Alabama’s defense allowed under 20 points per game in all but one season under Pete Golding, but it was not enough to keep him with the Crimson Tide.
He recruited well, but the defense did not have the same fire, zeal, energy, and discipline under Golding that it had with Kirby Smart and Jeremy Pruitt. Golding departed to Ole Miss after five years under Nick Saban, but the seven-time national champion has found his new coordinator. Saban returns Kevin Steele to Tuscaloosa, Ala. Steele, 64, has a wealth of defensive experience as a coordinator, position coach, and head coach. He has been around defenses in college football, including the Southeastern Conference, and the National Football League. Steele coordinated defenses at LSU (2015) and Auburn (2016-20).
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His defenses at Auburn pressured quarterbacks out of four to five-men fronts.
Steele’s group affected Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts in the 2017 Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Hurts got sacked twice, but Auburn forced him out of the pocket several times. He totaled 112 passing yards on 12 completions in a 14-26 loss to the Tigers. Two years later, Steele’s defense got to Mac Jones in the Iron Bowl. He got sacked once, but the constant pressure led to two pick-sixes for Auburn’s defense in a 48-45 victory. He will dial up pressure packages in a blitz formation if needed, but Steele should have the Crimson Tide finishing sacks with four and five-man fronts.
Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell, Justin Eboigbe, Jaheim Oatis, Tim Smith, Jamil Burroughs, and others should feast on quarterbacks with how Steele will use them in stunts and other pressure schemes. He uses zone coverages, but Steele loves man-to-man defense. He instills confidence in his cornerbacks to leave them on an island with wide receivers. Kool-Aid McKinstry has grown as a potential shutdown corner, but who will play opposite him? Alabama has Terrion Arnold, Desmond Ricks, Earl Little Jr., Jahlil Hurley, and others to select. The defense will be disciplined under Steele. Players will be lined up correctly, they will know what is coming and how to execute, and they will play fast. Steele will have them hitting hard and pounding people.
Alabama fans want a fearsome group again on defense.
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If nothing else, Steele will have players motivated to outwork the opponent.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
