Applewhite Alabama’s fresh face on offense

TUSCALOOSA | If you were to ask his teammates what the quarterback was like, they would probably use words like competitive, driven and confident; someone who had put his mark on his school’s record book, but was always looking for more.

Although the description might be fitting for sophomore John Parker Wilson, who threw for 2,539 yards last season and in the process set numerous University of Alabama single-season marks, in this case it’s referring to his new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Major Applewhite.

At just age 28 (born July 26, 1978), he’s now the face of the Crimson Tide offense, just six years after his playing days came to an end at Texas.

“Smart guy," junior guard Justin Britt said. “Knows his stuff. He’s an intense coach as well. He got after us in the fourth-quarter [offseason] program."

Last year, as the offensive coordinator at Rice, his spread offense set a school record for the most points (350) in a single season, and was third in yardage (4,486). That proficiency played a huge part in the Owls receiving their first bowl invitation since 1961 (a loss to Troy in the New Orleans Bowl, 41-17).

Previously, Applewhite had worked as an assistant coach at Syracuse, and in 2003-4 served as a graduate assistant at Texas, where he helped guide All-American Vince Young, who thrived in the Longhorns’ read-option offense out of the shotgun.

Since he arrived, speculation has focused on Alabama going from a pro-style to a spread attack, something similar to the Indianapolis Colts with Peyton Manning making adjustments prior to each snap.

Applewhite conceded that the Tide quarterback will get to do “certain" things that might be different, but wouldn’t elaborate. Everyone else on the team has been as nearly as tight-lipped.

“Scheme-wise it’s totally different," junior wide receiver Keith Brown said after Tuesday’s two-hour practice. “Intensity is WAY up.

“Applewhite is a great coach. He’s a young guy, he’s been in the position that we’d been in and he has the mindset that we have, and the best opportunity we have to make plays. I’m behind him 100 percent."

In addition to the rigorous offseason training, Wilson has also been putting in extra time in the film room, and has already been one of the few players singled out by Coach Nick Saban this spring.

However, one thing the coaching staff is making clear is that Alabama isn’t suddenly going to run the same offense as Rice. It’s going to be part Saban, part Applewhite (who will make the play calls), part assistant head coach Joe Pendry, part the rest of the staff, and a whole lot dependent on what the players can do.

An adequate comparison may be found in Florida under Urban Meyer. Although he ran a spread offense at Utah, he didn’t just suddenly implement the whole scheme at Florida, rather there was a progression over the last two years.

“The fun part of the job is finding how you’re going to get the ball in the end zone," Applewhite said. “Certain teams they can line up and run it right down your throat, some teams have to spread it out. Last year at Rice, we had to spread it out. We weren’t going to be able to line it up and beat people up front to run the football consistently, so we had to spread people out. Every year is a new challenge."

Perhaps Pendry best summed up what Alabama’s new offense will be like, after being asked how he expected his conservative reputation to mesh Applewhite’s offensive philosophy.

“I had Doug Flutie for three years in Buffalo and we ran the spread, the empty offense," Pendry said. “What I’m known as, and what’s perception and reality, might be two different things. When I had Christian Okoye in Kansas City, and lined up and ran the ball all the time. Whatever the players are, what they can do best, that’s what I’m known as. The bottom line is winning. Whatever it takes."

Although Applewhite wasn’t able to lead the Longhorns to a national championship (they finished No. 4 in 2001), he did secure his place in Texas lore by accumulating a 22-8 record and setting numerous career records, including passing yards (8,353), passing touchdowns (60), passing attempts (1,065), and total offense (8,059).

One game he’s well remembered for was his last, against Washington in the Holiday Bowl. Playing on a sprained ankle, he completed 37 of 55 passes for 473 yards and four touchdowns, and helped Texas overcome a 19-point third-quarter deficit en route to a 47-43 victory.

Afterward, many Longhorns said they knew they were going to win because of the look in Applewhite’s eye, which they had seen before.

“Cool, calm and collected," wideout Roy Williams told ESPN.com about Applewhite’s demeanor during the game-winning drive. “He looked bored. He was just like, 'OK, we’re going to march down and win this thing. I’m like, 'Man, ain’t you supposed to be yelling at us or something?’"

Few conclusions can be drawn from just two days of spring practice, with the team working out in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts under a warm sun. But three things are apparent:

1) As expected, Applewhite’s going to be very hands-on with the quarterbacks, with overall development the primary goal.

“I’ve always talked to quarterbacks about competing against the course like a golfer," Applewhite said. “You aren’t completing against other golfers, you’re trying to master the course. You have to worry about your game and getting your game better.

“If you’re worried about the next guy, did he complete a pass, did he not complete a pass, you’re not focusing on what’s important. For those guys, it’s about mastering the offense and not so much competing against one another."

2) Alabama’s offense will be try new things, experiment and be flexible.

For example, even though junior right tackle Chris Capps is being held out of contact drills, the biggest change on the offensive line hasn’t been in personnel, but in approach.

“We’re all learning both the right and left sides," Britt said. “Some people are learning tackle, some people are learning center. I’ve been learning both center and guard, to be prepared. We’re all sort of doing what Antoine [Caldwell] did last year."

Incidentally, during Tuesday’s individual drills, the top five linemen were Britt, Caldwell, sophomore Marlon Davis, freshman Andre Smith and sophomore B.J. Stabler.

The next five were all freshman: Evan Cardwell, Drew Davis, Mike Johnson, Taylor Pharr and David Ross.

3) With the rotating two-spot practice sessions, there’s a lot to get through.

“More up-tempo beat," junior wide receiver Matt Caddell said. “Everyone’s getting work and everybody as a whole, each individual is getting better, and our team is getting better as a whole."

Perhaps all the work has kept the players from looking over at their offensive coordinator, and having the thought that he’s close to the same age as some of their brothers.

But just like everything else with Saban’s team, it’s all about results.

“You’re given a job and you go do it," Applewhite said. “It’s as simple as that. You’re pleased, you’re driving hard, you’re excited about being in a place like Alabama, but you don’t reflect too much, there’s too much work in the meantime."

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196