Rebels Lane Kiffin Questions Defensive Play-Calling Changes From Alabama

Lane Kiffin might be game-planning for two different defensive coordinators heading into Saturday's matchup against Alabama.

Lane Kiffin is a combination of a fan and troll when it comes to Alabama football. If anyone disrespects the seven-time national champion Nick Saban, he's there to support his former boss. 

That is unless he's the one coming up with the quick one-liners. 

Kiffin, who spent three seasons as Alabama's offensive coordinator, knows how Saban's brain is wired. He also understands when changes are made, they usually are hidden from the everyday fan's eye. 

Heading into Saturday's showdown in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Kiffin was asked about the defensive adjustments from Week 2 to Week 3 for No. 13 Alabama. The fourth-year Ole Miss coach determined upon further evaluation that the scheme and formation wasn't the change, but rather the play-caller. 

“Our guys watching the TV copy schematical in this last game, it certainly seems like T-Rob’s now calling the defense,” Kiffin said Sunday via Zoom. “We played him before at South Carolina, so we’re preparing accordingly, you know, for him calling the defense. He’s done a good job too. And they’ve got really good players.”

T-Rob, better known as Travaris Robinson, is currently Alabama's cornerbacks coach and serves under defensive coordinator Kevin Steele. Playing-calling is in his DNA, having previously served as South Carolina's defensive coordinator from 2016-2020. 

But Steele is the veteran Saban hired to replace now-Rebels coordinator Pete Golding. There's familiarity between the two sides during their runs in the conference. Saban hired Steele to be his first coordinator at Alabama in 2007. 

Since then, Steele has bounced around and landed on several high-profile staffs, including Clemson (2009-11), LSU (2015), Auburn (2016-2020) and Miami (2022). Steele was also on campus in 2014 as Alabama's linebackers coach during Kiffin's first season as the Tide's offensive coordinator. 

"We’ve been against Kevin a number of times," Kiffin said. "Worked with him at Alabama, then played against him at Auburn and LSU. But it seems like there’s been a change there."

Carleigh Harbin-The Grove Report

Kiffin isn't wrong about the precision of Alabama's detailed outing in Tampa Bay during a monsoon of offensive concerns to match Hurricane-like weather conditions. The Tide held South Florida to 264 yards of offense, 87 of which came through the air, and three points. 

The week prior, Alabama struggled defending Quinn Ewers and now-No. 3 Texas in a 34-24 loss at home. Steele's defenses are known for being less aggressive upfront and more dynamic downfield. The Crimson Tide barely pressured Ewers, who tossed three touchdowns to accompany his 349 passing yards. 

As a unit, Alabama allowed 454 total yards to Steve Sarkisian's squad, snapping a 21-game win streak at home, and marking the first non-conference loss for the program at BDS since Saban's first season on campus.

Kiffin isn't weary of understanding that Saban hasn't had time to address the speculation heading into Week 4. The Tide media staff does not meet on Sunday, so the longtime coach must wait to answer the theory. 

Of course, even if Saban remains silent on the situation, Kiffin and the No. 15 Rebels likely will prepare as if they're facing both defensive coordinators at 2:30 p.m. from Bryant-Denny Stadium.