ND Coaching Search Megathread

AvesEvo

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Many over at bucknuts don't seem too disappointed that Washington is gone, which is exactly what I didn't want to hear. Any idea why?
 

NDFAN2008

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Washington is a home run hire for the DL he was the coach of that Boston College Unit that was nasty. Samuel M’Pemba loves it as well.
 

GoldenAura

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Many over at bucknuts don't seem too disappointed that Washington is gone, which is exactly what I didn't want to hear. Any idea why?

Wasn't good for them as a Linebacker coach. Will handle D-Line here.
 

TP81989

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Elston did a good job at ND, but definitely not elite. Only one 1st rounder.

He was only elite compared to the Del Alexander's and Jeff Quinn's of the world. Hopefully, Freeman raises the standard for the whole staff in recruiting and development.
 

irishog77

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What offers did Elston have that weren't a downgrade or lateral? He just hit the open market after 12 years and went.... lateral.

This doesn't guarantee Washington gets 3 five stars every year and they all turn into day 1 picks, but looking at their experience in recruiting, putting players in the league, and market value (all that matters) - it's not even debatable...

We should all be optimistic right now and for good reason.

And Washington just took...a lateral job. Actually, it was a promotion, because he had just been let go and was unemployed. You're seeming to make your entire argument based off the fact that Elston hasn't been hired as a DC. This is what I originally took issue with and still do.

A great position coach doesn't necessarily equal great coordinator, or even coordinator. Mike Elston (and lots of other people) can be a good position coach. Period. It doesn't need to further be qualified by his abilities (or lack thereof) as a DC.
 

TP81989

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Many over at bucknuts don't seem too disappointed that Washington is gone, which is exactly what I didn't want to hear. Any idea why?

lol

Kirby Smart and Marcus Freeman pursuing Washington >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The opinion of people on bucknuts
 

Dale

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What offers did Elston have that weren't a downgrade or lateral? He just hit the open market after 12 years and went.... lateral.

This doesn't guarantee Washington gets 3 five stars every year and they all turn into day 1 picks, but looking at their experience in recruiting, putting players in the league, and market value (all that matters) - it's not even debatable...

We should all be optimistic right now and for good reason.

I don’t think anyone is lacking optimism. I and I’m sure others can be optimistic without minimizing Elston.

- Washington will be a great recruiter
- Washington could be a good DL coach, the times given a chance at BC showed that and OSU seemingly wanting to keep him on the back burner for LJ retiring at some point shows that to some extent as well
- Washington was IMO and most Buckeye fans opinion not a good LBs coach
- Elston was a good recruiter and great developer of those recruits

All these statements can co-exist. No one is lacking optimism on Washington, the bar on instant upgrade on Elston is just higher than you’re making it to be IMO
 

IrishRazor82

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I don’t think anyone is lacking optimism. I and I’m sure others can be optimistic without minimizing Elston.

- Washington will be a great recruiter
- Washington could be a good DL coach, the times given a chance at BC showed that and OSU seemingly wanting to keep him on the back burner for LJ retiring at some point shows that to some extent as well
- Washington was IMO and most Buckeye fans opinion not a good LBs coach
- Elston was a good recruiter and great developer of those recruits

All these statements can co-exist. No one is lacking optimism on Washington, the bar on instant upgrade on Elston is just higher than you’re making it to be IMO

Elston is not nearly as good overall as ND fans think he is. There's some sort of loyalty love affair for him.

He has HC aspirations not to mention DC aspirations and no one in the market wants him.

Guys who want to advance do not take lateral moves after 12 years if they're held in high regard. He's not as good as anyone's making him seem, that's the hard truth.

Washington turned down a SEC DC job 2 years ago, is wanted by ND, FL, and Georgia right now, and will be a DC long before Elston is...
 

chicago51

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Many over at bucknuts don't seem too disappointed that Washington is gone, which is exactly what I didn't want to hear. Any idea why?

Tennessee wasn't disappointed when Hiestand left either.

Let's also not forget Mike Elston coached LBs on one the worst defenses in Notre Dame history. A bad DC makes all position coaches look bad.
 

GUknights75

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He did not sign a single top 100 player at DE in his 9 years as DL coach... Michigan, OSU, PSU, all signed 6+ each over that time, many schools with 10+. He's a good DL coach, OK recruiter, and I think we just upgraded both of those aspects.

Fill up the kool-aid, this is another win along with OL, ST, and WR.

To counter your point, he did an awesome job at identifying raw talent and turning them into NFL caliber players. The DL has been the strength of this defense for a while now, under Elston. I respect Elston enough to not automatically say Washington is an upgrade. He very well end up being that guy that turns out 1st rounders year after year but I don't think he's an "immediate" upgrade over a proven 12 year coach. I really like the hire though.
 

IrishRazor82

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To counter your point, he did an awesome job at identifying raw talent and turning them into NFL caliber players. The DL has been the strength of this defense for a while now, under Elston. I respect Elston enough to not automatically say Washington is an upgrade. He very well end up being that guy that turns out 1st rounders year after year but I don't think he's an "immediate" upgrade over a proven 12 year coach. I really like the hire though.

History will show Elston was a low-carb strawberry beer. He was... ok.
 

Crazy Balki

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Washington gets a lot of unjust criticism for the LB play last year at Ohio State.

The harsh reality is that Ohio State in 2021, paid for the recruiting sins of past, the 2018 and 2019 LB classes were simply not good enough, and were made worse by injuries, converting a guy to offense and another guy losing his mind and leaving the field mid-game. That's not an idea situation for a coach to be thrust into.
 

Dale

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Sampson in his Washington quick hit said Belk and Mason appear to be the most likely DC candidates
 

Irish in Ohio

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Many over at bucknuts don't seem too disappointed that Washington is gone, which is exactly what I didn't want to hear. Any idea why?

So MF is supposed to check internet talk sites before he hired coaches ? Hell if that's the case he needs to go no farther than IE to find out who the most qualified and deserving hires he needs.
 

PANDFAN

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They also had their d coordinator released of his duties during season among poor play by their back end so i wouldn't just tie their play solely on Washington when the defense had difficulty
 

ulukinatme

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He also had one of the most mind numbing 2nd halves I've ever seen. His game plan was great, his adjustments were pee-wee. He got pantsed in the 2nd half.

I've got news for you: when Ok St tightened coverage we weren't going to do shit regardless. We weren't opening holes against their front 7 for the running game, and Lenzy/Austin weren't beating the coverage to get open. Styles was the only WR that still consistently was pulling down his targets 2nd half, the Senior leaders disappeared. That's on them, they needed to step up, but they've struggled with tight coverage all season. It's one of the reasons, despite a thin WR group, I'd rather Lenzy would have moved on. He holds the offense back, he shouldn't be starting.
 

ulukinatme

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Because Ohio State fans throw shit on everything that isn't Ohio State, like monkeys.

Texas: "Did someone say monkeys?"

Jeff-Banks-Pole-Assassin-10.jpg
 

IrishLax

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They also had their d coordinator released of his duties during season among poor play by their back end so i wouldn't just tie their play solely on Washington when the defense had difficulty

Agreed. The Ohio State defense had a lot of issue which stemmed primarily from their DC in my opinion. Still, their linebackers were not assignment sound or tough. They flat out quit in the Michigan game. Regardless, he’s not being hired to coach LB, and I think this is about as good of a hire as they could make on the DL. He does not have the talent development track record of Elston but he was highly thought of by power programs across the country and we needed a guy with big time football experience.
 

ulukinatme

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People are saying they want Alford. I want Salma Hayek from 1997 in my bed, but that's not happening either.
 
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