Marcus Freeman Revisited

[irishff1014]

Small thing but Pyne was the #8 rated "Pro Style" QB in his class, per 247. There were also 10 "dual-threat" QBs (including Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson) rated higher than him overall. So really he was 18th.
The next year they did away with such distinctions and Buchner was the 11th QB of any kind. He also was substantially higher in the overall player rankings (71st vs. Pyne's 225th).
Just so we're clear on the talent dropoff here.

Either way, maybe a different OC hire in 2020 lands us someone better than Angeli, time will tell. But to me the biggest hole was losing Phil and then settling for Clark and Pyne back-to-back. Our QB room looks quite different right now if even one of those three years we land someone who pans out as a credible starter for Notre Dame. Pyne here is our last shot.

Your right on the rankings. I didn't think of when i was doing the list. But you are making my case that Rees has done a terrible job.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

I could see freeman having a similar trajectory to what Kirby Smart has done as UGA. Dynamic DC and recruiter with no head coaching experience takes over a big time program that was close but had reached it's ceiling (although UGA probably had a little more talent when he took over). In his first season UGA went 8-5, but they lost to Vandy, a 4-8 Missouri team, needed the 4th QTR to beat 6-7 USC, need a 4th QTR comeback to beat UK, and struggled with 6-7 TCU in their bowl game.

He recruited big time, figured it out quickly as a coach and has them sitting on top of the college football world with Bama. I dont expect ND to be consistently at the level Bama and UGA have been the last couple of years, but point is everybody expected there to be a learning curve and building process...until it actually happened and people started losing their shit when we hit turbulence.

 

[du Lac]

Jimbo is proving that recruiting doesn’t mean a damn thing if you can’t coach. He’s now in year five and he still losing to teams like Appalachian State. If Freeman can’t coach his slightly “better” recruiting is not gonna mean a thing.

 

[ACamp1900]

Kind of hard to blame the recruiting as if the talent isn’t there,… its not like these are 100 ranked classes with a couple of three stars as the stand outs. ND still vastly out talents the majority of the schedule

 

[ulukinatme]

A different OC might have been able to help the QB's Rees wasn't able to do in those years. Kelly supervised the recruiting so yes it is his fault. It is also Rees fault he couldn't recruit good QB's. It was also Alexander's fault for not recruiting and putting out good WR.

Here are the QB's Rees recruited.

Avery Davis 4* 8th QB of 2017 class
Phil Jurkovec 4* 4th best of 2018 class
Brendon Clake 3* 21st best of 2019 class
Drew Pyne 4* 8th best of 2020 class
Tyler Buchner 4* 11th best of 2021 class
Jack Coan Transfer
Steve Angeli 4* 21st best of 2022 class

Yes the QB recruiting could be better and more consistent but it could be worse as well. I have been around long enough to know that QB's work out less than they do. But there is enough there that you should be able to do something with it. This whole list is on Rees and no one else.

The position ranking is from 247.

On paper that's not really bad QB recruiting. No 5 stars, depending on if you count 5 Star Philure (I don't), but aside from Clark there are certainly teams in FBS that achieve more with less talent.

Kind of hard to blame the recruiting as if the talent isn’t there,… its not like these are 100 ranked classes with a couple of three stars as the stand outs. ND still vastly out talents the majority of the schedule

Recruiting as a whole was alright, but from a skill position point BK really sucked in '19 and '20. Just take a look at those classes and see who is still on this team. Those are supposed to be your upperclassmen leading the team. There's nobody. Kyren was literally the only skill player in the '19 class and he's gone. Mayer is the only one from '20 that really got used to his potential. Tyree has worked better as a receiving threat than a runner because of the OL. The only other skill guy was Pyne who gets his 1st start today. This is why it's all Sophomores on offense.

 

[du Lac]

I’m getting tired of Freemans cocky smirk and walk. I liked it before he was 0-2. I think it’s time to spend less time looking and acting like a GQ model and more time coaching.

 

[calvegas04]

He doesn't know anything outside of defense, ANY other coach would have at least tried a throw instead of punting.

We have been bamboozled here folks

 

[phillyirish]

Would be an absolute media shitstorm if they fire Freeman after a single season. But this team might realistically go 2-10, can they really keep him after that? What about 0-12? Especially against this schedule, No way you would keep him.

 

[irishff1014]

Would be an absolute media shitstorm if they fire Freeman after a single season. But this team might realistically go 2-10, can they really keep him after that? What about 0-12? Especially against this schedule, No way you would keep him.

I would image we have a smart enough lawyer that attended ND would work out a resignation with some kind of buyout.

 

[MacIrish75]

Wasn't sure where to stick this question, but the last couple years of BK's tenure he had a sports psychologist on staff and several players spoke very highly of her and how she was extremely helpful. Is she still around?

Can she call plays? Maybe handle challenges?

 

[PigtownIrish]

I would image we have a smart enough lawyer that attended ND would work out a resignation with some kind of buyout.

That would require him to admit he made a bad hire.

 

[Riddickulous]

Would be an absolute media shitstorm if they fire Freeman after a single season. But this team might realistically go 2-10, can they really keep him after that? What about 0-12? Especially against this schedule, No way you would keep him.

0-12 should get anyone fired after the run we've just had.

 

[T-Boone]

Give him a chance to get his own OC in.
Bring someone in this week as QB coach.

 

[NorthDakota]

Give him a chance to get his own OC in.
Bring someone in this week as QB coach.

At least get a QB coach in here.

 

[T-Boone]

FM. Bertrand.

 

[T-Boone]

Did anyone even know betrayed was in the game until then?

 

[ulukinatme]

Did anyone even know betrayed was in the game until then?

Freudian slip, or an autocorrect?

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Pray first!

 

[Irish'15]

BK at 1:55 into the video. I miss this fire.

 

[ulukinatme]

BK at 1:55 into the video. I miss this fire.

BK misses that fire too. I'm convinced they put him on meds at some point halfway through his ND stint.

 

[Irish'15]

BK misses that fire too. I'm convinced they put him on meds at some point halfway through his ND stint.

I’m worried we may never be that good again in my lifetime

 

[irishff1014]

I’m worried we may never be that good again in my lifetime

I disagree with this. However, I do believe for us to continue to get better we need to replace Rees. That’s the only way the QB situation gets better.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I want to "revisit" what he said right after the game on the field on TV when he said I love these kids and I love this PLACE.

Marcus Freeman has the spirit of Notre Dame more than any HC since Holtz. By a long shot.

 

[tko]

I want to "revisit" what he said right after the game on the field on TV when he said I love these kids and I love this PLACE.

Marcus Freeman has the spirit of Notre Dame more than any HC since Holtz. By a long shot.

I agree. I want so badly for that passion and spirit to translate onto the field. I'm very concerned by the lack of discipline on this team, though, in terms of penalties, bad routes, tackling from time to time, not setting the edge allowing QB to run free 6+ times in key situations, etc. I strongly dislike Kelly and I'm glad he's no longer here after some of the revelations about his recruiting efforts, but his attention to detail was incredible. I know he was honed by many years as a head coach. We need to tighten things up in order to win football games, especially in tight matchups. The details are what matter.

 

[rikkitikki08]

I want to "revisit" what he said right after the game on the field on TV when he said I love these kids and I love this PLACE.

Marcus Freeman has the spirit of Notre Dame more than any HC since Holtz. By a long shot.

Agreed, I have flaws with how things are going but you can’t help but love his attitude. He wants to win big for ND. You can tell he really does love the place

 

[Irishdrunk]

My concern with Freeman is that "nice guys finish last" - I think he is too nice and not enough of a screw turner to get ND to be as successful as what Kelly had.

We are OUT OF THE TOP 25 and I don't see us returning to the Top 10 this season. This is a mess.

Freeman in the Presser explains every question so nicely and respectfully. Great. He would make a nice neighbor if he moved in next door. Love the guy.

But will he fire Rees? Will he call Rees on his bad play calling? Will he get after players for not being motivated?

Give me a Purple Faced jag off over a nice guy any day. These kids unfortunately don't bring their own motivation. You need to will it out of him. Ever see how Nick Saban handles his players????

 

[Irishdrunk]

I don't know these guys and this was after the Marshall loss and it does seem a bit harsh.

However, some points are somewhat valid.

1. Marcus advanced very quickly.
2. He played for a defensive minded-HC in Luke Fickell
3. His one year as DC at ND didn't have the defense any more dominant than Clark Lea's
4. He is a great recruiter and loved by many (I really want him to succeed, too).

What I question is whether Freeman can be decisive. Will he insert himself into the offensive side of the ball (much less the Defensive Side of the ball). Or does Swarbrick only have the reigns on Tommy Rees.

 

[indianamouse]

I agree. I want so badly for that passion and spirit to translate onto the field. I'm very concerned by the lack of discipline on this team, though, in terms of penalties, bad routes, tackling from time to time, not setting the edge allowing QB to run free 6+ times in key situations, etc. I strongly dislike Kelly and I'm glad he's no longer here after some of the revelations about his recruiting efforts, but his attention to detail was incredible. I know he was honed by many years as a head coach. We need to tighten things up in order to win football games, especially in tight matchups. The details are what matter.

Idk, maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t remember Kelly’s teams being great at qb contain either.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Idk, maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t remember Kelly’s teams being great at qb contain either.

IIRC, the only starting QB who ended their career at ND were Rees, Kizer & Book. Whole all 3 contributed greatly to ND’s success during BK’s tenure, none of them were highly recruited or the type of QB that other successful P5 programs would covet.

Meanwhile UNC trotting out another first round draft pick like it’s nothing.

 

[slick7410]

IIRC, the only starting QB who ended their career at ND were Rees, Kizer & Book. Whole all 3 contributed greatly to ND’s success during BK’s tenure, none of them were highly recruited or the type of QB that other successful P5 programs would covet.

Meanwhile UNC trotting out another first round draft pick like it’s nothing.

Very true for Notre Dame - but UNC isn't the standard to aspire to be;

I believe UNC has had 1 quarterback drafted higher than Book or Kizer in their history - Mitchell Trubisky