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Yes I'm afraid so!
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Confirmed The expectation is that Kevin Steele will be hired as Miami’s defensive coordinator, per sources
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KingCane20
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He was getting paid 2.5m at Auburn? Geez..
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This thread is already at 40+ pages so, if already posted, I apologize...
armstead98
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my favorite thing about the hire is that he's old. makes him less appealing to be hired away. belk, schumann, etc are 1 great year away from a head coaching jobs if they do well here just like lanning and aranda.
the only worry here is an sec school bigfooting him, but there are only a few who can/would do that and they'd only do it if he's really elite. far fewer threats of that than the number of head coaching jobs that open up on a yearly basis that pay 2-5x what coordinators make.
oh and he seems to have a decent track record in the SEC. there's not much to knock here other than the fact that he wasn't a hot name ahead of time.
the only worry here is an sec school bigfooting him, but there are only a few who can/would do that and they'd only do it if he's really elite. far fewer threats of that than the number of head coaching jobs that open up on a yearly basis that pay 2-5x what coordinators make.
oh and he seems to have a decent track record in the SEC. there's not much to knock here other than the fact that he wasn't a hot name ahead of time.
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CaneIsland
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OriginalGatorHater
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Just a little common sense tells you what happened.
OriginalGatorHater
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None of that answers the original question which was "if he is so great why was his best off Maryland".
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Cane_lover
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Bill Belichick and Saban disagree with this comment.
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Is it wrong that I work from home and open this around the wife and kids??
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If you want to figure out a Kevin Steele defense, you have to prepare for the unexpected.
Like in 2019, when Steele shocked LSU and then-QB Joe Burrow with a totally new 3-1-7 look that his Auburn team had never shown previously.
As his former player at that time, linebacker Chandler Wooten, said, "Whenever we buy into something as a defense, it normally works."
It certainly did in that case. The high-flying LSU offense was stymied, although the Tigers still won 23-20. But that was 27 points below LSU's season average and the fewest points the Tigers scored that year.
If you want a base defense from Steele? Well he's been part of teams at Alabama that used 3-4 and 4-3 attacks. He also likes to use a lot of 4-2-5 nickel that involves three corners and two safeties. His dime therefore is a 4-2-6.
This also is a guy who called an all-out blitz on a fourth and 16 from the Auburn 43 with 1:40 to go in a game, which resulted in a sack and sealed an Auburn win. That compares quite differently from the Manny Diaz defense that rushed only three guys in a nearly identical situation last year, allowing a conversion and ensuing loss to FSU.
As one writer who wrote about Steele put it "the veteran defensive coordinator has a unique play-calling style and plan of attack that marries aggression and blitzing with coverage that rarely gets beaten over the top."
Of note: It doesn't seem he's inclined to use a hybrid linebacker that UM termed a Striker. When his teams are in a 4-3, it's with a strongside linebacker.
Steele has shown a willingness to use a 4-3 and a 3-4 in the same season, but to do that you really need a dominant guy in the middle. With UM not really having that right now, we'd expect Steele will come to the realization that a 4-3 most of the time is a must at least for the coming season.
As Kevin Sumlin put it when asked about Steele a couple of years ago, "If you’re an odd front team, just like Alabama, you know there’s a big difference between a 3 technique — it doesn’t seem like much — between a 3 technique and what people call a 4i, where that shade is and how you’re going to block that guy, and you have to have the right guys to play that in the front and keep those linebackers free. He’s an interesting guy from the back end and the rotations, both with the safeties and the run fits and things like that, he’ll mix them up."
A question is how the Cane personnel will best fit what Steele likes to do. The biggest change, at least in terms of positions, will be at Striker. Having a lighter linebacker in that spot who could cover also meant some issues in run support. Now that SLB spot will need a heavier, stronger body who can help against the run but also is agile enough to cover when called upon. It's not obvious there's a guy like that right now on the team, so the transfer portal might be needed unless a guy like Chase Smith can develop very quickly.
It will also be a big change for Cane defensive players who were used to less of a varied defense, with Diaz's D predicated on blitzing more than half the time.
Steele's defense is much more nuanced and focused on switching things up and confusing the offense.
There will be multiple looks, which means UM players will have to hit their playbooks hard this spring to grasp everything Steele will want to install.
Also don't underestimate the ability of Steele to recruit, something Miami fans perhaps aren't used to from their coordinator. He was named the Rivals.com Recruiter of the Year back in 2005 and has never let recruiting take a back seat to his coordinator duties. No doubt he will be on the phone with Shemar Stewart this evening trying to shore up that situation. He still relishes that aspect of being a college coach.
And now it's on this aggressive play caller who will use all different styles of blitzes to turn around a defense that ranked No. 44 in the nation in rush defense (139.0 yards), No. 102 in passing yards allowed (250.6 yards) and No. 75 in total defense (389.6 yards) and No. 82 in scoring defense (28.25 points allowed per game).
We'll let Mario Cristobal have the last word on Steele here.
When his Oregon team was preparing to face Steele's Auburn squad in 2019, Cristobal said, "They switch that pro safety on first and second down and it’ll open on third. They have their slide busts on third down. They’ll (cover) zero you in the red zone if they feel the game is on the line. Corner fire, nickel fire, cross blitz, tackle-end twist, Sam off the edge, 3 technique button contain.”
Oh, and did we mention Auburn beat Oregon in that game, 27-21?
Maybe, just maybe in addition to his time with Steele coaching at Alabama, this hire was also somewhat about if you can't beat them, join them.
Like in 2019, when Steele shocked LSU and then-QB Joe Burrow with a totally new 3-1-7 look that his Auburn team had never shown previously.
As his former player at that time, linebacker Chandler Wooten, said, "Whenever we buy into something as a defense, it normally works."
It certainly did in that case. The high-flying LSU offense was stymied, although the Tigers still won 23-20. But that was 27 points below LSU's season average and the fewest points the Tigers scored that year.
If you want a base defense from Steele? Well he's been part of teams at Alabama that used 3-4 and 4-3 attacks. He also likes to use a lot of 4-2-5 nickel that involves three corners and two safeties. His dime therefore is a 4-2-6.
This also is a guy who called an all-out blitz on a fourth and 16 from the Auburn 43 with 1:40 to go in a game, which resulted in a sack and sealed an Auburn win. That compares quite differently from the Manny Diaz defense that rushed only three guys in a nearly identical situation last year, allowing a conversion and ensuing loss to FSU.
As one writer who wrote about Steele put it "the veteran defensive coordinator has a unique play-calling style and plan of attack that marries aggression and blitzing with coverage that rarely gets beaten over the top."
Of note: It doesn't seem he's inclined to use a hybrid linebacker that UM termed a Striker. When his teams are in a 4-3, it's with a strongside linebacker.
Steele has shown a willingness to use a 4-3 and a 3-4 in the same season, but to do that you really need a dominant guy in the middle. With UM not really having that right now, we'd expect Steele will come to the realization that a 4-3 most of the time is a must at least for the coming season.
As Kevin Sumlin put it when asked about Steele a couple of years ago, "If you’re an odd front team, just like Alabama, you know there’s a big difference between a 3 technique — it doesn’t seem like much — between a 3 technique and what people call a 4i, where that shade is and how you’re going to block that guy, and you have to have the right guys to play that in the front and keep those linebackers free. He’s an interesting guy from the back end and the rotations, both with the safeties and the run fits and things like that, he’ll mix them up."
A question is how the Cane personnel will best fit what Steele likes to do. The biggest change, at least in terms of positions, will be at Striker. Having a lighter linebacker in that spot who could cover also meant some issues in run support. Now that SLB spot will need a heavier, stronger body who can help against the run but also is agile enough to cover when called upon. It's not obvious there's a guy like that right now on the team, so the transfer portal might be needed unless a guy like Chase Smith can develop very quickly.
It will also be a big change for Cane defensive players who were used to less of a varied defense, with Diaz's D predicated on blitzing more than half the time.
Steele's defense is much more nuanced and focused on switching things up and confusing the offense.
There will be multiple looks, which means UM players will have to hit their playbooks hard this spring to grasp everything Steele will want to install.
Also don't underestimate the ability of Steele to recruit, something Miami fans perhaps aren't used to from their coordinator. He was named the Rivals.com Recruiter of the Year back in 2005 and has never let recruiting take a back seat to his coordinator duties. No doubt he will be on the phone with Shemar Stewart this evening trying to shore up that situation. He still relishes that aspect of being a college coach.
And now it's on this aggressive play caller who will use all different styles of blitzes to turn around a defense that ranked No. 44 in the nation in rush defense (139.0 yards), No. 102 in passing yards allowed (250.6 yards) and No. 75 in total defense (389.6 yards) and No. 82 in scoring defense (28.25 points allowed per game).
We'll let Mario Cristobal have the last word on Steele here.
When his Oregon team was preparing to face Steele's Auburn squad in 2019, Cristobal said, "They switch that pro safety on first and second down and it’ll open on third. They have their slide busts on third down. They’ll (cover) zero you in the red zone if they feel the game is on the line. Corner fire, nickel fire, cross blitz, tackle-end twist, Sam off the edge, 3 technique button contain.”
Oh, and did we mention Auburn beat Oregon in that game, 27-21?
Maybe, just maybe in addition to his time with Steele coaching at Alabama, this hire was also somewhat about if you can't beat them, join them.
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Good read
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This is why this should be a paid forum
Guess who's 64 and did a pretty good job turning around his offense that landed them in the ACC title game... Mark Whipple. He's actually turning 65 in April. It can be done regardless of age.
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That was F*CKING AWESOME!!!!
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RangerGranger
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He's nice and crazy, just like we like'em.
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Its funny that I can't remember a single person bring Steele's name up. I certainly didn't. His name never even crossed my mind before the hire. He has been sitting out there the entire time right in front of our faces. I do remember quoting a post that contained a news clip about Steele being expected to take the DC job at Maryland. I remember laughing at it because I was thinking how does Maryland get a DC like Steele and we're still here with nobody? That was maybe 2 days ago then all of a sudden bang! Kevin Steele to Miami! I guess Mario was thinking the same thing I was
.
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