January 1 | Oklahoma State | Fiesta Bowl

[Dale]

This I believe was McNulty’s first media appearance, ever, as a ND coach haha. Dude likes to talk and doesn’t see any reason to mince words apparently haha

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/tomloy247/status/1473007976541786112?s=21[/TWEET]

To me, one or two things happened. Either that committee actually watched all these guys and then came up with the conclusion that he wasn't one of the top three, which I would strongly disagree with based on doing this for 30 years and really, when you do 15 of it in the NFL. So, I feel pretty confident in the way I can evaluate players. I think my four daughters could look up and go, No, he's the best player. Or they just were lazy and didn't do their job

 

[Irishize]

This I believe was McNulty’s first media appearance, ever, as a ND coach haha. Dude likes to talk and doesn’t see any reason to mince words apparently haha

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/tomloy247/status/1473007976541786112?s=21[/TWEET]

Agreed. His tweets after the Mackey voting backs your assertion up nicely.

 

[Dale]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/tbhorka/status/1473029336135516166?s=21[/TWEET]

LOL. Didn’t see this one before. Guess McNulty is here to stay

 

[Free Manera]

McNulty is the man. My biggest beef with Kelly is now that he deprived us of hearing this man speak.

 

[chicago51]

Do we know who is calling the D for the Fiesta Bowl yet? Or are they playing it coy?

 

[Irishize]

Do we know who is calling the D for the Fiesta Bowl yet? Or are they playing it coy?

Heard ISD discuss that it will likely either be Mickens or Elston.

 

[Irish#1]

Heard ISD discuss that it will likely either be Mickens or Elston.

Kind of surprised to hear this. Even with his expanded duties I thought MF[SUP]2[/SUP] would call the D for this game.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

McNulty is the man. My biggest beef with Kelly is now that he deprived us of hearing this man speak.

My biggest beef was probably the use of TO’s on the first drive, the addiction to fair catching punts, the conservative play calling immediately after half time when leading and the unwillingness to let his back up QB’s sling it. But yeah, muzzling McNulty seemed like a poor choice as well.

 

[pumpdog20]

My biggest beef was probably the use of TO’s on the first drive, the addiction to fair catching punts, the conservative play calling immediately after half time when leading and the unwillingness to let his back up QB’s sling it. But yeah, muzzling McNulty seemed like a poor choice as well.

And never deferring to the second half.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

And never deferring to the second half.

I never understood his unrelenting desire to start with the football, especially in the first half of the season this year when the offense was really struggling to find a rhythm. How many three and outs did we have in the first quarter of the first six games? It was so frustrating.

Matt Lafleur and other coaches often talk about the value of deferring until the 2nd half and trying to double dip, as in if you can score last to end the first half and score first to open the 2nd, it is a HUGE momentum swing. It can get you right back into a football game if you had a bad half or step on an opponents throat if the first half went your way.

It's one thing if we consistently scored to open football games but it was so frustrating seeing BK do that only to punt after a quick three and out, and don't even get me started on that Cincy turnover....

 

[Irishize]

I never understood his unrelenting desire to start with the football, especially in the first half of the season this year when the offense was really struggling to find a rhythm. How many three and outs did we have in the first quarter of the first six games? It was so frustrating.

Matt Lafleur and other coaches often talk about the value of deferring until the 2nd half and trying to double dip, as in if you can score last to end the first half and score first to open the 2nd, it is a HUGE momentum swing. It can get you right back into a football game if you had a bad half or step on an opponents throat if the first half went your way.

It's one thing if we consistently scored to open football games but it was so frustrating seeing BK do that only to punt after a quick three and out, and don't even get me started on that Cincy turnover....

And struggling to avoid a drive killing sack. That was so annoying even in the latter half of the season.

Surely Freeman will opt to kick off if ND wins toss? Especially against Ok St who is known for their stout defense vs their pedestrian offense.

 

[Irish#1]

I never understood his unrelenting desire to start with the football, especially in the first half of the season this year when the offense was really struggling to find a rhythm. How many three and outs did we have in the first quarter of the first six games? It was so frustrating.

Matt Lafleur and other coaches often talk about the value of deferring until the 2nd half and trying to double dip, as in if you can score last to end the first half and score first to open the 2nd, it is a HUGE momentum swing. It can get you right back into a football game if you had a bad half or step on an opponents throat if the first half went your way.

It's one thing if we consistently scored to open football games but it was so frustrating seeing BK do that only to punt after a quick three and out, and don't even get me started on that Cincy turnover....

Not supporting Kelly, but IIRC he once said he wanted to score first to put the other team on its heals. We saw how well that worked.

 

[IrishLax]

I never understood his unrelenting desire to start with the football, especially in the first half of the season this year when the offense was really struggling to find a rhythm. How many three and outs did we have in the first quarter of the first six games? It was so frustrating.

Matt Lafleur and other coaches often talk about the value of deferring until the 2nd half and trying to double dip, as in if you can score last to end the first half and score first to open the 2nd, it is a HUGE momentum swing. It can get you right back into a football game if you had a bad half or step on an opponents throat if the first half went your way.

It's one thing if we consistently scored to open football games but it was so frustrating seeing BK do that only to punt after a quick three and out, and don't even get me started on that Cincy turnover....

It was rooted in the idea that "well if everyone else wants to defer, then if plan on always starting with the ball we can have consistency game-to-game." Which is hilariously stupid. He basically just accepted having the short end of the stick on a weekly basis instead of 50% of the time for "consistency."

 

[Wild Bill]

It was rooted in the idea that "well if everyone else wants to defer, then if plan on always starting with the ball we can have consistency game-to-game." Which is hilariously stupid. He basically just accepted having the short end of the stick on a weekly basis instead of 50% of the time for "consistency."

It's especially dumb when you are playing against a weaker opponent with less depth. ND will always have a few of these opponents each year who will be juiced up at kickoff and running on adrenaline for a series or two. Wear them down in first half, make adjustments and ram it down their throats after the half.

It should change nothing with respect to gamplanning. You can script plays for the first series after the initial kickoff just as easy as you can after a punt.

 

[NDdomer2]

It was rooted in the idea that "well if everyone else wants to defer, then if plan on always starting with the ball we can have consistency game-to-game." Which is hilariously stupid. He basically just accepted having the short end of the stick on a weekly basis instead of 50% of the time for "consistency."

i thought it was that statistically the team who has the ball first ends up with more possessions in a game.

 

[chicago51]

For what it’s worth I’m 7th/8th grade jr high coach, which granted is way way less complex the D1 college football but I have preferred to defer with the majority of the teams I coached. I’m a defensive guy but even used when I had a better offense relative to our defense, I see a lot of value in deferring. Especially if the HC or OC is good at adjusting be it blocking wise or play calling wise, it helps to have more possessions in the 2nd half relative to the first half.

 

[NDRock]

I don't know. Wonder if there is much statistical evidence either way. Probably a slight case to be made whichever direction you go. Always seemed like one of those things fans flip out about but really doesn't matter that much.

 

[dublinirish]

apparently Litchfield Avajon is still practicing with the team despite having his name in transfer portal

 

[chicago51]

Heard ISD discuss that it will likely either be Mickens or Elston.

I know Elston didn’t call the D but didn’t he pretty much take the lead in the game planning the D when BVG got fired in 2016? D got a little better but wasn’t that great. Probably more of a product of us still being stuck in BVG’s scheme / playbook rest of the year. Hard to game plan (and play call for that matter) if the scheme is trash.

Maybe with Freeman’s scheme, and MF still involved at 60% capacity the defense will be fine with Elston. I’m optimistic but I guess I have some healthy skepticism.

 

[Irish#1]

For what it’s worth I’m 7th/8th grade jr high coach, which granted is way way less complex the D1 college football but I have preferred to defer with the majority of the teams I coached. I’m a defensive guy but even used when I had a better offense relative to our defense, I see a lot of value in deferring. Especially if the HC or OC is good at adjusting be it blocking wise or play calling wise, it helps to have more possessions in the 2nd half relative to the first half.

Give Kelly is an offensive guy, so that probably played a role in his decision to receive.

 

[Irish#1]

With Kelly gone, I'm wondering if we open up with an up tempo pace to start the game?

 

[chicago51]

With Kelly gone, I'm wondering if we open up with an up tempo pace to start the game?

I’m not so sure. How was Cincy’s tempo?

MF’s two biggest coaching influences are Luke Fickell and Jim Tressel. Tressel was Mr. Conservative. Fickell doesn’t seem all that different from BK in terms of tempo but I haven’t watched UC that closely.

He might surprise but everything in Freeman’s coaching ancestry and Freeman’s own football history suggest he’ll want to take care of the defense. Going fast and allowing defense less time to rest doesn’t seem like it would be his style.

If anything Freeman being smart and cutting edge may opt for selective tempo, where at times you go fast, at times you are methodical; Alabama style. Nick Sabin was Mr. Conservative but these days he’s opted for being selectively up tempo on offense, despite he himself being a defensive guy.

I don’t see us playing Lincoln Riley, or 2014 Art Briles tempo though. Nor do I necessarily want us to play that way.

 

[zelezo vlk]

apparently Litchfield Avajon is still practicing with the team despite having his name in transfer portal

Do they need the additional body at safety? Only thing I could think of

Sent from my U318AA using Tapatalk

 

[Dale]

He said in the original announcement that’d be the case. “I’m excited to finish this season with my brothers” I don’t know the exact rules but I believe the common difference is announcing you’re in the portal or intent to enter the portal and actually entering the portal with the NCAA officially.

 

[bumpdaddy]

I’m not so sure. How was Cincy’s tempo?

MF’s two biggest coaching influences are Luke Fickell and Jim Tressel. Tressel was Mr. Conservative. Fickell doesn’t seem all that different from BK in terms of tempo but I haven’t watched UC that closely.

He might surprise but everything in Freeman’s coaching ancestry and Freeman’s own football history suggest he’ll want to take care of the defense. Going fast and allowing defense less time to rest doesn’t seem like it would be his style.

If anything Freeman being smart and cutting edge may opt for selective tempo, where at times you go fast, at times you are methodical; Alabama style. Nick Sabin was Mr. Conservative but these days he’s opted for being selectively up tempo on offense, despite he himself being a defensive guy.

I don’t see us playing Lincoln Riley, or 2014 Art Briles tempo though. Nor do I necessarily want us to play that way.

In MF's first PC, he was asked what type of offense he prefers and he said the following:

"It’s what you’re seeing on the field. It’s what you’ve seen Tommy do. When I talked to Jack Swarbrick about the opportunity to keep Tommy Rees that was without question. And what you see from our offensive side of the ball is a group that – from the beginning of the season until now – has just played better and better and better. I’m not looking for a certain scheme, I’m looking for a group that’s productive and does the job necessary to win.”
​

So he's very happy with our current offensive philosophy but he isn't married to the scheme. It sounds like he's open to any type of offense as long as it's effective, which is great because that's what great HCs do. It's why Saban has been great for so long. He keeps adapting to whatever works as the game changes.

 

[calvegas04]

With Kelly gone, I'm wondering if we open up with an up tempo pace to start the game?

Would love to go up tempo to go up a couple scores before slowing down to allow the defense to not get worn out

 

[IrishLax]

I’m just worried about the game even happening // us having a full team with the way this new COVID bullshit has been going.

If there are outbreaks in the NFL you better believe we’re about to see the same at colleges. Only saving grace might be that students are all home for winter break.

 

[SBirishlawyer]

Probably need to go back to heavy masking and social distancing practices like last year. And hope okie state does the same

 

[Redbar]

Was worried about these games happening, too.

 

[chicago51]

In MF's first PC, he was asked what type of offense he prefers and he said the following:

"It’s what you’re seeing on the field. It’s what you’ve seen Tommy do. When I talked to Jack Swarbrick about the opportunity to keep Tommy Rees that was without question. And what you see from our offensive side of the ball is a group that – from the beginning of the season until now – has just played better and better and better. I’m not looking for a certain scheme, I’m looking for a group that’s productive and does the job necessary to win.”​

So he's very happy with our current offensive philosophy but he isn't married to the scheme. It sounds like he's open to any type of offense as long as it's effective, which is great because that's what great HCs do. It's why Saban has been great for so long. He keeps adapting to whatever works as the game changes.

I actually didn't love that answer. I understand him not knowing exactly what he wants from scheme standpoint. But he needs to figure it out.

Obviously your playbook and Xs and Os shouldn't be stagnant they should constantly be enhanced. But you want to have an idea what you are looking for because Tommy Rees might get a head coaching offer or might not work out at some point. Saban has gone through a ton of OCs but while his offense has gradually evolved it has not been completely re done every time he's brought in a new OC.

Your scheme affects who you recruit and why you recruit them. You don't want a ton of players to have obsolete or mismatched roles every time you have to make a new offensive coordinator hire. Inevitably there is going to be a player or two that doesn't fit optimally with a new system but you want to try to minimize that as head coach.

Staff turnover often does in good coaches but the elite coaches keep it rolling even when assistants change because they know what they want from an intangibles standpoint, but also a scheme/ football philosophy standpoint.