“When you have something to correct, you keep it in front of you.”
This quote came from Alabama’s defensive coordinator, Kevin Steele at Sunday’s media day for the Crimson Tide.
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He is back for his third stint with the program and is blessed for the opportunity.
Steele, 65, is here to return the Tide to being a focused, disciplined, physical, and relentless unit on defense. He is starting the process by making sure Alabama limits its mental mistakes from last season. Nick Saban watched his team become one of the most penalized groups in college football, totaling 103 penalties for a loss of 893 yards. The errors cost Alabama two games against Tennessee and LSU. Mental lapses prevented the Tide from making the College Football Playoff, despite it finishing last year with 11 victories. Coach Saban prides his teams on having elite discipline, and it is why Steele has returned on defense.
The South Carolina native and long-time defensive coach has a remedy to rid Alabama of its penalties.
Malachi Moore, a senior defensive back, spoke to reporters Monday about how Steele handles mental errors.
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“The first penalty you get, you have ten up-downs by yourself after practice,” Moore said. “After that, if you get one or more, it’s ten up-downs for every penalty your position group gets. It keeps guys conscious of not making mental mistake or mistakes that will put us back.”
In the heat of August camp, no one should want to be the cause of the team doing up-downs. Alabama has been at its best when it does not beat itself with costly mistakes. Steele’s method should have players more focused on performing their jobs well.
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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.
