Clark Lea - Defensive Coordinator

[SouthSideChiDomer]

So what's everyone's honest thoughts here?? Safe move with little downside? How's the upside and what do we really know about Lea in total?? Appreciate anyone's input.

I might be alone in this, but I feel like there's a ton of risk with this move. Elko's defense was about being simple and putting guys in the position to play fast and make plays. I always thought for a system like this to work, our DC needs to be outsmart the opposing OC and Elko has proven he could do that. With Lea we can't be sure.

This also means that we basically have one combined year of coordinator experience for our OC & DC. I never thought I would say this but I hope that Kelly is more involved with the defense next year.

 

[BoredIrish]

So what's everyone's honest thoughts here?? Safe move with little downside? How's the upside and what do we really know about Lea in total?? Appreciate anyone's input.

I want to know how much they are going to pay him?

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

I want to know how much they are going to pay him?

Hopefully him getting a chance at DC means we don't have to give him much of a raise and more importantly we don't have to give him a longer contract. Odds are he won't be here for more than two years one way or another.

 

[IrishLion]

1. Is he co-DC with Elston.

Probably would've been part of the scoop, unless Lea/Lea's agent released an independent statement to Thamel for some reason.

2. Are they run defense / pass defense coordinators?

N/A

3. Does Elston just remain Asst HC / DL?

I bet he does, or else he's gonna move on to another opportunity

4. Does Lea stay in control of LB's and hire a Safety coach?

I hope that's how it goes. Minimizes staff turnover if Elston is also sticking around.

5. Is he DC only and they hire an LB coach and give safeties to Lyght?

I hope the safeties and corners continue to get coached as separate position groups... CB development looks good under Lyght, so I wouldn't upset that cart by increasing his workload if I knew I could get a good safety coach

 

[ResLife Hero]

Clark Lea - Defensive Coordinator

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">SOURCES: Notre Dame expected to promote linebacker coach Clark Lea to defensive coordinator.</p>— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/950760436328226816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

IMO, our best shot at continuity in scheme and recruiting. I like it, but hope Elston stays on.

 

[NDRock]

So what's everyone's honest thoughts here?? Safe move with little downside? How's the upside and what do we really know about Lea in total?? Appreciate anyone's input.

I like it. I hope he’s ready for it.

 

[IrishLax]

Promoting Lea makes the most financial and practical sense. What if he fails? Well, everyone is getting fired then anyways and you have to pay less of a buyout.

It's January 9th people are NOT going to be able to snag some "elite" DC from anywhere without paying tons of money. And then we'll be on the 3rd scheme in 3 years.

The bottom line is Lea gives you continuity and increases the odds you get guys like Tillery and Coney to return. Tillery was leaning towards returning before Elko left, Coney is probably more on the fence and leaning out... well, your odds of retention go way up if his position coach is in charge of the defense. And if the scheme they excelled in isn't going to change much.

Elko's scheme asks the most of the DBs, but it also asks a lot of the LBs in certain situations. The key is going to be hiring a good safeties coach... that's a lot easier than having multiple coaches walk, having some of your best players walk, and trying to retool a brand new scheme with worse personnel.

 

[koonja]

I really like the move. Is this the final straw with Elston? Even if it is I like this move the best, but I wonder how he's feeling?

 

[IrishLax]

You need to re-title this thread until there is something more than "expected" from a tweet. Or delete it for time being.

 

[BoredIrish]

What is the deadline for players to declare for the draft? I think it is pretty soon... isnt it?

Kind of surprised we haven't heard anything from Tillery or Coney yet. Hopefully their silence means they aren't leaving.

 

[gkIrish]

It was obvious they would promote from within. Good luck to him.

 

[zelezo vlk]

You need to re-title this thread until there is something more than "expected" from a tweet. Or delete it for time being.

I agree with the re-title. Clark Lea Defensive Gangsta has a nice ring to it

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

What is the deadline for players to declare for the draft? I think it is pretty soon... isnt it?

Kind of surprised we haven't heard anything from Tillery or Coney yet. Hopefully their silence means they aren't leaving.

Pretty sure the date is Jan 15, but I could be wrong.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

So I think the best assumption is probably Lea keeps coaching LBs and we hire a safeties coach. Who are the candidates for safeties coach?

 

[koonja]

It was obvious they would promote from within. Good luck to him.

I'm guessing you're not thrilled with it? Or am I reading too much into it.

 

[Rizzophil]

I might be alone in this, but I feel like there's a ton of risk with this move. Elko's defense was about being simple and putting guys in the position to play fast and make plays. I always thought for a system like this to work, our DC needs to be outsmart the opposing OC and Elko has proven he could do that. With Lea we can't be sure.

This also means that we basically have one combined year of coordinator experience for our OC & DC. I never thought I would say this but I hope that Kelly is more involved with the defense next year.

There’s a ton of risk on whoever got the job

Probably more risk than bringing in a new system, again

And at least we know we got a hard worker, great recruiter, etc

 

[ResLife Hero]

You need to re-title this thread until there is something more than "expected" from a tweet. Or delete it for time being.

I'm not sure if I'm able to delete or re-title threads. Just saw twitter going off with things like this and assumed it was close to a done deal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Can confirm <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeteThamel</a> report that things look good for Clark Lea to be next DC at Notre Dame. Here's what I'm hearing (VIP): <a href="https://t.co/ntc20tvUrS">https://t.co/ntc20tvUrS</a></p>— Barton Simmons (@bartonsimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/bartonsimmons/status/950766501249847297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Feel free to close it down if it's not ok.

 

[IrishLax]

I wouldn't be surprised if they add a safeties coach with a "co-DC" title if Lea gets promotion as expected.

 

[Rack Em]

 

[IrishLax]

I'm not sure if I'm able to delete or re-title threads. Just saw twitter going off with things like this and assumed it was close to a done deal.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Can confirm <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeteThamel</a> report that things look good for Clark Lea to be next DC at Notre Dame. Here's what I'm hearing (VIP): <a href="https://t.co/ntc20tvUrS">https://t.co/ntc20tvUrS</a></p>— Barton Simmons (@bartonsimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/bartonsimmons/status/950766501249847297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Feel free to close it down if it's not ok.

Nah it's cool I just put a disclaimer in the thread title so people don't think it's "confirmed."

From the jump, this was expectedly what ND would do rather than scramble for someone at 11th hour... I'd heard that they will/would consider external hires for the "right guy" though and I wouldn't be surprised if a DB coach from somewhere ultimately gets hired with a "co-DC" title to coach safeties.

 

[BoredIrish]

I wouldn't be surprised if they add a safeties coach with a "co-DC" title if Lea gets promotion as expected.

As much as I want a dynamic recruiter coaching safeties, it wouldnt upset me if they got an older experiences coach with a track record of player development.

I wonder if this is where Heacock fits in?

 

[BoredIrish]

Nah it's cool I just put a disclaimer in the thread title so people don't think it's "confirmed."

From the jump, this was expectedly what ND would do rather than scramble for someone at 11th hour... I'd heard that they will/would consider external hires for the "right guy" though and I wouldn't be surprised if a DB coach from somewhere ultimately gets hired with a "co-DC" title to coach safeties.

... Jimmy Lake

 

[koonja]

I'm interested to see what he cost. Is he like ~$700K a year since he has no experience? Wonder what he was making before, and what he's making now. And how jealous Elston will be.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

As much as I want a dynamic recruiter coaching safeties, it wouldnt upset me if they got an older experiences coach with a track record of player development.

I wonder if this is where Heacock fits in?

That would be interesting and I would be all for something like this. Let Lea get the title so he recruits Coney and Co. back and then get a guy who knows safeties but can also be a safety net for Lea as a co-dc. Considering he was only making ~$500k we could probably get him with a good raise and give Lea a raise and still have the total budget below what we would have had to offer Elko and Lea.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

So what kind of defense does he run?

 

[SoIll]

So what kind of defense does he run?

the same thing?

 

[zelezo vlk]

As much as I want a dynamic recruiter coaching safeties, it wouldnt upset me if they got an older experiences coach with a track record of player development.

I wonder if this is where Heacock fits in?

Man a Bob Elliott (RIP) style guy would be great.

 

[gkIrish]

I'm guessing you're not thrilled with it? Or am I reading too much into it.

I don't care. Don't think it matters. Probably the best they could have done under the circumstances.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

the same thing?

Thanks. Being facetious. Don't have sarcasm font on my computer.

 

[Blazers46]

Whats the over/under on how long he stays?