Lane Kiffin made waves a few weeks ago ahead of Ole Miss's matchup with Oklahoma by talking about Brent Venables and the Sooners stealing signals. That stirred up controversy, producing questions of rule-bending and the ethics of the tactic.
Kiffin clarified that he meant his comments as complimentary. Contrary to what some might believe, sign-stealing, in and of itself, is not against NCAA rules. It is fully legal, in fact. Michigan came under fire for how they stole signals, not because they did.
Michigan broke the rules by sending Connor Stalions to advance-scout and steal signals in person. That's illegal. But deciphering signals from what you can pick up on tape is just scouting.
That's part of what has made Venables' defenses so difficult to go up against. Kalen DeBoer is certainly aware of the challenge Oklahoma's defense will present. The Sooners held the Crimson Tide to just three points a year ago in Norman.
Alabama will aim to make it more difficult for Venables to know what the Tide is going to do play-by-play. OC Ryan Grubb said Alabama is changing all of its signals this week as part of the preparation for Oklahoma.
They're good at that, number one," Grubb told reporters at his weekly press conference. "Number two, we're changing everything. So if Coach Venables is listening, just know they're all changing.
"They do everything within the parameters of the game, though. There's nothing illegal about what they do. They're good at what they do, so certainly have to take that into consideration."
Ryan Grubb says Alabama will change its signals this week for the Oklahoma game
In all honesty, Grubb and the offense probably change signals religiously. Michigan's blatant disregard for the rules changed how everyone prepares nowadays. Signals probably change week-to-week now for most programs. Alabama probably isn't doing anything special just for the Oklahoma game.
Venables is an elite defensive mind. He's tough to gameplan against when he doesn't know what you're going to call. You can't afford to give him any additional advantages.
Alabama's offense is slumping at the wrong time. Oklahoma will bring the best defense the Crimson Tide has faced all year to Tuscaloosa this weekend. The Sooners are hungry and in desperate need of a win to stay alive in the College Football Playoff race.
Alabama's struggles on the offensive line are of much greater concern than Oklahoma stealing signals. If this game is as big a mismatch on the line of scrimmage as it appears to be, this will be a difficult game for the Crimson Tide to win.