Coaching update: Saban hopes third time is a charm for Steele

[JessN]

Coaching update: Saban hopes third time is a charm for Steele

For the third time during the Nick Saban era at Alabama, Kevin Steele is set to be a part of the defensive coaching staff. According to published reports late Sunday night, Steele had reached an ag…

news.tidefans.com

 

[Padreruf]

Thanks for bringing data and history into focus...I appreciate all that you do.

 

[seebell]

So do I. Jess always writes good insightful articles. Thank you.

 

[DrollTide]

Josh Pate:

"If you see me in a Camry, it's not because I downgraded from a Merc to a Camry. It's because it's a rental."

 

[uafan4life]

Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.
Fool me thrice?...

 

[gtgilbert]

I wish we'd all move on past this stuff about Sabans 3-4 over/under scheme. We quite literally ran the 1-4-6 and the 2-3-6, each, more than we ran the 3-4 last year. We probably only ran the 3-4 20-25 times the ENTIRE season - it is our LEAST used alignment of any of the alignments we have. The nickel player was tied for second on the team in tackles, and the dime player had more tackles than all but one of our DL.

Our base defense is a 4-2-5, with two primary personnel groupings. One that's 2DL, 2OLB (mostly on LOS) and 2ILB with the 5dbs and the other that's 3DL, 1OLB (still typically lined up on the LOS) and 2ILBs with the 5DBs. It's just a myth that Saban's held onto the 3-4 with a death grip all these years.

Now there are philosophical things that might not have changed that maybe could, i.e. are we a two gap hold and react team or are we a one gap attack team. Or do we hold onto the complex pattern matching back end, or do we simplify this into more man and zone concepts. Even on these points though, we did appear to be doing more one gap fits the last couple of years than we had in the past, so Saban is a lot more flexible and adaptable to coordinator tweaks and changes than folks give him credit for.

 

[VirginiaTide57]

Seems a placeholder hire. Will be interesting to see who rounds out the staff; that may offer clues to the future.

 

[alabama mike1]

I hope he does a great job for us and stays onboard for a few years.

 

[twofbyc]

I hope he does a great job for us and stays onboard for a few years.

If - IF - the defense improves from last year (pretty much at all, I think), KS will stick around as long as it doesn’t regress, until his replacement is ready.
He only has one or two years to lock in his state retirement (early) - can’t even believe as much as these guys make that’s even an issue, but it was reported.

 

[Ledsteplin]

If - IF - the defense improves from last year (pretty much at all, I think), KS will stick around as long as it doesn’t regress, until his replacement is ready.
He only has one or two years to lock in his state retirement (early) - can’t even believe as much as these guys make that’s even an issue, but it was reported.

If there's a replacement. It's all conjecture at this point.

 

[TideEngineer08]

But the hiring of Steele would seem to confirm what TideFans.com has reported twice already now: Nick Saban was said to believe the offense needed more revamping and fresh voices than did the defense, which he believed was a lot closer to regaining its status as an elite unit.

 

[GrayTide]

Not disputing CNS, but everyone has his/her definition of what is an elite status defense. IMO we were and are still nowhere near elite status.

 

[CB4]

Question concerning staff on defensive side of ball: Steele is listed a DC with no position assignment. Usually the DC has LB assignment as well. Austin Armstrong is listed as ILB coach. There is no specific coach assigned to safeties. Will T-Rob handle safeties in addition to CB’s or will CNS handle the responsibilities? Or are there still other moves yet to be made?

 

[Tidelines]

I heard today that Armstrong’s father-in-law is Andalusia’s head coach Trent Taylor. They have one of the top RBs in the state for next year.