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coming soon, pictures from Alabama vs. Vanderbilt

Bama Squeaks by the 'Dores 13-10
Joe Kines (Defensive Coordinator)

These post game comments came as Joe Kines answered post game questions from the press pool ...

Coach Joe Kines ... We didn't play the best in the world on defense and we were fortunate to beat a really good football team.

Press Pool ... Talk about the rotation in the defensive backfield with your safeties

It was a little warm today and we've been trying to keep everyone healthy and get them some playing time. We played a couple of different scheme that involved some different personell groupings. Part of it was we were changing from one group to another. The first half, that drive where they scored, that was my fault. I go impatient and we didnt' do a very good job with that. We went in at halftime and settled down and went back out the second half and got our hands on what was happening to us. The days of lining up and stopping the power off-tackle seems to have gone the way of the white buffalo you know. It's just not there any more, especially the first three or four games. It's hard to get your hands on it. It's like sand, it slides through your hands if you're not careful.

Were you impressed with their quarterback?

Yes, he's a fine little athlete ... a fine athlete. He could probably be a tailback. He's got good eyes and can run. Probably toward the end of the year, he's going to be a better quarterback. We just felt like early, we might be able to put a little pressure on him. We tried that, we tried about everything that first half. Second half we settled down and played well enough to get out of the game alive.

How important was that three-and-out right after you kicked the field goal?

Very important. That's the thing that we were a little out of rhythm early. But we settled down and in the second half the players just played. It wasn't a deal where it was a brilliant scheme and all that. The second half we just played better and tackled and got a little bit of a pass rush. The first half we couldn't hardly get to him. We sent them all, we sent every number you can think of and just couldn't get there. Then right there at the end, we started getting a little pass rush and that helped things on the last drive.

You played better against the shovel pass this week. Any comments on that?

Well, sometimes you get what you practice. We worked hard this week on screens and draws and shovel passes. And we worked hard on tackling. It's going to be real interesting to see the tape. I thought during the second half we tackled a little better. Those are fundamentals that will carry through the whole year. I wasn't displeased, but we can play a whole lot better and the guys know that. We just go back out and practice Tuesday and try to get a little better.

Can you talk about Simeon (Castille)?

I tell you what, he was into it from the opening kickoff. Bright-eyed, knew what was happening to him and really working hard on the sideline. That another thing ... this group is starting to gel in a little bit. On the sideline, they're easy to talk to, they know what's going on, they know what's happening to them. A good sign of that is on a bad play, they say "Hey Coach, that was me." They don't chase ghosts and try to blame someone else. They do a good job of taking the blame when it's there. Most of that blame is my fault anyway. They're learning how to do that.

Coach, can you talk about Simeon always bringing you the ball when he gets a turnover?

(laughs) I don't know what he's doing with that! I tell you what. I love the little guy. He's just got such a great personality. Coach Ball does such a good job with those guys. Our secondary is going to get better and better and better.I just hope he brings a sackful of them to me this year.

also read post game interviews from ...

John Parker Wilson (#14 QB So. 6'-2" 209 lbs SQ ... Hoover High School, Hoover AL)

Jimmy Johns (#10 RB So. 6'-2" 227 lbs. 1VL ... Brookhaven High School, Brookhaven MS)

Joe Kines (Defensive Coordinator)

Mike Shula (Head Coach)