BREAKING Kevin Steele hired as DC

[seebell]

It is what it is. I can't wait for the season to start and I'm hoping for the best.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

Hold up: I want to hear everyone's definition of what Homerun hire is?
Homerun hires never really worked out.

 

[jcabama]

I'm certainly no expert on coordinators but I do have some experience with taking some lateral and sometimes seemingly backward steps to build for long term success and that's what I discern from these hires. CNS has cast his lot on the OC side with an OC whom he believes to be an up and comer who can grow with the program for perhaps 5-6 years--maybe more. He's perhaps taken a step back on the DC side of the ball to avoid tying his own hands by grabbing a hot young commodity with whom he would be reluctant to do a one and done deal. As many have said, I think this DC hire is done with the intent of eventually getting to JP, knowing that JP would likely not have many advancement options and would likely be with CNS for several more years. If he pulls it off, we may not be Playoff contenders in 2023 but we might certainly be looking at a stable 5-7 years beyond that and that's not a bad thing at all. I'm certainly not throwing in the towel on this year because I believe we'll get back to solid, fundamental football and that always give you a chance with our talent. But, if we've had a rebuilding year in a while it will be this year when we replace a QB, several linemen on both sides and much of the heart of the secondary with Hellams and Battle gone. More importantly in my mind, if my scenario is close to correct, it means that CNS is not just looking for that "one more title" but is attempting to lay the groundwork for continued dominance. Like always, it's going to be a long wait until September but I'm not concerned about the long-term prospects for our Tide.

There's one more benefit that CKS's experience with LBs brings for me I hope. Perhaps I won't be suffering from so many self-inflicted slaps on my face each game as I scream at our ILB for thudding some OG instead of shooting gaps to make tackles! If CKS fixes at least that much, I'll be the better for it!
RTR

 

[crimsonaudio]

Hey, don't get me wrong - this is not what I had hoped in the hire.

But Steele is a solid DC that knows Saban's system - and has some success. He's no question an upgrade from Gol*ing, he's just never fielded a defense I found fearsome.

But I've no doubt this is an upgrade over the previous five season.

I'd just love to be proved wrong (wouldn't be the firs time, far from it) as I don't see this as an 'aggressive' hire. LOVE to be proved wrong.

Welcome (back) and RTR, Coach Steele!

 

[DrJJoyner]

What I want to know before issuing beatings to improve morale is this:

How many people ranting about the OC and DC hires WERE IN FAVOR of Mike DuBose being hired as HC?

It's been a minute but I remember pretty much everybody being underwhelmed by that hire.

 

[BamaMoon]

I'm certainly no expert on coordinators but I do have some experience with taking some lateral and sometimes seemingly backward steps to build for long term success and that's what I discern from these hires. CNS has cast his lot on the OC side with an OC whom he believes to be an up and comer who can grow with the program for perhaps 5-6 years--maybe more. He's perhaps taken a step back on the DC side of the ball to avoid tying his own hands by grabbing a hot young commodity with whom he would be reluctant to do a one and done deal. As many have said, I think this DC hire is done with the intent of eventually getting to JP, knowing that JP would likely not have many advancement options and would likely be with CNS for several more years. If he pulls it off, we may not be Playoff contenders in 2023 but we might certainly be looking at a stable 5-7 years beyond that and that's not a bad thing at all. I'm certainly not throwing in the towel on this year because I believe we'll get back to solid, fundamental football and that always give you a chance with our talent. But, if we've had a rebuilding year in a while it will be this year when we replace a QB, several linemen on both sides and much of the heart of the secondary with Hellams and Battle gone. More importantly in my mind, if my scenario is close to correct, it means that CNS is not just looking for that "one more title" but is attempting to lay the groundwork for continued dominance. Like always, it's going to be a long wait until September but I'm not concerned about the long-term prospects for our Tide.

There's one more benefit that CKS's experience with LBs brings for me I hope. Perhaps I won't be suffering from so many self-inflicted slaps on my face each game as I scream at our ILB for thudding some OG instead of shooting gaps to make tackles! If CKS fixes at least that much, I'll be the better for it!
RTR

Good post...likely accurate. But I don't necessarily think it's a step back in any kind of way except for the "fan's impression" we needed a big name. And I genuinely think the defense will return to its roots under Steele as well. Better, more disicpled LB play, tougher, imposing its will and more disciplined. Whatever led Petey to go with the Landsharks (whether his choice or CNS's) CNS had to see the defensive inefficiencies and I believe going old school with Steele is step one toward fixing them!

And If Steele leads to CJP down the line it's a win/win too!

 

[DrJJoyner]

I'm just blown away at the percentage of the fan base that seems on the verge of rioting and/or jumping ship and not just over this hire, but over pretty much anything football related these last two seasons.

I honestly don't know of anyone rioting or jumping ship. It's just that the standard has been established by CNS that Bama should play for the national championship every year and this move doesn't obviously make that more likely. I suspect everyone complaining will still watch the games and cheer for the Tide come September.

 

[Cruloc]

Hold up: I want to hear everyone's definition of what Homerun hire is?
Homerun hires never really worked out.

Baseball references in football....we gotta stop sliding those in .

Steele is here as if Saban is making a trip to the mound to give the bullpen time to get ready with Pruitt warming up.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

Some of y'all complaining about it already and citing stats don't seem to realize that you're demanding someone coming here have Alabama results without Alabama talent.

 

[TexasBama]

For anyone who loves to see two linebackers blitz the A gaps, you'll probably have to watch Ole Miss

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Steele will be an upgrade from Golding, no doubt.

Hey, don't get me wrong - this is not what I had hoped in the hire.

But Steele is a solid DC that knows Saban's system - and has some success. He's no question an upgrade from Gol*ing, he's just never fielded a defense I found fearsome.

But I've no doubt this is an upgrade over the previous five season.

I'd just love to be proved wrong (wouldn't be the firs time, far from it) as I don't see this as an 'aggressive' hire. LOVE to be proved wrong.

Welcome (back) and RTR, Coach Steele!

The two problems with our defense that I think Steele will improve upon are mental/physical toughness and obviously wrong situational playcalling. Like you, I'm underwhelmed by the hire but it is still an upgrade, imo.

 

[selmaborntidefan]

For anyone who loves to see two linebackers blitz the A gaps, you'll probably have to watch Ole Miss

Ole Miss is gonna be the most "hold mah beer" team in history between the HC and DC next year.

'Hey, y'all watch 'iss!"

 

[tusks_n_raider]

Well I've slept on it (barely)...

I just don't like it.

Is it an upgrade over Golding? I mean yes of course it is.... Golding was one of the worst DC's I've ever seen in my life.

Is it anywhere close to the level of hire we needed? No

Rees and Steele > Bob and Golding - This is true

Monken and Schumann/Muschamp > Rees and Steele - This is also true

That's the problem.

These aren't the level of hires that were needed to wrestle the SEC and NCAA Crowns away from UGA.

Time is ticking on CNS's tenure and the SEC landscape has changed.

UGA is King because of their Coaching Staff from top to bottom and Tenn and LSU are on the rise.

Being Top 15 on Offense and Defense isn't enough. You gotta be Top 5 Elite on one side at least if not both sides.

I'm thinking at this point everyone completely mis-read CNS's body language when Pollack was talking trash 3 feet away because these are not Aggressive or Responsive hires against was UGA is doing.

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Well, as a program I'd say we are way better off this week than last week. We have most of our pieces in place so now time to go to work. Regardless of all the "sexy" names that have been debated here, this remains a team sport and Nick is the big boss. The environment he has created at the Capstone is ripe for all these coaches to come in and have immediate success under his leadership. Call them coordinators, assistants or analysts but all of these guys report to the boss and I am 100% confident that he is going to get every ounce of effort from the staff and the players in 2023.

 

[CB4]

Hold up: I want to hear everyone's definition of what Homerun hire is?
Homerun hires never really worked out.

The “home run hire” is the guy that a consensus of fans or media talking heads believes is “the can’t miss”. It is all perception. Example Kenny Dillingham, the 32 year old wonder boy from Memphis to Auburn to FSU to Oregon and now the new head coach at ASU. Seen by many as a “home run hire”. Not necessarily based on track record but he’s the “flavor of the month”. Will he be the that guy? Who the heck knows.

Remember everyone blew up the UA president’s fax machine when we hired Dubose because “we couldn’t let him get away”. On the other side, Gene Stallings seen as just “settling” for someone.

Other examples as DC’s have been Dave Aranda and Manny Diaz. Through their DC careers it was a constant talking point as to how great they were (like the Gus Malzahn “offensive genius” label) yet I was never that impressed by either to the extent I would “perceive” them as a great hire. Others would have differed.

My point being: The three names most prominently mentioned (JP, Schumann and Leonhard) by fans and media types were labeled as “great gets”. And those expectations were set. Anything outside of that would be considered as “settling”.

I don’t see Steele as a great hire. But he isn’t chopped liver either. Personally I think he’s better than what we had, but that is my opinion/perception. At the very least I expect more physical play from our d line and at least have LB’s that know where they should be.

We shall see.

 

[CoolBreeze]

I'm certainly no expert on coordinators but I do have some experience with taking some lateral and sometimes seemingly backward steps to build for long term success and that's what I discern from these hires. CNS has cast his lot on the OC side with an OC whom he believes to be an up and comer who can grow with the program for perhaps 5-6 years--maybe more. He's perhaps taken a step back on the DC side of the ball to avoid tying his own hands by grabbing a hot young commodity with whom he would be reluctant to do a one and done deal. As many have said, I think this DC hire is done with the intent of eventually getting to JP, knowing that JP would likely not have many advancement options and would likely be with CNS for several more years. If he pulls it off, we may not be Playoff contenders in 2023 but we might certainly be looking at a stable 5-7 years beyond that and that's not a bad thing at all. I'm certainly not throwing in the towel on this year because I believe we'll get back to solid, fundamental football and that always give you a chance with our talent. But, if we've had a rebuilding year in a while it will be this year when we replace a QB, several linemen on both sides and much of the heart of the secondary with Hellams and Battle gone. More importantly in my mind, if my scenario is close to correct, it means that CNS is not just looking for that "one more title" but is attempting to lay the groundwork for continued dominance. Like always, it's going to be a long wait until September but I'm not concerned about the long-term prospects for our Tide.

There's one more benefit that CKS's experience with LBs brings for me I hope. Perhaps I won't be suffering from so many self-inflicted slaps on my face each game as I scream at our ILB for thudding some OG instead of shooting gaps to make tackles! If CKS fixes at least that much, I'll be the better for it!
RTR

Agree on most of this but no, I believe we remain squarely in the championship hunt just like we do year in and year out. Both the OC and DC are really just playcallers under this Coach because nothing scheme wise will change. Most of the assistants are still in place, all the players will continue learning the exact same systems and we have some studs, I mean studs all over the field. I like our chances at a National Championship THIS COMING SEASON.

 

[TexasBama]

Another thing with Steele is I don't think we'll see as many (egregiously) blown coverages.

 

[BamaMoon]

Well I've slept on it (barely)...

I just don't like it.

Is it an upgrade over Golding? I mean yes of course it is.... Golding was one of the worst DC's I've ever seen in my life.

Is it anywhere close to the level of hire we needed? No

Rees and Steele > Bob and Golding - This is true

Monken and Schumann/Muschamp > Rees and Steele - This is also true

That's the problem.

These aren't the level of hires that were needed to wrestle the SEC and NCAA Crowns away from UGA.

Time is ticking on CNS's tenure and the SEC landscape has changed.

UGA is King because of their Coaching Staff from top to bottom and Tenn and LSU are on the rise.

Being Top 15 on Offense and Defense isn't enough. You gotta be Top 5 Elite on one side at least if not both sides.

I'm thinking at this point everyone completely mis-read CNS's body language when Pollack was talking trash 3 feet away because these are not Aggressive or Responsive hires against was UGA is doing.

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

The difference between us and Georgia came down to one thing: toughness/aggression (you can call that two things if you want).

A big name coaching hire doesn't bring either, necessarily. What I've read/know about Rees and Steele is they are known for this.

Time will obviously tell, but these could be considered "brilliant" hires by CNS if we return to dominance next season.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

Well I've slept on it (barely)...

I just don't like it.

Is it an upgrade over Golding? I mean yes of course it is.... Golding was one of the worst DC's I've ever seen in my life.

Is it anywhere close to the level of hire we needed? No

Rees and Steele > Bob and Golding - This is true

Monken and Schumann/Muschamp > Rees and Steele - This is also true

That's the problem.

These aren't the level of hires that were needed to wrestle the SEC and NCAA Crowns away from UGA.

Time is ticking on CNS's tenure and the SEC landscape has changed.

UGA is King because of their Coaching Staff from top to bottom and Tenn and LSU are on the rise.

Being Top 15 on Offense and Defense isn't enough. You gotta be Top 5 Elite on one side at least if not both sides.

I'm thinking at this point everyone completely mis-read CNS's body language when Pollack was talking trash 3 feet away because these are not Aggressive or Responsive hires against was UGA is doing.

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

Have you ever thought that they may have not been interested? "They" meaning "big name" candidates.

 

[CoolBreeze]

Paul Finebaum outlines why Kevin Steele is a good fit for Nick Saban at Alabama

Paul Finebaum puts Kevin Steele in the same class of Kirby Smart in relation to Nick Saban.

www.saturdaydownsouth.com