Castille brings experience to an untested defense

This is the last of an eight-part series analyzing the 2007 Alabama football team.

It is not surprising Simeon Castille's name is always one of the first to come up when mentioning Alabama football players. After all, the All-SEC cornerback did have six interceptions and 71 tackles in 2006.

It also probably helps that Castille is the son of former Crimson Tide All-American defensive back Jeremiah Castille and brother of former Tide fullback Tim Castille. That aside, Simeon Castille is still one of the most recognized names among the team amid the other veteran defensive players.

There is no doubt that if the Tide defense is going to be successful in 2007, Castille is going to have to step up as a playmaker on the field and as a leader both on and off the field.

"A lot of people ask me, 'How do you think coach Saban will do with it being his first year and all?' I don't look at it as his first year, I look at it as my last year, and I want to go out and make this year the best possible. I want us as a team to make as much noise as we possibly can," Castille said at SEC Media Days.

Head coach Nick Saban said he appreciated Castille's efforts and praised his leadership.

"Simeon Castille has been an outstanding player at the University of Alabama, and he certainly had a great spring for us," Saban said. "I think the biggest difference in what I see in him, he's accepted the role of leader and trying to affect other people. I see him constantly trying to give instruction, set example for, helping other guys do their job. We certainly appreciate that. That's something that we need."

Many have noted reasons for pessimism on the defensive front, and some even call this year the second rebuilding year on defense for the Tide. But the good news is that there are experienced players in the secondary, and the secondary is perhaps one of the most stable parts of the Tide's defense despite the loss of Ramzee Robinson and Jeffrey Dukes to graduation.

Castille will hold down one cornerback spot, while Lionel Mitchell, who had four interceptions last season, will start at the other corner.

Safeties Marcus Carter and Rashad Johnson return after earning part-time starting roles in 2006. Sophomores Justin Woodall, Chris Rogers and Javier Arenas are other possibilities at the safety position. Carter recorded 31 tackles in 2006 while Johnson recorded 33.

New secondary coach Kirby Smart came to Alabama after coaching with Saban for the Miami Dolphins last season, but Saban is often hands-on with the defensive backs.

"I've been playing defensive back for a long time, but it's amazing how much [Saban] taught me in just one spring," Castille said. "I was excited when I heard he was coming because I knew he was a defense guy. In the spring, I got to see just how involved he was. Every time I, or someone else at defensive back, would do something wrong, he'd be right there to correct us, teaching us what techniques to use."