Pinson Valley head coach Sam Shade has some experience in defensive rugby.
Shade helped Alabama win a national championship, was selected in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL draft and played ten seasons of pro football.
Would he enjoy the challenge of trying to cover Heisman Trophy-winning receiver DeVonta Smith?
“At no point in my playing career – university or pro – would I have said, ‘Coach, put me at 6,'” Shade said on Sports Talk 99.5 FM on Mobile this week. “I might have said, ‘Hey, “Let’s double 6 coach. I will play on top of him.”
Shade, the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 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 from the comfort of his own home. It did not diminish his respect for what his alma mater has accomplished this year.
‘I thought they did a good job all year, especially the SEC games for the 10th season, and then could beat a good Florida team that had some talented guys in different positions that they problems, ” he said. ‘Then go to the playoffs and win. My hat goes off to them because I know what they handled in terms of the COVID protocols and that you did not have 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 that championship. ”
He was particularly impressed with Alabama’s offense and Smith’s play.
“He’s a special player,” Shade said. ‘I thought (the former Alabama offensive coordinator / now Steve’s head coach, Steve), Sarkisian, and especially the last few games, did well to play. I know myself and some of my staff wanted to go to Tuscaloosa and have a little ball talking to him. This is kind of what you do in the off-season. But I told them I did not think we would go to Austin. It’s a little too far. ‘
When he watched Smith, he said he was doing everything right.
“If you try to push him, he’s doing an excellent job of getting the press off,” he said. ‘If you play him out, he’s such a good runner that he climbs in and out of his breaks so well. If you look at him, he has a good understanding of what the defense is giving him – whether they are in the zone, or they are in some kind of man below.
“He does all those things well and he is obviously very good after the catch. If you’re a scorer, you’re definitely a guy who’s good with the ball in your hands. He’s just very hard to stop, especially with the way coach Sarkisian made him move. ”
Shade may be even more interested in Alabama next season. His star player at Pinson this year, Mr. Football rival Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry, signed with Tide in December and is already in Tuscaloosa. McKinstry played for both sides of the ball for the Indians, but will likely find a home in Alabama’s secondary home in the near future.
Hypothetically, what would he do if he had to try to cover Smith?
“He’s probably going to need a few more pecan seasons before he’s going to cover 6,” Shade joked. ‘There are some guys playing on Sundays next year and it will be difficult to cover Devonta. He’s one of those guys who really needs to be on your game and really sound on your technique as a player to give yourself a chance to achieve 1-on-1 success against him. ”