Who wants to be the Texas D Coordinator Part 1: Joe Kines

by aorist9 on Dec 1, 2006 8:28 AM CST in Football Comment 15 comments

Everybody, Joe Kines...Joe Kines, everybody.

image courtesy of rolltide.com

Kines is probably the oldest guy you will hear mentinoned for this job. Born in 1944, Kines attended Jacksonville State and began his coaching career there. He's also coached linebackers at Clemson, Florida, and with the Tampa Bay Bucs, and has been defensive coordinator at Florida, Arkansas, and Georgia, before his current job as defensive coordinator and interim head coach at Alabama.

We start with Kines because We've been doing our homework.

Pros: Kines has a wealth of experience, and his Tide defenses have been outstanding in every measure. Remember the Alabama '05 post-Prothro offense? He's the reason they only lost two despite being unable to score more than 17 points in a game. It is rumored that, during last year's game with Tennessee, Kines yelled, "What you're only giving us 6 points? Hell y'all can't score more than 3 on me, Fulmer." Also, Kines has expertise with linebackers, which is good if we keep Akina on staff, because Duane already has the secondary coaching down...to an extent.

Cons: Kines isn't the young up-and-comer type that the last two hires were. This could turn out to be an advantage if it means a great D coordinator that will stay more than two seasons, but, on the other side of the coin, he can't have too too many years of coaching left in him. I mean the dude's 62, and he could be crazy, but it's not often that you find someone who's "Paterno" crazy.

Scheme could also be an issue. Kines runs a 4-2-5 at Alabama, and he's had great success with it, but, at least immediately, that will be a problem because of our lack of depth and experience in the secondary. Imagine Dion Beasley, Brandon Foster, Ryan Palmer, and Robert Joseph all out on the field at the same time with Marcus Griffin as the sole returning starter with them. Obviously Kines can adapt his scheme to fit the people, but a lot of Kines' success has come with the 4-2-5, and it might be harder for him to succeed in a more traditional alignment.

This whole discussion could be moot if the new Alabama coach decides to keep Kines, either voluntarily or at the behest of Mal Moore.

Stay tuned for more looks at D coordinator prospects.

--AR--

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Comments

Say it ain't Joe

Kines may be a Defensive Genius, but he looks about as intimidating as my Grandpa with a $6 Supercut.

I may be off base, but after the lackluster peformance on D this year, I want a coordianator that looks like he can walk on water, eat fire, and shit ice cream. He should also carry a wallet with the words "Bad Motha Fucka" printed it. I think Kines carries a Snoopy Wallet with a secret coin pouch. But I digress...I just hope we get someone that can kick ass.

Also, not to pull rank on you intern boy (I call you that because I can't pronounce your screen name, Aorist9, it sounds like a moon that hasn't been discovered yet)...anyway, I guess you can call Greg Davis a "young up and comer", but the "last two hires," Dick Tomey or Greg Robinson, were hardly whipper snappers.

Also, a 4-2-5, more commonly referred to as the "Nickel," actually would be a good idea as you'd drop a speedy linebacker into coverage to help out those Greenhorns playing DB. We got burned this year because we were playing 9 men in the box to stop the run. I'm all for better Pass defense.

So maybe Kines and his nose hair farm is the man for the job.

by 54b on Dec 1, 2006 9:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Whoops

I meant Gene Chizik as a "young up and comer."

GD has never been young, nor a comer.

by 54b on Dec 1, 2006 10:51 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Up-and-comer

Sorry for the confusion. I just meant someone who viewed the job as a stepping stone to a college head coaching job, as Greg Robinson and Dick Tomey both moved on to an HC job after just one year, I think we can fit them into that definition. Kines is more of a Carl Reese; not in coaching skill, but in the fact that he's beyond looking for a head gig and instead is content to run sick defenses until he retires.

Also 4-2-5 actually means having an extra DB in. Linebackers drop into coverage all the time from a 4-3 alignment, but their still considered one of the 3 linebackers.

by aorist9 on Dec 1, 2006 11:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

so...

we drop Kelson back. He's got the speed of a DB (we all remember him step-for-step with reggie in the rose bowl) and the strength of a LB. But he didn't look too good this season, and that has me worried if his ankle fully healed.

...til Gabriel blows his horn

by BigTexBD on Dec 1, 2006 1:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

whoops

i should probably read all the comments before making one myself. Sorry, Ryan!

...til Gabriel blows his horn

by BigTexBD on Dec 1, 2006 1:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's why I said...

speedy Linebacker, because it would have to be a player who could take on the roll of a 5th DB.

But I wasn't questioning your semantics, just your opinion that Kines' scheme might be an issue. Whether he plays four or five DBs isn't going to change their age or experience. My contention was that adding a 5th to help out would probably be a good think.

Regardless, I wouldn't want a DC that couldn't coach a multitude of schemes. When Darnell was at UT, we ran a 3-4 and he implemented a nickel at A&M to some success. The big reason we put Carl Reese out to pasture was because he was great at man to man, but wasn't so good at playing zone which was death against good passing O's.

Regardless, whatever we can dig up on the Internet, the coaching fraternity knows about 100x more about these guys than we ever will. No doubt Mack will get his man. I just hope he's the kind of DC that doesn't care what the offense does and instills the kind of attitude where shut-outs are all that's acceptable. And Kines may be the guy to do that.

by 54b on Dec 1, 2006 1:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll take Jerry Gray

over any of them, but that is just me.

I think the problem with the Gray Ghost (and I got this from someone else) is that he dosn't have a degree. UT requires coaches to have a bachelors.

Kines would be good. Did anyone see the way the Tide put the hurt on Tech in the Cotton bowl last year? I think the Raiders crossed the 50 yard line twice all day.

Cats and dogs sleeping together.

by EYESofBEVO on Dec 1, 2006 9:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Akina?

It's kind of interesting that the second Gene left for ISU, the first thing everyone did is start looking outside the program for his replacement.

I'm not saying that's wrong, but if you're Duane Akina, and you are "technically" the Co-Defensive Coordinator, wouldn't you be a little pissed. Chip Brown mentions in this weekly Q&A that this would be the 3rd time Duane's been passed over if they hire someone else.

And since titles obviously don't mean much, do you think we can get Greg Davis a "Co-Offensive Coordinator?" You know, just somebody to coach the offense, call all the plays, that sort of thing.

by 54b on Dec 1, 2006 10:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

If memory serves me

they first tagged Akina as Co-DC when Robinson was brought in. He's already been slapped in the face twice. Maybe he won't mind a third time.

by gwh65 on Dec 1, 2006 11:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I would love to see Randy Shannon is burnt orange.

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?cid=614122

by nematode on Dec 1, 2006 11:19 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

What about Drew Kelson?

A 4-2-5 might be the perfect excuse for moving him back to DB.

by Ryan on Dec 1, 2006 12:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

True

But even with him back there we'd still lack experienced depth in the secondary. Kelson might have to switch back even if we were playing only 4 DBs

by aorist9 on Dec 1, 2006 1:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not entirely sure of the enamourment with JK

He's kind of a journeyman around the south, and while his defenses at Bama have been good (not 2005) to great (2005) one might look at other stops. He reminds me of a little more traditional than Joe Lee Dunn former Def Coord at Memphis and Miss State. They have their moments but most good teams figure them out.

Seems like the Horns chilled on Chizik awfully quick. (and Greg Davis for that matter) but that's the nature of the job. Win the NC one year, and when the winning streak ends (young QB - he was injured and/or in his 1st full season, and lots of new faces and some key injuries on D) people start questioning your capabilities.

I'd think Texas could just about hire any Def Coord it wants - Shannon or some other. As much as I really don't like saying it, you are the University of Texas, recruiting hotbed, great facilities and maybe someone could conjure up a scenario where the put in their 5 years as DC then take over for Mack when he retires.

by TennVolChamp on Dec 1, 2006 1:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Jerry Gray's Your Man

For the 5 year plan (until Mack decides to step down - which hopefully is even further away), Jerry Gray would be your man. I understand there is some issue with his degree, but he would love nothing more than to get his foot in the door to be the next Head Coach at his alma mater. However, he is a secondary guy (as a player and as a coach) which leaves you in a tough spot with Akina. That is, unless the comments around here were true - that he's going to be the numero uno on defense for Mr Chizik.

by the usual suspects on Dec 1, 2006 2:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs