Al Washington - DL Coach & Def. Run Game Coordinator

[Ndaccountant]

About OSU's LB's... I know everyone was down on them but Werner dreadful'd himself into the second round last year and I didn't see them a lot but when I did, Steele Chambers looked like a boss.

Kerry Coombs was dreadful. He was protected by an elite QB and offense that forced teams to play offense with one hand behind their back. When they failed to jump out to big leads in 2020 or 2021, they were scrambling. Even with leads, they got shredded at time (see Indiana 2020). The 2019 OSU team had a FEI ranking of #2 (Washington came over that year from UM, along with Mattison). Coombs comes in and finishes both years outside the top 40. Yikes.

As far as LB coaching is concerned, well, that was more out of circumstance I think. He ended up at Michigan behind Mattison, followed Mattison to Columbus (hometown) and was behind both Mattison and Larry Johnson. I personally think getting back to his strong suit and coaching the position he actually played will be a good with for both Washington and ND.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Kerry Coombs was dreadful. He was protected by an elite QB and offense that forced teams to play offense with one hand behind their back. When they failed to jump out to big leads in 2020 or 2021, they were scrambling. Even with leads, they got shredded at time (see Indiana 2020). The 2019 OSU team had a FEI ranking of #2 (Washington came over that year from UM, along with Mattison). Coombs comes in and finishes both years outside the top 40. Yikes.

As far as LB coaching is concerned, well, that was more out of circumstance I think. He ended up at Michigan behind Mattison, followed Mattison to Columbus (hometown) and was behind both Mattison and Larry Johnson. I personally think getting back to his strong suit and coaching the position he actually played will be a good with for both Washington and ND.

Kerry Coombs made some absolutely boneheaded coaching decisions in full the games I watched (U of M, scUM games). Not sure how much can be placed on Washington and LB coaching

 

[Rogue219]

No interest in seeing Kerry Coombs mentioned for anything related to ND. "He can recruit" is one fraction of the deal.

 

[Luckylucci]

A couple things that standout to me are he played at BC and coached at BC. While recruiting needs to continue to improve we can’t get lost in the Aaron Lynch, Ishaq Williams, and Greg Bryant’s of HS football. We need to find high quality talent that can and want to be at ND. And we need to continue to have some depth that will stick out 4 or 5 years on the depth chart. More the Clemson model versus the Bama one. I think a former BC alum gets that.

I also like that he recruited Harold Landry and then coached him during his insane 2016 season. That’s what Foskey aspires to be so that’s gotta provide some optimism. The Landry recruiting story is also what he brings, or hopefully brings, to the table.

 

[Grahambo]

A couple things that standout to me are he played at BC and coached at BC. While recruiting needs to continue to improve we can’t get lost in the Aaron Lynch, Ishaq Williams, and Greg Bryant’s of HS football. We need to find high quality talent that can and want to be at ND. And we need to continue to have some depth that will stick out 4 or 5 years on the depth chart. More the Clemson model versus the Bama one. I think a former BC alum gets that.

I also like that he recruited Harold Landry and then coached him during his insane 2016 season. That’s what Foskey aspires to be so that’s gotta provide some optimism. The Landry recruiting story is also what he brings, or hopefully brings, to the table.

Agreed.

I also think it’s good for the players to hear a different voice. Get a different perspective.

 

[Dale]

It’s interesting a lot of OSU fans downplay Washington as a recruiter because they were all Ohio guys and now a handful of 2023 LB who have apparently been leaning OSU because of Washington are getting our focus, and they are from out of state. Bowles and Ausberry aren’t from Ohio last time I checked.

 

[IrishRazor82]

It’s interesting a lot of OSU fans downplay Washington as a recruiter because they were all Ohio guys and now a handful of 2023 LB who have apparently been leaning OSU because of Washington are getting our focus, and they are from out of state. Bowles and Ausberry aren’t from Ohio last time I checked.

Is this true? Sweet if so.

 

[Rogue219]

I like his resume overall. BC, UC, Michigan, Ohio State. I'm glad the arrow stopped on ND in this instance. Not really interested in any of the other Ohio State leavings. If they were going to get anyone, I'm glad Washington was the guy.

 

[Huntr]

Officially official


[TWEET]https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1486066411600588811[/TWEET]

 

[notredomer23]

Bumping this because our guy deserves some major praise and a raise if this class sticks together

 

[KPENN]

Straight up taking Elston’s lunch money right now.

 

[GATTACA!]

He's drinking Elston's milkshake.

 

[greyhammer90]

He's drinking Elston's milkshake.

"DRAAAAAAAAAAINAGE Elston!"

 

[BobbyMac]

Making Mr. Gilmore's 2016 haul look straight up pedestrian.

Though to be fair, Wash is doing it with Freeman's help while Gilmore did it in spite of the Crawfish Kelly.

 

[greyhammer90]

Best on-paper DL class since 2011?

 

[NDIrish88]

. . . Jason Moore coming too? Wash is cleaning up.

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

Dam this man can recruit.

 

[BobbyMac]

Best on-paper DL class since 2011?

Gotta be from an industry perspective but guys 3-6 from '23 will destroy '11's production.

Also... Just noticed The Doppelgangers:

 

[Rogue219]

Al Washington

 

[irishandy]

ND's gain & OSU's loss. He is doing a heck of a job recruiting.

 

[irishff1014]

Elston did a good job with some of these guys and Washington is finishing the deal and going to get some of his ideas. This guy is going to kill it here.

 

[KyfightingIrish36]

Excited now to see how he develops the guys already in the room.

 

[Rogue219]

Excited now to see how he develops the guys already in the room.

If it goes well, they weren't his guys. If it doesn't, it's on him.

All depends on whose agenda.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

If it goes well, they weren't his guys. If it doesn't, it's on him.

All depends on whose agenda.

I think it only works that way if he's succeeding Harry Hiestand.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Hasn't coached an actual down yet, but from a recruiting standpoint, he's dropping mushroom clouds everywhere.

There was everything from concern to disappointment to panic when Elston left. I haven't paid it a thought in months, TBH. I'd totally forgotten that Elston went to Michigan.

How's that working out?

Al Washington is off to a hell of a start.

 

[irish o'phile]

Didn’t land Jason Moore. Complete disappointment.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Didn’t land Jason Moore. Complete disappointment.

Second time today I have LOL'ed rather loudly.

 

[irishandy]

Hasn't coached an actual down yet, but from a recruiting standpoint, he's dropping mushroom clouds everywhere.

There was everything from concern to disappointment to panic when Elston left. I haven't paid it a thought in months, TBH. I'd totally forgotten that Elston went to Michigan.

How's that working out?

Al Washington is off to a hell of a start.

I haven't heard anything about Elston since he went to Michigan, I thought it would be a big loss, but Washington picked up in recruiting where Elston left off.

I think he will have as much success on the field with the DL that Elston did or better success.

 

[irishff1014]

Now we see why OSU fired him. At least our guy could get the dline to play.

 

[Riddickulous]

He could still turn it around, but he's looking like the worst hire on the new staff. DL has been THE best position group on the team over the last decade. Reliably productive year in and year out, with consistently good depth. He seems to have erased that in a single offseason. Incredibly disappointing.