Michael Fredrick Denbrock Hired as Offensive Coordinator (2023)

[Irish#1]

I wonder if the same would've been said heading into the first year of Golden's tenure? Maybe he was revered early on?

I think if you go back and read his thread, there was a lot of teeth gnashing when he was announced. Ash has already said he wasn't going to be changing much. Just a tweak or two.

 

[Irish#1]

I'd be very surprised if the defense took a major step back.

I won't say there shouldn't be skepticism from transitioning from Golden to Ash, but at the end of the day, there shouldn't be any mistaking that Marcus Freeman has a huge hand in how the defense operates. Unless Ash is BVG-esque in terms of disconnect with the players, I don't see there being a big drop-off, if any at all.

It'd be tough to replace guys like Mills and Cross, but the reality is that we already essentially had to replace them. Mills missed basically the entire CFP, and ND had to make due without him and, for as much as I loved Cross as a player, he was nowhere near the same guy last year, because he was consistently hurt. Dude would absolutely bust his ass every second he played, but you could tell that he was struggling to just walk straight, much less hold up against a CFP level offensive line.

I don't think they can replace the 100% healthy iteration of Cross and Mills, but ND made it all the way to the title game without that and frankly, less than what they have now. If Ash and Freeman can come close to replicating the impact that Golden made, they should be more than fine.

Get that sound reasoning out of here.

 

[notredomer23]

I guess I am not all that concerned about the interior DL pass rush taking a step back as we expect Bryce Young to be a game wrecker, and inshallah Boubacar Traore will be mostly recovered by Miami. My bigger concern would be missing out on some field generals in Kiser and Watts. The defense may be more talented this year, but that leadership is difficult to replace.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I think if you go back and read his thread, there was a lot of teeth gnashing when he was announced. Ash has already said he wasn't going to be changing much. Just a tweak or two.

Correct. There was a healthy amount of skepticism and rightfully so. The biggest benefit that everyone seemed to rally around was his head coaching experience and how that could help benefit Freeman as he learned the ropes as a first-time HC.

Fast forward and Golden proved to be the best DC not named Knowles in the country. His in-game adjustments are likely going to be missed.

Ash deserves the benefit of the doubt, especially with the talent he has to work with, but a healthy amount of skepticism is perfectly reasonable.

 

[Huntr]

I guess I am not all that concerned about the interior DL pass rush taking a step back as we expect Bryce Young to be a game wrecker, and inshallah Boubacar Traore will be mostly recovered by Miami. My bigger concern would be missing out on some field generals in Kiser and Watts. The defense may be more talented this year, but that leadership is difficult to replace.

34 got your back

 

[IrishLion]

Y’all.

The defensive dropoff in practice is because they’re going against… and not to overhype it… our top-5 OL, top-1 RB unit, TEU-studded, revamped WR-room, CJ Carr-led offense every damn day.

Right?

The old Fall Camp conundrum.

If our offense sucks, is it because we're doomed, or because the defense is elite?

If the defense struggles, are we fucked? Or is the offense going to run roughshod over everyone?

If I know ND fans, I know everyone is going to fight tooth and nail about it over meaningless practice clips, and we're all going to hate each other right until kickoff in Miami. #GoIrish

 

[tko]

I love when we're honest.

 

[allenm5333]

I think if you go back and read his thread, there was a lot of teeth gnashing when he was announced. Ash has already said he wasn't going to be changing much. Just a tweak or two.

The science can be the same. But can he be the artist Al Golden was?

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

The old Fall Camp conundrum.

If our offense sucks, is it because we're doomed, or because the defense is elite?

If the defense struggles, are we fucked? Or is the offense going to run roughshod over everyone?

If I know ND fans, I know everyone is going to fight tooth and nail about it over meaningless practice clips, and we're all going to hate each other right until kickoff in Miami. #GoIrish

Until kickoff.

Then we’ll all bond in the Miami game thread as we burn our championship hopes to the ground after our first 3 and out.

 

[Irish#1]

Correct. There was a healthy amount of skepticism and rightfully so. The biggest benefit that everyone seemed to rally around was his head coaching experience and how that could help benefit Freeman as he learned the ropes as a first-time HC.

Fast forward and Golden proved to be the best DC not named Knowles in the country. His in-game adjustments are likely going to be missed.

Ash deserves the benefit of the doubt, especially with the talent he has to work with, but a healthy amount of skepticism is perfectly reasonable.

The science can be the same. But can he be the artist Al Golden was?

Along with Golden, there was a lot of moaning when Harry was hired as well as Elko.

Given MF's knack for getting the right coaches, I think we'll be okay.

 

[IrishLax]

On the DT thing... bottom line is you replace a number of other studs like Watts, Kiser, etc. and the "vibe" is that there are some really talented guys ready to step up and baring injury we won't miss a beat.

And the vibe on DT is that these dudes can eat blocks but that's just about it. Again, I was hesitant to mention this because fall camp hasn't even kicked off yet, and it's very possible that people will have a different opinion in a week.

And like Numbersguy said... they will be going against literally top tier OL. There is no one on the schedule who projects to have the kind of OL that ND has except maybe Miami and Texas A&M.

 

[Irish5Saint]

Defense... I'm keeping my lips sealed until I actually see the product on the field... but the whispers are slightly discouraging. Haven't even started fall camp yet so who knows. I expect a big step backwards on that side of the ball.

Given that camp is starting tomorrow what would have occurred during the summer to indicate that the defense is taking a step back?

 

[SeekNDestroy]

And the vibe on DT is that these dudes can eat blocks but that's just about it. Again, I was hesitant to mention this because fall camp hasn't even kicked off yet, and it's very possible that people will have a different opinion in a week.

I appreciate that you’re just sharing what you hear, but I have to admit I’m a bit baffled. Jared Dawson had 4 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss in 10 games last year. Jason Onye has also shown that he is capable of rushing the passer. Aren’t these two expected to take the majority of the snaps?

 

[FWIrish4]

We’ve heard 21 personnel is in the works, especially with Seider’s experience with it at Penn St. Please give me some of this creativity with Love/Price/Williams

 

[ulukinatme]

We’ve heard 21 personnel is in the works, especially with Seider’s experience with it at Penn St. Please give me some of this creativity with Love/Price/Williams

RB should have followed his blockers a bit better, if he cuts behind his TE like he's supposed to he probably scores a TD. It all depends on how good of a tackler 10 is and if the WR got there to block him first.

 

[IAIrish]

We’ve heard 21 personnel is in the works, especially with Seider’s experience with it at Penn St. Please give me some of this creativity with Love/Price/Williams

Agreed on 21, but maybe not that play. That's a tfl against a good defense.

 

[Pete]

 

[IrishLax]

WOOF

 

[LifelongFan]

Team sucks all over the place. 2016 again.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

He's horrible. Phone booth football. Gets a 5 star QB in his 2nd year in system and throws bubble screens. No one's bubble screened their way to a serious season.

 

[arrowryan]

This guy fucking sucks. Send him to a nursing home

 

[1219Booopa]

This game is fireable imo. Not putting the ball in the hands of best player, too many screens. Terrible

 

[LifelongFan]

This is a Freeman cleans house in December kind of season.

 

[Tejas]

No more bullshit going forward, got it?

 

[IrishLax]

This game is a giant "what if" because they didn't even try to either:
1. Establish the run
2. Throw the ball down the field

Frankly, CJ Carr executed well when given the opportunities.

 

[ColoradoIrish]

The game plan for tonight made no sense, both Love and Price, need to get more touches. And the lack of vertical passing game is concerning

 

[NotKoon]

This game is a giant "what if" because they didn't even try to either:
1. Establish the run
2. Throw the ball down the field

Frankly, CJ Carr executed well when given the opportunities.

His play calling was very similarly uninspired in the championship. Two games in a row with stretches of lost drives to terrible play calling

 

[dang227]

This game is a giant "what if" because they didn't even try to either:
1. Establish the run
2. Throw the ball down the field

Frankly, CJ Carr executed well when given the opportunities.

Agree. He was not the offenses issue. Denbrock was.

 

[1219Booopa]

Ash has done well but Denbrock is on the block

 

[dang227]

100% it should have been pound love and price and throw vertical