Kevin Steele Retiring

[graydogg85]

okay but Kirby Smart only had 1 year as a DC at Valdosta St before jumping to be a GA at FSU. Never had experience between then and 2008 at being a DC. Golding and Kirby might as well be the same with experience entering the role as DC at Alabama. However Golding had more years as a DC altogether than Smart. The major difference is Smart spent 3 years under Saban before ascending to the role. Whether people like to admit it or not… this is Saban’s defense and always has been. There may be tweaks to it from coordinator to coordinator but it’s still Saban calling the shots.

This. I've always been in this camp. There have been times during his tenure at UA that I have literally seen CNS call the defense from the sideline. I think coordinators have some input and we probably tweak some things from year to year, but at the end of the day the defense is Saban's baby. I honestly don't think the DC matters all that much as long as CNS is the head coach. Not trying to take anything away from Steele, who is a journeyman and is well thought-of in coaching circles but we had a fairly experienced defense this year with a bunch of draft picks and I think that contributed to the improvement more than anything else. Steele was always primarily lauded as a recruiter - some of his defenses at other stops were downright bad at times.

Basically, no need to wring any hands here IMO.

 

[Coach D]

I honestly don’t care who gets the DC job. It’s mostly because we probably aren’t getting a “Hollywood roll out the red carpet” guy that all of Bama nation is going to be instantly on board with. So we are probably going to get a guy like Leonhard, Trob, or Strong guy who Saban feels comfortable with but a good chunk of the fan base is going to complain about until the fall. More or less it’s likely going to be a risk of a guy that has very little experience, a risk of guy who has never been with the program, or a risk of a guy who hasn’t done it in forever.

I mean if I had my choice then I would pay a king’s ransom for Jesse Minter, but its completely unrealistic of him coming.

I care as in I have seen what the wrong/bad hire can do even under Saban.

But I do agree it more than likely won’t be a big name and what you said. I won’t be disappointed with Leonhard, Trob, or Strong but just would like a more proven commodity.

 

[Coach D]

This. I've always been in this camp. There have been times during his tenure at UA that I have literally seen CNS call the defense from the sideline. I think coordinators have some input and we probably tweak some things from year to year, but at the end of the day the defense is Saban's baby. I honestly don't think the DC matters all that much as long as CNS is the head coach. Not trying to take anything away from Steele, who is a journeyman and is well thought-of in coaching circles but we had a fairly experienced defense this year with a bunch of draft picks and I think that contributed to the improvement more than anything else. Steele was always primarily lauded as a recruiter - some of his defenses at other stops were downright bad at times.

Basically, no need to wring any hands here IMO.

If that were true then Golding would have done much better. Golding added more than I have seen any other DC under Saban and hurt the d more than any.

 

[BamaInBham]

This. I've always been in this camp. There have been times during his tenure at UA that I have literally seen CNS call the defense from the sideline. I think coordinators have some input and we probably tweak some things from year to year, but at the end of the day the defense is Saban's baby. I honestly don't think the DC matters all that much as long as CNS is the head coach. Not trying to take anything away from Steele, who is a journeyman and is well thought-of in coaching circles but we had a fairly experienced defense this year with a bunch of draft picks and I think that contributed to the improvement more than anything else. Steele was always primarily lauded as a recruiter - some of his defenses at other stops were downright bad at times.

Basically, no need to wring any hands here IMO.

The defense was tougher this year, especially in big moments, except vs UTx and Mich, when they could not get a meaningful stop when it mattered most. In fact, in both games they looked helpless, the opponent just cruised down the field with little resistance. Vs Mich it was the last two possessions vs Texas it was 3 possessions. To be fair one of the Texas possessions was only 5 yds, the result of an int, but even in that case they just blasted into the EZ on first down, running up the middle, hardly being hit.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

I think it’s either him or him trying to go at someone like Leonhard again. But I don’t think it’s a Hollywood type hire that gets everyone excited.

Just so the defense eats nails and spits razorblades

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

The defense was tougher this year, especially in big moments, except vs UTx and Mich, when they could not get a meaningful stop when it mattered most. In fact, in both games they looked helpless, the opponent just cruised down the field with little resistance. Vs Mich it was the last two possessions vs Texas it was 3 possessions. To be fair one of the Texas possessions was only 5 yds, the result of an int, but even in that case they just blasted into the EZ on first down, running up the middle, hardly being hit.

I've never understood why they fade that way.............maybe the defense needs revamping

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

I did forget he was DC under Muschamp. I am trying to look up those stats.

*Edit *
Just glanced over them. Not super but not bad at all. Hard to judge though with him being under Muschamp and his control/anger problems. But I just have a hard time wanting anyone that isn’t a little more proven. Of course coach knows what he is doing either way.

Hard to be successful when Bruce Banner is about to explode constantly

 

[davefrat]

Working with Muschamp is a handicap...

Muschamp is a lunatic.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Muschamp is a lunatic.

Too many gamma rays

 

[cbi1972]

I dunno what a TRob defense looks like but I think I'd rather find out with him at Alabama than at Auburn and have to replace him too.

But I also don't know who are good candidates

 

[crimsonaudio]

I care as in I have seen what the wrong/bad hire can do even under Saban.

I mean, 40% of Saban's DC hires have been borderline awful...

 

[BamaFanInTally]

Pruitt has a show cause through July 2029. If he’s hired before then, he has to be automatically suspended for a year. That ship has sailed.

 

[81usaf92]

Pruitt has a show cause through July 2029. If he’s hired before then, he has to be automatically suspended for a year. That ship has sailed.

I think that is the jist of it. Many here kept assuming that Saban would hire him as an analyst and serve out his time there but that never happened. I think Saban after he knew Pruitt was off the table centered around two names and they were Schumann and Leonhard but Georgia convinced Schumann to stay and Leonhard had a contract to work around. I really think that is how we ended up with Steele.

Now leonhard is reportedly interviewing at Colorado and all of the sudden Steele retires when those rumors were really having blue check marks around them. I think right Trob and Leonhard are probably the two most likely at this point. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

I mean, 40% of Saban's DC hires have been borderline awful...

Yes they have

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

I think that is the jist of it. Many here kept assuming that Saban would hire him as an analyst and serve out his time there but that never happened. I think Saban after he knew Pruitt was off the table centered around two names and they were Schumann and Leonhard but Georgia convinced Schumann to stay and Leonhard had a contract to work around. I really think that is how we ended up with Steele.

Now leonhard is reportedly interviewing at Colorado and all of the sudden Steele retires when those rumors were really having blue check marks around them. I think right Trob and Leonhard are probably the two most likely at this point. After that it’s anyone’s guess.

I think if you waived enough green, Schumann would come...........unless he believes the stuff about Saban been too difficult to work with

 

[crimsonaudio]

I think if you waived enough green, Schumann would come...........unless he believes the stuff about Saban been too difficult to work with

Schumann worked with Saban for six years at Bama before going to UGA.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Schumann worked with Saban for six years at Bama before going to UGA.

Yeah, I know................but Kirby has been known to spin a yarn or two from time to time

 

[81usaf92]

Rodney Orr pretty much said Steele told Saban that he was only a 1 or 2 year guy and Saban wanted him to help coach up a replacement. He said according to many of his sources that Trob was calling the defense most of the year and Lane wasn’t just being Lane when he made that reference.

 

[Evil Crimson Dragon]

Rodney Orr pretty much said Steele told Saban that he was only a 1 or 2 year guy and Saban wanted him to help coach up a replacement. He said according to many of his sources that Trob was calling the defense most of the year and Lane wasn’t just being Lane when he made that reference.

Makes sense

 

[NoNC4Tubs]

Pruitt has a show cause through July 2029. If he’s hired before then, he has to be automatically suspended for a year. That ship has sailed.

Hire him and put him on the shelf for a year...?

Make him an Analyst.