Butch Jones made one brilliant decision as a coach and it'll be on display in Super Bowl LVII
Former Tennessee Vols head coach Butch Jones has been heavily criticized throughout his career for misusing players. From Alvin Kamara at Tennessee to JJ Watt at Central Michigan (Jones famously wanted Watt to be an offensive tackle so Watt transferred to Wisconsin as a walk-on so he could play defensive end and now he's destined […]
Former Tennessee Vols head coach Butch Jones has been heavily criticized throughout his career for misusing players.
From Alvin Kamara at Tennessee to JJ Watt at Central Michigan (Jones famously wanted Watt to be an offensive tackle so Watt transferred to Wisconsin as a walk-on so he could play defensive end and now he's destined for the Hall of Fame), there have been plenty of missteps from Jones over the years.
Jones, however, made a few good decisions as a head coach over the years (such as moving Jauan Jennings to wide receiver at Tennessee, though he almost moved him to safety in 2016)
His best decision as a head coach came during his time at Cincinnati.
Jones coached Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce at Cincinnati and he helped him avoid a potential mistake.
When Kelce was at Cincinnati, he asked Jones to move him to linebacker because he thought he'd have a better shot at a pro career.
(Kelce had arrived at Cincy as a defensive player.)
Jones, however, didn't move him. Instead, he kept him at center.
By 2010, Kelly was gone and Butch Jones was at the helm. Concerned about his size in terms of pro ball, Bearcat No. 60 lobbied Jones to switch him back to linebacker. Jones instead had him stay with the O-line and had him focus on his abilities at center.
He's been a mainstay at the position ever since as a six-time Pro Bowl selection, even though the Patriots did work him out as a fullback before he was drafted. At the 2011 NFL Combine, Jason Kelce had the fastest 40-yard dash of any offensive lineman at 4.89.
"He's one of the smartest football players I've ever coached," Jones said. "It gets back to his competitiveness and his toughness. It's second to none. When you put the smarts and toughness together, that's what you get in Jason Kelce."
The decision by Jones was likely made for selfish reasons (just ask former Vols running back Jalen Hurd about position changes under Jones).
Still, Jones clearly made the right call here. Kelce is a six-time Pro Bowler and a former Super Bowl champion. It's one of the few times Jones got it right as a head coach.
Featured image via Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
