Al Golden

[Irishdrunk]

Freeman has and is undergoing a lifetime worth of experience right now. We went all in on young, exciting, recruit heavy, players coaches.

I say we go all the way. I believe MF will never let these mistakes ever happen again. I say we promote electric guy who has turned a liability into one of the best units on the team. Dude can coach, he loves to recruit.


I dunno, man. Maybe you're right. I just like the idea of staying the course with young and player first. But what do I know.

Defense with 9 Players. No Thank You. Too many growing pains w Freeman and his staff.

 

[IrishBoognish]

Defense with 9 Players. No Thank You. Too many growing pains w Freeman and his staff.

Growing pains. Yup. They suck. As a 6 5 dude who went from 5 9 to end height in about 3 years... I totally agree they suck.

But ya know what? I'm glad I went through them. Being tall is awesome.

 

[ColinKSU]

Booger. He’s never coordinated before. How many green horns do we need?

The price is right. How many can we get?

 

[CanadalovesND]

Questionable play-calling at times aside, this defense has only given up nine touchdowns in six games, and 271 yards per game.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

I’m pretty happy with Golden. Hope he settles in here for the long term.

The OC position on the other hand is a real problem.

 

[BabyIrish]

The defense was lights out for two and a half quarters and then were obviously worn down. Pretty impressed with Golden and the turnaroud this season thus far.

 

[NDRock]

I’m pretty happy with Golden. Hope he settles in here for the long term.

The OC position on the other hand is a real problem.

Agree. I’m not sure we’ve really had a top OC here since Weis’ first couple of years. Though I did love the run Chip Long had us on in 2017.

 

[IrishTusker]

Can we stop complaining about the defense in general (as opposed to specific decisions)? It can't be perfect. Again and again and again, the defense gives up the go-ahead score. Okay. But again and again and again the offense doesn't do anything, despite tons of chances to put the game away (Marshall, Stanford, OSU, now Duke).

If the defense gives up 10-20 points, it is hard to complain too much. These games should be 40-10, or something.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Can we stop complaining about the defense in general (as opposed to specific decisions)? It can't be perfect. Again and again and again, the defense gives up the go-ahead score. Okay. But again and again and again the offense doesn't do anything, despite tons of chances to put the game away (Marshall, Stanford, OSU, now Duke).

If the defense gives up 10-20 points, it is hard to complain too much. These games should be 40-10, or something.

My only complaint about the defense is all the missed tackles, and as good as they are inagine how good they’d be if they were tackling better. Everything else has had its moments up and down, but overall coverage has been excellent, they have been stout against the run, and very few large chunk plays.

 

[Lberry]

We have 3 average LBs, one of which is capable of average+ a few plays a game and this defense continues to hold everyone under 20.

Al Golden is coaching a near elite season.

 

[NDMatt91]

I think my only gripe with him is his incredibly lazy effort with recruiting.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I thin my only gripe with him is his incredibly lazy effort with recruiting.

This. Only (major) complaint

 

[Riddickulous]

The defense is giving up only 13 points a game. He's done a good job.

 

[irishff1014]

My only complaint about the defense is all the missed tackles, and as good as they are inagine how good they’d be if they were tackling better. Everything else has had its moments up and down, but overall coverage has been excellent, they have been stout against the run, and very few large chunk plays.

You are 100% correct. The tackling team wide is bad and special teams.

Sometimes his play calling is a little head scratching but for the most part they are sound.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Key will be holding USC under 24

 

[DillonHall]

Key will be holding USC under 24

We're not winning that game if we score less than 24

 

[Plankton]

I think my only gripe with him is his incredibly lazy effort with recruiting.

Zero effort is worse than lazy effort. You decide which one applies to Al Golden.

 

[IrishLax]

Fire Al Golden tho

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Fire Al Golden tho

Overall he has done a great job so far this season, IMO. I’ve been really impressed how the red zone defense has completely turned it around as compared to 2022.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Fire Al Golden tho

I think a lot of people are saying fire Al Golden because the DL isn't getting sacks well we all saw what happened the last time we had a DC who went all out and aggressive it was BVG and he sucked

 

[PutuporShutup]

Fire Al Golden tho

Even me, negative nancy, hasn't said to fire al golden. I just don't like our end of halves/end of game conservative approach that seems to give up points, or our safety corner blitzes that only get home vs non power 5 teams.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The two takeaways were nice. I was starting to forget what it was like to get a turnover.

They played fast, played hard and got after it on the road against a good team after having come off a tough loss to Ohio State. They're playing well and they have another big test coming at UL because Brohm is a pretty good offensive coach. He's not Lincoln Riley, but he can scheme some things up.

The defense has been outstanding the last couple of weeks while the offense has been stifled by a couple of good defensive coordinators.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Overall he has done a great job so far this season, IMO. I’ve been really impressed how the red zone defense has completely turned it around as compared to 2022.

Currently 6th in Red Zone defense.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Currently 6th in Red Zone defense.

Just a shade better than 2022……

 

[NDdomer2]

any discussion of Al and his recruiting should stop immediately. Everyone knew upon his hire he wasnt brought on for that and everyone drooling over our new HC said we didnt need recruiting out of our coordinators because Marcus was going to be the difference.

 

[ThePiombino]

Key will be holding USC under 24

Not a chance

 

[PutuporShutup]

Not a chance

Unless we run it 49 times for 310
Yards and they have 7 possessions, that game plan also puts you at risk of losing 40-20 if you don’t do good converting 3rd/4th and short, that we’ve struggled at this year

 

[stlnd01]

Not a chance

Yeah keeping USC to 24 seems ambitious. But we have faced, and contained, several mobile QBs already this season - I was really impressed with the way our front seven kept Leonard from running the other night - and that's step one to slowing Caleb Williams. Step Two is covering the WRs and we have two NFL corners and a very good, experienced, nickel.
We'll be the best defense they've faced and it isn't close. Probably the best they face all season. We've just got to remember how to move the ball.

 

[Irishokie]

Yeah keeping USC to 24 seems ambitious. But we have faced, and contained, several mobile QBs already this season - I was really impressed with the way our front seven kept Leonard from running the other night - and that's step one to slowing Caleb Williams. Step Two is covering the WRs and we have two NFL corners and a very good, experienced, nickel.
We'll be the best defense they've faced and it isn't close. Probably the best they face all season. We've just got to remember how to move the ball.

Who is our very good nickel? If it’s Harper, he’s certainly been experienced at being on the wrong end of a play recently.

 

[WildMan1]

We have to outscore USC & just get a few more stops than them..

We’re not “containing” Caleb Williams