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We have a few different variations of Defensive Coordinator threads out there, but I figured we could dedicate one to the actual replacement, rather than talk of Lea, BVG, the merits of certain jobs, the idea of coach-in-waiting, etc.
So, who does ND target to lead the defense in '21?
Internal Candidates:
1. Mike Elston
2. Terry Joseph
3. ?Mike Mickens?
External Candidates:
1. ??? (Marcus Freeman - Cincinnati [Just keep robbing the good ones from UC as long as they keep doing their thing])
2. ???
3. ???
With the way the defense has played, I can see the merits in hiring from within and keeping stability, especially after seeing the nightmare that occurred after the Diaco --> BVG transition. This isn't a DC job that's in a bad place, so you don't necessarily need to make a splash to keep the defense on a good path, whereas going outside the current coaching staff could either be (1) a homerun like Elko, or (2) a total disaster when you upset the cart and take a chance on a guy that hasn't been around.
However, going out and getting the next up-and-comer from somewhere that has proven results, or robbing an established DC if you can get someone to jump, is attractive for other reasons.
Could ND drop enough cash to make Jim Leonhard leave his alma mater, for example? That's a dream scenario IMO, but maybe arrogant to think he'd leave Wisconsin for ND considering his situation at Wiscy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Names for ND DC job: Cincinnati’s Marcus Freeman, Oklahoma’s Alex Grinch, UNC’s Jay Bateman, Wisc’s Jim Leonhard, BC’s Tem Lukabu, Kentucky’s Brad White, Missouri’s Ryan Walters, Iowa’s Seth Wallace, Western Kentucky’s Clayton White and Ball State’s Tyler Stockton (ND Alum). 1/2</p>— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1338932947731279873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The tenor of the search could be dictated by an internal desire to keep the Elko/Lea system. ND associate HC Mike Elston and Terry Joseph would be top internal candidates. Others who know it are Wake DC Lyle Hemphill and A&M LB coach Tyler Santucci.</p>— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1338932948515557384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
So, who does ND target to lead the defense in '21?
Internal Candidates:
1. Mike Elston
2. Terry Joseph
3. ?Mike Mickens?
External Candidates:
1. ??? (Marcus Freeman - Cincinnati [Just keep robbing the good ones from UC as long as they keep doing their thing])
2. ???
3. ???
With the way the defense has played, I can see the merits in hiring from within and keeping stability, especially after seeing the nightmare that occurred after the Diaco --> BVG transition. This isn't a DC job that's in a bad place, so you don't necessarily need to make a splash to keep the defense on a good path, whereas going outside the current coaching staff could either be (1) a homerun like Elko, or (2) a total disaster when you upset the cart and take a chance on a guy that hasn't been around.
However, going out and getting the next up-and-comer from somewhere that has proven results, or robbing an established DC if you can get someone to jump, is attractive for other reasons.
Could ND drop enough cash to make Jim Leonhard leave his alma mater, for example? That's a dream scenario IMO, but maybe arrogant to think he'd leave Wisconsin for ND considering his situation at Wiscy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Names for ND DC job: Cincinnati’s Marcus Freeman, Oklahoma’s Alex Grinch, UNC’s Jay Bateman, Wisc’s Jim Leonhard, BC’s Tem Lukabu, Kentucky’s Brad White, Missouri’s Ryan Walters, Iowa’s Seth Wallace, Western Kentucky’s Clayton White and Ball State’s Tyler Stockton (ND Alum). 1/2</p>— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1338932947731279873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The tenor of the search could be dictated by an internal desire to keep the Elko/Lea system. ND associate HC Mike Elston and Terry Joseph would be top internal candidates. Others who know it are Wake DC Lyle Hemphill and A&M LB coach Tyler Santucci.</p>— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1338932948515557384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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