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Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart's familiarity with boss Nick Saban has plenty of pluses for the Crimson Tide - and for offensive coordinator Jim McElwain.
Smart's ability to sense Saban's moods helps keep McElwain out of trouble.
''He's been with coach longer so he can kind of head off some of the things that may be coming for me,'' McElwain said Sunday. ''Believe me, that is huge when it comes to that.''
He was smiling when he said that, of course. The roles of Smart and McElwain in Alabama's rise to the national championship have been largely unheralded if only because Saban only lets them talk to media once a year, not counting bowl-mandated appearances.
''They both have done an extraordinary job of carrying out the principles and values of the organization that we've tried to put forward,'' Saban said.
The success was enough to get both some looks for other jobs after last season. McElwain was reportedly a candidate for the head coaching job at San Jose State. Smart got his salary doubled to $750,000 in a three-year deal after receiving a similar offer to run alma mater Georgia's defense for Mark Richt.
He's going into his sixth year working under Saban, including one season each with LSU and the NFL's Miami Dolphins.
''There's a lot of familiarity between coach Saban and I,'' Smart said. ''He's very organized and very detailed. He understands I know those details and I demand those same details. We might be doing a practice schedule and I know where he's going and some of that goes unspoken.
''We know how we want the drill done. He knows how he wants the drill done. I know how he wants the drills done. It's ultimately his soldiers', his staff's, job to get it done.''
Smart has switched from working with the secondary - alongside Saban - to coaching linebackers this season. James Willis left to become Texas Tech's defensive coordinator under Tommy Tuberville, and Jeremy Pruitt was promoted to secondary coach in the only offseason staff change.
The Tide defense has ranked second or third in total yards allowed the past two seasons - and was No. 2 against the run and in total and scoring defense during the championship run. Smart won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach last season.
Cornerback Kareem Jackson was a first-round pick by the Houston Texans after his junior season. Experience in Saban's complex defense has apparently helped with the Texans so far.
''Their secondary coach David Gibbs called me and told me, 'Y'all do a lot on defense. I can evaluate Kareem and know that he can play every technique we're going to ask him to play, plus some that maybe I would like to use,''' Smart said.
Smart has some challenges this season with a defense that has to replace nine starters.
McElwain has it a little better. The Tide returns eight starters on offense, including Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram at tailback and receiver Julio Jones.
McElwain's offense has steadily progressed in his first two seasons with the Tide. Alabama was 64th in scoring offense the year before his arrival and ranked No. 22 last season.
The Tide set a school record for total yards in a season in 2009.
''I was just told that statistic,'' McElwain insisted. ''I didn't even know that.''
He said staying put in Tuscaloosa was a no-brainer, while quipping that ''nobody really wanted me.'' McElwain has a daughter attending Alabama, another who's a senior in high school and a son just starting up in high school football.
''To be at the University of Alabama, to be in this conference, to work for a guy like coach Saban, to work with the staff that we have ... I'm not sure what is any better,'' McElwain said. ''I can't tell you how happy I am and our family.
''What an outstanding place to raise a family and be happy about it, and to be coaching at the top level of where we're at. I count my lucky stars. Being a kid from Montana, I never thought I'd even be standing up here talking to anybody like this.''
