Coach Of The Year--Mel Tucker

[Alasippi]

I've caught some flack for saying Coach S. should let go of coaching the secondary because he teaches that "Don't turn your head and find the ball philosophy".
Well he hired Mel Tucker. The first thing Tucker said in his press conference...,"You better believe we're going to find the ball".
I have no idea about the answer to this question, but here it is, "How many Alabama defensive backfields have returned four interceptions for touchdowns in two consecutive games?".
I'm going to take a guess. "ONE". Coach Tucker's scondary.
I nominate him for the best coaching performance in the S.E.C. so far this season.
We're so much better, in the secondary, it's ridiculous.
sip

 

[mulletover]

The Secondary is playing with confidence. Although the younger guys seem better at getting their heads turned around. CJ still lacks in that dept although he plays the hands very well.

 

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

I've caught some flack for saying Coach S. should let go of coaching the secondary because he teaches that "Don't turn your head and find the ball philosophy".
Well he hired Mel Tucker. The first thing Tucker said in his press conference...,"You better believe we're going to find the ball".
I have no idea about the answer to this question, but here it is, "How many Alabama defensive backfields have returned four interceptions for touchdowns in two consecutive games?".
I'm going to take a guess. "ONE". Coach Tucker's scondary.
I nominate him for the best coaching performance in the S.E.C. so far this season.
We're so much better, in the secondary, it's ridiculous.
sip

You've got my vote. I have been singing his praises myself. It did start off kinda shakey though. They were always right there but never turned there heads. They are even yelling to get the CB (Humphrey) to turn their heads. Gotta love that.

 

[Alasippi]

The Secondary is playing with confidence. Although the younger guys seem better at getting their heads turned around. CJ still lacks in that dept although he plays the hands very well.

He scares me. There's a reason teams throw continually at one player.

 

[TideFan in AU]

I've caught some flack for saying Coach S. should let go of coaching the secondary because he teaches that "Don't turn your head and find the ball philosophy".
Well he hired Mel Tucker. The first thing Tucker said in his press conference...,"You better believe we're going to find the ball".
I have no idea about the answer to this question, but here it is, "How many Alabama defensive backfields have returned four interceptions for touchdowns in two consecutive games?".
I'm going to take a guess. "ONE". Coach Tucker's scondary.
I nominate him for the best coaching performance in the S.E.C. so far this season.
We're so much better, in the secondary, it's ridiculous.
sip

Not taking anything away from Coach Tucker, but having Minkah, Humphrey with a year of experience, Ronnie Harrison, and Eddie Jackson at safety have had a whooooole lot to do with that. It's not exactly like he's had to take the same guys as last year turn them into one of the best units in CFB. We are basically playing with 4 - 6 CB's this year. All the guys playing safety are all converted CB's playing the position, and that is really only possible because we have maybe the best 7 ever assembled in CFB. EJ always been a very physical corner, so his transition to Safety has been pretty seamless, but we don't have that big, physical Mark Barron/Ha-Ha/Landon Collins type Safety that we've always had and that has resulted in having guys that are better in pure pass coverage.

Coach Tucker has been a tremendous hire, but CNS is still very involved in coaching DB's like he's always been. It was clear to a lot of people last year we were down on overall talent in the secondary. Nick Perry, Jarrick Williams, and Landon Collins, the rotating door Bradley Sylve/Tony Brown/Eddie Jackson CB spot was much more of our problem in pass coverage than coaching was. EJ is a good player, it seemed like after his knee injury that he lacked the speed to be an elite corner. The fact that we have 3 freshmen in our secondary that are becoming absolute studs proves to me that we needed talent. It also proves to me that Mel Tucker is doing a heck of a job.

 

[VirginiaTide57]

The front seven pressure also plays a role. How many sacks have there been this year compared to last?

 

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

The Secondary is playing with confidence. Although the younger guys seem better at getting their heads turned around. CJ still lacks in that dept although he plays the hands very well.

What team is still throwing at CJ? Because from what I see, they are really throwing at Marlon.

 

[JBama_in_PCOLA]

Not taking anything away from Coach Tucker, but having Minkah, Humphrey with a year of experience, Ronnie Harrison, and Eddie Jackson at safety have had a whooooole lot to do with that. It's not exactly like he's had to take the same guys as last year turn them into one of the best units in CFB. We are basically playing with 4 - 6 CB's this year. All the guys playing safety are all converted CB's playing the position, and that is really only possible because we have maybe the best 7 ever assembled in CFB. EJ always been a very physical corner, so his transition to Safety has been pretty seamless, but we don't have that big, physical Mark Barron/Ha-Ha/Landon Collins type Safety that we've always had and that has resulted in having guys that are better in pure pass coverage.

Coach Tucker has been a tremendous hire, but CNS is still very involved in coaching DB's like he's always been. It was clear to a lot of people last year we were down on overall talent in the secondary. Nick Perry, Jarrick Williams, and Landon Collins, the rotating door Bradley Sylve/Tony Brown/Eddie Jackson CB spot was much more of our problem in pass coverage than coaching was. EJ is a good player, it seemed like after his knee injury that he lacked the speed to be an elite corner. The fact that we have 3 freshmen in our secondary that are becoming absolute studs proves to me that we needed talent. It also proves to me that Mel Tucker is doing a heck of a job.

Talent yes, but they are playing way better at this point than last year. Eddie has changed positions and has been a game changer. I believe it has a little to do with both.

 

[Capt. Jack]

The front seven pressure also plays a role. How many sacks have there been this year compared to last?

^This... It also doesn't hurt to have that 5* talent gaining more and more experience each week.

 

[CraigMack]

Add in Tony Brown, Kendall Sheffield and others waiting in the wings and there is no shortage of talent in the secondary. They're strong now and the future looks to be even more promising.

Tucker has a lot of young talent to work with and he is doing a fine job with them.

 

[RTR91]

He scares me. There's a reason teams throw continually at one player.

Probably because he's 5'10 (on a good day) compared to Marlon at 6'1, Minkah at 6'1, and Tony Brown at 6'. If Cyrus was 6'+, he would be a top DB prospect in this draft.

 

[theballguy]

I've caught some flack for saying Coach S. should let go of coaching the secondary because he teaches that "Don't turn your head and find the ball philosophy".
Well he hired Mel Tucker. The first thing Tucker said in his press conference...,"You better believe we're going to find the ball".
I have no idea about the answer to this question, but here it is, "How many Alabama defensive backfields have returned four interceptions for touchdowns in two consecutive games?".
I'm going to take a guess. "ONE". Coach Tucker's scondary.
I nominate him for the best coaching performance in the S.E.C. so far this season.
We're so much better, in the secondary, it's ridiculous.
sip

Yup. Night and day over '14 and '13 seasons.

 

[RTR91]

Yup. Night and day over '14 and '13 seasons.

And how much of that is because of the talent differential?

Listen, I'm not trying to discredit Mel Tucker, but he's working with better players than what Kirby had last year or Greg Brown had in 2013.

 

[B1GTide]

To add to the great thoughts already posted:

* Most of the picks this year have come on very poorly thrown passes, not because a DB had perfect position and made a play on the ball. This is a credit to the improved D-Line play.

* The 4 TD returns in such a short period of time are a statistical anomaly and mean very little when trying to compare one defense to another. For instance, does anyone believe that this secondary is better than the '92 secondary? Did they ever accomplish this feat?

 

[BamaDMD]

To add to the great thoughts already posted:

* Most of the picks this year have come on very poorly thrown passes, not because a DB had perfect position and made a play on the ball. This is a credit to the improved D-Line play.

* The 4 TD returns in such a short period of time are a statistical anomaly and mean very little when trying to compare one defense to another. For instance, does anyone believe that this secondary is better than the '92 secondary? Did they ever accomplish this feat?

Well, I think it's early to compare to the 92 defense, but they have similar components. I think you are on target with the Defensive line creating opportunities. Now in 92, you had a D-line (the bookends for that matter) that created pressure and would make a very talented secondary look even better. I think that if this D keeps progressing and stays healthy, they will be a thing of beauty to behold if we make it to the playoffs.

 

[B1GTide]

Well, I think it's early to compare to the 92 defense, but they have similar components. I think you are on target with the Defensive line creating opportunities. Now in 92, you had a D-line (the bookends for that matter) that created pressure and would make a very talented secondary look even better. I think that if this D keeps progressing and stays healthy, they will be a thing of beauty to behold if we make it to the playoffs.

You missed my point - the secondary in the '92 defense was an NFL secondary. They did not have all of these pick sixes in such a short window. It is a statistical anomaly and says less about the coaching and talent of the players than it does about the circumstances.

 

[deliveryman35]

Tucker is definitely an upgrade over what we had before in that position. Something tells me he also might be our next D coordinator....

 

[Con]

I think Coach Tucker brought in a fresh new perspective and methods of teaching the techniques. It never hurts to have 5* recruits either. Every coach is better when they have better players.

 

[RTR91]

He scares me. There's a reason teams throw continually at one player.

These are the stats going into the TAMU game.

What makes you think "teams throw continually" at him?

 

[BamaDMD]

You missed my point - the secondary in the '92 defense was an NFL secondary. They did not have all of these pick sixes in such a short window. It is a statistical anomaly and says less about the coaching and talent of the players than it does about the circumstances.

ahh I see. Sorry about that. I still think that a good d-line makes for a better secondary overall and I hold my point that if this continues, you will see more of this as the season plays out. I am hoping for this outcome at least...