Who was the best D'Coordinator you remember @ Bama

[dennychimes76]

No question in my mind - Ken Donahue. :BigA:

 

[Raistlin Majere]

I never saw much heart/desire/determination from the defense - ANY time a defense NEEDS to stop an offense from scoring it is because the offense didn't score enough points - Doesn't matter if it's USC, Patriots or Alabama

the offense moved the ball up and down the field - did not produce enough in
the red zone. However the offense scored enough points to win every single game.

I don't recall many 'reacting' defenses winning championships it almost always an attacking defense that pressures the offense that wins.

I like Kines & respect Kines but did not like his defense

In regards to the others mentioned it's not even close but I like Kines ther person more that I do Bill Oliver.

The last three years are scoring defense rankings 31, 1, 7. In 2005 number 1 in the nation in scoring defense and led the nation in three and outs. 2004 when no one could stop the aubs offense, our heartless d shut them down for the whole first half while the offense blew opportunity after opportunity. In addition, Joe Kines didn’t even have a full deck due to sanctions and any Bama fan can remember the players being just plain wore out due to lack of available subs. On top of all that how many times in a critical spot when all we needed to win the game was a first down did the offense run up the gut, punt 20 yards and leave our d with horrible field position. Yep I see it now, you’re right our players had no heart on d. Again, not saying Kines in the best ever but with any offense over the last 3 years we have a least one sec crown due to just how good are D was.

 

[Tide Tales]

Experts who have followed college football for the past 50 years would agree Coach Donahue is the most legendary assistant coach in the history of college football.

http://www.tshf.net/inductees/donahue.html

He helped TN shut down Miami much like we did in the Sugar Bowl, after Coach Bryant died and the staff he had assembled moved on.

I agree and only learned recently that he joined Johnny Majors @TN in 1985..."3rd Sat. in Oct." has a picture of him on the sidelines and except for facial features, he reminded me of CNS...except CKD's hat wasn't straw!
Roll Tide!:BigA:

 

[moorav]

The last three years are scoring defense rankings 31, 1, 7. In 2005 number 1 in the nation in scoring defense and led the nation in three and outs. 2004 when no one could stop the aubs offense, our heartless d shut them down for the whole first half while the offense blew opportunity after opportunity. In addition, Joe Kines didn’t even have a full deck due to sanctions and any Bama fan can remember the players being just plain wore out due to lack of available subs. On top of all that how many times in a critical spot when all we needed to win the game was a first down did the offense run up the gut, punt 20 yards and leave our d with horrible field position. Yep I see it now, you’re right our players had no heart on d. Again, not saying Kines in the best ever but with any offense over the last 3 years we have a least one sec crown due to just how good are D was.

thanks i am convinced now

 

[Boo Radley]

Ken Donahue . . . Bill Oliver is a very distant second. Oliver was a master at disguising his defenses, Coach Donahue's defense just lined up and dared the opposing team to cross the line of scrimmage.

 

[TommyMac]

how many points does it take...? Auburn beat LSU without scoring a TD - was that because the offense was super that day or because the defense shut down LSU

Not dawggin Kines - Just don't like his style of defense and doesn't compare to the others mentioned - no harm done. I think defense should be able to stop other teams, PERIOD...

anyway a moot point - Saban didn't feel to need to retain him - Kines is a great man IMHO

So, you're predicating your argument against Coach Kines' as a DC over the past 4 years based on one single game between the boogs and LSU? :conf3: That is beyond ridiculous.

 

[bama61]

A technicality, but Ken Donahue never held the title of Defensive Coordinator while at Alabama. Coach Bryant didn't used the Coordinator title for his key assistant either on defense or offense. Still, it'd be close between Donahue and Oliver in my book since admittedly Donahue was the defensive coordinator in all but name.

A side issue but if memory serves, Coach Stallings didn't use the title either, at least not willingly. I believe it was Hootie Ingram that labeled Homer Smith as the offensive coordinator when he brought him aboard to replace Mal Moore as an assistant coach and that he (Hootie) also designated Bill Oliver as Defensive Coordinator at about the same time. To the best of my memory, Coach Stallings never accorded either of them those titles when speaking of them.

 

[moorav]

So, you're predicating your argument against Coach Kines' as a DC over the past 4 years based on one single game between the boogs and LSU? :conf3: That is beyond ridiculous.

No - anyway I have been convinced - case closed - I retract my comments

 

[Tide Tales]

A technicality, but Ken Donahue never held the title of Defensive Coordinator while at Alabama. Coach Bryant didn't used the Coordinator title for his key assistant either on defense or offense. Still, it'd be close between Donahue and Oliver in my book since admittedly Donahue was the defensive coordinator in all but name.

A side issue but if memory serves, Coach Stallings didn't use the title either, at least not willingly. I believe it was Hootie Ingram that labeled Homer Smith as the offensive coordinator when he brought him aboard to replace Mal Moore as an assistant coach and that he (Hootie) also designated Bill Oliver as Defensive Coordinator at about the same time. To the best of my memory, Coach Stallings never accorded either of them those titles when speaking of them.

Not suggesting you're incorrect, but as an aside....Al Browning wrote in "Third Saturday in October" (quoting Jim Goostree pg. 259) "I think you also have to remember how well our defense, led by assistant coach Ken Donahue..."
and then on page 264, "According to Ken Donahue, who in 1972 was defensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide...." then goes on to say "he (CKD) talked about it in the press booth" I always thought the guys in the press box were coordinators, but, heck, what do I know?:conf2: Point is: whatever the title, he was outstanding! :biggrin: Roll Tide!:BigA:

 

[luvthat_TIDE]

Brother Bill by far for me.

 

[Pachyderm37]

Moorav, where were you during the Tennessee game? 13 points enough to beat them? Arkansas game where we couldn't get a first down when needed or 4 missed field goals and in the first overtime we didn't even go for a touchdown to win the game. Our defense was left out in the wind so many times the last couple of seasons that it was down right pathetic. Yeah, we could move the heck out of the ball between the 20's but inside the redzone we were absolutely pathetic. CJK and his defense did as good of a job as could be expected under the circumstances.

Now, to answer the post, I don't really remember CD too much so I would have to say Brother Bill and then Joe Kines.

:BigA::cool2:

 

[bamabryan]

I'm not saying he's the best ever either, but, in 2005 when he had talented seniors on the field, they were special.

The 2005 defense was the best defense we've had at Alabama since the '92 defense.

 

[BigBamaCook]

Brother Oliver

 

[bamabryan]

Still, it'd be close between Donahue and Oliver in my book.

I agree with you.

Another thing is both Donahue and Oliver were coordinators in different eras. Oliver was a secondary coach when Donahue coordinated the defense.

There is no doubt both were outstanding defensive coordinators. CKD's hay day was in the 70's and Alabama had some outstanding defenses year in and year out. As someone pointed out in earlier comments in this thread he was the coordinator for UcheaT when they destroyed Miami in the Sugar Bowl in the mid 80's.

Oliver coached some great defenses at Alabama as well, but Oliver coached in the 90's when the offenses were more wide open.

Here is something to consider: I am 41 years old and I can remember watching Alabama football going back to when I was 5 years old. This is just my opinion, but the two best defenses I can remember at Alabama were the '79 defense and the '92 defense. Donahue coached the '79 defense and Oliver coached the '92 defense.

There are other defenses that were very, very close with the two defenses. I just consider these two to be the best that I've seen at Alabama.

My Dad considers the '61 defense to be among the best he's ever seen at Alabama, but that was before my time. Like me, he agrees it is difficult to compare defenses from different eras.

For my money you could flip a coin between Donahue and Oliver. Both had excellent defensive minds.

 

[bamatrav]

Ken Donahue even though he finished his career at the pumpkin patch

 

[TexasBama]

Paul Bryant used to assign a game to each assistant, so, since each game was "ccordinated" by a different coach, it may be a reason why the OC and DC title was not used by The Coach. However, Ken Donahue was the DC. And the best one we've had.