How the LSU Tigers influenced Alabama’s defensive coordinator hire

Many LSU Tigers fans are aware Alabama has hired their next defensive coordinator. Such move was influenced by LSU’s threat to the SEC West under Brian Kelly.

LSU Tigers fans must take great pride in knowing last November’s 32-31 win over Alabama keeps Nick Saban up at night. Of course, Crimson Tide fans will angrily claim Bayou Bengals fans ‘know nothing.’ However, news of Nick Saban’s latest coordinator hire validates what we know about the direction of his program. Saban is throwing it back to an older style of Alabama football. His hiring Kevin Steele to serve as defensive coordinator is another step in such direction.

Two Alabama defensive themes emerged in 2022. The Tide were susceptible to chunk plays and lacked clutch. Both themes manifested on November 5th, 2022, when the LSU Tigers walked off the Tide in overtime. Alabama limited LSU to 367 yards of total offense, but significant, late-game plays surrendered effectively crashed Alabama’s season. Granted, the Tigers deserve a lot of credit as they showed up and suffocated. However, one can agree the Tide defense has lacked an attitude and swagger since Jeremy Pruitt departed Tuscaloosa in 2017.

Tigers fans might recall Steele serving as defensive coordinator under Les Miles in 2015

Kevin Steele is a longtime defensive coach and one of Saban’s first hires upon taking over Alabama in 2007. Steele served as Tide defensive coordinator from 2007-08 and worked for Saban as a position coach and consultant in 2013-14. LSU Tigers fans might recall Steele serving as defensive coordinator under Les Miles in 2015. Either way, the 64-year-old has made a ton of coaching stops but is now poised to finish in Tuscaloosa.

LSU Tigers fans looking for a quick Kevin Steele reference must refer to the 2019 contest vs. Auburn. Steele served as the other Tigers defensive coordinator at the time, debuting a 3-1-7 defensive alignment that frustrated LSU’s offense. Joe Burrow was sacked on the game’s first play, and the high-octane Tigers’ offensive attack was limited to 47 yards in the first quarter. Of course, LSU won the game 23-20, but not without a dogfight. One can count on Saban to anticipate Steele will bring the same ingenuity to Alabama’s 2023 contest vs. LSU.

Few, if any, predicted Saban bringing in Tommy Rees to run his offense and a reunion with Kevin Steele on defense. But Alabama is seeking a return to their old downhill, smashmouth offense and trench warfare style of defense. How Kelly prepares the LSU Tigers for such changes is an exciting storyline. LSU travels to Tuscaloosa for their 2023 contest with the Crimson Tide on November 4th.