🏈 ICYMI, Coach Burns now holds the "title" of special teams coach/coordinator.

[TerryP]

We've talked before about hiring another offensive line coach (Brent Key) and Mario (Cristobal) coaching tackles and tight ends. Burton Burns has taken over the special teams and Bobby Williams will be a special assistant to me. We're excited about how all of those people can contribute at new positions.

But, that still doesn't change one thing. Coaching special teams is done as a group, it's not one guy.

 

[bamachine]

But, that still doesn't change one thing. Coaching special teams is done as a group, it's not one guy.

True but that is why you have a coordinator. Same goes for Offense and Defense. The OC does not coach the OL, TE, WR, RB and QB, he coordinates the positional coaches to work together for the end result and gameplan/play calling, usually also works directly with the QB. Same for DC and STC. Maybe Burns can handle the extra load better. Each year under Williams, we had some things working good on ST and others not so good. I think he was above his head as a STC, but may have been great as a positional coach.

 

[TerryP]

True but that is why you have a coordinator

During Saban's first week in Tuscaloosa he had a staff meeting for special teams. He set down a book(s) on the table during the coaches meeting and told them, "this is our special teams." That hasn't changed. The term "coordinator," when it comes to Burns is a title. Nothing more.

Now, if people want to bitch about a running back fumbling during a kick return and they want to put that on Burns? It'll be one of the few criticisms—on this coaching position—that's actually been correct in Saban's tenure here.

The point being ... the VAST majority of the criticism against Williams was misplaced; grossly.

 

[bamachine]

During Saban's first week in Tuscaloosa he had a staff meeting for special teams. He set down a book(s) on the table during the coaches meeting and told them, "this is our special teams." That hasn't changed. The term "coordinator," when it comes to Burns is a title. Nothing more.

Now, if people want to bitch about a running back fumbling during a kick return and they want to put that on Burns? It'll be one of the few criticisms—on this coaching position—that's actually been correct in Saban's tenure here.

The point being ... the VAST majority of the criticism against Williams was misplaced; grossly.

I agree that it got to be a bit over the top. That said, I am not sure Williams did a great job of keeping the whole thing coordinated. It seemed like one area would suffer, then eventually it would get fixed, only for another area to suffer. I am just not sure he was great at multi-tasking(I know I suck at it, so don;t really see that as a character flaw, just a flaw to be a STC).

 

[Tidestalker]

Worked out perfectly for Williams. Bama had a terrific S/T's game vs Clemson so this move gets made on a positive note. I'm sure Saban wanted to change his title many times before . I've never thought Williams had much say in it regardless, but there has to be a reason Saban gave him that title.... And a reason he's changing it now.

 

[TerryP]

That said, I am not sure Williams did a great job of keeping the whole thing coordinated. It seemed like one area would suffer, then eventually it would get fixed, only for another area to suffer.

What comes to mind when you say that?

Going back over the years we've seen players have a breakdown in assignments (IE: maintaining their lane) but we didn't see the same mistake twice. As I recall, we've never seen breakdowns—like those that resulted in touchdowns—repeat themselves.

I'll agree we've seen breakdowns happen in one season, then see something similar in the following season. I do believe that has to be viewed with the understanding we're not looking at the same guy and we're seeing a lot of youth and inexperience come into play with these "issues."

 

[bamachine]

What comes to mind when you say that?

Going back over the years we've seen players have a breakdown in assignments (IE: maintaining their lane) but we didn't see the same mistake twice. As I recall, we've never seen breakdowns—like those that resulted in touchdowns—repeat themselves.

I'll agree we've seen breakdowns happen in one season, then see something similar in the following season. I do believe that has to be viewed with the understanding we're not looking at the same guy and we're seeing a lot of youth and inexperience come into play with these "issues."

Coverage really hasn't been an issue except maybe one year, can't recall which, seems like maybe it was 2010. Sure, there have been some breakdowns on individual returns but not throughout a season, aside from that one. Many times the issue has been the FG kickers, ones we know have the ability but they seem to flake out for extended periods of time. Hell even our great punter kind of went to shit for the first part of last season. He seems to not be able to get their minds right or fix the mechanical issues until it has went on for half a season or more. The Kick Six, I never blamed the miss on Griff or Williams, that was just a damned hard kick to make. I did blame them(not Griff, Saban shares some of that blame) for not putting someone out there to prevent a runback. They had their standard, big boy FG unit out there. Should have had at least two of our DB/WR out there, just in case.

 

[UAgrad93]

@bamachine, DBs and WRs aren't on FG teams for a reason. They aren't bulky enough to block a bull rushing DL and they typically don't block worth a shit period.

 

[bamachine]

@bamachine, DBs and WRs aren't on FG teams for a reason. They aren't bulky enough to block a bull rushing DL and they typically don't block worth a **** period.

I know they are not normally on there but with that long of a try, two bad things could have happened, short kick returned(which happened) and blocked kick returned. Just line the WR/DB up out wide, make the other team put someone out there to cover them. The other team would likely call a TO or try to substitute someone who could cover them.

 

[PurlJam]

I did see a few bright spots on Specials Teams last season.

 

[TerryP]

Many times the issue has been the FG kickers, ones we know have the ability but they seem to flake out for extended periods of time. Hell even our great punter kind of went to **** for the first part of last season. He seems to not be able to get their minds right or fix the mechanical issues until it has went on for half a season or more.

In my eyes, this falls into that "misplaced blame" category. One, we don't have anyone that coaches kickers. The vast majority of schools don't either. So, as one example, placing the blame for JK's mechanical problems on Bobby? How does that work? It was something he picked up in the off-season, a time where there isn't any individual coaching (on campus.) When it reared it's ugly head, the mechanics were addressed with JK but it's not like there's a guy coaching him through each drill or at each practice.

Getting a kickers mind right? Wow. There's what could almost be described as an insurmountable obstacle. Considering the amount of money NFL teams have, the number of professionals they have at their disposal, we see the same thing happen there—repeatedly. I can't lay that at Bobby's feet either.

Coverage really hasn't been an issue except maybe one year, can't recall which, seems like maybe it was 2010. Sure, there have been some breakdowns on individual returns but not throughout a season, aside from that one.

Blown assignments is something that can be, albeit partially, put at the feet of the coaches. Maintaining your gaps/lanes is part of what I consider fundamentals. However, I have to weigh that against the times we've seen All-American types on the team do the very same thing. I credit a lot of that on youth considering how many of the younger guys Saban plays on special teams. A lot of that falls down to player maturity in their roles, right?

The Kick Six, I never blamed the miss on Griff or Williams, that was just a damned hard kick to make. I did blame them(not Griff, Saban shares some of that blame) for not putting someone out there to prevent a runback.

That's one thing I found ironic. We have heard time and time again how Saban covers every possible outcome before games. So, logic would tell us that they should have thought of about this before the attempt.

But then again ... I have to look at the other side of the scale. When that happened we saw the reports of how long it had been since something like that had happened. It wasn't years, as I recall, but decades. By all appearances, it's a scenario they didn't consider. By all accounts, considering it's been so long since that had happened, it's one of those things I have to categorize as a huge anomaly.

A missed block on special teams and Williams gets the blame. Who teaches the line how to block? A fumble on a kick return and Williams got the blame. Who teaches WR and RB's about ball security.

I realize it's easy to point to Williams. I also realize there's more than one finger on our hands so if we're going to point ...well, that blame has to be shared/placed at more than one persons feet.

 

[TerryP]

True but that is why you have a coordinator. Same goes for Offense and Defense. The OC does not coach the OL, TE, WR, RB and QB, he coordinates the positional coaches to work together for the end result and gameplan/play calling, usually also works directly with the QB. Same for DC and STC. Maybe Burns can handle the extra load better. Each year under Williams, we had some things working good on ST and others not so good. I think he was above his head as a STC, but may have been great as a positional coach.

Changing the subject here a bit...

I was a little surprised with the move to hire more than one offensive line coach. But, when I sat down and thought about it more it made sense. I know Williams has been working with the tackles as well as the tight ends in the past few seasons.

Saban made the comment they've been thinking about adding another OL coach for awhile now. When I take that into consideration, along with the statements we've seen from CNS about having one more on the field coach, the picture becomes a little more clear.

I suspect, and this is only a guess, IF the NCAA had approved an additional coach for this season we'd have seen Williams maintain his on the field role. Merely speculation.

As it's been explained to me the title of Special Teams Coordinator is no different than Assistant Head Coach. Part of that falls into ranking coaches based on seniority, part of it is resume building for the coaches, part of it justify's salary increases.