Chris "Belt To" Ash - Defensive Coordinator

ulukinatme

ulukinatme

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FDNYIrish1 said:
I keep thinking there are such easy corrections to get back on track and salvage the season. That someone will come in and voice common sense adjustments. Then I remember hoping the same thing when Parker was here and now I’m sad.
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stlnd01 said:
The fixes on defense are probably easier than the fixes on offense were that year. Aside maybe from nickel it's not really a personnel issue. We just need to simplify things, and get back to attacking.
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I don't know...Parker really fucked up in those big games in '23. The only thing he was really lacking was experienced WRs. He did have talent, but they were young. He had two big time NFL tackles and a decent interior OL, he had Estime and Love in the backfield, and an incredibly experienced and proven QB in Hartman. Somehow, at home mind you, he basically had the same result Rees had in Columbus with Buchner at QB, a younger OL, and less receiving talent. Like, across the board we should have been better off in '23 from a talent perspective. I still can't believe he quit feeding Estime late in that game, when OSU's defense was tired and wanted nothing to do with him. We win that game if Parker just calls a run and doesn't run the screen.
 
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BrianWalsh

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Bane said:
I have zero patience with Ash because nothing, in his resume or history suggests he's capable of turning it around. I didn't necessarily want Mickens, but once it was clear we were out on any other established DCs, I wanted him. He is unknown. He could be a home run, or a strike out. Ash was a strike out looking right from the jump.

It's a pile of cope to preach the "be patient" line. The barn is already on fire. If the defense turns it around, it will be because Freeman took the reins, which really sort of defeats the purpose of hiring an experienced DC. Whoever said this year feels similar to 2023 is right on. A good team weighed down by an absolutely atrocious half of the ball. We're going to give up a lot (relatively speaking) of points Purdue. The good news is, we should score in bunches.

This guy sucks and has sucked at every station in his career outside of riding the coattails of an Urban Meyer coached OSU team 11 years ago. I hated the hire at the time but held my peace and trusted Freeman. My trust in Freeman is severely damaged now.
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What??? You speak as if he once coached a D1 FBS power conference team that lost 78-0 or something…
 
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Jiggafini19Deux

Jiggafini19Deux

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Bane said:
Would Fickell actually come be a DC for Freeman though? Ego and pride are very powerful.
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Yeah, I doubt that. Stranger things have happened, but I don't see it. You could almost see Fickell going to the NFL to coach DL or LB. His guy Vrabel is in New England now.

Anthony Weaver has been coaching in the NFL since 2012. It's hard to imagine him taking a step back into college ball if he doesn't have to. He's an alum, which makes him an easy connection to make. Viable candidate? I don't think so.
 
Irish#1

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Bane said:
Would Fickell actually come be a DC for Freeman though? Ego and pride are very powerful.
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Possibly. We see it all the time in coaching with HC’s getting fired and taking an assistants position.
 
SighWillingham

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Rewatched the game last night, and it was worse on the 2nd go. The amount of players lost on so many plays is an indictment of Ash's zone schemes. Yes our secondary (besides Leo Moore, whose so so so good) has been terrible, but I have to feel that this is also on Ash. His playcalling seemingly has broken some dudes thus far. Adon Schuler looks slow and tentative, words I would never thought I would utter for him. We know Gray is a rollercoaster player, but his hes spinning around lost on so many plays (hurt or not).

Saddest part, in the trenches I saw lots of lack of effort. Several red zone plays it looked like guys gave up. Which prob is a symptom of rushing 4 and wearing down, but I fooled myself thinking this D was going to be deep and elite. Oh and KVA not on the field for an obvious passing down to win/lose the game is a fireable offense.

All being said, we played two heavyweights to open the season so early year hiccups are highlighted, and we took both games to the wire, but those are the teams we need to compete against to get a Natty. Still think we're not entirely dead in terms of the playoff because these loses will age well, and there will be plenty of madness once the big boys start playing real football teams.

Thanks for letting me squeeze the last of my negativity out here. Onward. Go Irish.

(Fuck Chris Ash)
 
Jiggafini19Deux

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Irish#1 said:
Possibly. We see it all the time in coaching with HC’s getting fired and taking an assistants position.
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I don't know that there would be a comparable situation to Freeman the head coach hiring Fickell as a DC. Fickell made Freeman one of his first hires when Fickell got the UC job. They are friends, yes, but Fickell wanting to stay with his UC team for the playoff ultimately led to Freeman getting the ND job. As mentioned, ego is a powerful thing, so does Fickell at 52 go to work for his protege Freeman who isn't even 40 yet?

I suppose it would be possible for Fickell to coach under Freeman at ND or anywhere else, but I don't think it is likely. Fickell could either want another HC job or a move to the NFL at this point of his career.

Now supposing Baylor were to can Dave Aranda, I think there's a more likely chance that Aranda comes to ND as DC. Or something similar to that.
 
BeatSC

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Jiggafini19Deux said:
I don't know that there would be a comparable situation to Freeman the head coach hiring Fickell as a DC. Fickell made Freeman one of his first hires when Fickell got the UC job. They are friends, yes, but Fickell wanting to stay with his UC team for the playoff ultimately led to Freeman getting the ND job. As mentioned, ego is a powerful thing, so does Fickell at 52 go to work for his protege Freeman who isn't even 40 yet?

I suppose it would be possible for Fickell to coach under Freeman at ND or anywhere else, but I don't think it is likely. Fickell could either want another HC job or a move to the NFL at this point of his career.

Now supposing Baylor were to can Dave Aranda, I think there's a more likely chance that Aranda comes to ND as DC. Or something similar to that.
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If Fickell gets the boot then AD at ND would be ok. It’s just a two year rehabilitation gig. A way better choice than Ass.
 
ulukinatme

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SighWillingham said:
Rewatched the game last night, and it was worse on the 2nd go. The amount of players lost on so many plays is an indictment of Ash's zone schemes. Yes our secondary (besides Leo Moore, whose so so so good) has been terrible, but I have to feel that this is also on Ash. His playcalling seemingly has broken some dudes thus far. Adon Schuler looks slow and tentative, words I would never thought I would utter for him. We know Gray is a rollercoaster player, but his hes spinning around lost on so many plays (hurt or not).

Saddest part, in the trenches I saw lots of lack of effort. Several red zone plays it looked like guys gave up. Which prob is a symptom of rushing 4 and wearing down, but I fooled myself thinking this D was going to be deep and elite. Oh and KVA not on the field for an obvious passing down to win/lose the game is a fireable offense.

All being said, we played two heavyweights to open the season so early year hiccups are highlighted, and we took both games to the wire, but those are the teams we need to compete against to get a Natty. Still think we're not entirely dead in terms of the playoff because these loses will age well, and there will be plenty of madness once the big boys start playing real football teams.

Thanks for letting me squeeze the last of my negativity out here. Onward. Go Irish.

(Fuck Chris Ash)
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"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Chris Ass: "Hold my beer."
 
T Town Tommy

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At the game last Saturday I thought the Wisconsin players were pretty well coached. Both their lines were solid. Players were disciplined and played hard. They just lacked overall speed in their secondary to keep up. Not a knock as Bama is well above average at the WR group.

As far as Fickell and ND… I could see him as DC for a couple of years on a rehab and then bouncing back into a HC job somewhere. I think a great hire for the Irish if it comes to fruition down the road.
 
TNUtoNotreDame

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What is Van Gorder up to? At least he added some good memes and gifs
 
GATTACA!

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This is worse than BVG when you take their rosters relative talent into account.

Fuck this fucking bum. Fire him tonight win or lose. Want to preach accountability Freeman? Fucking show it.
 
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