Clark Lea - Defensive Coordinator

[zelezo vlk]

Clark Lea should hold out for South Carolina.

If he leaves for Vandy, then God bless him, he'll need it.

Promote Elston if necessary.

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[irishff1014]

They are already talking about it on sport radio here in Nashville.


NOBODY wants another DC as head coach. They did mention Clark Lea but they said the AD should be going after Jeff Monken or Ken Niumatalolo with a pocket full of cash.

What is ken and the triple option going to do in the sec? Get smoked. That would be a very bad decision.

 

[Dizzyphil]

What is ken and the triple option going to do in the sec? Get smoked. That would be a very bad decision.

Call Nashville radio station 104.5 and ask them. I just repeated what they were stating.

 

[BilboBaggins]

If Clark Lea is absolutely 100% dead set on leaving to be a head coach and build a program, then there is nothing Notre Dame can do.

Assuming that's not the case, this will be a pretty big litmus test for the university. Being great at football is a very good thing for the university, and Swarbrick and the administration are smart enough to know that Notre Dame simply cannot go toe-to-toe with Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, USC, Georgia, etc on a number of fronts. We cannot recruit like they do, look the other way as egregiously as they do, etc. Basically, Notre Dame cannot run a semi-pro operation.

Basically if Swarbick and Jenkins can't figure out that much of the reason Notre Dame competes with elite programs is to have elite coaching, then that's a pretty dismal sign for the program. I mean at that point you're just resigning yourself to never be a top 4 program.

What's another million or so when they make it back in droves by being an elite program? Pay the man.

 

[BilboBaggins]

They are already talking about it on sport radio here in Nashville.


NOBODY wants another DC as head coach. They did mention Clark Lea but they said the AD should be going after Jeff Monken or Ken Niumatalolo with a pocket full of cash.

That wouldn't be a bad idea. Vanderbilt will never compete with Georgia/Florida in a fair fight. Go triple option and try to stay alive in the SEC East.

edit: oops the sailor bois are in the East.

 

[Dizzyphil]

That wouldn't be a bad idea. Vanderbilt will never compete with Alabama/LSU/Auburn/Texas A&M in a fair fight. Go triple option and try to stay alive in the SEC West.

That's exactly what the radio announcers are stating. They were saying 'be different.. at least they could be competitive in their division'.

 

[longliveautrydenson]

If Clark Lea is absolutely 100% dead set on leaving to be a head coach and build a program, then there is nothing Notre Dame can do.

Assuming that's not the case, this will be a pretty big litmus test for the university. Being great at football is a very good thing for the university, and Swarbrick and the administration are smart enough to know that Notre Dame simply cannot go toe-to-toe with Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, USC, Georgia, etc on a number of fronts. We cannot recruit like they do, look the other way as egregiously as they do, etc. Basically, Notre Dame cannot run a semi-pro operation.

Basically if Swarbick and Jenkins can't figure out that much of the reason Notre Dame competes with elite programs is to have elite coaching, then that's a pretty dismal sign for the program. I mean at that point you're just resigning yourself to never be a top 4 program.

What's another million or so when they make it back in droves by being an elite program? Pay the man.

This. We’re still getting an incredible ROI with Lea even if we bump his salary by a million per year. There’s a reason we don’t lose to bad and mediocre teams anymore. In the past three years, Lea’s D has been our saving grace even as our offense/Book have had their ups and downs.

 

[Dizzyphil]

<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ht" dir="ltr">Jeff Monken</p>— Chad Withrow (@withrowzone) <a href="https://twitter.com/withrowzone/status/1333136121514110981?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp>

 

[NorthDakota]

That wouldn't be a bad idea. Vanderbilt will never compete with Georgia/Florida in a fair fight. Go triple option and try to stay alive in the SEC East.

edit: oops the sailor bois are in the East.

Hell yeah gimmicks 4 dayz

 

[Crazy Balki]

I know for sure Lea will be a top name, but I'll say that Vandy will probably not want to go with him.

They spent 6 years trying to make it work with a DC and to no avail. So it seems a bit redundant for them to go with another DC as their next pick.

 

[Irish2155]

ND has a lot of $$$$. This would be a good investment and a no brainer imo

 

[rtrn2glory]

I don't think this would be good for him... Vandy is a hard place to win. Franklin fooled people into thinking he's a good coach there though so maybe

 

[IrishLax]

I don’t care if it’s Monken, Niumatolo, or the fucking Pope as long as it isn’t Clark Lea.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

I don’t care if it’s Monken, Niumatolo, or the fucking Pope as long as it isn’t Clark Lea.

It would be a pretty big story if it was the Pope, though.

 

[Irish2155]

I don’t care if it’s Monken, Niumatolo, or the fucking Pope as long as it isn’t Clark Lea.

Clark is smarter than this. Vandy HC is not a step up from ND DC. It’d be a lateral move.

If he plays his cards right he’ll be ND’s next head coach in 4 or 5 years. BK needs to check that big box first, though. Once that happens the job is Clark’s and BK drinks umbrella beverages on a beach

 

[Irish YJ]

Only hope for Vandy is a HC with a slick or gimmicky O. You can do more with 3 star O players than 3 star D players....

A DC hire is a waste.
And Clark going to Vandy would likely stunt his career.

 

[Irish YJ]

It would be a pretty big story if it was the Pope, though.

The Hail Mary's would be lit

 

[irishandy]

If he plays his cards right he’ll be ND’s next head coach in 4 or 5 years. BK needs to check that big box first, though. Once that happens the job is Clark’s and BK drinks umbrella beverages on a beach

I agree with you. But does Lea continue being DC at ND or does he go be a head coach somewhere to get his feet wet as a head coach. Do we want his first head coaching job to be at ND?

 

[phillyirish]

It would definitely suck to lose Clark Lea, but it should be noted that with the exception of the VanGorder disaster, Kelly’s teams have always been led by a strong defense. Below are ND’s consecutive national rankings in points against per game starting with Kellys first year (VanGorder years in bold):

2010: 22nd
2011: 24th
2012: 2nd
2013: 27th
2014: 85th
2015: 41st
2016: 62nd
2017: 31st
2018: 13th
2019: 12th
2020: 10th

Only in the 3 VanGorder years and the first year after under Elko did ND’s scoring offense rank higher than their scoring defense. Although last year was ND’s best offensive year, finishing only one spot lower than the defense at 13th.

Even at Cincinnati his teams defenses outperformed his offenses, with his last year being perhaps his career anomaly with a team lead by a high powered offense and an average defense. His defenses ended up ranked 13th (2007), 25th (2008) and 44th (2009) nationally during his tenure there.

Even though he used to call plays on offense, Kelly is a defensive mind and both his playing and coaching background are on that side of the ball. I’m sure regardless of who is coaching the defense next year, the defense will be in the top quartile of football under Kelly just like it has almost always been.

 

[Ndaccountant]

If I were Vandy, I would go after Jim Harbaugh...heard he is available.

 

[Irish YJ]

I agree with you. But does Lea continue being DC at ND or does he go be a head coach somewhere to get his feet wet as a head coach. Do we want his first head coaching job to be at ND?

I'd take him as a first year HC in a few years... I mean I'd rather have Saban, but you know... Who out there would be a better fit realistically?

 

[phillyirish]

I'd take him as a first year HC in a few years... I mean I'd rather have Saban, but you know... Who out there would be a better fit realistically?

To be honest, I wouldn’t but I don’t think it’s be an option anyway. We’ve been anointing coordinators as the heir apparent to Kelly since Diaco, do you realize how ridiculous that sounds? First off, Brian Kelly is 59 years old, or a full 10 years younger than Saban who has no problem coaching at the top of college football today. He’s also a full 10 years younger than Mac Brown who has no problem bringing life and rejuvenating a program. Has Kelly mentioned that he would look at retiring in the near future, or are there rumors?

When Kelly decides it is time, we should look for the next Kelly. Someone who has had a pattern of success at multiple programs. That is your best bet.

 

[Irish YJ]

To be honest, I wouldn’t but I don’t think it’s be an option anyway. We’ve been anointing coordinators as the heir apparent to Kelly since Diaco, do you realize how ridiculous that sounds? First off, Brian Kelly is 59 years old, or a full 10 years younger than Saban who has no problem coaching at the top of college football today. He’s also a full 10 years younger than Mac Brown who has no problem bringing life and rejuvenating a program. Has Kelly mentioned that he would look at retiring in the near future, or are there rumors?

When Kelly decides it is time, we should look for the next Kelly. Someone who has had a pattern of success at multiple programs. That is your best bet.

Only BK, and potentially Jack have an idea what BK is thinking. I don't want to anoint anyone if he's telling Jack he's committed for another 5 years or more.

I don't recall anointing Diaco lol. Some fans who like his hair maybe.

My blessing of Clark is only assuming BK has clearly signaled his intent to retire in XX years. If not, just back up Brink's truck and give him Elko money plus 20%.

 

[BilboBaggins]

It would definitely suck to lose Clark Lea, but it should be noted that with the exception of the VanGorder disaster, Kelly’s teams have always been led by a strong defense. Below are ND’s consecutive national rankings in points against per game starting with Kellys first year (VanGorder years in bold):

2010: 22nd
2011: 24th
2012: 2nd
2013: 27th
2014: 85th
2015: 41st
2016: 62nd
2017: 31st
2018: 13th
2019: 12th
2020: 10th

This says to me that Bob Diaco was overrated and got too much credit for 2012. But I think everyone knew that by 2014 anyway--P.S. how crazy is it that there was anger that Bob Diaco didn't want to recruit a promising DB from Ohio named Shaun Crawford, and Shaun Crawford is still here lol

This also says to me that the run Notre Dame has been on lately is clearly different than any other part of Kelly's tenure. Pay. The. Man.

 

[irishff1014]

So let’s say they do go after Lea. Where would we look for our next defensive coordinator? Do we look to promote Mike Elston and hope he has learned from Lea?

Vandy stay out of south bend.

 

[Irishize]

Would ND pay him $2M as DC? I think that’s what Elko gets at TAMU.

 

[Irish#1]

So let’s say they do go after Lea. Where would we look for our next defensive coordinator? Do we look to promote Mike Elston and hope he has learned from Lea?

Vandy stay out of south bend.

You do what you did with Elko. Go find the guy whose D has performed pretty well even in a crappy program. Or find that young guy like Lea who's energetic and can relate to the players. There are a ton of very smart X's and O's guys around, but a lot of them can't communicate.

 

[Irish YJ]

Would ND pay him $2M as DC? I think that’s what Elko gets at TAMU.

2.1M

We're not poor. BK should be getting more (I'm sure he's getting more somehow than reported which is like 1.8 I think), and Clark should be getting at least top 3 coordinator salary which is around 2Mish. Elko getting 2.1M, and Saban getting 9+M, while we pay our HC under 2M is pretty funny.

 

[phillyirish]

This says to me that Bob Diaco was overrated and got too much credit for 2012. But I think everyone knew that by 2014 anyway--P.S. how crazy is it that there was anger that Bob Diaco didn't want to recruit a promising DB from Ohio named Shaun Crawford, and Shaun Crawford is still here lol

This also says to me that the run Notre Dame has been on lately is clearly different than any other part of Kelly's tenure. Pay. The. Man.

Perhaps Diaco can be a cautionary tale to Lea, to not take the Vandy or any other marginal, dead end job. Diaco career torpedoed at UConn and honestly he did about as well as you could realistically hope for there, certainly better than current coach Randy Edsall has been in his second stint there.

So let’s say they do go after Lea. Where would we look for our next defensive coordinator? Do we look to promote Mike Elston and hope he has learned from Lea?

Vandy stay out of south bend.

I think almost certainly it is Elston. He is already Associate head coach, and has been the main stay on this defense Kelly’s entire tenure. Unless for some reason Kelly deems associate head coach as having distinct responsibilities that can’t be expected to also oversee the defense.

Would ND pay him $2M as DC? I think that’s what Elko gets at TAMU.

Probably not. I’m not sure Swarbrick is willing or even authorized to pay an assistant coach almost as much as he makes himself, roughly 2.5$ million. Kelly himself officially makes under 2 mil at $1,863,893, however probably much higher as he also receives compensation through his limited liability company that don’t need to be reported and external sources such as Under Armor.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

That would be a difficult offer for Lea to turn down.

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Vandy should tug at his heartstrings, but he should also be smart enough to know that Vandy is a brutal job.