'14 TX LB Kolin Hill (Texas Tech Transfer)

[GoldenDomer]

I miss 2012.

 

[Redbar]

All the people dumping on Coach Diaco, I have said this before, our defense has not been our problem. We have ridden the defense the past couple of years. Yes, he did not cast his net wide enough in recruiting... yes, he got out coached in the national championship game, but so did Coach Kelly. You guys act like the offense has been the reason for the success of the Kelly era. Well to date, it has not been. Keeping the score down and protecting weak or inexperienced players is the most important statistic of the Diaco era. Sacks, time on the field, turnovers, defensive scoring, all those are "secondary" statistics or "fan" statistics. Yes they can help a team win but nothing helps your team win like keeping the other team from scoring, which he did well enough not to constantly be criticized.
If we took the same energy and put it into analyzing the offensive product we have seen during the Kelly era, and looked at it objectively, we'd probably want to can the offensive mastermind and promote the defensive guy.
For the record, I am in no way dissatisfied with the job Kelly is doing, but I am amazed by how poor of a coach Diaco has become in the last 7 or 8 months and how much he apparently held the team back.

I agree with this statement:
"I will always appreciate Diaco for what he did, but I'm looking forward to the BVG era..."-ND in L.A.

 

[Irish YJ]

Heard rumblings about this from a cousin that went to ND... didn't put stock in it until now. He did do a good job in 2012 but I've never been a huge fan. Loved picking up BVG (IMO a huge upgrade from day 1), and forgetting about the past....

Diaco did a phenomenal job in 2012, and even though he can use injuries as an excuse, he did an absolutely shitty job in 2013. Like players, coaches can have off years too IMHO. I feel that he got lazy in 2013 and had eyes on a head coaching job. His adjustments were non-existent and many of his game plans were poor (see: Navy and Michigan). And don't even get me started on his lack of recruiting.

I agree with some here that Diaco is getting too much heat and people are forgetting what a good job he did before last season. But I'm glad he's gone, personally. I've heard stories of his selfishness last year (again, eyes on a head coaching gig, so keeping points down for stats purposes was more important than taking chances and getting the ball back to the offense) and also that his players couldn't stand him (trust me on this one).

I will always appreciate Diaco for what he did, but I'm looking forward to the BVG era...

 

[arrowryan]

Heard rumblings about this from a cousin that went to ND... didn't put stock in it until now. He did do a good job in 2012 but I've never been a huge fan. Loved picking up BVG (IMO a huge upgrade from day 1), and forgetting about the past....

Could you go into detail?

 

[stlnd01]

If we took the same energy and put it into analyzing the offensive product we have seen during the Kelly era, and looked at it objectively, we'd probably want to can the offensive mastermind and promote the defensive guy.

What "offensive mastermind?"
True that the defense has been better than the offense for most of the Kelly era. Also true that except for maybe the second half of 2012, our offense has been limited by the capabilities of our quarterback. To date I don't know how I'd describe Kelly's offensive philosophy (if he has one), beyond "playing the hand he's been dealt."
Not making excuses, but for better or worse, but under Diaco our defenses had an identity, far more than our offenses ever have.

 

[irishfan]

I'm happy to see Diaco go. Guy could just absolutely shut down a pro-style offense (although Bama owned him), but didn't have much confidence with him against a true spread. Saban is kind of the same way to be honest. He was great in 2012, but our talent in the front 7 was unreal. The entire d-line was drafted and Day, Schwenke, Springmann were great backups. Te'o was lights out. Shembo was drafted and Spond was amazing against the pass. That truly was a Top-5 D with talent. 2012 was more players than scheme IMO. Hell, 8 of those 11 starters from 2012 were drafted or will be. Spond, Fox, and Farley are the ones who weren't.

I'm happy we're done with the bend dont break D. The 4-8 yard pass seemed open on every single play under Diaco. He's a good schematic mind but only with the perfect D. Bama said they knew what ND was going to do defensively on every play and I can see why. Diaco showed the same looks depending on personnel and just banked on his D outperforming the offense.

If we're as good as we think we are (top 15 talent), we don't need a D that is super conservative.

 

[Redbar]

What "offensive mastermind?"
True that the defense has been better than the offense for most of the Kelly era. Also true that except for maybe the second half of 2012, our offense has been limited by the capabilities of our quarterback. To date I don't know how I'd describe Kelly's offensive philosophy (if he has one), beyond "playing the hand he's been dealt."
Not making excuses, but for better or worse, but under Diaco our defenses had an identity, far more than our offenses ever have.

Diaco also had to play with the hand he was dealt (or maybe the hand he dealt himself). Regardless, Coach Diaco had to overcome a lot of personnel issues, be it inexperience, depth, or lack of talent/not an exact fit, just like Coach Kelly and nearly every other coach that doesn't have a Tuscaloosa zip code.

As far as players liking him... I didn't "like" most of my coaches, I've known a lot of coaches who cared not one iota if a player liked them. I think that is probably overrated as an attribute. Maybe that is changing with today's athlete, but to me that is like a military guy liking the general. I'm sure it helps but what's most important is the chain of command it's really a balance. Lombardi said, "the most competitive games draw the most competitive men," usually those highly competitive men like coaches, generals, etc...are not that much fun to be around. A lot of the most successful, high profile coaches are pricks, even James Franklin.

 

[NCND]

Diaco did a phenomenal job in 2012, and even though he can use injuries as an excuse, he did an absolutely shitty job in 2013. Like players, coaches can have off years too IMHO. I feel that he got lazy in 2013 and had eyes on a head coaching job. His adjustments were non-existent and many of his game plans were poor (see: Navy and Michigan). And don't even get me started on his lack of recruiting.

I agree with some here that Diaco is getting too much heat and people are forgetting what a good job he did before last season. But I'm glad he's gone, personally. I've heard stories of his selfishness last year (again, eyes on a head coaching gig, so keeping points down for stats purposes was more important than taking chances and getting the ball back to the offense) and also that his players couldn't stand him (trust me on this one).

I will always appreciate Diaco for what he did, but I'm looking forward to the BVG era...

Man, I Thought i was the only one that felt that way.

 

[Irish YJ]

Could you go into detail?

No detail really. My cousin lived on floor with a few of the players. No big names and I honestly can't remember who it was. My cousin would hang with them on occasion. He just said they used the words dick, db, and I think "the ego" to describe him. I just assumed they were buried on the depth chart and not happy. Hell it could still be the truth not knowing the specifics.

 

[Irish8248]

Transfers in the front 7 are IMO the reason we have depth issues ... We passed on some guys that probably could've helped and we missed some guys who hung on until the last hour, but it seemed like we always got to the point of hitting our mark at the last second ... I don't think were having this conversation or at least this viewpoint had EV stuck with his commitment or we allowed Schutt to commit as well (even though he would have been considered excess at the time)

 

[Irish#1]

I still think 2012 was as much a by-product of having great players on defense as it was anything else. Teo was all over the field having a Heisman season, Big Lou and Tuitt were healthy making it hard for offenses to double team, so Coach D could hide the weaknesses a little easier. If his guidelines on recruiting players only if they hit certain measurements is true, then everything else is on him. There are only a finite amount of those players and you're recruiting against a lot of programs. You have to be too optimistic or foolish to think you're going to land most of them you go after and when you don't get them, well....

 

[Irish YJ]

I still think 2012 was as much a by-product of having great players on defense as it was anything else. Teo was all over the field having a Heisman season, Big Lou and Tuitt were healthy making it hard for offenses to double team, so Coach D could hide the weaknesses a little easier. If his guidelines on recruiting players only if they hit certain measurements is true, then everything else is on him. There are only a finite amount of those players and you're recruiting against a lot of programs. You have to be too optimistic or foolish to think you're going to land most of them you go after and when you don't get them, well....

Yep and the front 7 helped hide of lot of DB weaknesses and also created so much more opportunity for the DBs.

 

[stlnd01]

Diaco also had to play with the hand he was dealt (or maybe the hand he dealt himself). Regardless, Coach Diaco had to overcome a lot of personnel issues, be it inexperience, depth, or lack of talent/not an exact fit, just like Coach Kelly and nearly every other coach that doesn't have a Tuscaloosa zip code.

Sure, every college coach has to deal with personnel shortfalls. It's the nature of the game. But there's a big difference between inheriting Manti Teo as the quarterback of your defense and having to turn to Tommy Rees to quarterback your offense.
Diaco, certainly by 2011, was able to run the system he wanted, for better or worse (maybe worse last year when he didn't have the bodies for it). Kelly and his OC of the month have pretty much been winging it for four years now.

Anyway, back to Kolin Hill... I think he'll be a ballplayer for us.

 

[dublinirish]

didn't he do well on saturday? kid has some wheels

 

[EuropeanDomer]

Credited with 1.5 sacks playing a few snaps. Already has more career sacks than Ishaq.

It is funny because he stated on a interview a few months ago that he is a legit 6'3 but he is listed as 6'1 on UND. Looks bigger btw.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I usually chat with a few people that actually know football, after a ND game. One of them particularly pointed out Hill. (Well he pointed out Tranquil, too, actually.) But he talked about how explosive and violent he was, and how he kept bent with a low pad level and shoulders square, so he could make a play at any time. Used the term "unnatural" to describe a freshman with this kind of game. Said that he couldn't guess at Hill's upside, or his range of skills. But he said with his size, speed and current skills (alone) he saw him being very good at this level, and would imagine he found a comfortable place at the next level. Not like this guy is an expert NFL scout, but those kind of statements are very unusual for him to make, and in the few times I have heard him speak of a younger college player like this, he has been right.

By the way, this is the same guy that told me he thought Prince Shembo would make it to the next level. And he is the one that told me that if Prince continued to develop though his fourth year, (which he didn't), he could be a high draft choice. Now that didn't materialize, but his success with the Falcons has been pretty equivalent, from my perspective

 

[BleedBlueGold]

With Diaco's scheme gone, and BVG's scheme in place, I feel Kolin is going to have a very nice career at ND. This kid screams playmaker when you watch his film. Very disruptive. That seems to be right up BVG's alley.

Bump. For the record, I never said that Kolin would be a starter in this scheme and become an All-American. I simply said his play making ability allows him to be disruptive, which on obvious passing situations is right up BVG's alley when calling blitzes and getting after the QB. Kolin proved that on Saturday. I look forward to seeing his four years at ND whether he's a starter or not (OLB, DE, or otherwise).

 

[yankeeND]

So excited for this kid! He and Williams, Trumbetti, and Blankenship should provide a nice pass rush while Cage is looking like a formidable fit in the middle. Just keep winning and bringing in kids like these!

 

[arrowryan]

I thought Hill and Tranquill played very well on Saturday when they were in the game. There is a lot of speed in our Nickel package.

 

[#1rish]

Was it Hill and Tranquill who combined for a big hit near the sideline at some point in the game? Hill had grabbed onto he player and Tranquill came out of nowhere and cleaned up big time

 

[arrowryan]

Was it Hill and Tranquill who combined for a big hit near the sideline at some point in the game? Hill had grabbed onto he player and Tranquill came out of nowhere and cleaned up big time

Yes. They sacked Gardner, so that made it even better

 

[dublinirish]

Yeah Sheldon chased him out of the pocket and Kolin and Tranquill finished the job

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I love surprise players. I thought Hill was a developmental player, who would likely see snaps his sophomore/junior year.

He played a big role in dominating Michigan and Kelly needs to keep touting the freshman/first year players that are contributing. Great for recruiting.

 

[Irishman77]

We will see the train whistle move about 400 more times before he graduates...

 

[dublinirish]

I love surprise players. I thought Hill was a developmental player, who would likely see snaps his sophomore/junior year.

He played a big role in dominating Michigan and Kelly needs to keep touting the freshman/first year players that are contributing. Great for recruiting.

i always felt like hill was gonna be a heck of a player. he just "gets" pass rushing and uses his hands violently in a way that somebody like Shembo or Ishaq never has. He may never be an every down player but on 3rd and long many players had made careers out of it.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

He is a kid that would have not played until his Junior year under Diaco. BVG has situational packages and he understands if a kid is good at one thing in the present..let him do that one thing.

Kolin Hill can rush the passer. Itll be fun to watch this kid in 3 years.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Haul 'n Kill.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Great shot of Kolin Haul'n before the Kill

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Great shot of Kolin Haul'n before the Kill

Cut him out, make that a fathead!

 

[Cali_domer]

Is that Justice Hayes?