Gerad Parker - Troy Head Coach :)

[Grahambo]

I assume he’s talking about the Tyree fumble on the 3rd & short? I like the idea of misdirection & counters b/c Parker has been way too predictable. The problem w/ that play was that UL had the box loaded to defend the sneak or run up the middle for the short gain so the DL was already pressing the LOS. Look how close the exchange was to the OL as the DL was getting pressure. There still needs to be a clean handoff & maybe it does go for a big play but reminded me of the screen play on ND final drive vs OSU that may have gone for a huge gain but the risks were too high and it ended up costing ND.

If I recall correctly, even with a clean handoff, he’s getting stuffed for a negative play. I could be wrong but I don’t think that play ever had a chance.

That said, calling plays is an art form. GP has no idea how to call a game. He’s a Madden player just picking random plays. No disrespect to Duke or Louisville but neither defense was scared of him.

This is going to be a long road to him eventually getting fired.

 

[PutuporShutup]

If I recall correctly, even with a clean handoff, he’s getting stuffed for a negative play. I could be wrong but I don’t think that play ever had a chance.

That said, calling plays is an art form. GP has no idea how to call a game. He’s a Madden player just picking random plays. No disrespect to Duke or Louisville but neither defense was scared of him.

This is going to be a long road to him eventually getting fired.

Crazy freeman and Parker doubled down both on no issues with play calling.

They better get it right this week or it should come back to them on coaching.

What my are you not putting the players in the best opportunity for success?

Think about our short yardage packages vs osu, vs duke, vs Louisville. They are all completely different, no similarities, no deception off same formation, no clear play or plays you can rely on. Extremely obvious tells based on personnel and formation. It’s just terrible. We haven’t found or been able to coach ONE, not ONE frichan short yardage 3rd or fourth down play successfully last 3 weeks.

2nd and 1,2,3 it’s a lock we make it with audric because we’re in normal offense with all our plays at our disposal and we don’t load the offensive box allowing the defense to load the box. It’s not that complicated, especially with our talent.

 

[irishff1014]

If I recall correctly, even with a clean handoff, he’s getting stuffed for a negative play. I could be wrong but I don’t think that play ever had a chance.

That said, calling plays is an art form. GP has no idea how to call a game. He’s a Madden player just picking random plays. No disrespect to Duke or Louisville but neither defense was scared of him.

This is going to be a long road to him eventually getting fired.

And it’s going continue to make Freeman look bad because he won’t use his authority to make a change and really shows how much he doesn’t know about offense.

 

[Lberry]

There's a long list of OCs who would have us undefeated, I think.

Speaking of Long, I wanted Chip Long once Ludwig fell through. Timing was part of that.

 

[Irish#1]

And it’s going continue to make Freeman look bad because he won’t use his authority to make a change and really shows how much he doesn’t know about offense.

Not sure I agree. A DC needs to know the offenses he's seeing to properly scheme. I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but the real question is how much time is MF spending with Parker this week?

 

[PutuporShutup]

Not sure I agree. A DC needs to know the offenses he's seeing to properly scheme. I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but the real question is how much time is MF spending with Parker this week?

From Freeman and parker, the entire offensive staff comes up with the game plan, but ultimately parker approves and calls plays. This is normal. Are they all grasping at straws, is the bigger issue their inability to coach, or is the biggest issue parker play calling. We've been pretty solid on first drives until we make a bad mental mistake or get into a short yardage situation. Then it turns into crap after that (last 3 games).

We know the play calling is terrible, what we don't know is how bad are they at actually coaching and collectively building and offense, and offensive game plan.

 

[Irish#1]

From Freeman and parker, the entire offensive staff comes up with the game plan, but ultimately parker approves and calls plays. This is normal. Are they all grasping at straws, is the bigger issue their inability to coach, or is the biggest issue parker play calling. We've been pretty solid on first drives until we make a bad mental mistake or get into a short yardage situation. Then it turns into crap after that (last 3 games).

We know the play calling is terrible, what we don't know is how bad are they at actually coaching and collectively building and offense, and offensive game plan.

Not to be a smart ass, but I'm well aware of how things operate.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

What about Tom Herman...according to google he is making 750k as the head coach at FAU. I Think there are some guys who are meant to be Coordinators and not head coaches and he is one of those guys IMO

It's not going to happen. He's 56-25 including 5-0 in bowl games and 48 years of age. He's going to try to win at FAU to get another P5 job. I completely understand the attraction, but ND would not be a great fit in any capacity.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

My hot take would be we're undefeated if Tommy was our OC this season.

While we were all cheering his demise in Tuscaloosa. We didn't realize we were in the midst of our own, without him.

I would agree with this.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Not to be a smart ass, but I'm well aware of how things operate.

My point was, what the hell is freeman going to do? You have stuckey, deland, parker, Gino, Rudolph that are all already involved. If all 5 are good with game plan and plays, then it's either flat out Parker in game calling or their collective inability to coach a cohesive offense.

My opinion. Freeman needs to understand the plan, but there's better offensive minds than him already on our staff (i hope). Freeman needs to figure out and learn how to in game coach and help identify and make adjustments in all facets.

I'm sure freeman wants to understand the offensive game plan, and i'm sure he does that every week. Maybe he spends more time on short yardage and understanding what our approach is, but I doubt he has a ton of input.

 

[irishff1014]

Not sure I agree. A DC needs to know the offenses he's seeing to properly scheme. I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but the real question is how much time is MF spending with Parker this week?

It better damn well should be 3/4 of the practice. They defense is gonna give up plays to this explosive offense. Everyone one does. The offense has to help the defense this week if this team stands a snow balls chance in hell.

 

[irishff1014]

I want to think he is be honest but we haven’t seen the 2 set back really since OSU. That worked so well.

This past week imo it would have helped. If you have Estime and Love in the back field and you do nothing motion on of them out the defense has absolutely no choice to cover them. If they don’t and you get the ball to love on a screen good luck catching him.

Then you take love or price line them up outside motion them across and either have a hand off while the defense is in transition or have them line up opposite to Estime and use Estime as a lead block or run a misdirection and it’s going to keep the defense honest if not big gain/touchdown.

 

[PutuporShutup]

I want to think he is be honest but we haven’t seen the 2 set back really since OSU. That worked so well.

This past week imo it would have helped. If you have Estime and Love in the back field and you do nothing motion on of them out the defense has absolutely no choice to cover them. If they don’t and you get the ball to love on a screen good luck catching him.

Then you take love or price line them up outside motion them across and either have a hand off while the defense is in transition or have them line up opposite to Estime and use Estime as a lead block or run a misdirection and it’s going to keep the defense honest if not big gain/touchdown.

We used it vs duke, but duke sold out vs middle runs... Some reason we didn't have many outside runs.

 

[ThePiombino]

It's not going to happen. He's 56-25 including 5-0 in bowl games and 48 years of age. He's going to try to win at FAU to get another P5 job. I completely understand the attraction, but ND would not be a great fit in any capacity.

True, but only because ND isn't interested in winning. If we were, we could.easily use Alabama's MO of leveraging the coordinator position as a head coaching rehab opportunity.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

True, but only because ND isn't interested in winning. If we were, we could.easily use Alabama's MO of leveraging the coordinator position as a head coaching rehab opportunity.

Tom Herman isn't going to come to Notre Dame in any capacity regardless of how the admin operates.

 

[ThePiombino]

Tom Herman isn't going to come to Notre Dame in any capacity regardless of how the admin operates.

Correct, but not just Herman. Could be any competent OC looking to rehab their image or name. ND won't hire them because it's not serious about winning. Tale as old as time.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Correct, but not just Herman. Could be any competent OC looking to rehab their image or name. ND won't hire them because it's not serious about winning. Tale as old as time.

I'm talking about Tom Herman and not Notre Dame. @Hammer Of The Gods said Herman's meant to be an OC and not an HC. I don't think that is the case at all. Herman got that Texas job way too soon and was probably down their short list of wants to begin with. They fired him with a winning record. He went to the NFL to be an analyst and took the first G5 HC gig that came his way.

Regardless of whether ND isn't serious about winning, Tom Herman isn't interested in being an OC anywhere and even if ND was willing to pay him $2M a year it is highly likely there is no mutual interest regardless of any of that. He's trying to get back to a P5 coaching gig and in all honesty he probably deserves another shot considering how Texas discarded him after 50 games.

Now if Marcus Freeman wanted to go after Chris Creighton or Jason Candle to be his OC and there was buyout money involved, then I would agree with you that ND isn't going to do that. They're going to want a clean cost efficient hire and they're not going to pay an OC what UGA paid Monken.

 

[Wild Bill]

We used it vs duke, but duke sold out vs middle runs... Some reason we didn't have many outside runs.

Teams are consistently selling out on all third-down situations because Notre Dame seems unable to counter effectively. The most common sense answer to a lot of the third and short is to simply throw the ball. Seems necessary at this point just to keep defenses honest. You have one of the best touch passers in the country with three massive tight ends so that'll help.

Perhaps I'm wrong here but we never seem to slip a back out into the flat on 3rd and long when everyone in the stadium knows a blitz is coming. Throwing to the flat on a 3rd and long is far from perfect, but our receivers haven't been consistent, and Hartman is experiencing immediate pressure in these situations. Worst case scenario they pick up three and avoid the sack/keep Hartman clean. Best case scenario is one of our backs makes someone miss and picks up a big gain. Either way, it puts some pressure on the defensive coordinator - if Estime gets the ball in open space b/c you blitzed the LBer in that area, and he trucks your safety on his way for a big gain, you'll think twice about sending that LBer again in the same situation.

 

[Terry Jillery]

I’ve had it. When I get NCAA 2024 video game I’m going to dedicate hours per day to it so I can email Parker and help him. My wife will understand.

 

[Katzenboyer]

True, but only because ND isn't interested in winning. If we were, we could.easily use Alabama's MO of leveraging the coordinator position as a head coaching rehab opportunity.

Bama does this with guys who are looking for jobs.

Herman is a current G5 head coach. He'd be out of his mind to leave that spot (which Kiffin turned into the Ole Miss gig) to take a coordinator position.

 

[Katzenboyer]

That's a load of bull.

Unless there is a drastic turnaround, Parker needs to go. Point blank period.

Contract or not, there's too much riding on this to stick with a clearly failing coach and system.

We can't afford to bring Freeman down because the admin isn't willing to buy out of Parker's contract.

By hanging onto a clearly failing OC, you are just setting Freeman up to fail, which just means you are compiling the wasted resources.

Many, MANY a coach has lost his job because he stayed loyal to poor coordinators. One of those guys is currently on ND's sidelines in charge of the defense.

Bringing back Parker would be a total, abject failure. And if Freeman allows it to happen, I think that he's gone after year 3. That's how bad a decision it would be.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Teams are consistently selling out on all third-down situations because Notre Dame seems unable to counter effectively. The most common sense answer to a lot of the third and short is to simply throw the ball. Seems necessary at this point just to keep defenses honest. You have one of the best touch passers in the country with three massive tight ends so that'll help.

Perhaps I'm wrong here but we never seem to slip a back out into the flat on 3rd and long when everyone in the stadium knows a blitz is coming. Throwing to the flat on a 3rd and long is far from perfect, but our receivers haven't been consistent, and Hartman is experiencing immediate pressure in these situations. Worst case scenario they pick up three and avoid the sack/keep Hartman clean. Best case scenario is one of our backs makes someone miss and picks up a big gain. Either way, it puts some pressure on the defensive coordinator - if Estime gets the ball in open space b/c you blitzed the LBer in that area, and he trucks your safety on his way for a big gain, you'll think twice about sending that LBer again in the same situation.

I don't really understand why we don't go 3-4 wide and give hartman more options to throw or pass based on defensive coverage.

I've rewatched a bunch of nc state, osu, duke, louisville. Every team is defending us with similarities (NC state did go more 3 down than the rest). The common theme is on first and second down or third and short there is only ever 1 high safety, and man everywhere else. IF you go 4 wide, that will at least take 5 out of the box, and have it be our 5 ol vs their 6 dl/lb. We can have success running with those numbers. We go to so much 12 personnel with both TEs in the box and 1 or 2 wrs in the box that there's 8-10 defenders. When all of our 8 or 9 blockers get on their person, it creates a run of 10+ yards, but the odds of 8-10 blockers being assignment correct and not losing their 1-1 block is probably 10-20% success rate at absolute best, 3rd and short probably less than 10%. There were times where we went started 4 wide, the opposition didn't even cover it right and kept 7 or 8 in the box, then we motioned our TEs/wrs back into the box to block them instead of just throwing it to what would be a wide open receiver.

It's almost if hartman has no options to audible and they're forcing a lot of running plays no matter the numbers.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

There's a long list of OCs who would have us undefeated, I think.

The list only needs to be two: Rees and Ludwig.

Considering what he's dealt with at Utah so far this season, I can't even begin to imagine what Hartman looks like with Ludwig in the booth moving the pieces.

It really would have been the ideal set up having Freeman with Ludwig and Golden as his top lieutenants.

 

[Luckylucci]

There's a long list of OCs who would have us undefeated, I think.

For sure. This isn’t a Tommy Rees appreciation post.

The difference is all those guys are not alumni that were on staff less than a year ago.

But to your point, yes, this was it. This was the year and Freeman just had to not hire Parker. There was a long list of guys that he spoke with, interviewed, etc. Likely all of them have us undefeated.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The scary part is this might be as good as it gets. Hartman has five more regular season games left. Come spring they're looking for a new QB1 among Angeli, Minchey and Carr. Seeing what has happened to this point, is anyone in his right mind going to come to ND via the portal?

I wonder where Gino G is in all of this. He was calling plays at UC a year ago and is down on the sidelines seeing it from there. I would hope that he speaks up in the meeting room.

 

[Irish4life]

The scary part is this might be as good as it gets. Hartman has five more regular season games left. Come spring they're looking for a new QB1 among Angeli, Minchey and Carr. Seeing what has happened to this point, is anyone in his right mind going to come to ND via the portal?

I wonder where Gino G is in all of this. He was calling plays at UC a year ago and is down on the sidelines seeing it from there. I would hope that he speaks up in the meeting room.

All depends on who NDs offensive coordinator is going into next fall.

 

[Giddyup]

Should have hired jim Bob cooter. Not joking. I would have. We’d be rolling

 

[LSWho?]

There are plenty of talented offensive coordinator candidates. Names we know and names we don't yet know. All Freeman has to do is find one and all Bevacqua (probably still Swarbrick) has to do is sign the check.

I might do a write-up at some point of my reasons, but I would look into the Chris Petersen coaching tree and that Boise State offense. There are structural similarities to Ludwig, but it was even more multiple. Would fit our personnel and style well. Wish Parker would have made a study of it in the offseason.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

There are plenty of talented offensive coordinator candidates. Names we know and names we don't yet know. All Freeman has to do is find one and all Bevacqua (probably still Swarbrick) has to do is sign the check.

I might do a write-up at some point of my reasons, but I would look into the Chris Petersen coaching tree and that Boise State offense. There are structural similarities to Ludwig, but it was even more multiple. Would fit our personnel and style well. Wish Parker would have made a study of it in the offseason.

Just looking at his OCs at BSU and UW:

Bryan Harsin and Robert Prince from Boise State.

From Washington, you'd have Bush Hamdan, who took over for Jonathan Smith when he left for Oregon State. Hamdan is back at Boise State now.

Prince has been in the NFL for ten years and he's pushing 60, but it's an Al Golden type of hire because he's coaching WR for the Cowboys. He'd bring a Veteran presence on the staff and could call plays again. Recruiting? Don't know.

Harsin, I don't know if ND touches him, but he's available. He' coached TE for four years at Boise State, was an OC and an HC. That's another strong presence for Freeman to lean on. I think he got raw boned by Auburn, but is that a guy ND would even consider?

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Just looking at his OCs at BSU and UW:

Bryan Harsin and Robert Prince from Boise State.

From Washington, you'd have Bush Hamdan, who took over for Jonathan Smith when he left for Oregon State. Hamdan is back at Boise State now.

Prince has been in the NFL for ten years and he's pushing 60, but it's an Al Golden type of hire because he's coaching WR for the Cowboys. He'd bring a Veteran presence on the staff and could call plays again. Recruiting? Don't know.

Harsin, I don't know if ND touches him, but he's available. He' coached TE for four years at Boise State, was an OC and an HC. That's another strong presence for Freeman to lean on. I think he got raw boned by Auburn, but is that a guy ND would even consider?

Funny, for a Catholic University who preaches forgivingness of sins, we sure do have a habit of not forgiving people.