Deontae Lawson breaks down approach of new Alabama defensive coaches

Deontae Lawson isn’t simply learning defensive schemes this offseason. He’s learning about his coaches. The Alabama linebacker broke down the benefits inside linebackers coach Robert Bala and defensive coordinator Kevin Steele bring to the Crimson Tide.

“They came in, high-energy guys. Talking about Bala first, he [has] great energy, he’s a great coach, he’s very smart, so he’s bringing some fire to the inside backers,” Lawson told the press on Friday. “Kevin Steele, everybody knows Kevin Steele. He’s a great guy, hard worker, good coach. He’s just trying to bring the little things and make the little things right.”

Alabama hired Bala after he spent one season as a defensive analyst at Liberty. Bala’s expertise speaks for itself. In his lone season with Liberty, Bala boosted the team to finish first nationally in tackles for loss per game (9.3) and No. 3 in sacks per game (3.46).

Additionally, the Flames more than doubled their turnovers gained in 2022 from the previous season. Of course, Bala’s resumé pales in comparison to Steele’s. This will be Steele’s third stint on head coach Nick Saban’s staff and his second as defensive coordinator.

Most recently, Steele served as Auburn’s defensive coordinator from 2016-2020. With Steele leading the defense, the Tigers ranked in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense four times while producing 14 NFL Draft picks and multiple first-rounders.

With his experience backing him, Steele brings one focus to the Crimson Tide’s defense.

“The ball,” Lawson said. “Generate more turnovers which will lead to points, you know, really the same thing, but the little things. It’s all about the little things, so that’s what we’re trying to work on.”

As talented as Alabama was last season, it struggled to generate opponent turnovers. The team forced just 14 turnovers all season, tying for 105th in the country. To reach the pinnacle of college football again, Alabama will need more. Saban believes Steele is the man for the job.

“Coach Steele’s a very experienced coach,” Saban said at SEC Media Days. “He’s been a very successful defensive coordinator in our league for a number of years. He’s been with us in the past on several occasions, so he understands our system of how we do things and what we do. So it was a combination of his knowledge and experience as well as his familiarity with how we do things that made it a good choice for us.”

Fans will witness this “good choice” first-hand on Sept. 2 when Alabama takes on Middle Tennessee State in its season opener.