Why Ole Miss football's Lane Kiffin believes Travaris Robinson is calling Alabama's defense
OXFORD — Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin said Sunday that he believes Alabama's defensive plays are being called by cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson, not defensive coordinator Kevin Steele.
Naturally, there are some follow-up questions. Is Kiffin telling the whole truth? Is he trying to set a smokescreen before his Rebels (3-0) play the Crimson Tide (2-1) on Saturday (2:30 p.m., CBS)? Or is he just trolling?
During his media availability on Monday, Kiffin was asked what he saw on tape to suggest Robinson was calling the Alabama defense.
"I was asked the question what it was like going against Steele's defense," Kiffin said. "I wasn't really trying to start this big thing. We saw things on TV copy just where it was different, first off with the playbook, the calls and stuff. We looked into that further. It ain't no secret: People in these buildings know each other. We got some information that way too.
"It is what it is kind of like the quarterbacks. You prepare for a different quarterback and prepare for a different playcaller. I'm not sure whatever transpired after Texas, but we're going to have our hands full no matter what."
Kiffin spent three seasons on Alabama's staff with Nick Saban as offensive coordinator. He overlapped with Steele for one of those seasons in 2014.
Kiffin, who departed Tuscaloosa for FAU in 2017 and got the Ole Miss job ahead of the 2020 season, has not yet beaten Saban with the Rebels.
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He came closest last season, when a late Ole Miss drive stalled in the red zone and the Rebels dropped a 30-24 decision at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
"That has nothing to do with this year," Kiffin said. "Now we've gotta go to their place."
David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.
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This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Why Lane Kiffin believes Travaris Robinson is calling Alabama's defense
