Clark Lea - Defensive Coordinator

[dad4aa]

In all honesty let's hope ND doesn't make the same mistake losing Elko like they did Lea offer him a pay raise at the end of the year and lock him up with a big buyout

Elko was offered a great deal and he used it to get a better offer from A&M. He was all about the money and nothing else. Notre Dame was not going to get into a bidding war. A&M offered and ND countered and Elko accepted. Then A&M offered more and Elko came back to ND and asked for even more so ND said take the offer and go. How’s it working for him now? IMO we are better this year than last.

 

[arrowryan]

In all honesty let's hope ND doesn't make the same mistake losing Elko like they did Lea offer him a pay raise at the end of the year and lock him up with a big buyout

I don't blame ND with Elko. Elko was 100% chasing checks. He can kick rocks.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Elko was offered a great deal and he used it to get a better offer from A&M. He was all about the money and nothing else. Notre Dame was not going to get into a bidding war. A&M offered and ND countered and Elko accepted. Then A&M offered more and Elko came back to ND and asked for even more so ND said take the offer and go. How’s it working for him now? IMO we are better this year than last.

I agree, but, couple things to consider:

1) Second year in this system
2) More experienced/older players
3) Elko's defense was looking "about" this good up until the Miami game.

Let's hope this year sustains itself.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

This is why DL is so important. I hope we can continue stacking talent and producing elite pass rushers/pocket collapsers.

 

[Luckylucci]

I’d be surprised if Lea wasn’t at ND for a reasonable tenure.

 

[stlnd01]

I’d be surprised if Lea wasn’t at ND for a reasonable tenure.

This is his first year as a DC anywhere, right?
I’d think that has to work in our favor. Hopefully the handful of programs that would pay enough that a guy might jump laterally will want more actual experience.

 

[Luckylucci]

This is his first year as a DC anywhere, right?
I’d think that has to work in our favor. Hopefully the handful of programs that would pay enough that a guy might jump laterally will want more actual experience.

Correct. Also, I think Lea just values ND more than Elko did. At least that’s the perception with the hire

 

[Rack Em]

I’d be surprised if Lea wasn’t at ND for a reasonable tenure.

Yeah and "Brian VanGorder was a gangsta" for about 6 games. Pretty sure we all wanted him locked up long-term before the wheels feel off that wagon...........

I'm going to hold off on optimism until I see him in the back half of the schedule after teams have more film on his defensive calls.

 

[koonja]

I think the world of Lea. But we have 2 future NFL players on the DL in Tillery and Kareem. 2 future NFL players at LB in Tranquil and Coney. 2 future NFL players at corner as well. I define "future NFL" players as guys who are legitimately going to make a career in the NFL, not guys signed to a practice squad for 2 years and then MIA.

I want to see what next year looks like before we go Charlie Weis on him. But if you made me place my bet right now, I'd sign him up.

 

[KPENN]

I think the world of Lea. But we have 2 future NFL players on the DL in Tillery and Kareem. 2 future NFL players at LB in Tranquil and Coney. 2 future NFL players at corner as well. I define "future NFL" players as guys who are legitimately going to make a career in the NFL, not guys signed to a practice squad for 2 years and then MIA.

I want to see what next year looks like before we go Charlie Weis on him. But if you made me place my bet right now, I'd sign him up.

But with how ND recruits shouldn't this type of talent be the norm?

 

[RDU Irish]

But with how ND recruits shouldn't this type of talent be the norm?

We haven't had this level of talent (top to bottom, all three phases) in 25 years.

 

[ThePiombino]

I think the world of Lea. But we have 2 future NFL players on the DL in Tillery and Kareem. 2 future NFL players at LB in Tranquil and Coney. 2 future NFL players at corner as well. I define "future NFL" players as guys who are legitimately going to make a career in the NFL, not guys signed to a practice squad for 2 years and then MIA.

I want to see what next year looks like before we go Charlie Weis on him. But if you made me place my bet right now, I'd sign him up.

Yeah, that's what happens when the staff actually recruits lol

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Imagine where the program would be today if Kelly had hired Elko and Lea in 2014 instead of Uncle Rico.

 

[ACamp1900]

We haven't had this level of talent (top to bottom, all three phases) in 25 years.

On defense especially....

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Imagine where the program would be today if Kelly had hired Elko and Lea in 2014 instead of Uncle Rico.

Following up on this, what follows is our Offensive Efficiency ranking for each year under Kelly:

2009 - 13th
2010 - 57th
2011 - 29th
2012 - 29th
2013 - 37th
2014 - 22nd
2015 - 6th
2016 - 38th
2017 - 13th

FEI and S&P+ don't break out into the more granular stats until Week 7, but I think we'll be in the high 20s once the Stanford game gets factored in, and will easily be top-10 if Book continues on his current trajectory.

Point being, Kelly's comment about being able to "manufacture offense" seems to have been mostly true. With the exception of 2010, our offense has always been somewhere between "good enough" and "elite". Our fortunes under Kelly have largely tracked with the DC.

Diaco built a monster 3-4 which carried us to the title game in 2012. Then he (likely following his boss' lead) started looking for the exits, and cashed out. Had Kelly hired the right guy at that point instead of Van Gorder, the last few years would have been very different.

 

[loomis41973]

Yeah and "Brian VanGorder was a gangsta" for about 6 games. Pretty sure we all wanted him locked up long-term before the wheels feel off that wagon...........

I'm going to hold off on optimism until I see him in the back half of the schedule after teams have more film on his defensive calls.

Absolutely.

Reps

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Imagine where the program would be today if Kelly had hired Elko and Lea in 2014 instead of Uncle Rico.

Elko was not Elko in 2014....he was not a big time defensive coordinator.


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[Sherm Sticky]

Also for those saying Clark Lea could also leave for the $$$$$$.

I don’t think that will happen. Remember during the Vanderbilt game there was a piece how his whole family went to Vanderbilt, including Clark. But when he was 7 or 8 took a trip to Notre Dame and fell in love. This was just a stepping stone job for Elko. This is a dream job for Lea. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Kelly grooms Lea into his Lincoln Riley.


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[Whiskeyjack]

Elko was not Elko in 2014....he was not a big time defensive coordinator.

Elko wasn't "big time" in 2017 either. He was on the radar due to punching consistently above his weight at Wake Forest, but he could have easily have fizzled. Nor was Hiestand a "big time" hire in 2012, as he hadn't had much success at Tennessee.

 

[kenthehobo]

I think the world of Lea. But we have 2 future NFL players on the DL in Tillery and Kareem. 2 future NFL players at LB in Tranquil and Coney. 2 future NFL players at corner as well. I define "future NFL" players as guys who are legitimately going to make a career in the NFL, not guys signed to a practice squad for 2 years and then MIA.

I want to see what next year looks like before we go Charlie Weis on him. But if you made me place my bet right now, I'd sign him up.

Not making the case that BVG was a good recruiter but it's pretty wild that all those guys, as well as all our starters apart from Gilman, were signed by him

 

[FDNYIrish1]

I think this guy is going to be special. Watching video of him last year he just gets it. He's real, and already is a developer of talent. So far he's called great games and brings it when needed. He seems like a genuine guy that the kids love to play for. He will continue to pay dividends in recruiting.

 

[irishff1014]

Imagine where the program would be today if Kelly had hired Elko and Lea in 2014 instead of Uncle Rico.

TRUTH!

 

[NDRock]

Not making the case that BVG was a good recruiter but it's pretty wild that all those guys, as well as all our starters apart from Gilman, were signed by him

That is interesting. I always thought of him as a poor recruiter.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

That is interesting. I always thought of him as a poor recruiter.

He was, it's well documented by those inside the program. His staff still worked their asses off and managed to snag some gems but only recently have we been signing complete classes.

As ND fans, we're used to a great class at 1-2 positions, good classes with a large number of positions and whiffing on 1-2. That can't happen if you really want to compete for titles/big bowl games.

The last 2-3 classes have been consistently complete and we're seeing what that produces. Now certainly there is an element of luck to hitting on the right recruits and finding NFL talent in the recruiting pool but it really feels like this could be the turning point for the program.

Let's hope we continue because this is the best it's felt to be an ND fan in a long time.

 

[Fbolt]

short memories

extensions abound and grooming coaches.

 

[BGIF]

Elko wasn't "big time" in 2017 either. He was on the radar due to punching consistently above his weight at Wake Forest, but he could have easily have fizzled. Nor was Hiestand a "big time" hire in 2012, as he hadn't had much success at Tennessee.

Whiskey, do realize what you're saying here?

If they weren't what they are today before they came to ND, ... Kelly must have developed them.

NDN will self-immolate if they find out.

 

[stlnd01]

Whiskey, do realize what you're saying here?

If they weren't what they are today before they came to ND, ... Kelly must have developed them.

NDN will self-immolate if they find out.

Wait, I thought Chip Long and Elko (and now, by extension, Lea) were forced upon Kelly by the administration as a way to remove BK from any real responsibility and make him a head coach in name only, so we didn't have to pay his buyout and/or to buy time to find a good replacement.
At least that was the fever-dream conspiracy theory (and not just over at ND Nation).

 

[Irish#1]

Elko wasn't "big time" in 2017 either. He was on the radar due to punching consistently above his weight at Wake Forest, but he could have easily have fizzled. Nor was Hiestand a "big time" hire in 2012, as he hadn't had much success at Tennessee.

It's amazing how good a coach can be when he is surrounded by talent! I've said this before and will repeat it. There are a ton of great coaches out there and plenty of them are on crappy or average teams. That's why I don't get too upset when we hire someone that doesn't come in with a record of producing AA's year in and year out. Heistand's past didn't indicate that he was a great coach, but he was and when he was given top recruits to work with look what he did.

Is Lea a stud DC? Too early to tell for sure given the talent he's working with, but I think he probably is when you look at the adjustments he makes at halftime. Opposing teams offenses disappear in the second half.

 

[matman4593]

Also for those saying Clark Lea could also leave for the $$$$$$.

I don’t think that will happen. Remember during the Vanderbilt game there was a piece how his whole family went to Vanderbilt, including Clark. But when he was 7 or 8 took a trip to Notre Dame and fell in love. This was just a stepping stone job for Elko. This is a dream job for Lea. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Kelly grooms Lea into his Lincoln Riley.


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I think (or at least hope) that he's currently doing that with Elston. He really is elite at developing and maximizing talent. Him and Lea share a lot of similar qualities

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I think (or at least hope) that he's currently doing that with Elston. He really is elite at developing and maximizing talent. Him and Lea share a lot of similar qualities

Good point. Elation does a great job coaching the dline. And he is the assistant head coach also correct? Elston does a great job all around.


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