Chris "Belt To" Ash - Defensive Coordinator

[US_Highway14]

Couldn't have said it better myself. Pete cooked indeed.

 

[NDWarrior]

I'm fuming like most of us are but we do have to remember, that with all the new personnel, new DC and his schemes, this can take some time to optimize (I know who has the patience?). Unfortunately, the team had two of its most challenging opponents as first two teams played.

I'm pretty sure even Golden had to adjust and let players play looser and to their strengths and instincts and had to dial things back after some issues in beginning of first season - I am correct in remembering that?

Of course, we definitely need to make progress and adjustments ASAP with AR only 2 weeks away.

Lastly, I don't think it's an Apples to Apples comparison to compare a tenured group of players (players in the scheme and the DC of that scheme) on the D at the end of the season when they had a lot of experience and were peaking to a whole new group, scheme, and DC in the first few games; definitely not Apples to Apples at this point in the season.

 

[IA4irish]

I know it's Purdue week, but is anyone as worried about Arkansas as I am? They're going to be juiced up with a QB with a ton of experience. Petrino will coach circles around Ass.

I’m worried about every week. Our defense stinks

 

[Irish#1]

I get there is something of an adjustment period, but not the drop off in execution and confusion we've seen. I don't know how much input Ash is getting from his D coaches, but they should be helping him with substitutions like on A&M's last TD.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Unpopular take -- Ash is failing moreso as a leader and teacher than anything else. Let's put it this way, if Golden were still the DC and ND was succeeding on defense, it'd be because he figured something out at Nickle.

If we didn't start the season against two top 10 teams, we probably would have nickel and a bunch of other things figured out before playing better opponents.

 

[Honey Nut Irish]

On paper the adjustments Ash wanted to make seemed reasonable. It hasn’t worked out and unfortunately ND has had two tough opponents to experiment against.

 

[NDFAN2008]

A few other names I like after this year if it's not Mickens
Mike Tressel
Joe Rossi
Morgan Scalley (Not Sure if he would leave UTAH)
Blake Baker

 

[StPaul_Irish]

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!

Sure, but we would have to get someone to take the call from coach O, translate it and then send it onto the field. He sounds like that guy from Waterboy.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

I think it's high time to promote the LB/CB coaches to Co-DC's. Playoffs are likely out, so why not see what you are working with.

 

[jpachuta33]

I'm fuming like most of us are but we do have to remember, that with all the new personnel, new DC and his schemes, this can take some time to optimize (I know who has the patience?). Unfortunately, the team had two of its most challenging opponents as first two teams played.

I'm pretty sure even Golden had to adjust and let players play looser and to their strengths and instincts and had to dial things back after some issues in beginning of first season - I am correct in remembering that?

Of course, we definitely need to make progress and adjustments ASAP with AR only 2 weeks away.

Lastly, I don't think it's an Apples to Apples comparison to compare a tenured group of players (players in the scheme and the DC of that scheme) on the D at the end of the season when they had a lot of experience and were peaking to a whole new group, scheme, and DC in the first few games; definitely not Apples to Apples at this point in the season.

I respectfully disagree. Look at Ohio State. We returned more starters and talent than the Buckeyes on defense this year (yes they have the best defensive player in the nation in Downs), but they have not missed a beat with their new DC Matt Patricia (qualified replacement). Look at how many coordinators Bama went through with Saban. They would lose them yearly and not miss a beat.

We don't have time, we our 0-2. This coaching staff is pissing away one of the most talented teams we have had in several years. This year should not have been an experimental year with a DC who nobody wanted. Call a spade a spade. Marcus dropped the ball with this hire and now Marcus needs to make it right before he loses the locker-room.

 

[Sea Turtle]

I respectfully disagree. Look at Ohio State. We returned more starters and talent than the Buckeyes on defense this year (yes they have the best defensive player in the nation in Downs), but they have not missed a beat with their new DC Matt Patricia (qualified replacement). Look at how many coordinators Bama went through with Saban. They would lose them yearly and not miss a beat.

We don't have time, we our 0-2. This coaching staff is pissing away one of the most talented teams we have had in several years. This year should not have been an experimental year with a DC who nobody wanted. Call a spade a spade. Marcus dropped the ball with this hire and now Marcus needs to make it right before he loses the locker-room.

We are not Ohio State. Or Georgia or Alabama for that matter.

I wish we were. I wish we could reload every year like they do. Player and coach wise.

 

[Irish du Nord]

We are not Ohio State. Or Georgia or Alabama for that matter.

I wish we were. I wish we could reload every year like they do. Player and coach wise.

Two of those teams have had disastrous coordinator hires in recent memory. Georgia lost to us last year in large part because their coaches were worse. No one reloads every year.

 

[IrishLax]

Unpopular take -- Ash is failing moreso as a leader and teacher than anything else. Let's put it this way, if Golden were still the DC and ND was succeeding on defense, it'd be because he figured something out at Nickle.

This is 1000% correct, not a bad take at all.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I would go back to find a guy in the NFL. Worked good with Golden and Ohio St defense looks just as good as last year with Patricia

 

[SportsingHard]

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!

Ed was known for chasing skirts all over Baton Rouge, bringing them to team facilities, and allowing their kids to participate in team activities. When the wife of a high-ranking LSU official rebuffed his advances by telling him she was married and pregnant, he reportedly asked, "What does that matter?"

Even if Ash gets fired and Ed wants the job, ND will do two seconds of research and declare him unhireable.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Two of those teams have had disastrous coordinator hires in recent memory. Georgia lost to us last year in large part because their coaches were worse. No one reloads every year.

Yes they do. Ohio State reloads every year. As does Georgia and Alabama.

Last year was the greatest year for ND in like 30 years. It would have been a ho hum year for Ohio State. Yes, we beat Georgia in a down year for them. It was like Alabama losing to Michigan 2 years ago. Still a great win but it was a disapointing year for them. We may drop 4 this year. That's our disapointing year.

These teams lose multiple first rounders every year and just shrug them off because they are in Stormtrooper mode. We are lost if we lose a couple of mid rounders on defense and the hire isn't a home run.

I'm more familiar with Ohio States coaching moves than the other two, admittedly. I know this, they got Knowles and Matt Patricia and were even able to get Chip Kelly to step down as a head coach to come be an OC for them...which is unheard of.

I love ND football and am happy it is so much better than it has been but we are kidding ourselves if we think we are Ohio State, etc.

 

[Sea Turtle]

Ed was known for chasing skirts all over Baton Rouge, bringing them to team facilities, and allowing their kids to participate in team activities. When the wife of a high-ranking LSU official rebuffed his advances by telling him she was married and pregnant, he reportedly asked, "What does that matter?"

Even if Ash gets fired and Ed wants the job, ND will do two seconds of research and declare him unhireable.

As they should. His personal life is bonkers.

 

[mrmcgrail]

Up until this year we had probably the two highest paid coordinators in the country on this staff. The issue with going after a huge name would be that they want to bring their guys with them and freeman wasn't going to do that after a natty run. He saw probably some similarities with ash to golden and urban Meyer raved about him but so far it seems like a dud hire. I believe in freeman and after the Parker issue he went and got denbrock. I'm sure if this doesn't work out he will bring in someone who will be a good hire

 

[stlnd01]

Up until this year we had probably the two highest paid coordinators in the country on this staff. The issue with going after a huge name would be that they want to bring their guys with them and freeman wasn't going to do that after a natty run. He saw probably some similarities with ash to golden and urban Meyer raved about him but so far it seems like a dud hire. I believe in freeman and after the Parker issue he went and got denbrock. I'm sure if this doesn't work out he will bring in someone who will be a good hire

Did Knowles bring "his guys" to Penn State? (he did not) Who did Denbrock bring here? (OK maybe in that case Freeman already had). Mickens was already one of the guys.
I don't think that was the issue, nor was money, so much as the timing (late in the hiring cycle) and Freeman having a relatively shallow network/listening to people he trusts like Tressel and (apparently???) Urban Meyer. It's a rookie mistake, except in this case it's a sophomore mistake b/c he kind of did the same thing when he settled for Parker. We're probably stuck with Ash for the rest of this season but I agree hopefully the longer-term outcome is similar and Ash moves along, clearing the way for an elite DC we hire the right way.

 

[mrmcgrail]

Haha you mean Gino his QB coach at Cincy and Brown his receiver Coach at Cincy and you are picking out one instance most guys want to bring some of their position coaches with it just makes sense

 

[GATTACA!]

His personal life is bonkers.

It's provocative. It gets the people going.

 

[ColinKSU]

The literal worst thing that could have happened for Marcus and his relationship with ND media was the first two games.

You can do what Marcus did in the offseason by freezing out media if you beat Miami and TAMU.

 

[BeatSC]

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.

Well saying we haven’t seen the best from this D so far is an understatement!

 

[IrishTusker]

Yes they do. Ohio State reloads every year. As does Georgia and Alabama.

Last year was the greatest year for ND in like 30 years. It would have been a ho hum year for Ohio State. Yes, we beat Georgia in a down year for them. It was like Alabama losing to Michigan 2 years ago. Still a great win but it was a disapointing year for them. We may drop 4 this year. That's our disapointing year.

These teams lose multiple first rounders every year and just shrug them off because they are in Stormtrooper mode. We are lost if we lose a couple of mid rounders on defense and the hire isn't a home run.

I'm more familiar with Ohio States coaching moves than the other two, admittedly. I know this, they got Knowles and Matt Patricia and were even able to get Chip Kelly to step down as a head coach to come be an OC for them...which is unheard of.

I love ND football and am happy it is so much better than it has been but we are kidding ourselves if we think we are Ohio State, etc.

I don't think getting to the championship game and losing is a "ho-hum" year for any of those programs. All of them have gotten there and lost repeatedly. Chip Kelly basically didn't want to be a college HC anymore. And OSU lost their DC to an in-conference rival after winning a championship. It wasn't about money or "commitment to football" or whatever.

 

[SportsingHard]

The literal worst thing that could have happened for Marcus and his relationship with ND media was the first two games.

You can do what Marcus did in the offseason by freezing out media if you beat Miami and TAMU.

The media running a train on Mrs. Freeman, of course, being #2.

 

[BeatSC]

Here is a comparison:
2024 Under Golden First 2 Games
A&M: 1 SACK, 3 TFL
NIU: 0 SACKS, 3 TFL

2025 UNDER ASH:
Miami: 1 SACK, 2 TFL
A&M: 0 SACKS, 2 TFL

Now provide the pint totals of 16 for NIU and 14 for A&M.

 

[Bane]

Now provide the pint totals of 16 for NIU and 14 for A&M.

Exactly. How many games did it take last year for us to have 68 total combined points given up?

 

[Rocketman84]

The other thing about the Toney TD is Gray was out for that snap. Zackery’s first career snap. If you watch the replay the first thought is what the fuck dude on Talich. He’s literally guarding nobody and so deep, which is bad regardless. But would bet he was told to eye helping Zackery first. He opens his hips that way. Beck scrambles left though so he was never gonna throw that way. Talich slow to flip and depth was still bad.

I don’t like giving up TDs knowing 3 backups were on the field. But it also means an alarm bell or referendum on Ash isn’t needed.

Talich thought he was playing Baseball because he wasn't going to be much help for either CB playing 20 yds away.

 

[Rocketman84]

Ash's defense got bASHED, take him out with the trASH

Can't wait for next weeks thread after holding A&M to 10 points: CHRIS ASH IS A MOTHERF&^*ING GANGSTER

 

[Rocketman84]

I was thinking the same thing with Tallich.

It was liking he was listening to the voice of his Pee-Wee coach yelling to never let a man get behind them.

Except the only thing behind him were the mascot and fans.