Butch Jones – CU Head Coach (?)
December 3rd
Introducing Butch Jones … Just in case
Offensive philosophy: The University of Cincinnati Spread Offense is a no-huddle, up-tempo offense that utilizes multiple personnel groups and formations to attack and wear down the defense. We will make the defense defend the entire width of the field not only with our formations, but also with our run game, our short and intermediate pass game and with our screen passes. Additionally, we will keep the defense on its heels and threaten the entire depth of the field with our vertical passing attack. While the offense is built to get the ball in the hands of our playmakers, it is important to make the defense defend all the offensive skill positions, often times resulting in nine or ten different players having receptions in a game.
Defensive philosophy: We are an attacking 7 or 8 man front D, our base being a ‘4-3′ alignment. The front seven uses a variety of simple alignment variations to create assignment problems for the offense, limiting their efficiency and overall effectiveness. Our pass coverage philosophy combines multiple zone coverage with all the defenders reading and reacting to pattern combinations. We use a variety of pressures that are backed by man to man or zone coverage’s. We are a unit which prides itself in being fundamentally sound in our tackling, leverage and knowledge of the defensive scheme.
Special Teams philosophy: Our special teams philosophy has always been take what they give you. We will be a punt block team or a punt return team; it will depend on who we are playing and what we can best do to take advantage of the alignments of our opposition and situation in the game. This is the mind set in all areas of our special teams. My philosophy will always be about using the special teams third of the game to win the battle of field position. There is great commitment to special teams as far as recruiting is concerned. Every player we evaluate as a staff, we talk about how that player fits into our special teams.
Butch Jones – A primer
The following are five things you need to know about who could be named as the 25th head football coach in Colorado history.
1. Jones turns 45 on Jan. 17th. A Saugatuck, Mich., native and 1990 graduate of Ferris State, where he played, Jones has a career record of 49-27. He’s had only one losing season, when he guided Cincinnati to a 4-8 record in his first season there in 2010. The Bearcats were 9-3 this season, sharing the Big East conference title for the fourth time in five seasons. The Bearcats were picked to finish fourth in the preseason Big East media poll.
In three years at Central Michigan, Jones guided the Chippewas to a 27-13 record, was a two-time MAC champion and played in two bowl games, including a loss to Purdue in the 2007 Motor City Bowl. His 11-2 CMU team, guided by All-America QB Dan LeFevour, lost in the MAC championship game, ending its year short of a bowl appearance.
Prior to his head coaching experience, Jones served a season under Brian Kelly as running backs coach at Central Michigan; he then spent two years as the wide receivers coach at West Virginia, coached by Rich Rodriquez, before succeeding Kelly at CMU in 2007.
Jones replaced Kelly as the Bearcat coach in 2010. And after struggling in Year One, he reloaded and guided UC to a 10-win season and a victory over Vanderbilt in the Liberty Bowl, the program’s first bowl win over a BCS opponent.
2. Cincinnati’s offense has been highly effective under Butch Jones. Since the 2008 season – the latest the NCAA keeps statistics online – Jones’ offenses have scored at least 29.5 points per game in all but one year. The one exception was in 2010 when the Bearcats were the 57th-best scoring team in the country, averaging just more than 27 points per game.
While LeFevour did a bit of everything at Central, leading the Chippewas in rushing and passing during Jones’ three seasons there, it hasn’t been a one-man show at Cincy. George Winn leads with 1,134 yards rushing, with 11 TD, while the Bearcats’ QBs have combined for about 500 yards rushing and six scores.
UC has had some instability at quarterback this season and has rotated between Munchie Legaux and Brendon Kay; the duo has combined for 2,400 yards, 18 TDs and 11 picks.
In 2011, All-Big East running back Isaiah Pead had 1,259 yards and 12 TDs, while two quarterbacks – Zach Collaros and Legaux – combined for nearly 2,700 yards, 20 TDs and 14 picks. They also had 10 rushing touchdowns.
3. Jones agreed to a three-year contract extension with Cincinnati following the 2011 season.
According to ESPN.com, he was set to earn a base salary of $1.575 million, plus incentives. His base salary is set to gradually increase, with a ’17 of $2.05 million.
As part of the deal, the salary pool for Jones’ assistant coaches increased from $1.6 million to $1.85 million. Much of Jones’ staff, by the way, followed him from CMU to Cincinnati. His offensive coordinator is Mike Bajakian, who has Big Ten experience as a G.A. at Michigan in 2000-01, while the defense is managed by co-coordinators Steve Stripling and John Jancek. Stripling, the assistant head coach, is a veteran of 30 years, with stops at Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Indiana.
Jones’ buyout, according to ESPN.com, is $1.4 million (up from $1.25 mllion from before the extension) if he leaves prior to Jan. 1.
4. Jones is known for offense, having thrice been a coordinator before a head coach, but his defenses haven’t been too shabby either.
The Bearcats’ defense allowed only 17.2 points per game this season, the 12th best in the country. And they give up only 373.8 yards per game, the 41st-best mark.
In the four years previous to this, Jones’ defenses have twice ranked in the top 20 in scoring, ranking No. 20 in ’11 (20.3 ppg) and 17th in ’09 (18.9 ppg).
5. A few of notes of interest on Jones …
– Prior to this season, Jones’ teams had been 32-1 when leading at halftime or to start the fourth quarter.
– Jones’ 2011 Bearcats’ team, for which he won Big East Coach-of-the-Year, finished No. 1 in the country in tackles for loss. The 10-win team, Jones’ finest in his six seasons as a head coach, was salty on defense, allowing only 20.3 points per game and just 357.4 yards. Its rush defense ranked No. 6 nationally, allowing about 96 yards per game.
– Jones’ special teams philosophy: “… has always been take what they give you. We will be a punt block team or a punt return team; it will depend on who we are playing and what we can best do to take advantage of the alignments of our opposition and situation in the game. This is the mind set in all areas of our special teams.”
– At UC, Jones has a special teams coordinator, Mark Elder, who also coaches the ‘Cats’ safeties. Previously, he’s coached linebackers, tight ends and running backs.
– In the three seasons since Jones left CMU, the Chippewas are 12-24.
3 Replies to “Lyle Allen “Butch” Jones, Jr.”
I don’t understand the Butch Jones love affair. Cincy’s 3 losses this year were 23-29 @ Toledo (9-3 MAC), 31-34 @ Louisville (10-2 Big East co-champs), and 3-10 vs. Rutgers (9-3 Big East). Not terrible by any means, but why not pursue two other coaches who better fit the Pac-12 recruiting geography?
The case for Fresno State’s DeRuyter: Their 3 losses were 25-42 @ Oregon (11-1 BCS team who beat CU by 56), 26-27 @ Tulsa (10-3 USA West champs), and 10-20 @ Boise St. (10-2 Mountain West champs). No shame in those 3 road losses – a combined deficit of 28 points. Fresno State could have beaten CU 105-0 (I’m not exaggerating a bit) if DeRuyter wasn’t such a charitable human being.
The case for San Jose State’s Mike MacIntyre: Their 2 losses were 17-20 @ Stanford (11-2 Pac-12 champs & BCS team who beat CU 48-0 at Folsom), and 27-49 vs. Utah St. (10-2 WAC champs).
In other words, the 5 losses that marred these coaches’ 9-3 (FSU) and 10-2 (SJSU) records came at the hands of teams with a combined record of 56 Wins, 10 Losses.
Oh, and these coaches know how to recruit the West Coast.
Please don’t accept CU’s offer, Butch. Cincy is a beautiful place to raise a family.
Is he the OC for UC? Three times as coordinator is good stuff if he is calling plays now. OC and DC hires can make or break an HC.
Wait and see and be hopeful of happier days at Folsom.
Steve Stripling is a 1979 CU alum…