Chris "Belt To" Ash - Defensive Coordinator

Irish#1

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GATTACA! said:
Call me a salty hater but I’m putting this turnaround on Freeman. As soon as we start looking respectable again is right when we go back to looking like a Freeman style defense.
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Agree…..this is what I think happened

MF: Here Chris. (Hands him papers)
CA: What’s this?
MF: It’s Golden’s defense. Run it.
CA: What if (gets cut off)
MF: Run it
 
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From BGI:

The last three teams Notre Dame has played (Arkansas, Boise State and NC State) have offenses that were ranked 8th, 14th and 31st in the nation respectively. The Irish defense gave up 27 points to those teams in the three games, an average of 9 points per game.
 
IrishLax

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jprue24 said:
Came here to say this. The defense was underperforming and Freeman said he was getting more involved. Since, the defense has no longer sucked.
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We played OK against Miami but there were some head scratching moments. Then there were 6 quarters of awful football, then a very-animated-freeman mid-Purdue got into with the coaches at the midpoint of the game.

Then the following happened in sequence:
1. He gave an impassioned press conference post-Purdue where he took ownership of the situation, acknowledged what he thought the issues were, and then said what he was going to do to fix it.
2. Followed that up by talking about the "uncomfortable" meeting he held with the defensive coaches and noted that Ash was taking accountability for the problems and being a leader.
3. They immediately started fixing some obvious personnel issues with the slot defender and safety situations. Tae Johnson started playing more, Dallas Golden subbed in for Hobbs.
4. They have also gradually tweaked some other things, which I don't have quantitative numbers on, but we are attacking more and creating more havoc. It's less about blitz rate and more about who they are blitzing with, when they are blitzing and how they are blitzing. There are also fewer alignment issues, blown coverages, and visible pre-snap "confusion".

It's not perfect, but there is a reason why ND's defense has gone from very lowly rated to now likely in the top 25ish. The biggest "vulnerability" that we still seem to have is that Bowen is not coming off the field in obvious passing situations and often being asked to cover in ways that can be easily attacked. That one play against NC State where he is covering man-to-man on a 40 yard sprint down the field against a fast WR is a recipe for disaster. It wasn't completed, but better execution or against better teams it's likely a walk-in TD. Golden getting beat on a double move you can live with, but if Bowen gets beat deep you gotta ask "why are we putting him in that situation?"

What I don't think has happened -- as some on the internet seem to suggest -- is Freeman "calling" the defense. What I do think happened post-Purdue was an honest self-scout of what is working and what wasn't working and why. I think he clearly communicated his expectations and how does/does not want things done moving forward. And now we are doing a lot less of the self-destructive stuff while also generating more negative plays. USC has the top rated offense in the country, so this will be the best possible test to see if the defense is truly "fixed" or if it's just been a hot stretch... if they hold USC below 28 points and 400 yards you have to feel really good about the defense moving forward.
 
irishandy

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GATTACA! said:
Call me a salty hater but I’m putting this turnaround on Freeman. As soon as we start looking respectable again is right when we go back to looking like a Freeman style defense.
Click to expand...
I am with you on this 100%. This defense has done a 360 turnaround and I think Freeman has his hands in with the changes. It wouldn't surprise me if ND gets rid of Ash after the season.

If ND's defense played like it has the past few games vs Miami and Texas A&M, they start the season 2-0.
 
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jprue24

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IrishLax said:
We played OK against Miami but there were some head scratching moments. Then there were 6 quarters of awful football, then a very-animated-freeman mid-Purdue got into with the coaches at the midpoint of the game.

Then the following happened in sequence:
1. He gave an impassioned press conference post-Purdue where he took ownership of the situation, acknowledged what he thought the issues were, and then said what he was going to do to fix it.
2. Followed that up by talking about the "uncomfortable" meeting he held with the defensive coaches and noted that Ash was taking accountability for the problems and being a leader.
3. They immediately started fixing some obvious personnel issues with the slot defender and safety situations. Tae Johnson started playing more, Dallas Golden subbed in for Hobbs.
4. They have also gradually tweaked some other things, which I don't have quantitative numbers on, but we are attacking more and creating more havoc. It's less about blitz rate and more about who they are blitzing with, when they are blitzing and how they are blitzing. There are also fewer alignment issues, blown coverages, and visible pre-snap "confusion".

It's not perfect, but there is a reason why ND's defense has gone from very lowly rated to now likely in the top 25ish. The biggest "vulnerability" that we still seem to have is that Bowen is not coming off the field in obvious passing situations and often being asked to cover in ways that can be easily attacked. That one play against NC State where he is covering man-to-man on a 40 yard sprint down the field against a fast WR is a recipe for disaster. It wasn't completed, but better execution or against better teams it's likely a walk-in TD. Golden getting beat on a double move you can live with, but if Bowen gets beat deep you gotta ask "why are we putting him in that situation?"

What I don't think has happened -- as some on the internet seem to suggest -- is Freeman "calling" the defense. What I do think happened post-Purdue was an honest self-scout of what is working and what wasn't working and why. I think he clearly communicated his expectations and how does/does not want things done moving forward. And now we are doing a lot less of the self-destructive stuff while also generating more negative plays. USC has the top rated offense in the country, so this will be the best possible test to see if the defense is truly "fixed" or if it's just been a hot stretch... if they hold USC below 28 points and 400 yards you have to feel really good about the defense moving forward.
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Thanks for the timeline. I appreciate it because I did not want to take the time to do it.
If what Freeman has said is accurate (no reason to think it isn't), I think Ash deserves credit for not making excuses and being open to, or accepting of, his boss stepping in to help him do the job up to ND's "standard". I've been on both sides of that crap and egos can be a silly goose. It speaks well of Ash's character and makes me feel better about the future. Love the idea that Freeman honestly and consistently asks, "wtf are we doing?" I'm a big believer in the ability honest self-reflection has to identify and help correct things not going as desired.

I don't know anything about how coaches communicate during a game and when/where Freeman would insert himself. From vibes, I don't think Freeman is the primary play caller on defense. I believe he understands he has too many other responsibilities to do that, yet. Probably would have to revamp coaching responsibilities on gamedays.

I think he did what you've speculated, but I can also see adding in some gameday guardrails or is quicker to step in.

Barring a complete collapse, something Mickens related, or some wild personality issues, I think Ash is the DC next year. I fully believe Freeman when he says he doesn't want/like to make coaching decisions based on a single year. I've found that people are pretty willing to extend the same grace they received during tough times.
 
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MacIrish75

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IrishLax said:
We played OK against Miami but there were some head scratching moments. Then there were 6 quarters of awful football, then a very-animated-freeman mid-Purdue got into with the coaches at the midpoint of the game.

Then the following happened in sequence:
1. He gave an impassioned press conference post-Purdue where he took ownership of the situation, acknowledged what he thought the issues were, and then said what he was going to do to fix it.
2. Followed that up by talking about the "uncomfortable" meeting he held with the defensive coaches and noted that Ash was taking accountability for the problems and being a leader.
3. They immediately started fixing some obvious personnel issues with the slot defender and safety situations. Tae Johnson started playing more, Dallas Golden subbed in for Hobbs.
4. They have also gradually tweaked some other things, which I don't have quantitative numbers on, but we are attacking more and creating more havoc. It's less about blitz rate and more about who they are blitzing with, when they are blitzing and how they are blitzing. There are also fewer alignment issues, blown coverages, and visible pre-snap "confusion".

It's not perfect, but there is a reason why ND's defense has gone from very lowly rated to now likely in the top 25ish. The biggest "vulnerability" that we still seem to have is that Bowen is not coming off the field in obvious passing situations and often being asked to cover in ways that can be easily attacked. That one play against NC State where he is covering man-to-man on a 40 yard sprint down the field against a fast WR is a recipe for disaster. It wasn't completed, but better execution or against better teams it's likely a walk-in TD. Golden getting beat on a double move you can live with, but if Bowen gets beat deep you gotta ask "why are we putting him in that situation?"

What I don't think has happened -- as some on the internet seem to suggest -- is Freeman "calling" the defense. What I do think happened post-Purdue was an honest self-scout of what is working and what wasn't working and why. I think he clearly communicated his expectations and how does/does not want things done moving forward. And now we are doing a lot less of the self-destructive stuff while also generating more negative plays. USC has the top rated offense in the country, so this will be the best possible test to see if the defense is truly "fixed" or if it's just been a hot stretch... if they hold USC below 28 points and 400 yards you have to feel really good about the defense moving forward.
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The blitzing from depth is still an issue I’d like to see addressed.
 
IrishLax

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MacIrish75 said:
The blitzing from depth is still an issue I’d like to see addressed.
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Yeah, to be fair, there is still a lot of "wtf?"... like credit Bowen for covering as best he possibly could here, but why are we putting him in this situation?



But at least there is a LOT less of this kind of stuff than there was against Texas A&M.
 
MacIrish75

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IrishLax said:
Yeah, to be fair, there is still a lot of "wtf?"... like credit Bowen for covering as best he possibly could here, but why are we putting him in this situation?



But at least there is a LOT less of this kind of stuff than there was against Texas A&M.
Click to expand...

I kid you not, the minute I saw 34 trotting to the boundary, I told my wife: “The entire stadium knows where this ball is going and there is not a thing either we or Drayk can do about it.”
 
Dale

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It was always a mainly a personnel thing which is what I thought from the beginning.

ND is playing better personnel (Golden, Johnson, small DT usage tweaks, Moore, Shuler ejection). Also had guys back from injury like Botelho and Traore.

The opposing personnel is weaker, particularly on the OL, the last two weeks.

Players make plays, always have.

The main scheme/play calling thing I haven’t liked from the jump has been 2 minute drill defense.
 
pumpdog20

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IrishLax said:
Yeah, to be fair, there is still a lot of "wtf?"... like credit Bowen for covering as best he possibly could here, but why are we putting him in this situation?



But at least there is a LOT less of this kind of stuff than there was against Texas A&M.
Click to expand...

To my untrained eye, Schuler appears to be telling Tae to get over and help over the top, and Tae... well he did not do that. I think it would have been best for Schuler to take high safety responsibility and let Tae spy the QB on that rotation.
 
Katzenboyer

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IrishLax said:
Yeah, to be fair, there is still a lot of "wtf?"... like credit Bowen for covering as best he possibly could here, but why are we putting him in this situation?



But at least there is a LOT less of this kind of stuff than there was against Texas A&M.
Click to expand...


I agree that Bowen is limited in coverage and I (and everyone else in the world) knew that ball was going to whoever Bowen was covered...


...but that's also great coverage by 34 there! Made the play when he had to.
 
Dale

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IrishLax said:
He gave an impassioned press conference post-Purdue where he took ownership of the situation, acknowledged what he thought the issues were, and then said what he was going to do to fix it.
2. Followed that up by talking about the "uncomfortable" meeting he held with the defensive coaches and noted that Ash was taking accountability for the problems and being a leader.
3. They immediately started fixing some obvious personnel issues with the slot defender and safety situations. Tae Johnson started playing more, Dallas Golden subbed in for Hobbs.
Click to expand...

FWIW this is not correct timeline wise. Stroman was benched for Johnson during the A&M game. Hobbs was benched prior to the Purdue game.
 
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Does Bowen stay out on obvious passing downs for the same reasons Joe Schmitt played at all?
 
Dale

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Dale said:
Opponent Touchdowns by Quarter:

1Q: 2
2Q: 6
3Q: 1
4Q: 1 (excluding garbage time)

The 2 minute drill defense is a disaster (typically zone with insufficient pass rush). The 4Q TD also of course being a 2 minute drill TD as well.

It also feels like the opposing OC has a better counter punch schematically to early happenings in the game.

They need to entirely re-evaluate 2 minute drill approach. That means who are your pass rushers, LBs in coverage, and coverage overall.
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Opponent Touchdowns by Quarter:

1Q: 2
2Q: 9
3Q: 1
4Q: 1 (excluding garbage time vs Purdue)

This is a rather insane stat.
 
Old Man Mike

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Freeman is being the head coach. Ash is calling the defense. Watch the games and the sidelines. etc.
Does Freeman deserve credit? Sure. Does Ash deserve credit? Sure. Give credit all around. Plenty of it here.
 
Bane

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USC is maybe the best offense in the country so it is a good measuring stick but if we give up more than we have that's also not an indictment on Ash. We just can't have a total collapse like we did against the Aggies.
 
IAIrish

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Katzenboyer said:
I agree that Bowen is limited in coverage and I (and everyone else in the world) knew that ball was going to whoever Bowen was covered...


...but that's also great coverage by 34 there! Made the play when he had to.
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Was about to say the same thing!
Agree with most of your assessment Lax, but that was pretty damn good coverage by Bowen. It was Smothers (the rb) and good scheming by the OC.

What i wonder is what will they counter with versus usc. It looked like Shuler was robbing on that play and Tae is playing deep, but that's a ton of ground for him to cover from the opposite hash.

I wonder if their check will be to switch off the back to Shuler when Sc tries it. Would be shocked if Riley doesn't try to replicate.
 
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