Marcus Freeman Revisited

[NDPhilly]

Freeman doubled down on his support for Leonard in his presser today. Said he never once considered using Steve.

People are going to give him shit for this, but he really can’t say anything else if he’s giving Riley one more start to prove himself.

 

[stlnd01]

Not on my bingo card.

Well I for one blame Tommy Rees. If he had never been born, he wouldn't have been here to provide continuity at OC in 2021 and give Swarbrick the excuse to be lazy and hire Freeman.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Riley Leonard got voted captain by his teammates.

I assume there were 800 Mexican walk on votes from New Hampshire that ends up being the reason for this?

 

[Terry Jillery]

There was a time when not wanting Freeman to be head coach was irreparable.

 

[NorthDakota]

Prister would throw a hail mary with a Duke transfer QB that can't throw.

Now I get football entirely.

Can Leonard not throw 50 yards?

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I think we all hope that Leonard comes out in West Lafayette and torches Purdue. But I doubt many of believe that will happen.

The season hangs in the balance and he's going with Riley because he's a captain? A true leader, voted on by his peers, would likely understand if they decided to go in another direction if the staff thought it was what was best for the team. Riley talked about being humble after aTm during his on-field interview with Holly Rowe. He even quoted Matthew 23:12 and wears it while he plays.

Well, he sure humbled himself on Saturday.

 

[Luckylucci]

It’s pick your poison. Would you rather have seen the team piss down their leg in College Station and lose, then thump NIU, or win in College Station and piss down their leg at home against a MAC school?

You aren’t avoiding poison, this much is certain


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Like we pissed down our leg last year at UL? Or at USC in ‘22.

Freeman’s record against ranked opponents isn’t that impressive. He was 3-3 last season and 4-2 in ‘22. Factor in the ‘21 bowl game and he’s 7-6 in top 25 games.

 

[Irish#1]

People are going to give him shit for this, but he really can’t say anything else if he’s giving Riley one more start to prove himself.

Agree, but if Leonard is struggling and MF doesn't make a call to the bullpen, then MF shouldn't be coaching this team.

 

[Giddyup]

Freeman has the program going in the right direction. He’s just allowing RL to sabotage the season which is very frustrating.

 

[indianamouse]

Freeman has the program going in the right direction. He’s just allowing RL to sabotage the season which is very frustrating.

RL isn't sabotaging the season. It was one game. It's a new offensive coordinator. The defense didn't look awesome in the DC's first season either. Give it time, I'm sure Denbrock will get it going.

 

[ThePiombino]

RL isn't sabotaging the season. It was one game. It's a new offensive coordinator. The defense didn't look awesome in the DC's first season either. Give it time, I'm sure Denbrock will get it going.

Serious question - did you watch the 1st two games and come away with Denbrock as the problem?

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[IrishTusker]

Serious question - did you watch the 1st two games and come away with Denbrock as the problem?

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Who decided to throw 32 times? Who decided to throw on 2nd & 1? Why bring RL here and not run more? The coaches need to make decisions based on the personnel they have. Maybe MF is forcing Denbrock to do this, or maybe he isn't, but that would be useful information to have.

 

[T-Boone]

Prister would throw a hail mary with a Duke transfer QB that can't throw.

Now I get football entirely.

I would have preferred some trick play than the kick attempt.

 

[Giddyup]

Safeties are crashing the box. No need to protect against the long ball. We’ll continue to see it if RL is in

 

[GATTACA!]

Came up in one of the other threads yesterday, but a couple of people who were in the stadium said we didn't actually have a timeout - we'd burned it when NIU had the ball after that first down review situation - but NBC didn't realize that. I dunno.

But yeah if you have a TO there, you could probably fire a quick pass and try for 10 more yards or so. Or try for a Hail Mary. Or at least take our time on the kick. Regardless of the decision, not having a TO might explain what appeared to be very rushed/questionable end-of-game decision making if like most of us you thought we DID have one.

Leonard would have bounced the Hail Mary at the 15.

 

[irish4ever]

Can Leonard not throw 50 yards?

How strong is the wind behind him?

 

[irish4ever]

I would have preferred some trick play than the kick attempt.

ND seems to rarely uas trick plays ... why? I can already expect Purdue doing a minimum of 2 against our D this weekend.

 

[ab2cmiller]

How strong is the wind behind him?

LOL. Well the wind was evidently behind him on the interception that he underthrew by 10 yards

 

[irishff1014]

Another god awful Freeman offense

 

[NDRock]

Who decided to throw 32 times? Who decided to throw on 2nd & 1? Why bring RL here and not run more? The coaches need to make decisions based on the personnel they have. Maybe MF is forcing Denbrock to do this, or maybe he isn't, but that would be useful information to have.

I mean, it makes sense if you assume to win in the playoffs you have to be able to pass. Part of the benefits of scheduling a MAC team is it should give you an opportunity to work on these things. Obviously, at a certain point you still have to win the game.

 

[NDisme]

Freeman has the program going in the right direction. He’s just allowing RL to sabotage the season which is very frustrating.

Sure but us not getting off the field on D and Cross and Mills allowing freaking NIU’s offensive line to push them around sure didn’t help

 

[NorthDakota]

Sure but us not getting off the field on D and Cross and Mills allowing freaking NIU’s offensive line to push them around sure didn’t help

The defense deserves some blame but the offense scored 14 points. It's 2024, the other team is probably gonna score some points too.

 

[NDRock]

Sure but us not getting off the field on D and Cross and Mills allowing freaking NIU’s offensive line to push them around sure didn’t help

Much like when we play Navy, you win these games on offense. Getting a big lead and making them one dimensional is what you’re supposed to do against a MAC team.

 

[Huntr]

Seventh time ND has scored fewer than 21 points under Freeman, 1-6 in those games.

yikes

 

[NorthDakota]

Seventh time ND has scored fewer than 21 points under Freeman, 1-6 in those games.

yikes

It's 2024, you need to put 30 on the board before you can even begin to blame the defense

 

[RipWheeler]

A little salt in the wound. Sark warning his team to avoid the “Notre Dame Scenario”. Everyone getting their shots in, this is brutal.

 

[NDRock]

It's 2024, you need to put 30 on the board before you can even begin to blame the defense

In most of those game the defense played well. Think we gave up over 30 just once, to Louisville last year.

 

[BeatSC]

He wasn't a DEI hire but ND has no business hiring a 35 year old assistant coach as their HC.

Brohm or Campbell should have been the hire. Unfortunately we let the players make the hire like Indiana with Mike Davis.

Well it’s hard to argue he was hired based on his resume. We’ve had too many instances where relying on a new head coach with no experience whether internal or not. Willingham was not a DEI hire as he took Stanford to the Rose Bowl with similar educational restrictions. Did he get lucky? Looks like it now. He got three years and the boot and his team quit on him. We also wanted to jump on Urban. If Urban is interested then we can Freeman if he falls short of 10 wins. Need a solid replacement plan though if we can him. He will have enough money to retire or go in the booth.

 

[BeatSC]

Did anyone else notice that it seemed an analyst (some guy on an Ipad) made a critical decision? He came over to Freeman showed him something (my guess analytics) and then Freeman immediately decided to go for it. I know statistics are used tremendously, but c'mon you have to know what to do in all situations as a head coach.

Get these geeks off of the field. A coach who needs them has no feel for the game and is grasping at straws. Would have like to be a fly on the wall in the coaches meeting.
Golden must be thinking like our QBs. I can’t believe I’m a backup to this guy! The sore ankle in practice would be a blessing and an easy way out for Marcus. Take the red jersey off RL and go live.

 

[irishandy]

Maybe Howard Cross needs to get a hold of Leonard like he did last year, but not injure him.

If anyone saw Howard Cross's post game interview he should've been a captain.

Leonard is going to start vs. Purdue, I am OK to give him a chance to right the wrong, but I want to see more leadership out of Leonard, and of course better play. As I've mentioned already Leonard should be on a short leash.