Clark Lea - Defensive Coordinator

BobbyMac

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Only here could the search for a DC turn into a discussion of Bryce Drew.

Can confirm: Not the best looking Crusader in history... just the best looking shot.

Bryce-Drew-1998-Buzzer-Beater-for-Valpo-over-Mississippi.jpg
 

Irish#1

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Can confirm: Not the best looking Crusader in history... just the best looking shot.

Bryce-Drew-1998-Buzzer-Beater-for-Valpo-over-Mississippi.jpg

Freaudian slip? lol

Did they call that play Pacer when you were there? Such a great play and shot. It's still shown every year during tournament time.
 

Whiskeyjack

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With systemic continuity under Lea and Tillery + Coney returning, we actually have a good chance to take another step forward on defense in 2018. Maybe that'll be enough to carry us against another tough schedule.
 

IrishLax

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With systemic continuity under Lea and Tillery + Coney returning, we actually have a good chance to take another step forward on defense in 2018. Maybe that'll be enough to carry us against another tough schedule.

IMO, I would bet on us taking a step forward if Lea can run the same scheme and prepare as well. We will see improvement at safety... either from the guys that are currently playing there improving or from new blood. CB we have Love and whoever mans the other spot (+nickel) should be very capable.

At LB, Coney and Tranquill were elite at the end of this year... as long as we get a competent MIKE we will be in very good shape. Or maybe Coney plays MIKE, Tranquill plays WILL and you let a young blood play Rover. I dunno, but you're only missing one piece.

On the DL, you replace Bonner... that's it. Hayes and Okwara at that "rush" spot should be competent, the interior should be stout with Tillery/MTA/Hinish + fresh bodies. You just really need some production out of the other DE spot that Jay Hayes currently occupies... not sure where we get that. That spot and MIKE are really my only concerns because I'm assuming safety takes a BIG step forward.
 

DONTH8

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IMO, I would bet on us taking a step forward if Lea can run the same scheme and prepare as well. We will see improvement at safety... either from the guys that are currently playing there improving or from new blood. CB we have Love and whoever mans the other spot (+nickel) should be very capable.

At LB, Coney and Tranquill were elite at the end of this year... as long as we get a competent MIKE we will be in very good shape. Or maybe Coney plays MIKE, Tranquill plays WILL and you let a young blood play Rover. I dunno, but you're only missing one piece.

On the DL, you replace Bonner... that's it. Hayes and Okwara at that "rush" spot should be competent, the interior should be stout with Tillery/MTA/Hinish + fresh bodies. You just really need some production out of the other DE spot that Jay Hayes currently occupies... not sure where we get that. That spot and MIKE are really my only concerns because I'm assuming safety takes a BIG step forward.



This. Offensive play calling is a lot easier than defensive play calling. Offensvely, you're the one taking it to the other team. You are the one setting the pace of the game and making the decision.

Defensively it's all reaction based. That's why it's so much harder to coach and improve. The DC needs to be able to study film well and find tendencies, as well as opportunities to exploit and gain an advantage. If our new DC doesn't have those skills or work ethic, then we may just fall flat on our face. While the players may be more improved, the coach has to make a call to put them in position to succeed and make a play.

But here's to hoping that we got ourselves a good one.
 

T-Boone

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You just really need some production out of the other DE spot that Jay Hayes currently occupies... not sure where we get that. That spot and MIKE are really my only concerns because I'm assuming safety takes a BIG step forward.

I thought Kareem was getting good in the second half of the season.
 

NDdomer2

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IMO, I would bet on us taking a step forward if Lea can run the same scheme and prepare as well. We will see improvement at safety... either from the guys that are currently playing there improving or from new blood. CB we have Love and whoever mans the other spot (+nickel) should be very capable.

At LB, Coney and Tranquill were elite at the end of this year... as long as we get a competent MIKE we will be in very good shape. Or maybe Coney plays MIKE, Tranquill plays WILL and you let a young blood play Rover. I dunno, but you're only missing one piece.

On the DL, you replace Bonner... that's it. Hayes and Okwara at that "rush" spot should be competent, the interior should be stout with Tillery/MTA/Hinish + fresh bodies. You just really need some production out of the other DE spot that Jay Hayes currently occupies... not sure where we get that. That spot and MIKE are really my only concerns because I'm assuming safety takes a BIG step forward.

1st bolded - we have a ton of quality guys to mix and match here, I liked Morgan and martini, but next year's linebackers should be alot of fun to watch

2nd bolded - I agree we should see some big improvemts. Guys like studsill and Elliot have 2 years experience and will be upper classmen, high quality incoming players. But we gta hire a coach for this group to further the development.
 

BobbyMac

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1st bolded - we have a ton of quality guys to mix and match here, I liked Morgan and martini, but next year's linebackers should be alot of fun to watch

2nd bolded - I agree we should see some big improvemts. Guys like studsill and Elliot have 2 years experience and will be upper classmen, high quality incoming players. But we gta hire a coach for this group to further the development.

Guys like Studstill and Elliott hopefully have seen ppeak snaps. Guys like JGH and Gilman have most likely passed them and Derrik Allen is coming.
 

NDMIA

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Seems like not too long ago BVG was bragging about how good Devin Studstill was gonna be when he arrived at ND. Crazy to think how different certain evaluations for some coaches are drastically different with others.
 

BobbyMac

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Taver Johnson from temple is a possible name in that hat

WOULD love.

From Cincy. Check

Played small college Ohio football. Check.

GA'd at ND. Check.

Coached at Miami U. not once, but twice. Check

DB's at OSU under Tressel for 5 years. Check

+

2 years at Arkansas DB's

2 years at Purdue DB's

Temple DC last year.

Was on staff at Miami and OSU with my choice of OL coaches - John Peterson of Pitt.
 

irishff1014

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WOULD love.

From Cincy. Check

Played small college Ohio football. Check.

GA'd at ND. Check.

Coached at Miami U. not once, but twice. Check

DB's at OSU under Tressel for 5 years. Check

+

2 years at Arkansas DB's

2 years at Purdue DB's

Temple DC last year.

Was on staff at Miami and OSU with my choice of OL coaches - John Peterson of Pitt.

DOn't know much about him but he sounds like a good hire.
 

IrishLion

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WOULD love.

From Cincy. Check

Played small college Ohio football. Check.

GA'd at ND. Check.

Coached at Miami U. not once, but twice. Check

DB's at OSU under Tressel for 5 years. Check

+

2 years at Arkansas DB's

2 years at Purdue DB's

Temple DC last year.

Was on staff at Miami and OSU with my choice of OL coaches - John Peterson of Pitt.

I worked with a guy who knows Taver pretty well... Taver's been in the running for position coaching jobs with ND 2.5 times since BK got to ND.

Could this finally be the ticket that gets him in?
 

NDdomer2

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would he be co-dc? hard to imagine he would go from DC to position coach only
 

FightingIrishLover7

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WOULD love.

From Cincy. Check

Played small college Ohio football. Check.

GA'd at ND. Check.

Coached at Miami U. not once, but twice. Check

DB's at OSU under Tressel for 5 years. Check

+

2 years at Arkansas DB's

2 years at Purdue DB's

Temple DC last year.

Was on staff at Miami and OSU with my choice of OL coaches - John Peterson of Pitt.

Would be nice to get back to recruiting the Cincy area...Seems to have dwindled now that Kelly (and most staff gone) has been removed from that area for better part of a decade now.
 

stlnd01

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would he be co-dc? hard to imagine he would go from DC to position coach only

How many co-DCs/associate-of-the-head-coaches can we have on one defensive staff? Poor Todd Lyght is going to feel left out.
 

NDMIA

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Top Passing Defenses in FBS Football and people involved in coaching them

1) Brian Smith - Michigan DB Coach - Hired as Rice DC 12/12/17
3) Pete Golding - UTSA DC/DB Coach - Hired by Alabama
4) Jim Leonhard - Wisconsin DC/DB Coach
5) Jake Dickert - Wyoming S Coach - First FBS job (32yo), works under Scottie Hazelton (DC/LB)
6A) Bob Shoop - Tennessee DC/S Coach - Hired as Mississippi St DC
6B) Charlton Warren - Tennessee CB Coach - Hired by Florida
7) Derrick Ansley - Alabama DB Coach - Hired by Oakland Raiders
9) Alex Grinch - Wazzu DC/DB Coach - Hired by Ohio State
10) Mo Linguist - Minnesota DB Coach - Hired by Texas A&M
11) Matt Guerrieri - Duke S Coach - 6 seasons at Duke (29yo), also Recruiting Coordinator
12) Ron English - Mississippi St S Coach - Hired by Florida
13) Greg Brown - Auburn DB Coach - 60yo who's been coaching forever
14) Nick Howell - Virginia DC/DB Coach - 37yo who's been alongside Bronco for 11 seasons
15) Noah Joseph - Indiana S Coach - 40-41yo in his 4th season
16) Julius Brown - Utah State DB Coach - 36-37yo


Other big time secondary units would include the one at Temple which was 2nd in the nation last season in Pass Defense (Taver Johnson). Ephraim Banda is a young big time recruiter at UM (hard to pry him away), Marc Mattioli at Vanderbilt has led a strong unit, Demetrice Martin is one of the best recruiters in the country, period. If we're strictly looking at college from this list that I know of with an actual shot to land them, I'd guess

1) Demetrice Martin
2) Taver Johnson
3) Matt Guerrieri
4) Marc Mattioli
5) Noah Joseph
6) Jake Dickert
7) Julius Brown

Any other names to look at?
 

zelezo vlk

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Top Passing Defenses in FBS Football and people involved in coaching them

1) Brian Smith - Michigan DB Coach - Hired as Rice DC 12/12/17
3) Pete Golding - UTSA DC/DB Coach - Hired by Alabama
4) Jim Leonhard - Wisconsin DC/DB Coach
5) Jake Dickert - Wyoming S Coach - First FBS job (32yo), works under Scottie Hazelton (DC/LB)
6A) Bob Shoop - Tennessee DC/S Coach - Hired as Mississippi St DC
6B) Charlton Warren - Tennessee CB Coach - Hired by Florida
7) Derrick Ansley - Alabama DB Coach - Hired by Oakland Raiders
9) Alex Grinch - Wazzu DC/DB Coach - Hired by Ohio State
10) Mo Linguist - Minnesota DB Coach - Hired by Texas A&M
11) Matt Guerrieri - Duke S Coach - 6 seasons at Duke (29yo), also Recruiting Coordinator
12) Ron English - Mississippi St S Coach - Hired by Florida
13) Greg Brown - Auburn DB Coach - 60yo who's been coaching forever
14) Nick Howell - Virginia DC/DB Coach - 37yo who's been alongside Bronco for 11 seasons
15) Noah Joseph - Indiana S Coach - 40-41yo in his 4th season
16) Julius Brown - Utah State DB Coach - 36-37yo


Other big time secondary units would include the one at Temple which was 2nd in the nation last season in Pass Defense (Taver Johnson). Ephraim Banda is a young big time recruiter at UM (hard to pry him away), Marc Mattioli at Vanderbilt has led a strong unit, Demetrice Martin is one of the best recruiters in the country, period. If we're strictly looking at college from this list that I know of with an actual shot to land them, I'd guess

1) Demetrice Martin
2) Taver Johnson
3) Matt Guerrieri
4) Marc Mattioli
5) Noah Joseph
6) Jake Dickert
7) Julius Brown

Any other names to look at?

Great! Thanks for pulling this together
 
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