There are positives to Steele but there have also been major failures such as his time at Baylor. He seems to be a better assistant then HC. He might be fine at Bama but for me the verdict is still out. I'm sure he's banking on building his resume some more while under Saban. Lots of assistants do that under Saban.
Ill disagree. It is one of the better staffs around. Kevin Steele is one of the most respected defensive coaches out here. FSU fans hated to lose him, thinking he could be their next coach. Plus, its not like he is pulling the strings on D, and he is one of the best recruiters in the country. Dont let your hate for a team not let you be objective.
He's not a head coach at Bama so I'm not sure how relevant this reference is to Bama's staff being "average" and being full of "weaknesses". I still do not understand the basis you're using to say the staff is "average" and has a lot of "weaknesses". But time will definitely tell.
Steele, along with Kirby Smart, were the first two coaches hired. They were in place before Saban had his press conference. The only coaches that were offered, but didn't take the job, were Jimbo and Moffitt. Moffitt would have been sharing the same duties he controls if he had moved...but, that had nothing to do with his decision. Dabo Swinney was contacted, but he didn't receive an "official offer." (semantics...the $ issue was addressed) Again, like Moffitt, it was a family thing...in Dabo's case, his wife's battle with cancer. The staff, even from outside perspectives, is respected...with the exception of a few people here and there they don't see it (or choose not to.) On the red zone...on the 55 TD's LSU scored last year, 38 of them were inside the 20. I realize there were TD's scored outside the red zone, but the point remains.
Solely to be an antagonist; there already has been a defection from the staff, line coach if I remember. Left for a pro job. As far as the staff rates, decent staff for coaching skills. Doesn't evoke fear or amusement, I don't disrespect any of them. I think MA will be Saban's Jimbo, the kid is a winner. The strength of the staff, however, is recruiting. They have coaches with name recognition in Texas and Florida now. They may steal one or two from traditional recruiting grounds, but it will be the 5 or 6 that they bring in extra from those states that will give depth and talent. In the college game it makes a huge difference. Personally, I am also very happy Dabo did not join them, though the reason why tempers that emotion a lot.
You are right. I forgot about him. Cleveland, I want to say? Applewhite continues to be the name on most lips. However, most will ignore that point that this is Pendry's offense. I would have loved to see Dabo back in T-town, but, with his wife and the things his kids have been going through I can't blame him. While 100K more a year would make most leave, you can see where his *heart* is... Smart has had my attn. for awhile now. He's a good DB coach. You know Thompson, and I think he'll do well with the OLB. Actually, the only coach I'm not real familiar with is Middleton. But, from what I've heard I like his coaching style. (add Cignetti a bit to that list...but, I've watched the program for years.?
Steve Marshall...was hired as OL coach...led to Pendry taking OL and hiring a WR coach. EDIT: Noticed Rip Scherer is on their staff at Cleveland...there's a character.
Yes, but I will say that Sims and MA both played with Mack's O in Texas, and it was MA that made the offense work like an O instead of a bunch of athletes just outperforming everyone else. He will add intangibles to Pendry's O that are hard to measure.
There's the reason he was hired. From what McElroy has said, the intensity and thought process he brings to the QB position isn't close to the level they have experienced in the last few years. (Granted, GM red-shirted last year) It's the read-progression aspect I like when thinking about MA. Like Dabo, he's going to make a great HC one day.
