ND Defensive Coordinator search- 2025

Dale

Dale

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Leonhard isn’t much of a recruiter and I think his defenses were inflated by the Big Ten West


That being said, he is a safeties coach, which we need. He has called plays, which Mickens hasn’t. I think Leonard also could help the run D and pass rush, two areas sorely in need of it. It also is likely a short term thing, which normally you don’t want but is a good runway for Mickens to stay but be DC long term
 
irishff1014

irishff1014

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Dale said:
Leonhard isn’t much of a recruiter and I think his defenses were inflated by the Big Ten West


That being said, he is a safeties coach, which we need. He has called plays, which Mickens hasn’t. I think Leonard also could help the run D and pass rush, two areas sorely in need of it. It also is likely a short term thing, which normally you don’t want but is a good runway for Mickens to stay but be DC long term
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I know you can’t keep everyone on the staff. I know JL’s defense is very similar to Golden’s. We have a rockstar in Mickens and imo we can’t lose him. He is by far the best recruiter and talent evaluator on this staff. If he stays this year, look out for the following year.

I also read that the Lions might be looking at him for DC.
 
stlnd01

stlnd01

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irishff1014 said:
I know you can’t keep everyone on the staff. I know JL’s defense is very similar to Golden’s. We have a rockstar in Mickens and imo we can’t lose him. He is by far the best recruiter and talent evaluator on this staff. If he stays this year, look out for the following year.

I also read that the Lions might be looking at him for DC.
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Looks like the Lions promoted someone internally. Is Leonhard in the mix for any other NFL DC jobs?

If not, having him for even a year or two as a bridge to Mickens being fully ready seems like a smart move. He was a very good DC at Wisconsin, and even accounting for the Big Ten West they played the sort of complementary football that Freeman likes to play. If the other defensive coaches stay in place, recruiting will be fine.
 
irishff1014

irishff1014

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stlnd01 said:
Looks like the Lions promoted someone internally. Is Leonhard in the mix for any other NFL DC jobs?

If not, having him for even a year or two as a bridge to Mickens being fully ready seems like a smart move. He was a very good DC at Wisconsin, and even accounting for the Big Ten West they played the sort of complementary football that Freeman likes to play. If the other defensive coaches stay in place, recruiting will be fine.
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The only team i saw was the lions
 
IrishBoognish

IrishBoognish

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Irish4life said:
Prister reporting that ND is trying to hire Jim Leonhard and Mickens as Co-DCs
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But as a P.S. on this,

Prister made it very clear in that post it wasn't a something he expected, it was just a possibility he'd heard.

Sounded to me like a best case scenario and a reason why Mickens wasn't already named DC.

(Remember last time with the OC hire debacle. We whiffed on that Utah jagoff, then were forced to take whoever that dink was.)

Now we have Mickens as a 24 Karat safety valve if we don't get a veteran. It's the polar opposite.
 
BeauBenken

BeauBenken

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Unfortunately I've grown accustom to ignoring whatever names are initially mentioned as they usually never pan out. It's almost always someone not mentioned in the first lists by our reporters but rather someone they start sneaking onto the list a week later.
 
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EvilleIrish

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BeauBenken said:
Unfortunately I've grown accustom to ignoring whatever names are initially mentioned as they usually never pan out. It's almost always someone not mentioned in the first lists by our reporters but rather someone they start sneaking onto the list a week later.
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I’m with ya but last year 247 was out in front of Denbrock when nobody else was.
 
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TheProspector

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IrishBoognish said:
If Prister was my social studies teacher or something? I'd hate him.

As an old crotchety ND alum who loves the program? I dig him.

He knows what's up.
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I like Prister and II but he’s been extra crotchety lately even to the point of being pedantic and petty with Brice on the podcast.

And II subscribers have rightly brought up that premium content on that board has become non-existent and any actual insider content is being dropped on a free podcast. And when pushed on that Prister’s response to subscribers is just to be a dick.
 
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EvilleIrish

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TheProspector said:
I like Prister and II but he’s been extra crotchety lately even to the point of being pedantic and petty with Brice on the podcast.

And II subscribers have rightly brought up that premium content on that board has become non-existent and any actual insider content is being dropped on a free podcast. And when pushed on that Prister’s response to subscribers is just to be a dick.
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It has been a really bizarre environment lately.
 
IRISHDODGER

IRISHDODGER

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TheProspector said:
I like Prister and II but he’s been extra crotchety lately even to the point of being pedantic and petty with Brice on the podcast.

And II subscribers have rightly brought up that premium content on that board has become non-existent and any actual insider content is being dropped on a free podcast. And when pushed on that Prister’s response to subscribers is just to be a dick.
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Agreed. Noticed both issues you referred to as well. Someone called him out and he agreed he needed to be better but I couldn’t detect if it was snark or not. Claims to be tired from all the CFP coverage/travel to which no one felt sorry for him…LOL.
 
Hautian Domer

Hautian Domer

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Irish4life said:
Prister reporting that ND is trying to hire Jim Leonhard and Mickens as Co-DCs
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If true, don't you think this would be "Co-DCs" in name only? Basically, doing something to promote Mickens in an effort to appease him, but this is solely Leonhard's defense? Otherwise, you've got too many cooks in the kitchen.
 
Dale

Dale

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Hautian Domer said:
If true, don't you think this would be "Co-DCs" in name only? Basically, doing something to promote Mickens in an effort to appease him, but this is solely Leonhard's defense? Otherwise, you've got too many cooks in the kitchen.
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I don’t think it would be solely Leonhard’s defense no

I think he would call plays. But this is still Freeman’s defense before anyone, and Mickens knows that second best.
 
ColinKSU

ColinKSU

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TheProspector said:
I like Prister and II but he’s been extra crotchety lately even to the point of being pedantic and petty with Brice on the podcast.

And II subscribers have rightly brought up that premium content on that board has become non-existent and any actual insider content is being dropped on a free podcast. And when pushed on that Prister’s response to subscribers is just to be a dick.
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Prister being a dick has been his first and only move the last few years.
 
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