Brent Key is interior OL coach; Cristobal to T/TE; Williams to off-field position

[Matt0424]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

Interesting -- wonder if the rumor about the interior OL and tackles roles being split is right. Is anyone else doing anything like that right now?

It's fairly common at almost every level of football now, as blocking schemes have changed so much over the years.

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[WylieTexasTider]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

I don't know about now but I believe we did that under Stallings.

Pearman and Fuller split the line at BAMA.

 

[alabama mike1]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

I like the move!

 

[Harmost]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

It's fairly common at almost every level of football now, as blocking schemes have changed so much over the years.

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I'm having trouble thinking of examples; what staffs are coming to mind?

 

[Matt0424]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

I'm having trouble thinking of examples; what staffs are coming to mind?

NFL - Dolphins, Jets, Ravens, Browns, Titans, Broncos, Raiders, Chargers, Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, Bears, Lions, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, Bucs, Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks all have at least two OL coaches (Seahawks have 3).

Usually one guy works with interior linemen, and the other your Tackles.
The Eagles use a pretty similar model to what we've went to, as Stoutland's assistant coach handles tackles and ends.

The same in college, though I'm not digging through all the teams to point out who...I don't think you want that much info.

Even at the HS level most staffs have multiple coaches. I played at a 3A school and we had two line coaches.

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[gtowntide]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

I'm certainly no coach but to me it makes sense for the TE's to be coached with the OL. With the multiple TE sets we use to run the ball our blocking should be better with CMC over coach Williams. We're breaking in a new center this season so it will be good for another coach to concentrate on the interior lineman.

 

[chris]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

I'm going to try to say this the right way... sometimes national awards go to players/groups based more on perception rather than actual performance. When a RB has the kind of season Henry had, the OL is going to get some votes. I think we'd all agree that run blocking was good last year - but we were 45th in the nation in sacks allowed and 101 tackles for loss. Can't find any stats on hurries, but the eye test says we were average at best and possibly in the bottom half in CFB at worst.

Totally agree! My tailgating buddy and I discussed the lack of consistent performance all year. With Derrick Henry at running back most any line would look good!

 

[KrAzY3]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

Every year we have had breakdowns in special teams. Yes we have improved most of those years but seems like we should not have so many breakdowns every year. It seemed like our special teams were solid the entire year when Ron Middleton was the ST coach.

First, I have no idea what Bobby Williams future holds. If he and/or Nick Saban decides to make a change I support that.

Having said that, I've seen Ron Middleton's name being mentioned more than once as though he did more than coach Alabama special teams one single year. Did I miss something about the 2007 season? It wasn't a particularly good memory for me, I don't recall anything especially noteworthy on special teams either. Why is that the year Alabama fans look back fondly on special teams? Why not 2009? Javy had a better year, Tiffin had a better year, special teams literally saved the season that year, no way Alabama wins a championship without great special teams play. I just don't get preferring 2007.

That aside, yes there are breakdowns on special teams just like there are breakdowns on offense and defense every single year. It happens, it will always happen and it has always happened. The problem is Alabama fans only remember a couple plays sometimes, I mean we still have people around here that think Arians should have been fired over a single play. Alabama has ranked above average to well above average (for instance #1 in net punting under two different punters on consecutive years) on special teams with consistency. The real confusing part is people seem to want to blame Bobby on those few big plays that went the wrong way, but they sure as heck don't seem to be giving him a pat on the back for the Cody blocks or the Griffith on-sides kick. That's just illogical, you can't not credit him for the good and blame him for the bad.

A lot of the special teams struggles come down to two place kickers struggling, something that Ron, Bobby, and no one else on the Alabama coaching staff did or is going to coach. Also, I do think people are fixating too much on big plays, you can't determine someone's worth based on the outcome of a few plays, good or bad. However, there's no question that as a whole the positions Bobby Williams was responsible for ended up coming up big late in the season. OJ Howard had a coming out party, Alabama got some huge returns and Griffith proved what a better person, and player he was than those idiots that booed him. Anyway, what ever happens with Bobby Williams future, he's been here for four titles, his guys have come up big a bunch of times and I really don't think the criticism is justified anymore than I think the hate Griffith got was justified (and I stood up for both throughout).

 

[B1GTide]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

First, I have no idea what Bobby Williams future holds. If he and/or Nick Saban decides to make a change I support that.

Williams took a lot of heat on this board last year with many calling for his job. Guess what - special teams and TE play won the championship game for Alabama. In fact, after about the 5th game of the year, special teams became one of the real strengths of that Alabama team.

Not saying that Williams is anything other than what others have said because I have no insight into how you improved so much so fast. Just saying that his areas were pretty solid at the end of the year last year.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

Williams took a lot of heat on this board last year with many calling for his job. Guess what - special teams and TE play won the championship game for Alabama. In fact, after about the 5th game of the year, special teams became one of the real strengths of that Alabama team.

Not saying that Williams is anything other than what others have said because I have no insight into how you improved so much so fast. Just saying that his areas were pretty solid at the end of the year last year.

I agree that any issues with Williams regarding performance of the P and/or PK are misplaced. I'm not aware of a single team in the country that coaches P or PK technique.

Acknowledging the occasional breakdown, punt coverage has generally been pretty good, too.

The issues I've had have been mainly in KO returns and KO coverage. Basking in the afterglow of Drake's TD against Clemson, we tend to forget that we were average at best for the significant majority of the year.

This year, KO coverage was also sound. In previous years, though, we tended to be highly inconsistent. Tackle somebody inside the 15 on one, allow 50+ yards the next. I've gone through whole seasons holding my breath on every KO. That's been my beef with Williams -- inconsistency in KO coverage over periods of years.

Not Williams job, but if we can just get JK Scott back to freshman form...

 

[KrAzY3]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

That's been my beef with Williams -- inconsistency in KO coverage over periods of years.

NCAA.org made finding the data particularly difficult now, but from my previous research, this didn't seem to be a major issue. The one glaring issue that did emerge was when Foster and Griffith struggled on field goals, that did result in Alabama ranking rather low on field goal percentage for a couple of years, but that's the only stat that jumped out to me as being poor. Mind you there might have been dips in a particular category from one year to the next but I didn't notice any other trends.

One huge issue here is I am not sure anyone outside the program fully understand Bobby's role with Alabama. We know he doesn't actually coach technique to the kickers, though it's safe to assume he offer some sort of advice or something. Other special teams jobs are broken up among other coaches as well, due to NCAA restrictions there can't be any true special teams coach. So, I don't think we'll never know exactly who to credit and who to blame. He used to be a head coach, he's coached running backs and receivers in the NFL, I think it's a safe bet that he's a competent professional and Saban sees some value in that. But the main reason I've spent so much time defending him was I did question him at one point in the past, and then I had to concede that he seemed to be a part of something that worked. I can't help but be grateful for the role he's played in those Alabama championships.

I suppose what happens next might offer more insight.

 

[bamablood6]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

I mentioned some breakdowns but I do not know which coach is responsible because my understanding is that Bobby is the listed coordinator of special teams, but all the other coaches have some ST responsibilities just like Kif is the OC but other staff members have offensive responsibilities.

Coach knows who has what part, but eats up Bobby on the sidelines about ST breakdowns. That is always a funny exchange. Well it's not an exchange, it's more Coach blowing up on BW, and BW staring off towards the field.

 

[RTR91]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

NCAA.org made finding the data particularly difficult now, but from my previous research, this didn't seem to be a major issue. The one glaring issue that did emerge was when Foster and Griffith struggled on field goals, that did result in Alabama ranking rather low on field goal percentage for a couple of years, but that's the only stat that jumped out to me as being poor. Mind you there might have been dips in a particular category from one year to the next but I didn't notice any other trends.

One huge issue here is I am not sure anyone outside the program fully understand Bobby's role with Alabama. We know he doesn't actually coach technique to the kickers, though it's safe to assume he offer some sort of advice or something. Other special teams jobs are broken up among other coaches as well, due to NCAA restrictions there can't be any true special teams coach. So, I don't think we'll never know exactly who to credit and who to blame. He used to be a head coach, he's coached running backs and receivers in the NFL, I think it's a safe bet that he's a competent professional and Saban sees some value in that. But the main reason I've spent so much time defending him was I did question him at one point in the past, and then I had to concede that he seemed to be a part of something that worked. I can't help but be grateful for the role he's played in those Alabama championships.

I suppose what happens next might offer more insight.

Here's my go-to link for stats.

Special team stats for this year:

Punt return defense: 10.33 yards per return (ranked 90)
Kickoff return defense: 19 yards per return (ranked 22)

Kickoff returns: 21.70 yards per return (ranked 49)
Punt returns: 12.70 yards per return (ranked 20)
Blocked punts: 3 (ranked t-2)

 

[Harmost]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

NFL - Dolphins, Jets, Ravens, Browns, Titans, Broncos, Raiders, Chargers, Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, Bears, Lions, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, Bucs, Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks all have at least two OL coaches (Seahawks have 3).

Usually one guy works with interior linemen, and the other your Tackles.
The Eagles use a pretty similar model to what we've went to, as Stoutland's assistant coach handles tackles and ends.

The same in college, though I'm not digging through all the teams to point out who...I don't think you want that much info.

Even at the HS level most staffs have multiple coaches. I played at a 3A school and we had two line coaches.

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You're referring to teams that have guys titled something like "Assistant OL Coach"? I guess I would've assumed those guys were more like the NFL version of a graduate assistant than true Co-OL coaches.

 

[B1GTide]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

Here's my go-to link for stats.

Special team stats for this year:

Punt return defense: 10.33 yards per return (ranked 90)
Kickoff return defense: 19 yards per return (ranked 22)

Kickoff returns: 21.70 yards per return (ranked 49)
Punt returns: 12.70 yards per return (ranked 20)
Blocked punts: 3 (ranked t-2)

By the end of the year, the Drake/Jones return combo was among the best in college football. Harris never did anything special back there. Great opportunity for someone with Drake and Jones moving on.

 

[Chukker Veteran]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

I don't know how it could be measured...but it might be an interesting stat to determine when a big play on special teams influenced how a game was unfolding verses when a big special team play doesn't really affect the outcome of the game.

For example...a punt return for a td is a lot more of a big deal when the game is tied verses when you have a one-sided blowout going on. What I'm getting at is, over last season, we seemed to have some huuuge plays on special teams that came at just the right time.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

What I really want to know what kind of blocking responsibility Mr. Cristobel will teach the TE and outside tackles? It make sense to group them together in term of blocking, but what about the passing drills? Do they break out and go work with Billy Napier or Bobby Williams?

What's going to happen to Bobby Williams or Billy Napier? We currently have 10 coaches on the field. NCAA allows us to have no more than 9 on the field positions. Is this move made in general because of Howard having big game and the light finally clicked for him? How good is Key when it comes to coaching up those kids? I think our issues last year was the fact the communication between guards and tackle on the right side most of the time. Does this move means we'll move away from zone scheme blocking ?

 

[CrimsonForce]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

I don't get the criticism of the o-line. They paved the way for the greatest single rushing season in SEC history and won the inaugural award for the best offensive line in the country. Henry didn't exactly juke his way to all of those yards either. Most of the long touchdown runs he was untouched. It's almost impossible to have a dominant run blocking AND pass blocking line. The best scenario is to be dominant in either run/pass blocking and just try to hold up in the other. I will admit that the TFL, sacks and pass blocking need to be improved - although some of those plays are on the coaching staff and the scheme. I'm not against the coaching change but lets not act like the entire o-line play was terrible..

 

[TheRealPokeChop]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

I hear bobby williams has been asked to accept a grey shirt.....

 

[TiderJack]

Re: Brent Key to be Alabama OL coach

I don't get the criticism of the o-line. They paved the way for the greatest single rushing season in SEC history and won the inaugural award for the best offensive line in the country. Henry didn't exactly juke his way to all of those yards either. Most of the long touchdown runs he was untouched. It's almost impossible to have a dominant run blocking AND pass blocking line. The best scenario is to be dominant in either run/pass blocking and just try to hold up in the other. I will admit that the TFL, sacks and pass blocking need to be improved - although some of those plays are on the coaching staff and the scheme. I'm not against the coaching change but lets not act like the entire o-line play was terrible..

I agree. Some think our OL should be 2012 every year. We struggled at times against certain opponents but in the end they were a SEC and NC group.