We are starting to see more former Alabama football players get excited about Kevin Steele’s return as the defensive coordinator.
Most have voiced their opinions on social media, but Christian Miller joined The Bama Standard on Tuesday to break down why Nick Saban’s choice for Steele stood out to him. Miller was with Steele on Alabama’s 2014 Southeastern Conference title team.
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Miller was a freshman at outside linebacker that year, and Steele was the inside linebackers coach. Miller, a two-time College Football Playoff National Champion, said Steele is a hard-nosed, old-school football coach.
“I like the Kevin Steele hire,” Miller said. “Do I think Jeremy Pruitt was the first choice? Absolutely, but I think right now I think it was one of those things that were not going to work out. There were too many constraints, limitations, and unknowns in hiring him, so I think Kevin Steele makes a lot of sense. Coach Saban loves going back to people he is familiar with. They have a lot of history together. He was the first coordinator under Saban here. He is going to demand physicality and aggression from everybody. He’s got experience coaching linebackers, so he’s going to be a front-seven type of guy. He is going to have our front seven playing physical, fast, and aggressive. He is going to keep it simple, just line up and beat the guy in front of you.”
Miller said Steele is a ‘great fit’ because of his familiarity with Saban, experience in the SEC, and ability to recruit.
“He is also going to have other heads involved as well,” Miller said.
“Steele will have Austin Armstrong, the defensive coordinator Alabama brought in from Southern Miss. He’s been climbing the coaching ranks. He is going to be involved. He will be innovative, add his input, and give Steele some pointers. Steele also has to answer to Coach Saban at the end of the day because it is Saban’s defense. I like the hiree. Everyone has been saying they want to see more physicality from the Alabama defense. They want to see the standard restored, and I think this is the type of coach you bring in to do that. He was never one of those ‘buddy-buddy guys.’ He would ask you how your family is doing, but he’s a football coach. He is about being physical and knocking somebody in the mouth. That is what Alabama needs right now.”
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Steele, 64, is back with the Crimson Tide. It is going to be intriguing to see how the defense will look under him.
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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.
