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Pinson Valley head coach Sam Shade has had some experience as a defensive back.
Shade helped Alabama win a national championship, was selected in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL Draft, and played 10 seasons of professional football.
Would he like the challenge of trying to cover receiver DeVonta Smith, winner of the Heisman Trophy?
“At no point in my playing career – college or professional – would I have said, ‘Coach, put me on 6,'” Shade said on Sports Talk 99.5 FM on mobile this week. “I could have said, ‘Hey, double 6 coach. I’ll play on him. ”
Shade, the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 6A Coach of the Year after leading the Indians to a state title in December, watched the Crimson Tide beat Ohio State on Monday night in the comfort of his own home. It didn’t diminish his respect for what his alma mater has accomplished this year.
“I thought they had done a great job all year, especially playing all 10 SEC regular season games and then being able to beat a really good team from Florida that had some really talented guys in there. different positions, which gave them match problems, ”he said. “Then get into the playoffs and win. Hats off to them because I know what they’ve been up to regarding COVID protocols and not having your head coach for a game – probably the biggest game of the regular season against Auburn. I know they went through a lot to win this championship.
He was particularly impressed with the Alabama offense and Smith’s game.
“He’s a special player,” Shade said. “I thought (former Alabama offensive coordinator / now Texas head coach Steve) Sarkisian all year and especially the last few games did a great job of playing. I know myself and some of my staff. wanted to go to Tuscaloosa and chat with him. It’s kind of what you do in the low season. But I told them I didn’t think we would go to Austin. It’s a bit too far.
Looking at Smith, Shade said he was doing everything right.
“If you try to put pressure on him, he does a great job of press release,” he said. “If you play him, he’s such a good road runner that he gets in and out of his breaks so well. When you watch him, he has a really good grasp of what defense is giving him – if they’re in the zone, if they’re in a type of man below.
“He does all of these things well and obviously he’s really good after the capture. When you’re a punt turner you’re definitely a guy who’s good with the ball in your hands. It’s really hard to stop him, especially with the way Coach Sarkisian has moved him.
Shade might be even more interested in Alabama next season. Its star player at Pinson this year, football contender Mr Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry, signed with Tide in December and is already at Tuscaloosa. McKinstry has played both sides of the ball for the Indians but is likely to find a home in Alabama high school in the near future.
In theory, what would he do if he had to try to cover Smith?
“He would probably need a few more pecan seasons before he covers 6,” Shade said jokingly. “There are guys playing on Sunday next year who will have a hard time covering Devonta. He’s one of those guys you really need to be on your game for and really have a good grasp of your playing technique to give yourself a chance to succeed against him 1v1.
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