Clark Lea - Defensive Coordinator

[Rogue219]

Obviously there's Venables who has different variables keeping him where he's at and most likely will be a HC someday pretty soon.

Pete Kwiatkowski has been up to this point and turns down interviews all the time. Even allowed Jimmy Lake to take over his DC gig for a year and leap frog him in the Coach Pete transition plan.

Did Mike Elston just become a lifer after his last interview with BGSU in '18?

Venables is probably the NEXT Bud Foster. You'd think that sooner or later he goes on, though.

Yeah, you don't see Kwiatkowski's name on the short lists like you did a few years ago. There are a few guys out there who simply aren't interested in the big chair. To each their own.

Elston might be a guy who doesn't like the nomad lifestyle and prefers stability. Again, he's the exception and not the rule. How many people in life can say they have a niche? Elston may have his and he's good with it.

 

[DCDomer]

Think some of the "he's doing what he's supposed to do" crowd would be singing a different tune if this was a KID doing this instead of an adult.

Let's just say Kyle Hamilton was going to transfer next year and everyone knew his decision was already made this week, and during the week of preparation, he was hitting up commits to his new school trying to make sure he was better off at his next spot.

Would just be doing his job, right!?

 

[Rogue219]

Think some of the "he's doing what he's supposed to do" crowd would be singing a different tune if this was a KID doing this instead of an adult.

Let's just say Kyle Hamilton was going to transfer next year and everyone knew his decision was already made this week, and during the week of preparation, he was hitting up commits to his new school trying to make sure he was better off at his next spot.

Would just be doing his job, right!?

College athletes have always been held to a different standard versus the adults around them. You are 100% correct. This is an absolute given that people would be pissed off.

 

[ThePiombino]

This might be Lea's only chance to compete for a national championship.
I don't see him giving it anything but 100% focus. Plus 10% on recruiting for Vandy - so that accounts for his full 110%.
I actually will probably follow some Vandy Football now to keep and eye of Lea's progress, so this is good. Lets go!

The problem with this is that if he has 110% to give, we need every last bit of it in order to beat Clemson and whoever we face in the playoff.

 

[dublinirish]

Bob Diaco available

 

[BeauBenken]

Man, Bob didn't even get a full year at Purdue. He was putting in a completely new system as they went from a 4-3 to a 3-4.

Not sure why they tried that only to bail on it after one season where he didn't even get to have a full off season installing it.

Seems like an absolute waste of a season by Brohm.

 

[TDHeysus]

Has Lea called Sarah Fuller yet?

 

[NDdomer2]

Man, Bob didn't even get a full year at Purdue. He was putting in a completely new system as they went from a 4-3 to a 3-4.

Not sure why they tried that only to bail on it after one season where he didn't even get to have a full off season installing it.

Seems like an absolute waste of a season by Brohm.

if you were gonna waste a season i suppose this is the one to do it. The BIG practically wasted it for them.

 

[hungryhippo]

Has Lea called Sarah Fuller yet?

He's married, bro.

 

[Rogue219]

Diaco can coach linebackers. Apart from that, not interested in him being a DC at ND.

 

[dublinirish]

Diaco can coach linebackers. Apart from that, not interested in him being a DC at ND.

if you are BK you stash him on the staff as an analyst Nick Saban style

 

[Rogue219]

if you are BK you stash him on the staff as an analyst Nick Saban style

Precisely.

 

[dublinirish]

Interesting note on the II podcast they said despite his depature to A+M, Elko is on very very good terms with BK still. They didn't have BK reaching out to Elko about coming back as beyond the realm of possibility

 

[Junkhead]

Interesting note on the II podcast they said despite his depature to A+M, Elko is on very very good terms with BK still. They didn't have BK reaching out to Elko about coming back as beyond the realm of possibility

It'd be awkward (for us fans), but why not? Highly unlikely, I'd guess.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Say what you want about how he left, but Elko is a great DC and dynamite recruiter. He would be a no-brainer hire

 

[Crazy Balki]

I'd say the chances of Elko returning are slim to none. Why leave A&M when he has put 3 years in there and is VERY generously compensated.

I can't imagine ND can offer him enough money that would entice him to leave that isn't utterly absurd.

I've come around to the idea that our next DC's will be a tandem of Joseph and Elston, with Joseph as the primary playcaller up in the booth, while Elston is more of the practice guy and deals with things on the field. Similar dynamic to how things are with Rees and Taylor on offense.

I also think ND promotes Nick Lezynski to LB coach. He's basically shadowed Lea since 2018 and has spent 6 years as an assistant. Might be a great guy to move up and keep things consistent.

 

[NDohio]

I'd say the chances of Elko returning are slim to none. Why leave A&M when he has put 3 years in there and is VERY generously compensated.

I can't imagine ND can offer him enough money that would entice him to leave that isn't utterly absurd.

I've come around to the idea that our next DC's will be a tandem of Joseph and Elston, with Joseph as the primary playcaller up in the booth, while Elston is more of the practice guy and deals with things on the field. Similar dynamic to how things are with Rees and Taylor on offense.

I also think ND promotes Nick Lezynski to LB coach. He's basically shadowed Lea since 2018 and has spent 6 years as an assistant. Might be a great guy to move up and keep things consistent.

There are only two reasons I can see it happening - he doesn't like it A&M, for whatever reason, or he saw Lea get a head coaching job quicker than he did and thinks that ND might be a better path for him.

Although I agree with you. I don't see it happening.

 

[dublinirish]

II podcast folks say the chance of Terry Joseph following Lea to Vandy is pretty high

 

[Rogue219]

II podcast folks say the chance of Terry Joseph following Lea to Vandy is pretty high

I think Kelly is going to be able to find a DC and a DB coach, though, right?

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Interesting note on the II podcast they said despite his depature to A+M, Elko is on very very good terms with BK still. They didn't have BK reaching out to Elko about coming back as beyond the realm of possibility

Sampson is a smart guy, but he brought this up and it makes absolutely no sense. ND won't pay Elko $2 million, and Elko would have no reason to make a lateral move.

 

[arrowryan]

II podcast folks say the chance of Terry Joseph following Lea to Vandy is pretty high

I'd think he might be the leading internal candidate for the DC job.

 

[BeauBenken]

I'd think he might be the leading internal candidate for the DC job.

He probably would be.

Granted, he may be the guy that Lea wants as a DC.

 

[arrowryan]

He probably would be.

Granted, he may be the guy that Lea wants as a DC.

I can't imagine he'd turn down the DC job at ND for the same position at Vandy

 

[Rack Em]

I don’t really give a shit if they put Monk Malloy up in the box as DC as long as we keep the same system. It’s worked wonders for us and it’s a system we seem to be able to recruit for. Unlike Diaco’s 3-4 OLB position where we always had 12 guys at one position and only 1 player who could play the other.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

II podcast folks say the chance of Terry Joseph following Lea to Vandy is pretty high

I listened to the Pod too.

Your comment is misleading. They implied that Joseph would make sense to go to Vandy - given the fact he's coordinated the DBs already with Lea.

But they never "predicted" it "will' happen. They also talked about how he could be DC for ND too...

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Sampson is a smart guy, but he brought this up and it makes absolutely no sense. ND won't pay Elko $2 million, and Elko would have no reason to make a lateral move.

It has been implied that despite the $ Elko isn't all that happy at A&M. Who really knows, though?

 

[StPaul_Irish]

It has been implied that despite the $ Elko isn't all that happy at A&M. Who really knows, though?

THIS.... Sounds like Elko thinks A&M isn't all its cracked up to be, and making a call would be well worth it.

It all depends on what they do with Joseph, they coach the same position. I don't know enough about Joseph's background to know if he has the mind/ability to think quickly, adjust and call plays.

The one thing we knew about Lea, was he was a brilliant mind. That being said, a combo CO-DC deal with Elston and Joseph might be what the DR. ordered.

 

[PANDFAN]

i would LOVE to see where there are any rumors of elko not happy at TAMU ....because i haven't seen or heard any of these rumors and actually have seen quite the opposite...love to be wrong here

 

[zelezo vlk]

II podcast folks say the chance of Terry Joseph following Lea to Vandy is pretty high

Sounds like there's an opening at Safeties coach. Call up Elko!

 

[BeauBenken]

I can't imagine he'd turn down the DC job at ND for the same position at Vandy

I agree. But he might be guaranteed to get it at Vandy if he goes with Lea, whereas here he might not know who else might get interviewed/who he is competing against for the job. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush and all.