Alabama players share Kevin Steele's points of emphasis for defense

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama will have two new coordinators this fall, but on the defensive side of the ball, Kevin Steele is no stranger to the Crimson Tide football program, having spent two previous stints – including one as the defensive coordinator – on Nick Saban’s staff.

Although there is a new coach of the defense, the players have not experienced any difficult transition between playing under Pete Golding to Steele, with the latter’s knowledge of Saban’s defense proving beneficial as the Tide adjusts to having a new play-caller running things.

“I’ll be honest with you, it really hasn’t been that big of a difference because the defense is gonna stay the same,” defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe said. “Coach Saban isn’t leaving, and he’s always in that meeting. He’s always spearheading things. It’s really no difference.

“Everybody has their different ideologies and stuff like that. The best thing is Coach Steele has been here before, so is a guy that has been there, knows how Coach Saban likes things and knows the ins and outs of things. I feel like the best is having somebody that’s already been in the system. It’s been kind of like a seamless transition for him.”

While this won’t be Steele’s first time calling plays for the Tide, he will this time walk around and oversee the entire UA defense rather than coach a single position group in individual drills. And the 65-year-old coordinator has placed an emphasis on certain areas for the preseason.

“Really just the ball – generating more turnovers, which will lead to points,” linebacker Deontae Lawson said. “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. … Really penalties is the main thing we’ve been focusing on. Just making sure everybody is doing their job and no more mental errors. That leads to points.”

Added Eboigbe, “I think the biggest he’s been instilling is just knowing the fundamentals, knowing your job and just preaching about doing it to the best of your ability. Understand that we have a goal as a defense, and the defense is gonna be relied upon to not only instill the focal point of the team but to create turnovers, play fast physical and to really get back to what Bama’s about.”

Last year, Alabama finished among the top 25 nationally in three defensive categories, including scoring defense (18.2 ppg, T-9th), total defense (318.2 ypg, 13th) and passing defense (187.8 ypg, 17th) but will look to improve those numbers in Year 1 under Steele. What does not always show up on the stat sheet, however, is toughness, which Steele is looking to re-establish.

“The way he coaches, the way he goes about the little things, you can just tell that it’s gonna be a tough defense,” Lawson said. “And we want to force turnovers.”

Steele knows the Alabama standard

Prior to the start of fall camp, linebackers Chris Braswell and Jihaad Campbell appeared on the Footballville podcast and shared their thoughts on Steele’s return to the Alabama program.

Braswell: “He’s like a laid-back, old-school coach. And I’m not gonna lie, he’s gonna bring that standard back to the Alabama defense, that discipline.”

Campbell: “That’s a big part of it because he’s an old head, so he knows a lot of different types of mechanics of the game and stuff like that, but more so, he just knows that standard. He’s got that grit in him, he’s got that toughness. He knows what it takes to be great. He’s a straight-up dude, but he can be funny sometimes, too. But just know when it’s time to work, yeah, he knows it’s time to work.”

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