Al Washington - DL Coach & Def. Run Game Coordinator

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RudyVerse

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Dale said:
So we’re just not gonna have coaches by that logic?
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Feel like that's a very simplistic view. Tre isn't an established coach making millions, he's just getting started and getting paid the max + opportunity is a bigger deal than a position coach adding $150k.
 
Jiggafini19Deux

Jiggafini19Deux

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stlnd01 said:
I get not moving your family for potentially a one-year gig, but Notre Dame's a pretty good job, Jacksonville's pretty far away, and from what they showed on TV his kids are pretty young. Maybe just plan on being here for a bit?
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I know guys in the profession who had done this in the short and long term. It's what's best for the kids in that particular moment. Being married and having kids, I couldn't do it. Not to mention I've seen how these guys live at the FCS level and I don't think I could manage without my family there even if I'm making six figures or more. Regardless of the level you're at and money you make, it's a grind. Especially in season. I would not want to do that alone coming home to an empty apartment or townhouse.

There are a lot of factors that are considered. We're dealing with real people in the end, after all. The majority of them are good guys. Plenty of scumbags but I think the good ones are the majority.

I'm actually happy for Ash's family that they weren't around for those first few weeks. Probably for the best.
 
Jiggafini19Deux

Jiggafini19Deux

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AKRowdy said:
If it’s Ash, then Mickens is promoted to DC.
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I don't think he's going anywhere.

The side bar in question was Ash's family being down in Florida while he's in South Bend coaching. Some asked if that was Ash or Wash. Wash is married with a son and daughter, but they're not living in Florida. Ash was a scout in 2024 for the Jags. All adds up.
Dale said:
Washington is at the Elston point in his career where he has been a position coach for a long time at premier programs and has to decide is he okay with that or does he want to take the next step by any means necessary.
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Dale, you're spot on, and it's really a fairly easy concept to grasp if you really give it a smidge of thought. Every time a job opens up, a thread is littered with posters suggesting ND fill the job with a former player. This is very nice. It's fan stuff and it's ok, albeit lazy and not plausible, not to mention the alumni thing typically doesn't work more often than not.

It also works when you consider that 1) Al Washington played at Boston College and has interviewed there at least once that we know of. 2) He's never been a defensive coordinator and if an opportunity presents itself that he feels could further his career trajectory, it makes sense that he leave his current position at Notre Dame.

He would be defensive coordinator at Boston College. If it were Citadel or Ball State, maybe we'd be inclined to question the move on multiple levels.
 
rtrn2glory

rtrn2glory

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I know we all love Mickens, but to just hand him the role of DC is something that we have to be careful of. Being a play caller is a unique skill set and there's a big difference b/t being a play caller and a position coach. You can be good at both, but it's also not something that I think is as easy as everyone is thinking it is. Mickens might be a good play caller I have no idea, but to just hand him the keys is something I wouldn't be so quick to do.
 
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DomeFieldAdvantage

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rtrn2glory said:
I know we all love Mickens, but to just hand him the role of DC is something that we have to be careful of. Being a play caller is a unique skill set and there's a big difference b/t being a play caller and a position coach. You can be good at both, but it's also not something that I think is as easy as everyone is thinking it is. Mickens might be a good play caller I have no idea, but to just hand him the keys is something I wouldn't be so quick to do.
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On the other hand, the core of our defensive identity over the last four years has been having elite corners that can man up on the outside allowing the DC to be more active and creative with the safeties and box defenders. If we lose that corner play, we lose what made this defense what it is.

So, yes, promoting Mickens to DC would be a risk, but losing him brings its own risks.
 
Jiggafini19Deux

Jiggafini19Deux

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rtrn2glory said:
I know we all love Mickens, but to just hand him the role of DC is something that we have to be careful of. Being a play caller is a unique skill set and there's a big difference b/t being a play caller and a position coach. You can be good at both, but it's also not something that I think is as easy as everyone is thinking it is. Mickens might be a good play caller I have no idea, but to just hand him the keys is something I wouldn't be so quick to do.
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I agree with this.

I like Mike Mickens for the coach and person he is more than the recruiter he is. And he's obviously a very good recruiter. Fanbases value good recruiters more than they do the majority of other qualities coaches possess.

There is an inevitability that Mickens is going to leave the program. I don't think the best method of going forward would be to promote him simply for avoiding having to lose him. Life will, and always has, gone on. The Lady on top of that dome is bigger than all the coaches and players, past and present. That's why we, as fans, keep coming back.
 
Dale

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Dale said:
Well he didn’t recruit out of HS Mills or Cross or Burnham or Botelho or Junior or Hinish or Oben or Rubio

It’s not controversial to say he damn well can coach ball but could recruit better

But it’s not the night for that stuff lol
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Bump.

Washington didn’t recruit Mills or Cross or Hinish or Rubio or Hughes or Dawson or Onye out of high school.
 
JD Irish

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Yup. His DT recruiting has been horrible, just like WR recruiting had been, and what QB had been before that. When you need multiple players at the same position from the portal every year, that is a direct result of continued poor recruiting of that position.
 
FightingIrishLover7

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JD Irish said:
Yup. His DT recruiting has been horrible, just like WR recruiting had been, and what QB had been before that. When you need multiple players at the same position from the portal every year, that is a direct result of continued poor recruiting of that position.
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Part of it is not paying enough for DTs. One of the highest paid HS and transfer positions. Hence the Justin Scott saga
 
CanadalovesND

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FightingIrishLover7 said:
Part of it is not paying enough for DTs. One of the highest paid HS and transfer positions. Hence the Justin Scott saga
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This is very much a good part of it. ND has finally understood that recruiting top interior defenders requires money, big money. They understood that this year, and probably got the best combo since ... I dont know when, but a long time.

And you will see similar results in the '27 class.
 
T-Boone

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sfk324 said:
No, the thread got bumped because Mukam is in the portal, so it provides th opportunity to beat the "Washington is a bad recruiter" horse again.
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Okay thanks. I am down with that. He isn't a good recruiter.
 
NDPhilly

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Vernon, Devan Houston, Mukam, Gobaira, Tyson Ford, and Burnham were all 4 stars who could be significant roster contributors in 2025/2026 who busted / under performed for one reason or the other. Mix of bad injury luck and no development.

If even 3 of those guys hit we’re in a much different spot.
 
Dale

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NDPhilly said:
Vernon, Devan Houston, Mukam, Gobaira, Tyson Ford, and Burnham
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Problem is there are 3 projects, a converted LB and a guy who played easy competition on this list. They were given a 4 star based off projection, not production besides Vernon.
 
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DT recruiting is becoming incredibly difficult out of high school because the top guys are being paid insane money as high school recruits in signing bonuses, and the next tier of guys are getting overpaid due to scarcity as well.

There are high school defensive tackles that teams feel can make playoff caliber impact no later than year 2, that are being paid upwards of $1.5-$2 million (combination of Rev Share and NIL) coming out of high school. Even second tier high school guys, with longer expected development tracks are getting paid high six figure ($650,000-$850,000) dollar figures right now in recruiting.

Quality DTs that have size, power, motor and quality movement skills are really rare. Often one or more of those traits has to be developed, or overcome in other areas. Those guys are highly coveted and very well paid.
 
BleedBlueGold

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AKRowdy said:
Get Pat Kuntz.
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FU BK said:
This
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Came here to ask about this. Not as any disrespect towards A-dub, but mostly out of curiosity surrounding Kuntz and what they've accomplished on the DL at IU. Which includes transfer portal evaluations, etc. What Cignetti has done in two years at IU is unbelievable. If Kuntz can bring a taste of that to ND on the DL, sign me up.
 
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