New DC of Alabama

by Kenny483 on Jan 5, 2009 6:10 PM CST Comment 23 comments

As many people have read, and seen it appears Kevin Steele is leaving to be the defensive coordinator at Clemson. I know this has been pointed out, but frankly I want to talk about anything else, but the ~~Sugar Bowl~~ bowl that shall not be named.

My guess is that Kirby Smart takes over the full responsibilities of defensive coordinator, even though that was his official title this year. His primary responsibility was in game planning against the pass, with Steele primarily in charge of the run defense. The question then becomes who do we get to become the new secondary coach?

One name that immediately comes to mind is Chris Ball. He was the secondary coach at Alabama from 2003-2006. He was really good in developing quite a few solid secondaries, and was probably the best recruitier on the staff during Shula's tenure. He is currently at Washington State as the co-defensive coordinator, but may be willing to leave that train wreck.

Another name to think about is Giff Smith. He is currently the defensive line coach at Georgia Tech, but he has worked in the secondary at his time at Georgia Southern. He is also the recruiting coordinator at Georgia Tech, and is another great recruiter. He would be a steal, and has great ties in Georgia an area that Alabama is trying to get into as far as recruiting. He might be difficult to get with his ties to Atlanta, and Coach Johnson.

The only other person I could think of was Tony Hughes, and to be honest I had to look up his name. He is currently the secondary coach at Southern Miss, and had the same role at Ole Miss. I do not know a lot about him, but he was one of the better recruiter's on Orgeron's staff at Ole Miss, and he was instrumental in landing 5-star DeAndre Brown to Southern Miss last year. He could be a great pickup, as Mississippi is an area that we always get players from.

It is important to remember that Steele played a significant role in developing the defense this year. There is too often a penchant to undermind the role someone played once they leave. While, I do think that replacing the production Steele brought as a defensive coach will not be impossible; the more difficult part may be what Steele brought as a recruiter. He was widely believed to be one of the best recruiters in the nation, and it will be extremely important for whoever comes in to be able to do the same. Anyways, fire away if you have any guesses.

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I like

Tony Hughes. I would also like to see an NFL secondary coach if we can find one that can recruit. Bottom line, Saban is hands on when it comes to D and we don’t need a good coach maybe as much as a good recruiter. They are not always the same thing.

I also think move Kirby Smart “up” if you will. I think he will continue to be a good coach.

by 5026 on Jan 5, 2009 6:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don't

Being a Denver Bronco fan I am ok with an NFL secondary coach just as long as it’s not Denver’s!!!! LOL!!! Talk about pathetic!

by KaliforniaTide on Jan 5, 2009 7:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think...

…he should look for a great LB coach who can recruit. We arent losing the Secondary coach…Not sure of a name, but I am sure there is a LB coach out there…

~ ROLL TIDE ~

GO SOX!!

by Bama Sox on Jan 6, 2009 12:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Lance Thompson

is already a pretty good LB coach, who is almost certainly one of the best recruiters in the nation. I am pretty sure he handles the Mobile area, as well as other important areas.

by Kenny483 on Jan 6, 2009 6:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He

does handle the Mobile area. As far as NFL coaches, I’d love to see us get somebody from the pros, some of the top defenses in the NFL over the last 5-10 years run the 3-4 (Ravens, Steelers etc..).

Thirty-Six to Nothing

by Bens4vcobra on Jan 6, 2009 8:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

True...

How could I forget LT…Yeah, let him take over all the LBs and not just outside…What about Jon Tenuta?

~ ROLL TIDE ~

GO SOX!!

by Bama Sox on Jan 6, 2009 11:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you serious?

tenuta wouldn’t fit in w/ Saban. he runs a 4-3 and blitzes 90% of the time. Saban prefers to have the 3 down linemen and 4th rushing LB do the work up front, and blitz, like most good coaches, when appropriate, not as a strategy in and of itself.

by tempebamafan on Jan 7, 2009 9:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I may be mistaken

but I understood Kirby was listed as Defensive Coordinator and Steele was Assistant Head Coach for Defense or some such title. When he was rumored for baylor after last season Saban realized he may leave soon and put that contigency in place. Anyone else remember that?

Alabama judges its team by national and SEC titles. Auburn judges its team by how many times it beats Alabama. You tell me who the dominant team in the state is.

by Nose Guard on Jan 6, 2009 12:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Steele

I seriously doubt that he was going to Baylor as the dead coach, since they fired him as their head coach after the 2002 season.

You are correct about him being listed as the associate head coach and defensive head coach. The actually job as far as game planning was concerned was that he would be in charge of planning out the rush defense, and Smart was planning out the pass defense. Obviously, a lot of these responsibilites overlapped.

by Kenny483 on Jan 6, 2009 12:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This

was done after the ‘07 season, when if I remember correctly, there were rumors that Tuberville was after him to replace Boom m’effer.

Thirty-Six to Nothing

by Bens4vcobra on Jan 7, 2009 9:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We should bring

Sly Croom back. He would be good for our staff IMO.

by Bamagrad on Jan 6, 2009 9:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wont happen...

~ ROLL TIDE ~

GO SOX!!

by Bama Sox on Jan 6, 2009 9:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yep

and he in all honestly has a right to be pissed-hold a grudge. i still wish him the best.

by tempebamafan on Jan 7, 2009 9:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Other Names

I saw a few other names to consider. Travis Jones is currently the defensive line coordinator at New Orleans. Jones was the defensive line coach at Miami and LSU with Saban, and was also the recruiting coordinator at LSU. Jones graduated from UGA, and would almost certainly have great contacts in the area.

Jeremy Pruitt is another name being mentioned; of course, from Two A-Day fame. He was the defensive coordinator at Hoover High School. There is not too much to know about his coaching ability, though he did produce plenty of college players while at Hoover. I remember that when Saban got here there was some speculation that Pruitt would join the staff in some capacity. The attraction there would clearly being in getting someone who knows so much about the high school programs in the state, and he too would undoubtably have great contacts in the area.

Finally, the last and perhaps the most interesting name would be Geoff Collins. He was actually on the Alabama staff last year as Director of Player Personnel. This year he went to UCF and took over their recruiting coordinator position, and also became a linebacker coach. He apparently left Alabama, because he wanted to get back on the field, in a more direct coaching role. Clearly, he is a really good recruiter, but he has also been a defensive coordinator at West Carolina.

by Kenny483 on Jan 7, 2009 7:26 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I

hope you don’t mean NO as in the Saints because I thought Ed-O was the D-line coach there (until recently) and they run/ran a 4-3 and their D-line underachieved big time.

Thirty-Six to Nothing

by Bens4vcobra on Jan 7, 2009 9:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jones...

…was part of the D-Line coach. I have no idea how that worked out, but he had the official title of Defensiveline Coach.

by Kenny483 on Jan 7, 2009 10:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ill ask the question again

Why do we need to bring ANYONE in? We already have a DC and Saban….

When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.

by bammer on Jan 7, 2009 9:18 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

to help w/ recruiting if nothing else

and i have faith st nick will find a guy who can do that.

by tempebamafan on Jan 7, 2009 9:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I

don’t see Saban hiring a guy who is lazy, can’t recruit and is a lousy coach. So to tell you the truth, I’m not all that worried about losing Steele as good as he is.

Thirty-Six to Nothing

by Bens4vcobra on Jan 7, 2009 9:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yep

saban really is the man. there’s not one aspect of the program he doesn’t have a full grasp on, he will be sure to find a good replacement, or find a way to do without. he will not however feel pressured and wind up making a poor choice though, unlike some west georgia schools we know.

by tempebamafan on Jan 7, 2009 9:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Because

We are not bringing in a DC. We are almost certainly bringing in a position coach. Obviously, those guys are extremely important to teaching the position. Furthermore, while Saban is making a lot of the defensive calls during the game, he cannot do all of the game planning during the week. That is why you need a defensive coordinator.

by Kenny483 on Jan 7, 2009 10:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

ok..that makes sense.

I just thought we had all those positions already filled and Steele was just “holding” a position as a recruiter.

When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.

by bammer on Jan 7, 2009 10:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The more the merrier......

Is also one of CNS motto’s when it comes to coaches meeting recruits. He has been know to use as many coaches as the NCAA will allow on the recruiting trail making as many in roads as possible. I see a position coach that he has previously worked with coming back because it makes more sense at this point. Don’t try to fix what ain’t broken. Just reload, and continue the process.

Well, are you gonna pull them pistols, or whistle dixie?

by jtCRIMSON on Jan 7, 2009 11:34 AM CST reply actions 0 recs