Marcus Freeman Revisited

[irishff1014]

Having that nerd telling him what to do at the end of the game is a bad look.

So we know he had to go to the analyst twice this game that we know of. The penalty that would have been 4th and 1 was terrible. When they got the hold call it was a no brainer on what to do. You move them back 10 yards and hopefully your defense can play well enough to stop them on 3td and 11. Even though this didn’t happen it was still the right call. Just sad he needed help with it.

 

[IrishLax]

You all do realize that every major team has an analytics guy in the box or on the sideline, right? Of all the shit wrong with the coaches, this ain't it.

 

[fightingirish26]

I said it during the Game, I don't care if they have that analytics guy one bit but just the image itself looks kinda bad. Put him in the booth ffs.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I’d be disappointed if they didn’t have a analytics guy on the sideline. It’s like a MLB team ignoring advanced stats.

 

[MacIrish75]

I am growing more concerned that the offense the last two years really is on Marcus wanting to Tressel it up.

Besides two dozen screens in week one, this looks like a carbon copy of a Gerry Parkour offense from 2023.

If true, a guy that literally has never played or coached an offensive snap probably since junior high might need to take a huge step back.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I am growing more concerned that the offense the last two years really is on Marcus wanting to Tressel it up.

Besides two dozen screens in week one, this looks like a carbon copy of a Gerry Parkour offense from 2023.

If true, a guy that literally has never played or coached an offensive snap probably since junior high might need to take a huge step back.

I don’t think Denbrock would come here if he was going to be controlled to that extreme. I’m sure it was a collaborative decision to play this way.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I’m back to not being emotionally invested and just trying to enjoy each week for what they are: just games.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Angeli could be starting somewhere. Do you think he stayed knowing he is better than RL, and would get the call at some point?


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[BleedBlueGold]

I’m back to not being emotionally invested and just trying to enjoy each week for what they are: just games.

I'm not there yet and probably won't get there, if I'm being completely honest. It was easy to make excuses the first two years as well as the Fiesta Bowl. But in year 3, with this team and these coordinators....no. I can't. This has become systemic and my emotions are front and center because I'm sick and tired of it. These aren't just games to me because the expectations were sky high and once again, this staff has let everyone down. I truly do not understand why this keeps happening.

 

[NDMatt91]

There are probably 2-3 more losses, at minimum, left on the schedule. What's scary for Freeman is that this is a weak schedule and next year's team will be worse than this year's team given all of the starters we'll be losing, particularly on Defense.

 

[ThePiombino]

I am growing more concerned that the offense the last two years really is on Marcus wanting to Tressel it up.

Besides two dozen screens in week one, this looks like a carbon copy of a Gerry Parkour offense from 2023.

If true, a guy that literally has never played or coached an offensive snap probably since junior high might need to take a huge step back.

Can't imagine we get a guy like Denbrock if he's not allowed to come here and run his offense the way he wants to run his offense. I think the issue is truly based on RL's limitations as a pocket passer.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Can't imagine we get a guy like Denbrock if he's not allowed to come here and run his offense the way he wants to run his offense. I think the issue is truly based on RL's limitations as a pocket passer.

Then he should've never been named the starter. Or at the very least, they should've pulled him at halftime of the NIU game.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Angeli could be starting somewhere. Do you think he stayed knowing he is better than RL, and would get the call at some point?


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I think he stayed to get his degree knowing he’d have a shot at QB1 due to Leonard being injured b/c his biggest asset is his wheels or due to ineffectiveness.

 

[MacIrish75]

MF had a couple chances to pull Leonard Saturday when he went down with injuries. I think, based off that last INT, his shoulder has to be jacked up.

 

[NDPhilly]

Just impossible to know if this team runs the table to 11-1 or folds to like 8-4. They went into A&M at night and won by 10. Let’s not pretend that haven’t shown they are a top 10 team when they are on.

 

[WildMan1]

I’m telling you right now.. All he has to do is start the most capable pocket passer in the QB room & he likely saves the entire season.

Leonard is that bad in the passing game. I watched it again & it’s truly amazing how much time he had on most passing plays & how little he did with it.

I think the answer is Angeli..

As I’ve stated in other threads I’m not thrilled with our DTs but a passing game puts everyone in better situations so I think the D will continue to keep offenses at bay.

I think we would have posted a 37-16 type W with a capable thrower.. We had open WRs all day,

I hope Marcus puts the playoff hopes first & makes the change because the blue print is readily available to everyone on how to stop Leonard & it’s not complex.

 

[IrishTusker]

Just impossible to know if this team runs the table to 11-1 or folds to like 8-4. They went into A&M at night and won by 10. Let’s not pretend that haven’t shown they are a top 10 team when they are on.

A&M could just be bad.

 

[ThePiombino]

A&M could just be bad.

Can't be worse than NIU. Come on, what are we talking about...

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[irish4ever]

Uh, no!

 

[arrowryan]

Just impossible to know if this team runs the table to 11-1 or folds to like 8-4. They went into A&M at night and won by 10. Let’s not pretend that haven’t shown they are a top 10 team when they are on.

If Weigman was a halfway competent thrower, there’s no question they’re 0-2.

 

[stlnd01]

In hindsight - always 20/20 of course - it's kind of wild how hard we bet on a QB who
A: Has long struggled with reads and accuracy, as we saw when we watched him last year.
B: Then missed half of last season, games he could have gotten better at the reads/accuracy stuff.
C: Then missed spring camp with his new team (perhaps unforseeable, but probably a bigger problem right now than we anticipated two weeks ago).

So now we either have to
A: Roll the dice on hoping Leonard gets a lot better at throwing the ball, quickly.
B: Limit our offense to protect him, as we did successfully against A&M, but knowing that every defense will know that's our move.
C: Pick one of three QBs to throw into a road game against a Big Ten team, knowing that none of them have played much and, also, the two more naturally-talented ones have gotten very few real reps in fall camp b/c we were trying to get Leonard up to speed.

Choose your adventure!

 

[WildMan1]

A&M could just be bad.

Not that this confirms anything but at least they handled their scrub team this week.. even if it was way scrubbier than ours.

They go to the swamp next week so we’ll get a better idea of who they are.

Florida is obviously not playing great right now but they did start their Freshman QB this week who threw for 450 against Samford.

If A&M handles (wins by 2+ scores) a struggling Florida in the swamp we know it’s a good team & we had a solid road win.

Either way I think It’s possible we salvage the season & make the playoffs but we’re not beating Georgia or Ohio St.

We don’t have the horses on the DL to do it.

 

[NDPhilly]

If Weigman was a halfway competent thrower, there’s no question they’re 0-2.

I mean you could say the same for Riley, left a lot of meat on the bone.

 

[WildMan1]

A competent QB would have created a butterfly effect.. NIUs offensive game plan would have changed due to our improved field positioning forcing them to play into our strengths & throw more often etc.

Everything changes..

Make the move Marcus.

 

[arrowryan]

I mean you could say the same for Riley, left a lot of meat on the bone.

That seems to be the normal for Leonard, unfortunately. Has Josh Allen mobility, but has the arm talent of Drew Pyne trying to throw left handed.

 

[dublinirish]

Right now probably the best thing that can happen to MF and the team is that Leonard gets injured (thus avoiding a benching drama) and then Angeli/Carr comes in and you can use Minchey for the QB run game components of the playbook

 

[pumpdog20]

The problem is if he goes 10-2 and wins a decent sized bowl game the floor is too high. How can you replace him with Matt Campbell? You risk going 10-2 again next season if there are some growing pains (which there will be) and looking like a fool.

Also you're going to have to clean house if you fire him. Are they really willing to eat Denbrock's whole contract?

Not sure there's anything that can be called a decent bowl game anymore, is there?

 

[arrowryan]

Right now probably the best thing that can happen to MF and the team is that Leonard gets injured (thus avoiding a benching drama) and then Angeli/Carr comes in and you can use Minchey for the QB run game components of the playbook

Who cares about drama. If you don’t perform at your job, you either get replaced or fired. That’s a good real life lesson for Leonard.

MF can’t be afraid to hurt someone’s feelings. He tried doing that in 2022 and it failed miserably. I doubt he learned from that though.

 

[IrishTusker]

The problem is if he goes 10-2 and wins a decent sized bowl game the floor is too high. How can you replace him with Matt Campbell? You risk going 10-2 again next season if there are some growing pains (which there will be) and looking like a fool.

Also you're going to have to clean house if you fire him. Are they really willing to eat Denbrock's whole contract?

Missing the playoff is a huge disaster. There are no "consolation" bowls anymore.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Leonard should've been benched at halftime. Angeli would've gutted out a win.

For Purdue, I'd tell Angeli and Minchey they're both playing. Audition them. If they can't get it done. Then it's' CJ Carr time at home against Miami OH and I'm not turning back. Leonard could still have a package in the event things get dicey against UL, but Riley can't be depended upon to make throws and that will ultimately destroy this season.