ESPN insider reveals how new coordinators have impacted Alabama, Nick Saban

Nick Saban is used to dealing with a new coordinator hire but for the first time, there were two hires to make this offseason. Alabama welcome Tommy Rees to the show on the offensive end, while a veteran Kevin Steele returned to Tuscaloosa. After watching Georgia win back-to-back national championships, Saban will be hoping it’s a new era beginning in Tuscaloosa.

ESPN’s Chris Low recently spoke to Saban about the staff turnover, beginning with Steele. The two are very familiar with one another. Steele is back with the Alabama program for a third time and his second with the defensive coordinator title.

“Speaking to him on his staff — he’s had a lot of turnover the last few years on his staff,” Low said while making a Wednesday appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show. “This is the first turnover he’s had on defense in a while. Pete Golding was there for several years, Kevin Steele is back in. It’s Kevin’s third different stint working for Nick.”

If there is one word you could use to describe how Alabama wants to play in 2023 under Steele, it’s “aggressive.” Even with some of the best defensive playmakers in the country (mainly Will Anderson), Alabama could not continually stack up impactful plays as they have in the past.

“I know certainly what they want to do on defense this year is to be more aggressive and create more turnovers and to create more negative plays,” Low said. “Go back and look last year and they were toward the bottom of the league in creating turnovers. I think you’re going to see a different approach on defense.”

Alabama ranked No. 11 in interceptions last season, having just seven. They had the same number of fumble recoveries, finishing tied with three other teams for second to last in the SEC. To say the least, the Crimson Tide defense was not producing too many takeaways.

Alabama looking for new offensive identity under Nick Saban

Saban went the opposite route from Steele with his OC hire. A young buck is now running the show, with Rees coming in via Notre Dame. His goal will be to bring back old-school Alabama ways as well, hoping to run the ball down opposing team’s throats.

Saban seems ready to bring it back, too.

“I think offense, bringing in a young guy like Tommy Rees has in a lot of ways has added motivation,” Low said. “Guy comes in, still young, had some success at Notre Dame, he’s still young. You’re going to go back to really seeing them try to run the football consistently.”

Part of that is because of the quarterback situation. Three guys will compete for the starting job but as evidenced by Tyler Buchner being brought in via the NCAA transfer portal, there is not total confidence of somebody on the roster.

Quite the difference of the last six years, even if Low says Saban views it as a challenge.

“The quarterback situation is very muddy,” Low said. “We don’t know who it’s going to be. He’s good three guys but I think he’s challenged by the fact. For the first time in five years, he doesn’t have a first-round pick… I think he’s as challenged and motivated by that as anything.”