Chuck Martin accepts Miami OH job

[dublinirish]

O'Brien is the QB coach in reality anyways

 

[irishog77]

I do see David Grimes getting promoted this season, kid deserves it[/QUOTE]

Why does he deserve it?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Keith Arnold just published an article on Martin's move to Miami and his likely successors at OC:

After cashing in the risky bet on Martin two years ago, the Notre Dame head coach is faced with another interesting dilemma:

Go outside the program and find an offensive coordinator with a national profile or promote from within?

In the interim, Kelly has decided to lean on wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Mike Denbrock for the bowl game.

"I'm involved with the offense, I coach the quarterbacks," Kelly told CSN. "Mike Denbrock, who's been with me now for 15 years, he'll take the offensive coordinator role through the bowl game. I'll coach the quarterbacks and then we'll make a decision where we go from there."

Depending on the timing of the bowl game, Kelly will likely have a week to decide what direction to turn. (He'll want to have a full staff in place to close out recruiting.) But if history is any indication, you can't expect the Irish head coach to turn over the keys to a promising offense to a stranger.

Kelly's last big hire was a coach outside his network, bringing in offensive line coach Harry Hiestand from Tennessee after an impressive career with the Chicago Bears. But filling a position coach job is one thing. Expect Kelly to look long and hard at his internal prospects first before casting out his net.

Many expect recruiting coordinator Tony Alford to get a long look at offensive coordinator. It's a natural progression for Alford, who has coached wide receivers and running backs during his tenure with Kelly and is also known as one of the top recruiters in the country.

Of course, Denbrock is the guy Kelly turned to for the bowl game, a telling sign. Denbrock has already coordinated a Brian Kelly offense, running the show at Grand Valley from 1992-95. Denbrock also coordinated the defense for the Lakers under Kelly and has coached offensive linemen, tight ends and just about every other position in his quarter-century as a college assistant.

Whoever coordinates the offense for the Irish, the cupboard is hardly bare. With Everett Golson returning, the Irish offense should be loaded next season, returning every major contributor except T.J. Jones, with the ground game expected to get a major boost with Golson back at the helm.

That alone makes you think that Kelly would prefer to leave well enough alone, finding a caretaker for his offense more appealing than a new landlord.

But after a disappointing slide in 2013, Kelly faces a choice he's navigated capably before. And if history has told us anything, don't be surprised if Brian Kelly doubles down on Brian Kelly.

 

[Luckylucci]

Sampson yesterday said that he wouldn't be surprised that if Alford didn't get the OC job at ND, if an SEC team or another high level program looking to make a splash didn't give him an opportunity at OC. I thought that was interesting and worrisome at the same time. Obviously I had to see Alford go. There was no info from Sampson but obviously he has garnered a lot of attention nationally over the last few years on the recruiting front.

 

[Emcee77]

Keith Arnold just published an article on Martin's move to Miami and his likely successors at OC:

Great article. Keith really has his finger on the pulse of the program. I'll be really surprised if the job goes to anybody but Denbrock.

 

[IrishLax]

Sampson yesterday said that he wouldn't be surprised that if Alford didn't get the OC job at ND, if an SEC team or another high level program looking to make a splash didn't give him an opportunity at OC. I thought that was interesting and worrisome at the same time. Obviously I had to see Alford go. There was no info from Sampson but obviously he has garnered a lot of attention nationally over the last few years on the recruiting front.

I find that rather unlikely, but possible I guess. I mean... did Tosh get a shot as a DC? No. He just got a fat check and continued as a position coach.

Being recruiting coordinator + RB coach seems like a perfect fit for Tony as long as our compensation is good enough. Denbrock... there's a guy that I think might need to get promoted to OC to retain, and I expect that to happen.

 

[ulukinatme]

If promoting Denbrock meant losing Alford, or visversa, I'm not sure which one I would rather keep. I like both coaches. I think Denbrock has done a great job with our young receivers this year, although Daniels at times seems to look like an AA one play and 2nd string the next. Alford is a fantastic recruiter and I think he does a good job with RBs, although we really had a weaker running game this season with little or no identity. I would probably promote Alford. I think he could continue being a great recruiter and attract kids that would want to play in an offense under his watch.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

My official guess is that Kelly stays the QB coach, Denbrock gets the OC duties and ND finds a new job title for Alford that looks like a quasi-promotion. Denbrock has been with Kelly much longer and probably has a better understanding of what Kelly wants to do.

ND would then add Ernest Jones to the staff as an offensive assistant.

As far as special teams is concerned: If Elliott's health permits, I think the duties in the defensive secondary could stand to be a little more consolidated with Kerry Cooks maybe picking up the LBs and putting Diaco on specials more. I don't think they would put Cooks on ST since he seems to be the clear successor to Diaco.

 

[palinurus]

I don't know enough about their respective coaching talents to opine on who should get which slot on the staff, but I think it's pretty clear from the record and the info that gets out that Alford is an ace recruiter and I think they should be greasing him accordingly.

 

[IrishBlood81]

I find that rather unlikely, but possible I guess. I mean... did Tosh get a shot as a DC? No. He just got a fat check and continued as a position coach.

Being recruiting coordinator + RB coach seems like a perfect fit for Tony as long as our compensation is good enough. Denbrock... there's a guy that I think might need to get promoted to OC to retain, and I expect that to happen.

I read this as someone checking him for fat… o.o

 

[STLDomer]

Early candidates to fill the open position at Notre Dame

 

[koonja]

Early candidates to fill the open position at Notre Dame

Indiana quarterbacks / wide receivers coach Kevin Johns. Their offense is bananas.

 

[woolybug25]

Early candidates to fill the open position at Notre Dame

The irony...

Cincinnati quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw - Hinshaw coached with current Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Heistand at Tennessee.

 

[IrishLax]

I'd bet a lot of money that if the bowl game goes well that Denbrock will be the OC. The real question is if positional responsibilities shift among the coaches, if anyone else leaves, and if Ernest Jones moves into a coaching role and/or if we make any outside positional coach hires.

 

[NDPhilly]

My dad grew up on the same street and was friends with Bill Cubit as kids so that would be pretty cool from that perspective, but I'd probably prefer Johns from IU.

 

[Irishman77]

We have got to get a top notch offensive genius . Watching all these teams score 40 points every week with average talent makes me very excited we will get some fresh blood with our level of talent!

 

[phgreek]

listened to chucks press conference/official intro. I'll miss him...he made me laugh...yet you know he will coach like a man possessed. I think he'll turn that program around...and he will be headed off to run one of the big boys w/in 5 years....could be back to South Bend...

 

[Buster Bluth]

We have got to get a top notch offensive genius . Watching all these teams score 40 points every week with average talent makes me very excited we will get some fresh blood with our level of talent!

Who?

 

[tussin]

Who?

Pretty obvious what teams he is referring to....

2013 NCAA Division I-A College Football Team Statistics Leaders for Total - ESPN

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Pretty obvious what teams he is referring to....

2013 NCAA Division I-A College Football Team Statistics Leaders for Total - ESPN

Against what competition?

 

[tussin]

Against what competition?

The list includes teams from every major conference... not sure what your point is.

FSU, Oregon, Auburn, Baylor, Ohio State, TAMU, Arizona State, Clemson.

ASU, Auburn, TAMU, and Oregon all played pretty difficult schedules.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

The list includes teams from every major conference... not sure what your point is.

FSU, Oregon, Auburn, Baylor, Ohio State, TAMU, Arizona State, Clemson.

ASU, Auburn, TAMU, and Oregon all played pretty difficult schedules.

Not many teams playing consistently good competition are putting up 40 a week...especially those with "average talent." The four you mention are loaded with offensive talent.

 

[rocket66]

I see there's a rumor on 247 that Hendrix may be joining Martin at Miami for next season.

 

[tussin]

Not many teams playing consistently good competition are putting up 40 a week...especially those with "average talent." The four you mention are loaded with offensive talent.

Putting up 40/wk in any BCS conference is impressive. There are quite a few teams doing that.

ND is also loaded with offensive talent, but was 75th overall in avg. pts./game. This year was disappointing from an offensive perspective IMO.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I see there's a rumor on 247 that Hendrix may be joining Martin at Miami for next season.

WOW! That would render most opinions suspect!

 

[dublinirish]

I see there's a rumor on 247 that Hendrix may be joining Martin at Miami for next season.

BK was asked yesterday if he preferred to have 4 schollie QB's on his roster and he did say no..

EG, MZ, DK.. i think Hendy is gonzo.

 

[johnnycando]

BK was asked yesterday if he preferred to have 4 schollie QB's on his roster and he did say no..

EG, MZ, DK.. i think Hendy is gonzo.

Apparently BK never plays NCAA FB; if he did, he'd know Hendrix and Carlisle are the top 1-2 punch in the nation next year, undefeated until they meet a powerhouse Kentucky squad.

 

[NDohio]

I see there's a rumor on 247 that Hendrix may be joining Martin at Miami for next season.

That would be a good move IMO. Maybe Hendrix would get a chance to play in a less pressurized situation. He can relax, play his game, and enjoy his last season before going off to med school. I hope it happens.

 

[dublinirish]

That would be a good move IMO. Maybe Hendrix would get a chance to play in a less pressurized situation. He can relax, play his game, and enjoy his last season before going off to med school. I hope it happens.

Miami's schedule in non-conf games in 2014 schedule is kinda neat too: Cincy, SCUM are there.

 

[tko]

That would be a good move IMO. Maybe Hendrix would get a chance to play in a less pressurized situation. He can relax, play his game, and enjoy his last season before going off to med school. I hope it happens.

Dayne Crist had success with this as well.