Kevin Steele: My defense you'll see will be tailored to the players' strengths

New Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is an old-school, tell-it-like-it-is coach who has pretty much done and seen it all in his coaching career that dates back to 1980.

His job at UM? To revamp a defense that had depth holes and was one of the nation’s worst tackling units in 2021. Helping the cause: The transfer additions of five defensive linemen (Akheem Mesidor, Mitchell Agude at DE; Darrell Jackson, Jacob Lichtenstein, Antonio Moultrie at DT), a MLB (Caleb Johnson) and a CB (Daryl Porter, Jr.).

The above have meshed well with the returning personnel, and it would be a fair statement to say that the D clearly won fall drills against the offense.

The true test, though, begins this Saturday when the regular season begins.

So, on Monday, Steele came out and shares his candid take on what he’s seeing on his side of the ball.

Is he encouraged?

Well, Steele doesn’t really put things in positive or negative terms.

He just breaks it down analytically.

And says the hard work should pay off.

And not just for 11 starters on D.

“We were trying to develop – we’re not big on depth charts anymore,” Steele said. “The day and age of you have 11 starters – just doesn’t work that way if you’re going to be successful.  You have to have a lot of numbers.

“On the core and the edge we’re 6 and 7 (deep).” 

A big focus for Steele is a heavy rotation, and there could be up to 25 players shuttled in and out of games to keep them fresh. Steele likes to say there are no real starters on his D, with everyone splitting reps and getting used in packages that best suit them and the team.

“We have a package and a lot of things we do in that package to stop offenses,” he said. “But we’re only going to do what our players do well. Yes, it’s a playbook, but as you go through practice you figure out their strengths, weaknesses and tailor make it to them.”

Steele touched on each position on defense.

Up front?

He says he likes what he sees from multiple players.

“Guys are competing at a high level,” Steele said. “We’re going to need every one of them.” 

Linebacker was a weak spot last season, and Steele has brought in a new STAR position (Gil Frierson takes the lead there) and added Johnson who has really looked good manning the middle. Others like Waynmon Steed and Keontra Smith will help at OLB.

“I’ve seen a lot of development,” Steele said. “We ask our linebackers to be the quarterbacks of the defense. There’s a lot of moving parts out there. We’ve been very impressed with their development. A lot of work to do.”

Of Caleb Johnson at MLB, Steele said, “He’s progressed very nicely. He’s a physically gifted guy, can run. He can play with power downhill, knock people back. That’s hard to find in linebackers anymore because it’s a space game.”

This should be one of the better secondaries around, with young rising star safeties James Williams, Kam Kinchens and Avantae Williams joined by returning starting CB Tyrique Stevenson and Porter.

James Williams could be used in the box as well, which would let the three talented safeties get on the field together.

Asked about Stevenson, Steele said, “His technique has improved. He has the ability to play multiple positions, can play STAR, corner, safety if he has to. He’s a physical presence that runs very well. He’s very, very talented. So it’s just understanding the game. It’s not just go out and line up and cover what they do. I f you don’t understand splits, formations, motions and shifts and what that leads to, what is coming – the football IQ part he’s made a big jump.”

As for some other corners?

Steele mentioned CBs Couch and Dunson as standing out, adding that Malik Curtis “has blossomed, and the guy can run.”

The DBs will be keys helping out in tackling as well, as Steele stresses he wants to see “buddy tackling.”

“Through effort, you get other people to the ball,” he said. “A scheme is a scheme. … You have to have players that understand it, understand the fundamentals. The simplistic fundamentals come back to effort, technique and tackling.’

As for what he wants for the identity of his D?

“We want to be physically and mentally tough,” Steele said. “We want you to know you’ve been tackled.”

The bottom line here with the season starting?

“To be quite frank, we’ve got a staff and group of players that we enjoy the process too,” Steele said. “Game week has a different feel about it in terms of you know there’s a reward waiting for you Saturday. And that’s fun.”

*Steele says there are true freshmen that will help out this season but that it’s still a process. “We have some guys that are coming along, we do,” he said.

*Steele will be coaching from down on the field this season and has done both in the past. “It’s actually easier up top,” he said. Rod Wright will also be upstairs with GA’s and analysts, per Steele.