Lance Thompson makes first trip back to Bama

TUSCALOOSA | Lance Thompson was up late Monday night, watching video of the University of Alabama’s offense and hard at work in coaches meetings, but it all looks familiar.

The touch that Greg McElroy has on the deep pass? He saw it in person on the Thomas-Drew practice fields long before having to break it down Monday night by remote control.

William Vlachos’ first-step quickness at center? He’s seen it before.

The Tennessee assistant coach makes his return to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday after leaving the Crimson Tide for one of its primary rivals during the offseason. And some of the very things that will keep Thompson up late this week have come as no surprise. That’s because when a UT-owned aircraft lifted Thompson out of Tuscaloosa for good on Jan. 15, Thompson already had answers to some of the preseason questions that surrounded the Crimson Tide offense.

“We all could see how smart Greg (McElroy) was and how well he knew the offense,” said the Volunteers’ linebackers coach.

“He didn’t play a lot (before this season), but you could see the poise. He’s been developed for a long time and it shows.”

A revamped offensive line with three new starters, plus turnover at the tight end position, was another area of preseason concern. Seven weeks into the season, Alabama ranks fourth in the Southeastern Conference in total offense (432 yards per game) and third in rushing (239) behind five linemen that haven’t missed a start all season.

Thompson saw that coming, too.

“James Carpenter was a great get for them. I never got to see him up close, but he’s a player,” Thompson said of UA’s junior college signee at left tackle. “William’s done a great job inside. A lot of that credit goes to (line coach) Joe (Pendry). It’s a developmental game and he’s been developing guys up front for a long time. Even as a defensive coach, I learned a lot from Joe.”

Thompson said he is happy for two of his old charges at outside linebacker, Eryk Anders and Cory Reamer, for their success this season. Anders was a part-time player under Thompson in 2008 who has emerged as an every-down starter this season, while Reamer’s playing time has also risen since last year. On both sides of the ball, Thompson’s intimate knowledge of UA’s personnel will no doubt make him central in the Volunteers’ preparation this week. UA coach Nick Saban said he is unsure what impact such advantages might have.

“The players still have to go out there and play. Other than terminology and language, they still don’t know what’s coming when, so I really don’t know. I really can’t answer that,” Saban said. “I think it’s bigger than that. They have a team of people who have to go out and execute and do a good job and we have a team and an organization of people who are way bigger than a little bit of information that somebody might have that may create an advantage or a disadvantage.”

For his part, UT coach Lane Kiffin downplayed any possible advantage Thompson might provide.

“I think people make too much of that,” Kiffin said. “We have Eddie Gran on our staff and lost to Auburn a couple weeks ago. I don’t think it really does very much. It helps because (Thompson is) a good coach, but it doesn’t help because he’s from Alabama.”

As linebackers coach, one of Thompson’s specific focuses this week will be on Alabama tight end Colin Peek. A year ago when Thompson was coaching UA’s outside linebackers, Peek was a fixture on UA’s scout team while sitting out a transfer year. The former Georgia Tech starter provided plenty of practice competition for Thompson’s unit.

“I think he’ll be one of the top five tight ends taken in the (NFL) Draft,” Thompson said. “He just does everything so well. He can run, he can catch, he blocks, he does everything you want out of that position. We are going to have to be at our best with him.”

The timing of Thompson’s departure for Tennessee, less than three weeks before national signing day, rattled recruiting circles as Thompson is considered one of the top recruiters in the college game. Alabama did not lose a recruit as a result of Thompson’s departure, however, and compiled its second consecutive No. 1-ranked signing class in early February. Still, there is little doubt that Crimson Tide fans seated around the visiting tunnel may have a word or two for Thompson as he enters and exits on Saturday.

To him, it’s just part of the profession.

“It was really just a personal decision based on a lot of things, some that aren’t anybody’s business,” Thompson said. “But I wanted to work for (UT defensive coordinator) Monte Kiffin. It had nothing to do with Nick Saban or anything negative regarding Alabama. Nick always told us there is good and bad in every situation — nothing is perfect, especially in coaching. But I’ve still got a lot of good relationships in Alabama and I wouldn’t trade any of them.”

Reach Chase Goodbread at chase.goodbread@tuscaloosanews.com, or at 205-722-0196.