Lane Kiffin Is Doing a Good Job at Alabama. Really.

Mention Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin to a football fan, college or NFL, and you're likely to get the same set of reactions. He's a jerk. He's cocky. He's arrogant. He fails up to every job he gets.

Kiffin is one of the most disliked people in the sport—certainly he's the most hated coordinator—and it's not hard to see why. The son of esteemed defensive coach Monte Kiffin, he was hired to coach the Oakland Raiders, then fired after a 5-15 start. He parlayed that record into a gig as Tennessee's head coach, where in a single year he angered just about everyone: the NCAA, recruits, other coaches, every person in the state of Tennessee. After leading the Vols to a 7-6 record, he bolted for USC, where his one successful season happened to come in a year when the Trojans were banned from the postseason.

Following a 3-2 start in 2013, USC fired Kiffin at the airport and didn't even give him a ride home. A nation rejoiced.

There is no debating that Kiffin underachieved as a head coach; that he was unnecessary aggressive, and probably at times a jerk; that his name provokes derisive snickers among fans. Now that Kiffin is being mentioned in connection with open head coaching jobs at Miami and Illinois, though, it's time to acknowledge an inconvenient truth.

At Alabama, Kiffin is actually exceeding expectations.

Despite a fairly successful 2014 season, Kiffin caught ample heat following Alabama's loss to Ohio State in last year's Sugar Bowl, which saw him mostly call pass plays even though the Crimson Tide's offense was rooted in running. Never mind that Alabama gave up 42 points; Kiffin was the scapegoat. This year, it's tough to blame him for much of anything.

Alabama's offense has scored at least 27 points in every game except one: a win against Tennessee. Kiffin's guidance of the program's offense arguably has been even more impressive that the Crimson Tide's overall numbers, which are down this season, would lead you to believe. Kiffin came into 2015 with no clear starting quarterback; Alabama had to stage a quarterback competition during the season. Nevertheless, he has gotten solid production from Jacob Coker, who was cast off from Florida State after losing the starting job to Jameis Winston. The Tide's best wide receiver, Calvin Ridley, is a freshman.

This would seem to work against Alabama's running game—if opponents have nothing to fear through the air, why not load up to stop the Crimson Tide on the ground? Yet Kiffin's rushing attack has remained strong. Heisman Trophy favorite Derrick Henry ranks fourth nationally with 145.8 yards per game, and he's averaging more than six yards per carry.

Yes, Kiffin is working with some of the best talent in America but, crucially, Alabama has improved throughout the season. After averaging fewer than five yards per play twice in September, the Crimson Tide haven't fallen below that mark since. Their last two games have been particularly impressive. Alabama put up more yards per play against LSU than anyone had up to that point (note: the statistically significant Bama Effect probably helped Arkansas in the Tigers' next game), and then did the same thing to Mississippi State.

Bottom line? There's a very real chance that Alabama is this year's Ohio State, suffering an early loss only to improve every week and pummel teams in the College Football Playoff with an offense that only seems to have come out of nowhere.

If that happens, it will be time to give Kiffin his due. And this time—maybe for the first time—he'll have earned it.