I see an awful lot of people pointing to the Orange Bowl against WVU as the definitive statement on his ability as a DC while I'm more inclined to look at that season, and that loss, falling on Dabo. Those around Clemson were very pleased when the Tigers were sitting at 8-0, 9-1, and 10-2. Those loses came at the later part of the 2011 season—a season where their offense was averaging 40+ points per game until they were held to under 20 by three different teams (finished regular season 10-3 including the W in the ACCCG.)
It's my opinion Dabo lost control of that Tiger team in 2011; specifically, allowing their rankings to "go to their heads." (They were ranked as high as #5 in the BCS standings going into week 10 as I recall...a win over a top 25 Auburn team coming off of their 2010 title and a couple of wins over top 15 teams in Va Tech and FSU.)
Here's another case that isn't telling the whole story. Point to his record if you like, but to be fair it should also be mentioned this was when Baylor moved from the SWC to the Big 12. The year before Steele was hired at Baylor they had one conference win—against a Kansas team who had one conference win. In '97 Baylor had one conference win—against a 4-7 Texas team.
@lsu-i-like Here's how I view Steele in terms of coaching. When he's got players who can take what they see on film, and what they are taught in the film room, and translate it to the field he's a good DC. When he's not dealing with players who have that football acumen and he's forced to teach them on the field, then there's an issue.
If he has good assistants working under him who can demonstrate technique that can be overcome. However, if he's in a position where he's teaching, by demonstrating, that technique? Players in Tuscaloosa have referred to him as a "clumsy teaching coach."
Which in the end falls back to the "Jimmy's and Joe's" and how well they understand the "X's and O's" when they arrive on campus.
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