Conversation with Butch Jones, Part I

By Paul Dehner Jr. on June 26, 2012 9:07 AM




This week I spent time sitting down with football coach Butch Jones to discuss the offseason topics surrounding the Bearcats football team coming off its third Big East title in four years and fourth 10-win season in the last five.

Jones spoke about the pluses/minuses of the proposed new postseason structure, whether he felt personally validated by last year's 10-3 season and personnel philosophies as a young team enters the 2012 season without four NFL draft picks.

Part I of the interview is here today as we tackle the broader spectrum of the program with Part II looking more at the specifics of next year's team.

Jones recently became the media darling with his trip to Miami and time spent with Heat coach Erik Spoelstra as they won the NBA Championship. In fact, Spoelstra even adopted Butch Jones' Sign Your Name concept. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-06...-spoelstra

Pictures and accounts of the trip are in the process of being posted around Jones' office. Make no mistake, a trip that also included observation of Miami Dolphins practices and meetings, benefited UC on multiple fronts. The recruiting image sits atop that list. It all comes back to recruiting and this recent exposure was no different.



Yet, as far as learning ways to improve by picking the brain of Spoelstra and the Heat during a championships run, there were takeaways. Finding a connection between motivating 12 multi-millionaries and pushing 105 broke college kids doesn't necessarily correlate on the surface level; digging deeper Jones filled notebooks with fodder.

"Even though there's differences, there's a lot more similarities than differences. At the end of the day it's all about teamwork, it's about people doing their job, it's about execution. It's about playing hard. It's getting to have each individual on your team, whether it's 12 individuals or 105 individuals, to play to the best of their God-given ability and to get the most out of them. The competitive factor that goes into it, the motivation that goes into it. We covered all those things from A to Z. it's been great for me to sit and watch everything happen over the course of the playoffs."

Jones never allows an opportunity to pass. He's spent the days he's not recruiting utilizing the others in the game for trends and topics to improve on. He spent the final day of Bengals mini-camp at Paul Brown Stadium and time with the Dolphins while in Miami.

Finding coaches who look elsewhere for ideas isn't a new concept, but Jones finds his own unique brand of observations to bring back to Nippert.

"You have a checklist, from practice structure and practice organization to coaching points to little nuances to practice tempo, how they conduct their meetings; it's part of the principle, always continue to grow and get better. You can always take something from everyone and every place that you go. You always try to bring little things back. You always try to gain an edge, you always try to gain an inch in your development."


--- The biggest news of the offseason in college football has been the playoff changes that appear destined to be approved. The four-team playoff with a selection committee picking the team's that will play with an emphasis on conference champs earned the unanimous approval of the conference commissioners at last week's meetings.

Butch Jones since Day 1 has been focused on maintaining the structure of the bowl system. What does Jones think about these changes in regards to that model? Well, for him and his conference, it's not perfect.

"I think change was inevitable, but I think it's a great start. It keeps the bowl system in tact, that is what college football is all about. I think it's the best of both worlds, maintaining the bowl system and have a four-team playoff. The only thing we were hoping for as a Big East conference was not selected by a committee but more data driven with conference champions and all that. But it's going to be great for college football. We took a step in the right direction."

The selection committee concept wasn't the desire of the Pac-12 or B1G, either, but the emphasis on conference champions compromise won out. Jones' desire was simple: Let's make this about numbers and not perception. In the college landscape caked in Big East bashing, allowing it to seep into national championship selection would jeopardize the facts.

"A lot of us as coaches have spoke up about this, whatever they decide with the committee you hope it keeps all bias out. It's human nature to be biased. That's where more data driven keeps the bias out. So, that's the thing, as a conference, that's why we are pushing more toward that."

--- Of the 108 players currently on the Bearcats roster, 74 percent (by my unofficial calculations) were recruited by Butch Jones. From my angle that's the first time the number has gone north of 50 percent. More than half of the projected starters for next year were Jones guys.



It appears, for the first time in his tenure at UC, he owns a team of his guys. The name Brian Kelly rarely touches conversation questions anymore. The Bearcats are officially his team with his profile.

I expected Butch to admit there's a more gratifying feeling to playing with his guys and coaching players he developed relationships with as high school juniors and seniors. In retrospect, I should have realized that's not Jones' perspective. No, he's worked too hard on and is too proud of the development of the Bearcats from the Kelly days to own that selfish view.

"No, I don't think so. We are all Bearcats and we are all working toward the same goals, the same mission of the program. Where is it easier? Familiarity, consistency, continuity, they understand the standard and the expectations. That is the biggest thing and that just comes with time. I think we are an extremely young football team. Still, in our program depth at a number of spots is still a concern and an issue. The only way you continue to develop that is recruiting and time. Positions like the offensive lines and defensive lines you can't really expect too many true freshmen to play. I just like the mentality of our football team, I like our work ethic. We are going to be young, we are going to have to have some people step up in leadership roles that maybe haven't had those situations which for a coach sometimes is concerning but we can continue to educate our players. But you have your Walter Stewarts and your Dan Giordanos, your Austen Bujnochs who have really taken on an active ownership and leadership role."

--- Not often have pieces been written about what should have been viewed as a validating year for Butch Jones. Critics circled Nippert Stadium like vultures following 2010. The Bearcats supposedly finally missed on a hire, they would say. Questioning of tactics and methods filled the offseason. At 4-8, there was little to fight back with other than a belief in his system.

Jones never changed a thing. There were moments he could have. There were moments many would have. One year later, those critical baselines faded and replaced with raises for himself and his staff.

The question I had was, did he personally feel validated by flipping 4-8 to 10-3?

"No, because I know it works. I've seen it work other places. I think the big thing is staying the course. Having the plan, sticking to it, not wavering. At the time that 4-8 season was very challenging for everyone but looking back on it there were some benefits. You don't like to say that but there was a lot of things that came about that I think really changed a lot of things. You find out who is with you in times of adversity. We took a lot from that 4-8 season, that really helped set the stage for numerous years to come."

Ever think about, even for a minute, altering some things?

"You got to stay the course.You tweak things based on your personnel, but your fundamental values, the standards, the expectations, the formula for winning never change. Looking back on it we had a team that was very immature, inexperienced and we had a lot of players that had to step up and fill some very big shoes. Lot of times laying a foundation is very tough to do, but once you get that solid foundation, then things take off."

Have those two years changed you as a coach at all?

"Still very grounded, keep things in perspective, praise and blame it's all the same. A bunker mentality, you come to work and you prepare your team mentally and physically. It is that approach every day and that's the way I approach my job. Has it helped recruiting? Absolutely, but as far as myself personally it's all about the people you surround yourself with. The work ethic, the mentality. We'll never lose sight of anything like that."

Prouder of: Turnaround win margin, four guys drafted in first four rounds or top ranked recruiting classes in UC history?

"Thing most proud of is program in general. Look at it, those are all fundamental values of the standard we talk about with having a successful football program. First and foremost the graduation of our players, then the on-the-field success with being Big East conference champions and Liberty Bowl champions and developing players into NFL Ready. You look at all those as we continue to constantly build and grow our football program, the national perception, being able to recruit against marquee programs across the country. People want to come to the University of Cincinnati. So, when you look at it and say biggest thing proud of, it's the whole package, the whole program in general."

http://www.gobearcats.com/blog/2012/06/c...art-i.html

Conversation with Butch Jones, Part II
By Paul Dehner Jr. on June 27, 2012 8:27 AM

This week I spent time sitting down with football coach Butch Jones to discuss the offseason topics surrounding the Bearcats football team coming off its third Big East title in four years and fourth 10-win season in the last five.

Jones spoke about the pluses/minuses of the proposed new postseason structure, whether he felt personally validated by last year's 10-3 season and personnel philosophies as a young team enters the 2012 season without four NFL draft picks.

Part I of the interview tackled the broader spectrum of the program with Part II today looking more at recruiting and the specifics of next year's team.



Before I dive into the comments of Butch Jones talking about recruiting and next year's team, I want to update a few recent comings and goings Jones confirmed to me while we sat down.

While roaming through the halls to his office, I came across new Florida State transfer LB Jeff Luc. Dude is big. Coming out of high school in 2010 he was rated as the No. 1 ILB prospect in the country by Rivals. A combination of injury and being lost in the shuffle landed him looking for another school. He'll have to sit out this season, but will be a prime candidate for playing time when eligible next year.

Committed OL Caleb Stacey will not be playing for UC next year as many already reported elsewhere. Apparently, his heart wasn't into football. Sounds like the Oak Hills product won't be playing anywhere. Tough break for Jones and co., they were extremely high on him, as many were.

Committed DB Alex Dale did not qualify academically and will likely attend a junior college.

--- Moving forward, the topic of recruiting will always be on the tongue of Butch Jones. It drives most every decision off the football field. Thus far, the focus paid off. His recruiting classes have been ranked among the best in the history of UC football. They are competing for players with some of the marquee programs in the country. Multiple players from last year's class passed on SEC tradition for Nippert Stadium.

And that was coming off a 4-8 season. With 10-3/Big East champs/Liberty Bowl champs draped across his chest this offseason, the difference in the response from recruits was palpable.

"Was very noticeable, I think it was evidenced in our camps and in recruiting in the number of unofficial visits prospective student-athletes have made to our campus from across the country. But still, you look at our first year didn't' go the way we wanted to but we still were able to assemble a great recruiting class. Recruiting is still based on relationships and people. People make a place. I'm very fortunate to be surrounded great people."

Jones pulls from across the country better than any coach in the recent history of UC football. Of the current 108 players on the UC roster, 34 are from outside the typical Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania breeding grounds of Bearcats football. That includes 17 from the great recruiting battleground of Florida. Clearly, selling the program is coming easier than ever before on the national stage.

"Nothing is ever easy. I think we have a great product to sell. We talked about it, our academic success. Our academic programs, you look at our campus, you look at the direction and vision we have not only for the football program but what our administration has. You look at campus life. You look at our facilities as we continue to upgrade our facilities and winning. But again people, as well."

Great email question from David S. fit into this area perfectly: If I gave you a blank check and you could have practice facilities upgrade, Nippert renovation, recruiting budget, etc., where would you start?

"Can I say all of the above? I think it's a combination. In order to win you have to develop your players. We have a recruiting profile. We have to be able to attract the best and the highest caliber of student-athlete you need for your program, so recruiting is part of it. As we continue to put this program on a national stage we definitely have to do some things with Nippert, that is our home, we are very proud of it but as far as amenities for our fans to being able to income everything, it's dollar driven, to continue to improve Nippert is critical, too."

--- For those of you who live and die by the big-picture, offseason semantics, sorry, it's time to talk football. Speaking about the 2012 Bearcats, the first topic addressed almost unanimiously is the quarterback position. Can Munchie Legaux -- or possibly challenger Brendon Kay -- take the reigns and lead this offense to the success it experienced in 2011? If not, will the returning starters on defense be able to overcome the loss of JK Schaffer, Derek Wolfe and John Hughes and compensate for any offensive inexperience?



Here's how I posed the question to Butch Jones:
Rather Munchie emerge as leader and Team MVP or have No. 1 defensive in the Big East?

"We really believe you win championships on a consistent basis with playing great defense. I think we have enough weapons on offense where our quarterback, whoever it is, doesn't have to win the game for you. They got to do a great job of managing it where it's all about scoring defense. If I had to pick one, I would say No. 1 on defense."

The response surfaces a deeper understanding into the mindset of Butch Jones we may not have known. He's always enjoyed the luxury of a dynamic, leading quarterback. The string of Dan LeFevour at Central Michigan and Zach Collaros at UC came to an end against West Virginia last season.

If the certainty taking snaps doesn't exist, Jones doesn't appear desperate to force an inexperienced QB to fill the role. The reference to "managing" the game stuck out to me here. While overused in my areas of football coverage, the phrase applies here implying he's easing his quarterbacks into the job. While Isaiah Pead won't be around to take the pressure off, the combination of remaining RBs along with last year's top two receivers joining the mix could add up to enough to light the scoreboard.

Of course, that question of what to do in replacing Pead will be an intriguing storyline to monitor as the UC head to Higher Ground for almost three weeks in August.

UC served as the exception rather than the rule when it came to RB carries last season. Isaiah Pead averaged 18 rushes a game with George Winn's three the next closest. Of the top 10 rushing attacks in the country, seven came from teams featuring two ball carriers earning double-digit carries. More than half of the teams that finished the year in the AP Top 10 used a similar model.



All signs point to UC transitioning to the national norm as the most dynamic back in its history breaks LBs ankles in St. Louis. At least with Jameel Poteat, George Winn and Ralph David Abernathy leading the conversation, multi-headed monster will be the attack according to Jones.

"We want to even have more than two. The nature of the position is such a physical position. A very demanding position with the amount of contact. My philosophy is you can never have enough running backs."

Is three the number? Or will you want to whittle it down to two?

"The big thing with our running back situation right now is each player has a different skill set and they all compliment each other. It's doing what they can do and where they can excel and not asking them to be something they are not. We are not asking them to be Isaiah Pead, because they are not Isaiah Pead, but we have to capitalize on what they do well. If that means playing five backs, we'll play five. If that means one guy comes in like Isaiah did and asserts himself, we'll play one. But, really, I see us playing a lot of running backs this year."

--- One last point before I'll wrap this up. Last year, UC's flip in turnover margin made for one of the more amazing statistical 180s in recent memory. Remember, in 2010 the team finished minus-15 in the category, 119th out of 120 teams in the country. Then, in 2011, they finished tied for 9th nationally at plus-12.

Staggering.

The change resulting from a relentless offseason point of emphasis. Every workout, every practice, every meeting revolved around creating and avoiding turnovers. The question becomes, what has been the point of emphasis this year because I'd love to see what Jones has in store for an encore.

"The same thing, especially with being a youthful team like we are our margin for error is extremely small. It goes back to turnover margin, we can't turn the football over, we need to score touchdowns in the red zone, our special teams have to be extremely solid because we have no margin of error. If we do that and can keep perspective week in and week out. That's the thing, going back to the trip to Miami, seven-game playoff series challenge your mental conditioning and your mindset, I think keeping things in perspective of being able to move on whether from a loss or victory. That was one of the biggest things I took from studying the Heat is keeping things in perspective and moving on."

--- Returning to the Miami trip brings us full circle in the two-part conversation. Optimism owns the offseason in college football and there's plenty of it emanating from the Lindner Center. Three Big East titles in four years will do that. As will four 10-win seasons in the last five.

Jones sees Cincinnati becoming a destination school for prospective student-athletes and points to a growing list of accomplishments that make him difficult to argue with. Only 72 days remain until UC and Pittsburgh kick off on Thursday night at Nippert Stadium. For Jones, that means 72 opportunities to take on his bunker mentality and focus on improving. One day at a time. That's how he operates and why this program serves as the most successful in the Big East the last five years.

http://www.gobearcats.com/blog/2012/06/c...rt-ii.html

Chris, thanks for posting. It's been almost a week, but I finally had time to go over these two long articles for a first time.

Good to hear an optimistic tone. Although we are all keenly aware of the depth issues in a couple spots, I'm really glad to see that CBJ is not dwelling on it.

Also, like most of us, he seems to think we have enough weapons and diversity on the offense that their playmaking will take a lot of the heat off of Munchie (or Kay, whoever wins the spot).

I will, still, forever appreciate BK and our accomplishments under his coaching, but it's refreshing to hear a coach emphasize defense (and mean it). Defense winning games is something that will never go out of style, as LSU/Alabama proved last season.

It does bother me that he thinks the practice facilities need work. Yeah, there is that temporary bubble, but everything else about the practice facilities seems top notch. Practice facilities merit a distant third on the list, to the Shoe and Nippert.