Marcus Freeman Revisited

[Irish#1]

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

ND did not have the patience to commit to a rebuild. Every other option on the table required a rebuild. So they bet it all on Freeman, a hire with extreme boom/bust potential. Not looking good so far, but it is what it is.

There's still time to commit to the full rebuild.
Start the kids next week and build towards 2023.

 

[indianamouse]

I think we all need to step back from the ledge a bit. I for one truly believe in Freeman. Give it some time. He’ll adapt. All the so called experts that have been around him called this a great hire. It’s 2 games in, RELAX. He didn’t look out of his depth against Ohio state.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I think we all need to step back from the ledge a bit. I for one truly believe in Freeman. Give it some time. He’ll adapt. All the so called experts that have been around him called this a great hire. It’s 2 games in, RELAX. He didn’t look out of his depth against Ohio state.

Agreed 100%.
I just hope he realizes very quickly that he has to be decisive in his coaching hires. Move on quickly when someone isn't working out and get the best guys in here.

 

[Irish2155]

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I wish this wasn’t true. Charlie hustle at least had Jimmie throwing to Floyd and Tate.

This Charlie can’t even get that right.

 

[DCDomer]

Its funny how many people thought Marcus Freeman could walk on water. Guess what? He is just a nice guy.

Yeah, Fickell hired him because he was a nice guy and he turned them into an elite defense because he was so nice the Cincy players couldn't resist.

 

[Grahambo]

MF isn’t coaching the QBs or the OL. This isn’t his offensive playbook. He’s not calling the plays.

This 0-2 start lays at the feet of several coaches but none more then TR. We’ll see what MF is made of this week.

 

[arahop]

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Carl Winslow had his team ready to play

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

MF isn’t coaching the QBs or the OL. This isn’t his offensive playbook. He’s not calling the plays.

This 0-2 start lays at the feet of several coaches but none more then TR. We’ll see what MF is made of this week.

Parcells took over play calling from Charlie Weis on the 99 Jets.
Do it Marcus!

 

[Irish2155]

Charlie won 10 games twice before the rails hit if I remember correctly.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

MF isn’t coaching the QBs or the OL. This isn’t his offensive playbook. He’s not calling the plays.

This 0-2 start lays at the feet of several coaches but none more then TR. We’ll see what MF is made of this week.

Agreed on the first statement.

We knew the defense would be the bright spot this season & it failed ND when it counted most. When they gave up that 3rd & 10 in the shadow of their own end zone, I knew a 90-yd TD drive was about to ensure and it did. Why Ramon Henderson bit on the run leaving the TE wide open is a mystery but he did. It’s not all on him though…they still had 80 yards to stop Marshall or at least hold them to a FG & they failed.

After today all four wheels are off the car b/c the defense isn’t reliable either.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Charlie won 10 games twice before the rails hit if I remember correctly.

he won 9 games in 2005 when they only played 11 regular season games. Then he won 10 games in 2006…the first year a 12th game was added to the regular season. In this case, it was Army. So despite a 10-win season in year 2, the 9-win season in year one was much more impressive & hopeful.

 

[Irishdrunk]

You can do better than propping up these strawman arguments. No one with two brain cells ever thought that MF was an invincible hire. His hire was based on potential, which is fair to criticize, but with that potential, many of us expected a learning curve. It is possible to be enthusiastic about his hire while also having a critical eye on his performance. Right now is an easy situation to pile on that he was the wrong hire, but I ask you this as a fellow fan: are you more concerned with being right or are you hoping he lives up to his potential?

This sounds very Driskollish... "Do Better"

 

[Riddickulous]

he won 9 games in 2005 when they only played 11 regular season games. Then he won 10 games in 2006…the first year a 12th game was added to the regular season. In this case, it was Army. So despite a 10-win season in year 2, the 9-win season in year one was much more impressive & hopeful.

That 2005 team was genuinely good. It was such a blast watching Brady Quinn sling it.

 

[MacIrish75]

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When do we start the Charles Huff as our next HC thread?

 

[Irishdrunk]

This sounds like a non-response. I could give an f about Driskell. I was talking to you. But if you got nothing, then say that.

Driskell - I am more concerned about winning than anything. Notre Dame isn't concerned about winning. They kept one of their own - his daddy works in the AD department as the awful OC - presigned before the HC was hired. What a mess. Then, instead of a real search for the next Head Coach they quickly, and somewhat seemingly desperately, hired Marcus because they bought into - as you would say - "potential." ND has done potential before and it has always been a disaster. Faust, Davie, Weis. You hire on record you get Devine, Holtz and Kelly.

Hire a newbie HC and lets not do payments NIL = NO NATTYS!

 

[Irish2155]

I wish TB had a shark, Tate, Floyd to get open

 

[NDdomer2]

This team was unprepared today. no ifs ands or buts about it and that falls on the HC.

 

[indianamouse]

Another thing about freeman. He got to observe Kelly, Fickell, and Tressel coach their teams. He knows what it takes to win. He’ll get there.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Another thing about freeman. He got to observe Kelly, Fickell, and Tressel coach their teams. He knows what it takes to win. He’ll get there.

SOO? A great program like ND shouldn't be in a position to "pay for potential." They should pay and hire a HC based on a sound track record.

A great program shouldn't retain an OC first. They shouldn't retain a OC that has a dad working in the AD and has NEVER worked elsewhere first.

This is NOTRE DAME! Notre Dame should act serious if they want to really compete. Right now ND is looking like a joke in terms of being serious about competing.

 

[indianamouse]

SOO? A great program like ND shouldn't be in a position to "pay for potential." They should pay and hire a HC based on a sound track record.

A great program shouldn't retain an OC first. They shouldn't retain a OC that has a dad working in the AD and has NEVER worked elsewhere first.

This is NOTRE DAME! Notre Dame should act serious if they want to really compete. Right now ND is looking like a joke in terms of being serious about competing.

Kelly was a sure thing, never could win when it mattered

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

SOO? A great program like ND shouldn't be in a position to "pay for potential." They should pay and hire a HC based on a sound track record.

A great program shouldn't retain an OC first. They shouldn't retain a OC that has a dad working in the AD and has NEVER worked elsewhere first.

This is NOTRE DAME! Notre Dame should act serious if they want to really compete. Right now ND is looking like a joke in terms of being serious about competing.

This is the thing that sticks in my craw. Hiring the OC before the HC was awful. Freeman likely cannot fire Rees without permission of Swarbrick who lives Rees.

 

[BoredIrish]

I'm not drawing any conclusions after 3 games... But fwiw the amount of love Freeman gets for spewing coach speak cliches blows my mind.

Reminds me of Charlie saying that we were going to get a tough and nasty football team.

 

[Irishdrunk]

This is the thing that sticks in my craw. Hiring the OC before the HC was awful. Freeman likely cannot fire Rees without permission of Swarbrick who lives Rees.

Total Bullshit Nepotism. But he is an NFL soon-to-be Guru.

 

[Irishdrunk]

The other part of this mess - THE CAPTAINS ALL SUCK TOO! WHERE IS THE PLAYERS LEADERSHIP? No Zorich on this fuxing team - that is for sure. No heart.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

I'm not drawing any conclusions after 3 games... But fwiw the amount of love Freeman gets for spewing coach speak cliches blows my mind.

Reminds me of Charlie saying that we were going to get a tough and nasty football team.

We were nasty, it was horrible to watch a game during Weis's tenure.

 

[N_D_Fighting_Irish]

No, I don’t. I can agree with that statement of yours and also spot how you are being lazy in how you are arguing your overall point. You have had an agenda from the jump, and it betrays you.

Then what is your point?

Agenda? Instead of implying whatever you are implying, just state it.

My initial criticism wasn’t about your take on Rees, NIL, or the AD. I actually agree with a lot of what you write regarding ND not being aggressive when they need to be. I also said that criticizing Freeman’s hire based on “potential” was fair. I was addressing you criticizing ND fans on this board by claiming anyone who disagrees with your take on Freeman thinks Freeman walks on water. Most of us are upset and share the spirit of your take, but I also don’t think having been excited about him as a hire is some kind of cult behavior. But go ahead and call names.

You are in stage 1 of coping: Denial.

 

[ulukinatme]

Your claim about “Freeman inherited a team with good personnel” was disingenuous. There were gaping holes at the end of last season that anyone who has been following ND realistically recognized. That was my criticism. Your other claim about “denial” is empty. I’m not a Freeman apologist. He has a tough path ahead of him and will have to shift quickly. If he doesn’t, he’s gone.

There's been gaping holes for years, for sure. BK never had a pair of receivers go for a combined 2000 yards in the same season. Closest was in 2013 with TJ Jones going over 1100 and Davaris Daniels going for about 800 with Tommy throwing to them both. Weis did it multiple times with the Shark, McKnight/Stovall, Tate/Floyd. Our WR group just hasn't been dominant in some time. They haven't always had superior QBs throwing to them, but McKinley and Sko weren't scaring any DCs. We're lucky if we have one dominant #1 WR to throw to in a season. We've got to recruit the position better as well as coach them up. It's no wonder teams just load the box and dare us to pass, we really don't have the weapons.

 

[GATTACA!]

There's been gaping holes for years, for sure. BK never had a pair of receivers go for a combined 2000 yards in the same season. Closest was in 2013 with TJ Jones going over 1100 and Davaris Daniels going for about 800 with Tommy throwing to them both. Weis did it multiple times with the Shark, McKnight/Stovall, Tate/Floyd. Our WR group just hasn't been dominant in some time. They haven't always had superior QBs throwing to them, but McKinley and Sko weren't scaring any DCs. We're lucky if we have one dominant #1 WR to throw to in a season. We've got to recruit the position better as well as coach them up. It's no wonder teams just load the box and dare us to pass, we really don't have the weapons.

It's sort of a self fulfilling prophecy. What 5* WR would want to come to ND watching the shit show they just put on the field?

 

[goldfish/milano]

He needs total control. Fire Rees, get control and see what happens. If he fails, he fails. I like him a lot, but I believe he was saddled with Rees.

Total Control? Freeman has no idea what he is doing. Every time the camera focused on him, he had the look of person who is way in over his head. The problem with the team is that we don't have a head coach. We have a person role playing as a head coach. He has delegated everything to his coordinators not as a choice but out of necessity. He doesn't have a well of knowledge to share...what could he possibly offer Rees or Golden? This team is desperately looking for true leadership...not the rah rah superficial BS that gullible people fall for.

Very well said