Chris "Belt To" Ash - Defensive Coordinator

[NumbersGuy0520]

With all the chatter in the Denbrock thread, I wanted to bump this one so it doesn’t get left out.

Very happy with what the defense has done lately. I do find it interesting that our gaps in SP+ are largely from the defense metric.

We grade basically even with (or better than) any other offense in the country. The teams that would be favored by 4-9 over us on neutral would be gaining their edge via defense:

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

With all the chatter in the Denbrock thread, I wanted to bump this one so it doesn’t get left out.

Very happy with what the defense has done lately. I do find it interesting that our gaps in SP+ are largely from the defense metric.

We grade basically even with (or better than) any other offense in the country. The teams that would be favored by 4-9 over us on neutral would be gaining their edge via defense:


View attachment 3061209

Something fundamentally changed at halftime of the Purdue game. Id imagine the defensive numbers since that game would be on par with the rest of the top 5 graded defenses on this list.

 

[greyhammer90]

Something fundamentally changed at halftime of the Purdue game. Id imagine the defensive numbers since that game would be on par with the rest of the top 5 graded defenses on this list.

Yeah I would be interested to see SP+ if you scrap the first two games for every team this season. Not sure that's possible.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Hopefully he stays with us for a while, and recognizes how terrible of a mistake Al Golden made by leaving. Talk about a hero to a zero story, he may be the worst DC in the NFL.

This is not how the profession works.

Al Golden parlayed his time at Notre Dame into an NFL defensive coordinator hire. The Bengals already sucked, which was why he was hired in the first place, and are experiencing a bad season for a multitude of reasons that go beyond not only Al Golden but their defense overall. There was clearly risk involved with Golden leaving ND for the Bengals, and that's fair to say now as it is in hindsight, but he probably has to take the opportunity when he has it offered to him. We don't know if he had any other viable ones.

He's going to get compensated one way or another, and will likely land on his feet again somewhere. It's part of coaching at a high level. Setback maybe. Mistake? Not really. He left the college program we all support. If we look at it objectively, even with the risk, he took the opportunity that was there for him. There's no mistake in that, even if the results are not going as you'd hope in his case.

If this keeps up, newsflash everyone: Chris Ash is probably going to have opportunities to move along as well. It's part of the business. Two months ago most of us wanted this guy's job. Now suddenly he should view Al Golden as a cautionary tale on never leaving for a good opportunity? The tide turns fast, I guess.

 

[Kingbish01]

This is not how the profession works.

Al Golden parlayed his time at Notre Dame into an NFL defensive coordinator hire. The Bengals already sucked, which was why he was hired in the first place, and are experiencing a bad season for a multitude of reasons that go beyond not only Al Golden but their defense overall. There was clearly risk involved with Golden leaving ND for the Bengals, and that's fair to say now as it is in hindsight, but he probably has to take the opportunity when he has it offered to him. We don't know if he had any other viable ones.

He's going to get compensated one way or another, and will likely land on his feet again somewhere. It's part of coaching at a high level. Setback maybe. Mistake? Not really. He left the college program we all support. If we look at it objectively, even with the risk, he took the opportunity that was there for him. There's no mistake in that, even if the results are not going as you'd hope in his case.

If this keeps up, newsflash everyone: Chris Ash is probably going to have opportunities to move along as well. It's part of the business. Two months ago most of us wanted this guy's job. Now suddenly he should view Al Golden as a cautionary tale on never leaving for a good opportunity? The tide turns fast, I guess.

He knew exactly what he was walking into at Cincinnati. He knew Notre Dame’s defense was strong and that staying another season would have kept his stock high. That is my main point, he chose a situation with a shit roster and no real upside instead of riding another year or two at ND, and picking a better (I know his history with Cincy) NFL landing spot.

Everyone knows you can't fix a broken NFL defense overnight. Golden took the shot, and it hurt his reputation as I could see him being fired. That is not hindsight.... It's acknowledging that he gambled on the wrong job.

If he's fired, what's next...a DC job at a middle of the pack SEC/B10 school as he ramps his value back up?

 

[Dale]

he probably has to take the opportunity when he has it offered to him. We don't know if he had any other viable ones.

Not really. He proactively chose to go into a hot seat situation in cap hell devoid of talent on defense. None of that is hindsight. We knew that before taking the job. He wanted to move back to Cincinnati in the end, but his next job will almost certainly be worse than his current or previous one due to this decision.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

He knew exactly what he was walking into at Cincinnati. He knew Notre Dame’s defense was strong and that staying another season would have kept his stock high. That is my main point, he chose a situation with a shit roster and no real upside instead of riding another year or two at ND, and picking a better (I know his history with Cincy) NFL landing spot.

Everyone knows you can't fix a broken NFL defense overnight. Golden took the shot, and it hurt his reputation as I could see him being fired. That is not hindsight.... It's acknowledging that he gambled on the wrong job.

If he's fired, what's next...a DC job at a middle of the pack SEC/B10 school as he ramps his value back up?

He knew the challenge at Cincinnati. There is no way of knowing what another year at ND means. He'd already worked for the Bengals and their current HC. The wheels could have been in motion there for months for all we know. What other NFL DC offers did he have? What other connections?

Sometimes there isn't a better time. The time has to be now and you decide what is best for you. Not everyone can be selective. It comes down to timing and luck.

There's perception and reality. You look at his work at ND and you look at what's happened with the Bengals so far. Anyone doing their due diligence realizes the situation he walked into and he would have suitors for another opportunity.

Regardless of all of this, Chris Ash isn't going to be basing his opportunities on what Al Golden decided to do after the 2024 season at Notre Dame. It's bonkers. We, as fans, can sit here and say "Golden should have stuck around." Chris Ash's career is arrow up right now and he might want to cash in when he can, where he can if something comes his way. That's how it works.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Not really. He proactively chose to go into a hot seat situation in cap hell devoid of talent on defense. None of that is hindsight. We knew that before taking the job. He wanted to move back to Cincinnati in the end, but his next job will almost certainly be worse than his current or previous one due to this decision.

Golden took a shot and missed. I think everyone knew those circumstances in Cincinnati. He has likely gambled and lost, unless they all get retained.

Doesn't mean Chris Ash should not do the same. Completely different people with completely different circumstances.

If you're hiring Al Golden, you ultimately now have to determine is he the Notre Dame DC or the Bengals DC. We walked into a good situation and kept it good. Then walked into a difficult situation and it remained as such. He might be perfectly fine with his choice. Gets a big buyout, likely lands somewhere doing something. Money should not be an issue that this point.

If he's the great guy nobody ever wanted to let leave, it would stand to reason other football people will know it. Something could come up.

 

[Kingbish01]

He knew the challenge at Cincinnati. There is no way of knowing what another year at ND means. He'd already worked for the Bengals and their current HC. The wheels could have been in motion there for months for all we know. What other NFL DC offers did he have? What other connections?

Sometimes there isn't a better time. The time has to be now and you decide what is best for you. Not everyone can be selective. It comes down to timing and luck.

There's perception and reality. You look at his work at ND and you look at what's happened with the Bengals so far. Anyone doing their due diligence realizes the situation he walked into and he would have suitors for another opportunity.

Regardless of all of this, Chris Ash isn't going to be basing his opportunities on what Al Golden decided to do after the 2024 season at Notre Dame. It's bonkers. We, as fans, can sit here and say "Golden should have stuck around." Chris Ash's career is arrow up right now and he might want to cash in when he can, where he can if something comes his way. That's how it works.

I think that Ash should look at Al Golden career arc, but he's pretty much already lived it. Won briefly at OSU went to Rutgers and got fired. My Point is, Al Golden peaked at ND....wasn't he fired EVERYWHERE but ND? Sometimes these guys should stay put at least for a few years is all I'm saying. Notre Dame is starting to look like a landing spot, not a stepping stone. I know how the profession works, I know when you blow up as a coordinator like Kirby/Dan Lanning/Freeman (none have been fired) you move on to bigger and better things....BUT....ASH should look at coaches like Al Golden and factor that in to a potential decision to leave when they have a similar past of failures.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think that Ash should look at Al Golden career arc, but he's pretty much already lived it. Won briefly at OSU went to Rutgers and got fired. My Point is, Al Golden peaked at ND....wasn't he fired EVERYWHERE but ND? Sometimes these guys should stay put at least for a few years is all I'm saying. Notre Dame is starting to look like a landing spot, not a stepping stone. I know how the profession works, I know when you blow up as a coordinator like Kirby/Dan Lanning/Freeman (none have been fired) you move on to bigger and better things....BUT....ASH should look at coaches like Al Golden and factor that in to a potential decision to leave when they have a similar past of failures.

Mike Elko, TAMU HC. Just signed a contract extension.
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt HC. Got extended in 2023, probably has another one in the works.
Marcus Freeman
Al Golden, Cincinnati Bengals DC, NFL

Chris Ash and everyone else is probably looking at this as exactly that. A stepping stone job. In a perfect world, you're maybe getting a guy like Denbrock in his 60s who wants to ride it out and stay, has no HC or NFL ambitions. I don't know who that guy is.

The Bengals have 3-4 guys on that defense you can maybe keep. It needs to be blown up. I don't know if Golden was given assurances upon being hired or whatever, but it's very hard for anyone to sit here and say he made a mistake taking an NFL DC job. Those don't get dangled out to you every carousel.

If things go well for Chris Ash these next few weeks, months and years he's going to get opportunities like the four guys that came before him. Chances are, he's going to take one. Let's hope that's the case. It will be good things will have happened.

 

[Kingbish01]

Mike Elko, TAMU HC. Just signed a contract extension.
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt HC. Got extended in 2023, probably has another one in the works.
Marcus Freeman
Al Golden, Cincinnati Bengals DC, NFL

Chris Ash and everyone else is probably looking at this as exactly that. A stepping stone job. In a perfect world, you're maybe getting a guy like Denbrock in his 60s who wants to ride it out and stay, has no HC or NFL ambitions. I don't know who that guy is.

The Bengals have 3-4 guys on that defense you can maybe keep. It needs to be blown up. I don't know if Golden was given assurances upon being hired or whatever, but it's very hard for anyone to sit here and say he made a mistake taking an NFL DC job. Those don't get dangled out to you every carousel.

If things go well for Chris Ash these next few weeks, months and years he's going to get opportunities like the four guys that came before him. Chances are, he's going to take one. Let's hope that's the case. It will be good things will have happened.

I guess every coordinator job is a stepping stone, look at Alabama during the Saban era.

But some guys shouldn't jump ship so quick when they failed mostly in their past. I still think Golden moving on was a bad call, I thought so when he left and I still think so now. One of my son's best friends plays for the Bengals and he loves Al...but he's also a major part of the problem there if I'm being honest. Lol

 

[MacIrish75]

Thread title?

 

[DCDomer]

Finally finished watching All-22 today. These guys are BUZZING around on defense. I really like all the different 4/5 man games up front.

Kyng is an absolute menace. That poor TE/H-Back got his helmet dented a few times.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I guess every coordinator job is a stepping stone, look at Alabama during the Saban era.

But some guys shouldn't jump ship so quick when they failed mostly in their past. I still think Golden moving on was a bad call, I thought so when he left and I still think so now. One of my son's best friends plays for the Bengals and he loves Al...but he's also a major part of the problem there if I'm being honest. Lol

He was here for three years and won the Broyles Award in the third.

I didn't want him to leave, but I completely understand why he did. These guys are all not wired like most of us are in our professions. Most regular dudes look at the Bengals and the abyss stares back at them. Golden and most coaches don't look at these jobs that way.

From what I can tell, the Bengals have a secondary that can't tackle and a lot of guys who are bad pros. Some of that has to fall on the GM, and Golden while probably knowing this going in could have been given certain timelines and assurances to fix it. Who the hell knows.

Do I leave ND for the Bengals on paper? No. But I'm not in my mid 50s getting offered an NFL DC job.

 

[The Backer]

Finally finished watching All-22 today. These guys are BUZZING around on defense. I really like all the different 4/5 man games up front.

Kyng is an absolute menace. That poor TE/H-Back got his helmet dented a few times.

How does one get a22?

 

[BeatSC]

Doesn’t anyone want to retire early anymore if you have FU money? Life passes you by fast enough after 50 without having a job that works you 60-80 hours a week! I like what I did a lot but was able to retire at 55 without having great free medical for wife and kids. Unless you have jack shit to do with no hobbies or friends etc retire! They say every year early you retire adds two more to your life. Of course egos weigh into it and power. Why don’t politicians retire after they have enough? Ask Nancy I guess. She’s retiring early so. I’ll respect Brian Kelly more if he takes the money and runs. It’s the Charlie Weiss plan which so many others have learned from that overrated fat fuk.

 

[arndtjc]

lol and what the hell is that video!? I legit laughed,…

I went down a Vengaboys rabbit hole after one of our defensive performances this season, learned a lot more about the group than I wanted to….this was a post on their instagram. I couldn’t start my screen recording fast enough….knew it would get some good use during the season. Along with this one:



Anyway…long story short I have come to the conclusion that Vengaboys is good and fun and we like to party. We like, we like to party

 

[SWirishfan]

In my 13 years (!) on this website, I have never truly “laughed out loud” the way I did on this

It makes sense if, and I cannot believe I am in 08's corner, the assumed starting point was where Golden left off.

 

[PolishDomer]

I went down a Vengaboys rabbit hole after one of our defensive performances this season, learned a lot more about the group than I wanted to….this was a post on their instagram. I couldn’t start my screen recording fast enough….knew it would get some good use during the season. Along with this one:



Anyway…long story short I have come to the conclusion that Vengaboys is good and fun and we like to party. We like, we like to party

 

[thekid33]

Stop tempting fate with the tread title changes!

 

[PolishDomer]

I went down a Vengaboys rabbit hole after one of our defensive performances this season, learned a lot more about the group than I wanted to….this was a post on their instagram. I couldn’t start my screen recording fast enough….knew it would get some good use during the season. Along with this one:



Anyway…long story short I have come to the conclusion that Vengaboys is good and fun and we like to party. We like, we like to party

Funny story about Vengaboys...my party years was the height of the Eurodance craze and there was a big concert in Chicago of all these European acts...Vengaboys was the headliner but they were blocked by immigration lol

 

[stlnd01]

Mike Elko, TAMU HC. Just signed a contract extension.
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt HC. Got extended in 2023, probably has another one in the works.
Marcus Freeman
Al Golden, Cincinnati Bengals DC, NFL

FWIW, these guys are the exceptions, not the rule. Most of our coordinators from the Kelly era did not thrive in their next job. But, then, most of them didn't really leave of their own volition, did they? Maybe a sign to strike when the iron's hot, lest you wind up being quitfired into a job as head coach of UMass or some such.

 

[stlnd01]

Noticed this in Sampson's latest in The Athletic. Wild.

Notre Dame-Pitt final thoughts: Love’s record chase, a defense hits its stride and Carr’s lull

Jeremiyah Love moves closer to breaking a 46-year-old Notre Dame rushing record as the Irish defense delivers against Pitt.

www.nytimes.com

There’s a multitude of reasons behind Notre Dame’s defensive uptick the past two months, but the front seven’s ability to get pressure dovetails with the secondary understanding its collective job. Pro Football Focus credited the Irish with 33 quarterback pressures at Pittsburgh, which trailed only the performances against Boise State (37) and Boston College (34). Notre Dame also got 29 pressures against USC, which ultimately helped finish off the Trojans.

Now compare that with the season’s first four games, when Notre Dame’s pass rush barely made a dent against Miami (11 pressures), Texas A&M (23), Purdue (19) and Arkansas (14).

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

FWIW, these guys are the exceptions, not the rule. Most of our coordinators from the Kelly era did not thrive in their next job. But, then, most of them didn't really leave of their own volition, did they? Maybe a sign to strike when the iron's hot, lest you wind up being quitfired into a job as head coach of UMass or some such.

BK nailed his last three DC hires. If that's an exception, whatever.

Freeman hit it over the fence with Golden. Ash has been on a roll since halftime of the Purdue.

The point is that, right now, this job is hot for anyone who has touched it since the car crash that was BVG.

 

[BeatSC]

I think if we play Miami and A&M now we destroy both of them. Denbrock can’t call a worse game than Miami and Love and Price are clicking as is our receiving corps
Add the D and the pressure they are getting and a healthy Gray and we win by double digits. Beck would be sacked more and throw a couple of INTs.
I think the committee can see this and rank us accordingly. Not only should we finish the season on a 10 game winning streak our D is giving up an average of 10 points against legit offenses while securing an average of greater than an average 20 point margin of victory with the exception of the BC and USC game where the scores did not reflect the level of domination on our part. Need to finish strong and play a game like the Arkansas game. Only thing missing is the FG game which we haven’t needed to rely on at all. Let’s hope it doesn’t matter and we keep rolling by double digits.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

This mother fucker has to go. He is absolutely destroying Loves chances at a Heisman.

 

[NDRock]

He’s the fucking love child of Buddy Ryan and Bill Belichick.

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Feel free to make the postgame thread.

Ash has decided to end the game early. I’m anticipating the peewee running clock rule for the rest of the game.

 

[arndtjc]