greene for his improvement this offseason. He, Williams, Isaac Luatua, Alphonse Taylor and newcomers Leon Brown and Brandon Hill have added depth to the offensive line.

"He's doing so much better from last year," Cyrus said of Greene. "He got so much better over the break. His hands are where they're supposed to be, his footwork is good, he is where he's supposed to be right now."

Head coach Nick Saban, for his part, downplayed the transition taking place on the offensive line. He said new position coach Mario Cristobal is doing a "really good job" at coaching and connecting with the players.

"He’s done a good job teaching them," he said. "He’s got good energy and enthusiasm. He brings some new ideas. That’s always welcome when you have new coaches join the staff. So everything about this so far from a transition standpoint has been positive."

And like everything with the offensive line, Saban's remarks came with a caveat.

"But that's a work in progress, too," he said.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The coaching carousel at the University of Alabama kept on spinning Thursday afternoon when it became clear that wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Mike Groh would be leaving to join the Chicago Bears, according to multiple reports. Former Florida State tight ends coach Billy Napier will be hired as Groh's replacement.

Napier, who was hired by FSU in January after spending a year at Colorado State, was formerly an offensive quality control assistant at Alabama under former offensive coordinator Jim McElwain. The 32-year-old Georgia native became Clemson's youngest coordinator ever in 2009, serving as the Tigers offensive coordinator.

Alabama loses a strong recruiter in Groh, who was named the country's top recruiter by Rivals.com and 247Sports. The 41-year-old was instrumental in the Crimson Tide's No. 1-ranked recruiting class in 2012 and 2013. He came to Alabama in 2011 after one season at Louisville coaching quarterbacks. Before that, he spent eight years at Virginia under his father, Al Groh.

The news of Groh's departure comes on the heels of Alabama hiring new offensive line coach Mario Cristobal. Earlier in the week, coach Nick Saban welcomed in former defensive coordinator Kevin Steele as the new director of player personnel, and former Vigor High (Ala.) coach Kerry Stevenson as director of player development.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama went to the well once more when it hired offensive line coach Mario Cristobal. Two years ago, coach Nick Saban stole Jeff Stoutland away from the University of Miami, and with Cristobal he did the same. He can only hope the move pays off as well the second time around.

On the face of it, it should. Cristobal is already being hailed as a home-run hire, and with good reason. The former Florida International head coach has a strong resume and well-rooted ties to the South Florida recruiting scene, an area Stoutland patrolled for two years at UA. Cristobal is young (42 years old), ambitious (he all but built the FIU program from nothing) and energetic. He was hired by Miami as its tight ends and assistant head coach on Jan. 11 and some of the first words out of his mouth were about hitting the recruiting trail hard.

"With three weeks to go in recruiting, it’s about attack mode," Cristobal told reporters at his introductory press conference."Wherever I need to go, wherever I need to be sent, whatever I need to accomplish, anything involving 2014 or ’15, it’s ‘,Go!’ There’s no time to rest."

Said Miami coach Al Golden at the time: ""Clearly his expertise as an O-line coach, a tight ends coach, a guy that has coached many positions and obviously has cultivated talent and recruited in this area, it was just too good a package for us to pass up."

It was too good for Saban to pass up as well. That type of aggressiveness is music to the 61-year-old head coach's ears. Enthusiasm goes a long way on the recruiting trail and in the UA football offices. Cristobal helped the Hurricanes have the 21st-ranked recruiting class in the country, according to ESPN. Four-star receiver Stacy Coley surprised many by choosing Miami on signing day.

Saban praised Cristobal in a news release on Wednesday, calling it "an important hire in terms of working with our offensive line and we feel fortunate that we were able to hire a coach of Mario’s caliber."

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South Carolina has managed to hold onto one of its most valuable assistant coaches.

Offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator Shawn Elliott informed South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier on Friday that he would be staying in Columbia after interviewing with Nick Saban for the Alabama offensive line job.

Elliott, who'll be entering his fourth season at South Carolina, has been a big part of the Gamecocks' success. He's provided stability for South Carolina's offensive line and also brought the zone read package with him from Appalachian State that the Gamecocks have used so much of the past three seasons.

Being able to keep Elliott says something about where South Carolina's program is right now. He's obviously a commodity, and his name has come up a couple of different times the last two years in job searches.

But he's a Camden, S.C., native and grew up attending South Carolina games at Williams-Brice Stadium with his father, who was a South Carolina state highway patrolman.

Elliott obviously feels at home at South Carolina even when a powerhouse like Alabama comes calling.

Here's something else to consider: If you're looking for legitimate candidates to replace Spurrier when the Head Ball Coach does decide to step aside, Elliott would (and should) be in that conversation.

He's a superb coach and an excellent fit at South Carolina.

With Elliott out of the picture at Alabama, Miami associate head coach/tight ends coach Mario Cristobal is the latest candidate to reportedly interview for the Crimson Tide's offensive line job. Cristobal was the head coach at Florida International for six seasons before being fired following this past season.

Two other names connected to Alabama's search for an offensive line coach were former Fresno State head coach Pat Hill and UCF assistant head coach/offensive line coach Brent Key.