Chris "Belt To" Ash - Defensive Coordinator

[IrishLax]

So given your feelings on Ash currently, do you want them to be more exotic? We’ve also done these things.

These are definitely schematic choices that can help deter or improve performance, but we also have to agree that they must just still throw there, right? Restrepo was one of the top WRs in CFB last year for Miami. This IS the Dawson offense. Craver and Toney are both Top 10 in the country in targets through 3 weeks. So you can say these are answers/solutions, but the other team has built their entire foundation of their offense on this. You’re not gonna get then to just not throw that way. Not when you don’t think highly of the guy on the other side.

Reality is we have 4 safeties that have made basically zero plays through two games and a DL offering zero pass rush. Gray also routinely getting beat deep. So in no way was I blaming the whole defense on Hobbs as you inferred. But if the answer comes down to “have others help him” in short, you’re robbing Peter to pay Paul with the play I’ve seen.

I will say as random aside I thought they were way too worried about Reed’s legs and that is a possible helper made available. But I guess if he scrambled more he may have gotten our entire defense ejected for targeting.

Yeah so this is all stuff I can agree with and get behind, and maybe me and some others are not reading your other posts correctly.

Where we disagree is on the robbing Peter to pay Paul. My opinion is that things are so dysfunctional that the answer isn't giving up something else to help Hobbs it's that they have systemic and foundational issues that are causing the entire product to suck. And that it's not a personnel/talent issue. It's a production issue because the guys suck at what they are being asked to do. There is no doubt in my mind that Al Golden would've gotten much better production from the hole unit by:
1. Creating more havoc in a variety of different ways
2. Getting Tae Johnson ready to go opposite Shumate and making him a more productive coverage safety
3. Being more aggressive with our linebackers
4. Doing more to make sure Hobbs, Gray, etc. aren't being asked to play to their weaknesses

The most glaring illustration of point #4, IMO, is actually having Bowen 1v1 with the tight end on 4th and 11 to lose the game.

 

[Dale]

This is the kind of stuff where, with all due respect, it comes across like you just want to argue for the sake of arguing. And maybe you don't mean it that way, but that's how I read it because I don't think what I'm saying lacks clarity.

No. To 2A I didn’t understand what you are saying there so, yes I was genuinely asking.

I’m not sure how you can say I’m arguing to argue when I simply posted a stat and you responded to me in an abrasive manner for really no reason. You then steamrolled me with things that didn’t address what I posted which is a tendency you also like to employ. You then called me a troll for wanting to genuinely get an answer. You are now making it personal, again instead of just making it about football. So you wanna talk ball and discuss on its own merit we can, you wanna poke shots to make your point I’ve heard enough.

 

[SighWillingham]

Just going back and revisiting Ash’s hire in light of how terrible he’s been so far, it’s just all the more perplexing.

He literally doesn’t check a single box. He’s not a “guru,” he’s not a recruiter, he’s not an up and coming talent. He’s not a lockeroom motivator. He was basically a high level washout- who was destined to grind out in middle management.

Why did MF think he needed to outsmart everyone? Talented players are regressing which is the biggest tell.

Bitter fucking pill to swallow.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Just going back and revisiting Ash’s hire in light of how terrible he’s been so far, it’s just all the more perplexing.

He literally doesn’t check a single box. He’s not a “guru,” he’s not a recruiter, he’s not an up and coming talent. He’s not a lockeroom motivator. He was basically a high level washout- who was destined to grind out in middle management.

Why did MF think he needed to outsmart everyone? Talented players are regressing which is the biggest tell.

Bitter fucking pill to swallow.

Bingo.

And the worst part is that WE ALL IMMEDIATELY KNEW IT. It’s shit like that that makes you just throw up your hands. We all want MFMF to just roll, but every step forward comes with three steps back it seems.

 

[T-Boone]

Just promote Mickens and keep Ash as a consultant.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

I’d rather bring back that fat dude who took over when BVG was shitcanned than Ass

 

[GATTACA!]

Brb gonna go save NDs season real quick.

 

[stlnd01]

Just going back and revisiting Ash’s hire in light of how terrible he’s been so far, it’s just all the more perplexing.

He literally doesn’t check a single box. He’s not a “guru,” he’s not a recruiter, he’s not an up and coming talent. He’s not a lockeroom motivator. He was basically a high level washout- who was destined to grind out in middle management.

Why did MF think he needed to outsmart everyone? Talented players are regressing which is the biggest tell.

Bitter fucking pill to swallow.

I think it’s very similar to the Parker hire.

The job opened relatively late in the college coach hiring cycle. We took a big swing or two, they didn't work out, and we sort of settled for the easiest available. Probably bet that culture and experience would overcome Ash's shortcomings, at least at the start (much like Hartman was thought to be insurance against Parker). It's partly a function of timing, but also of Freeman's relatively shallow network and perhaps some level of overconfidence. You'd hope Freeman would have learned from that experience, but perhaps not.

With the result that a promising season gets short-circuited and, presumably, Ash is head coach at some unimpressive G5 next year.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Rumor from someone claiming info that the defensive locker room absolutely hates Ash. I think Moore’s comments gives that some legs. Love’s comments are concerning as well.

 

[IrishTusker]

I think it’s very similar to the Parker hire.

The job opened relatively late in the college coach hiring cycle. We took a big swing or two, they didn't work out, and we sort of settled for the easiest available. Probably bet that culture and experience would overcome Ash's shortcomings, at least at the start (much like Hartman was thought to be insurance against Parker). It's partly a function of timing, but also of Freeman's relatively shallow network and perhaps some level of overconfidence. You'd hope Freeman would have learned from that experience, but perhaps not.

With the result that a promising season gets short-circuited and, presumably, Ash is head coach at some unimpressive G5 next year.

Compare this with how OSU replaced Knowles. A functional program doesn't have these bizarre problems where a bad coordinator hire destroys the season.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Flat out said the 1H defense was the worst defense he’s seen played since 2016

Look, I want to forget 2019 Michigan as much as anyone, but that was significantly worse defense than this game. Against a worse offense, we gave up 303 rushing yards at a 5.3 ypc clip. Nobody has rushed for over 300 against us besides Navy (I think ever?). This may have been our worst pass defense game I can remember, though.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Yeah so this is all stuff I can agree with and get behind, and maybe me and some others are not reading your other posts correctly.

Where we disagree is on the robbing Peter to pay Paul. My opinion is that things are so dysfunctional that the answer isn't giving up something else to help Hobbs it's that they have systemic and foundational issues that are causing the entire product to suck. And that it's not a personnel/talent issue. It's a production issue because the guys suck at what they are being asked to do. There is no doubt in my mind that Al Golden would've gotten much better production from the hole unit by:
1. Creating more havoc in a variety of different ways
2. Getting Tae Johnson ready to go opposite Shumate and making him a more productive coverage safety
3. Being more aggressive with our linebackers
4. Doing more to make sure Hobbs, Gray, etc. aren't being asked to play to their weaknesses

The most glaring illustration of point #4, IMO, is actually having Bowen 1v1 with the tight end on 4th and 11 to lose the game.

Freudian slip?

 

[T-Boone]

We were pretty good defending against the run yesterday right?

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Chris Van Ass..... WAR DADDY

 

[AKRowdy]

Rumor from someone claiming info that the defensive locker room absolutely hates Ash. I think Moore’s comments gives that some legs. Love’s comments are concerning as well.

What did love say?

 

[EvilleIrish]

What did love say?

Asked how the ran better…”gave the ball to the running backs”…something just feels off

 

[irishff1014]

What did love say?

Here is his interview.

 

[LifelongFan]

Yeah this is a 2016 scenario where we have to clean house in the coaching staff to save everything.

This recruiting class will fall apart if the money isn't insane.

 

[Irish4life]

just comical (also Rubio gets facemasked on this play)

 

[IrishLax]

 

[GATTACA!]

Ash is asshole. Why ND fans hate?

 

[Crazy Balki]

What a

Just going back and revisiting Ash’s hire in light of how terrible he’s been so far, it’s just all the more perplexing.

He literally doesn’t check a single box. He’s not a “guru,” he’s not a recruiter, he’s not an up and coming talent. He’s not a lockeroom motivator. He was basically a high level washout- who was destined to grind out in middle management.

Why did MF think he needed to outsmart everyone? Talented players are regressing which is the biggest tell.

Bitter fucking pill to swallow.

In hindsight, the comparisons to BVG are striking.

BVG was an elite college DC in 2004. He was hired in 2014. He spent '05-13 as an unsuccessful HC and mildly successful NFL position coach.

Chris Ash was an elite college DC in 2015. He was hired in 2025. He spent '16-24 as an unsuccessful HC and mildly successful NFL position coach.

 

[Sea Turtle]

This was always going to be a rebuilding year. New QB and defense.

I don't think we've seen the best from this defense yet. Lots of chapters left to be written.

 

[irishff1014]

Where is Freeman’s analytics guy? They sure aren’t helping.

 

[NDWarrior]

View attachment 3060072
Brb gonna go save NDs season real quick.

Hey, we're laughing but Orgeron said "... And I love the coach at Notre Dame (Marcus Freeman). I’m friends with him and I’ve been there a couple of times. He’s a great guy and the players love him. He runs a tough practice..."

“I think it’s time,” Orgeron said. “I’m feeling it a little bit. Haven’t made the decision totally, but I’ve got my boys settled, coaching football now. It’s been four years since I’ve been out. I’m getting the itch again.”

I'm sure it's not exactly what Orgeron is looking for - Head coach at a smaller FBS school or an NFL DLine role, but hot damn, would be a great way for him to get back in the game and he loves MMFF!

 

[Luckylucci]

At your job, if everything was going great and then your manager quit. And then they hired a new guy who came in and said "I know this is how you've been doing things, but here's how we're going to do things from now on." And then the company started doing terrible and all the employees started getting horrible performance reviews, would you say it's because all of the employees suddenly became bad at their job or would it be because of the manager?

Bottom line is that guys are uncomfortable/confused and being put in position to fail. It's mostly the same dudes that we have seen kick ass for a whole season.

As I noted, I believe Ash does deserve a fair amount of criticism.

However, if after almost 4 full years on staff Al Washington had his DL ready and we were getting pressure and negative plays, don’t you think that would change how Ash’s defnese looks?

Could Ash be putting the DB’s in bad situations or a scheme that they aren’t comfortable with? Yes, again, he deserves a fair amount of criticism.

However, it was Freeman who hired him. It was Freeman who watched him make these changes over Spring and Fall ball. And, it’s Mickens responsibility to implement it amongst his guys. Mickens is also Defensive Passing Game Coordinator. It surprises nobody is talking about this. I’d be surprised if that was in name and money only.

So, again, I think this performance being so poor so early means the whole staff misread this big time. Not just Ash. Ex. Washington thought he had more on the DL. Mickens at DB. The defense could handle this change, Freeman. Evals on many of these guys, whole staff. And, Ash for bad scheme. A lot of blame to go around.

 

[IrishBoognish]

Hey, we're laughing but Orgeron said "... And I love the coach at Notre Dame (Marcus Freeman). I’m friends with him and I’ve been there a couple of times. He’s a great guy and the players love him. He runs a tough practice..."

“I think it’s time,” Orgeron said. “I’m feeling it a little bit. Haven’t made the decision totally, but I’ve got my boys settled, coaching football now. It’s been four years since I’ve been out. I’m getting the itch again.”

I'm sure it's not exactly what Orgeron is looking for - Head coach at a smaller FBS school or an NFL DLine role, but hot damn, would be a great way for him to get back in the game and he lover MMFF!

you cant be serious

 

[IrishBoognish]

As I noted, I believe Ash does deserve a fair amount of criticism.

However, if after almost 4 full years on staff Al Washington had his DL ready and we were getting pressure and negative plays, don’t you think that would change how Ash’s defnese looks?

Could Ash be putting the DB’s in bad situations or a scheme that they aren’t comfortable with? Yes, again, he deserves a fair amount of criticism.

However, it was Freeman who hired him. It was Freeman who watched him make these changes over Spring and Fall ball. And, it’s Mickens responsibility to implement it amongst his guys. Mickens is also Defensive Passing Game Coordinator. It surprises nobody is talking about this. I’d be surprised if that was in name and money only.

So, again, I think this performance being so poor so early means the whole staff misread this big time. Not just Ash. Ex. Washington thought he had more on the DL. Mickens at DB. The defense could handle this change, Freeman. Evals on many of these guys, whole staff. And, Ash for bad scheme. A lot of blame to go around.

I disagree

Nothing has changed since last year except Ash. Its glaring

thats all

 

[ulukinatme]

This was always going to be a rebuilding year. New QB and defense.

I don't think we've seen the best from this defense yet. Lots of chapters left to be written.

Disagree. A young QB can be successful at a high level. They're rare, like Trevor Lawrence, but I think with the defense we were returning, an OL that was supposed to be strong with a backfield and improved receiver room, there were enough pieces to have another run. Obviously the offense has performed very well against a normally stout Elko defense and a Miami defense with some studs. The defense is a far cry from the Top 10 status last season, and it comes down mostly to coaching.

 

[IrishinSyria]

just comical (also Rubio gets facemasked on this play)

yeah definitely a lot of missed holds all day didn't help