Chris "Belt To" Ash - Defensive Coordinator

[Jimmy3Putt]

USC will certainly try to exploit Bowen in coverage.

 

[greyhammer90]

Defense is up to 23rd in SP+. If you only look at the past 3 games, I think that they would be top 10ish.

USC comes to town with the #1 offense.

For those curious like me, our offense is 4th and USC's defense is 45th. So there's a gap between us on offense but a chasm on defense. I guess we'll find out if the last three weeks have been a mirage.

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

Does Bowen stay out on obvious passing downs for the same reasons Joe Schmitt played at all?

ND always needs a slow white guy at LB. Schmidt was always a step too late.

 

[Dale]

I think the Bowen coverage thing has become overblown. There are going to be times where a team puts a LB in conflict or a compromising position. That’s just how football is played. And Bowen knows that, and knows how they will test him and he will perform to the top of his ability when called upon.

What shouldn’t be the case is certain packages like two minute drill or 4th and Goal from 10+ yards including him just because. Without intentionality. I think there are a small handful of packages they could re-examine his usage or role in. But what I don’t think is making a big deal of a team taking a shot at him in coverage a few times a game. It will happen.

 

[bobbyok1]

The USC game will definitely be a benchmark for Ash. He seems to have turned a corner, but it feels a bit premature to make that statement with any confidence.

Hopefully, we will be healthy and ready to go.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

I really hope Smith is back at DB this week. All hands on deck.

 

[mrmcgrail]

Bowen did a great job in coverage on an island with a rb. Most college lbs are going to have a hard time in man to man coverage with a rb. It was good play calling knowing we were in man and getting the match up the wanted

 

[Dale]

Freeman said Ash has emphasized tackling with an addition of a “Tackling Tuesday” period

 

[PolishDomer]

Freeman said Ash has emphasized tackling with an addition of a “Tackling Tuesday” period

I dont like Ash...he told the players it was "Taco...ling Tuesday"

 

[SDIrishFan]

My biggest concern is, similar to last year, Maiava is getting rid of the ball long before our pass rush has a chance to get there.

Our blitzes seem fairly complex and take a few seconds to get home. I don’t see that working against USC. Much like it didn’t last year.

Though I’m not sure I have a solution because sitting back in zone or only rushing 4 seems like a disaster as well.

 

[NDWarrior]

My biggest concern is, similar to last year, Maiava is getting rid of the ball long before our pass rush has a chance to get there.

Our blitzes seem fairly complex and take a few seconds to get home. I don’t see that working against USC. Much like it didn’t last year.

Though I’m not sure I have a solution because sitting back in zone or only rushing 4 seems like a disaster as well.

At least this year, we have a chance to maybe hang on to the ball for more methodical drives to keep Maiava and his WRs and hot RB off the field, but also can throw down the field if we get a bit behind and need to play fast catch up, but hoping we have strong game and score control to avoid that situation.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Another thing that I haven't heard much discussed is Ash seems to be making good adjustments in the second half, which is part of the reason we've really been clamping down (other than us blowing out teams and forcing them to play risky). What made Golden so elite is that he was able to make adjustments earlier on, sometimes seemingly early in the 2nd quarter. As the staff gets more comfortable I think the adjustmens have and will continue to get a little more seamless.

 

[Old Man Mike]

... in my opinion, some of the second half phenomenon is that we are a tough in-shape willpower team. Have been for a while.

 

[Irish#1]

Another thing that I haven't heard much discussed is Ash seems to be making good adjustments in the second half, which is part of the reason we've really been clamping down (other than us blowing out teams and forcing them to play risky). What made Golden so elite is that he was able to make adjustments earlier on, sometimes seemingly early in the 2nd quarter. As the staff gets more comfortable I think the adjustmens have and will continue to get a little more seamless.

I think Golden was making adjustments after the first series. There were a number of times a team would score on the opening possession then struggled after that.

 

[Rizzophil]

My biggest concern is, similar to last year, Maiava is getting rid of the ball long before our pass rush has a chance to get there.

Our blitzes seem fairly complex and take a few seconds to get home. I don’t see that working against USC. Much like it didn’t last year.

Though I’m not sure I have a solution because sitting back in zone or only rushing 4 seems like a disaster as well.

That’s why they always have a good offense with Lincoln Riley

 

[SportsingHard]

For those curious like me, our offense is 4th and USC's defense is 45th. So there's a gap between us on offense but a chasm on defense. I guess we'll find out if the last three weeks have been a mirage.

If we hold USC's offense in check, 99% of this board can start writing their formal public apologies to Ash and begging for his forgiveness, but if we don't manage to make CFB's best offense look bad, that doesn't mean anything has been a mirage.

 

[Bane]

My biggest concern is, similar to last year, Maiava is getting rid of the ball long before our pass rush has a chance to get there.

Our blitzes seem fairly complex and take a few seconds to get home. I don’t see that working against USC. Much like it didn’t last year.

Though I’m not sure I have a solution because sitting back in zone or only rushing 4 seems like a disaster as well.

If we can’t get home on pressure we have to make them move methodically and take away the deep threats. If you make Maiava be precise he will give multiple away. That hasn’t changed going back to his UNLV days.

 

[Dale]

I really hope Smith is back at DB this week. All hands on deck.

FWIW Freeman was asked about confidence in Golden playing Nickel and Freeman did slip in “We have a lot of confidence in him, if he has to be out there and obviously have confidence in Smitty”

So he did kind of go out of his way to say well it may not even be Golden.

 

[PolishDomer]

If we hold USC's offense in check, 99% of this board can start writing their formal public apologies to Ash and begging for his forgiveness, but if we don't manage to make CFB's best offense look bad, that doesn't mean anything has been a mirage.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Another thing that I haven't heard much discussed is Ash seems to be making good adjustments in the second half, which is part of the reason we've really been clamping down (other than us blowing out teams and forcing them to play risky). What made Golden so elite is that he was able to make adjustments earlier on, sometimes seemingly early in the 2nd quarter. As the staff gets more comfortable I think the adjustmens have and will continue to get a little more seamless.

only 10 points allowed in the third quarter all season thus far. Good call out.

 

[SportsingHard]

Year	DC	DF+	DFEI	DSP+
2021	Freeman	13	11	?
2022	Golden	30	33	?
2023	Golden	7	5	?
2024	Golden	3	2	?
2025	Ash	14	6	23

Updated defensive efficiency rankings. DF+ is a combination of the other two. All three 2025 numbers are tainted by extraneous data, including previous season stats, though the taint decreases by week, and as it does, ND's ranks just keep improving. Hopefully, Ash continues to improve over time as Golden did, and that seems likely, apart from this Saturday, when Ash has to face the top offense in the nation.

 

[Fbolt]

I have had no comments in this thread since the beginning of the season despite my complete disappointment in the Ds performance. Great Q on the post practice presser at the 50 second mark asking Ash about him having to adjust to the college game or game prep this season. His answer, "No-I've been doing this a while".

Biggest fraud on this staff. What a douche-bag and I say F him. Hoping he gets fired after the season and Freeman distances himself. What a complete lack of self-awareness, introspection, and narcissism. If I had any respect for him, it is completely gone.

 

[NDWarrior]

GMac says "... it's the defense that's changed dramatically.”

"The ball production has been remarkable. After allowing 98 points in the first three games, Notre Dame's defense has surrendered just 14 combined points in its last two outings."

 

[jprue24]

I have had no comments in this thread since the beginning of the season despite my complete disappointment in the Ds performance. Great Q on the post practice presser at the 50 second mark asking Ash about him having to adjust to the college game or game prep this season. His answer, "No-I've been doing this a while".

Biggest fraud on this staff. What a douche-bag and I say F him. Hoping he gets fired after the season and Freeman distances himself. What a complete lack of self-awareness, introspection, and narcissism. If I had any respect for him, it is completely gone.

No. You're wrong

 

[IrishLax]

Based on *only* this year's data, ND defense still tracking in the 40s, but past few weeks has been easily top 25. Big test against USC, holding them under 400 yards and 28 points would be a win.

 

[greyhammer90]

Based on *only* this year's data, ND defense still tracking in the 40s, but past few weeks has been easily top 25. Big test against USC, holding them under 400 yards and 28 points would be a win.

I don't like this chart and will choose to ignore it.

 

[notredomer23]

Bordering on Gangsta status. Defense was excellent tonight- despite going against USC and the refs. The USC offensive line got beat nearly every play. HAVOC!

 

[T-Boone]

Yep. Good stuff from the D. Congrats to Ash.

 

[NotKoon]

I’m not saying I’m sorry to Chris Ash, but I am saying he’s redeemed himself. Third game in a row they were the better unit and picked up the offense

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

When can I start the Al Golden revisited thread