Defensive Coordinator Search 2020

[Free Manera]

Yeah if ND has a great scheme they will bring in great players. This isn't a situation like Leach at Tech or WSU getting table scraps regardless of scheme success. If ND has a baller scheme, they'll have no shortage of elite talent asking for a chance to play for 'em.

Doesn’t ND have that now? We have been loving on Leas scheme all year.

 

[Luckylucci]

I get it. But. You literally cannot win a championship without elite players. Impossible. So that needs to be first priority.

And you can also torpedo a program by only focusing on recruiting. You should strive to have both and it’s ludicrous to insinuate scheme and development are not important, at all. We lived through the BVG days.

 

[Luckylucci]

Good coaches and schemes put a high floor in the program that is very important for long term and sustained success. It stops you from 2016 seasons or like what happens to Michigan this year. Jimmies and Joe’s only win games if they are coached and developed well.

 

[NDRock]

Good coaches and schemes put a high floor in the program that is very important for long term and sustained success. It stops you from 2016 seasons or like what happens to Michigan this year. Jimmies and Joe’s only win games if they are coached and developed well.

I’d rather be LSU. Inconsistent but capable of winning a NC every 6 years.

 

[phillyirish]

I’d rather be LSU. Inconsistent but capable of winning a NC every 6 years.

LSU has won 8 games or more every year since the turn of the century, except this covid shortened year. They’re only consider “inconsistent”, because 10 wins is considered poor for them. They are right there with Clemson and OSU, behind only Bama as the elite of modern college football.

 

[NDRock]

LSU has won 8 games or more every year since the turn of the century, except this covid shortened year. They’re only consider “inconsistent”, because 10 wins is considered poor for them. They are right there with Clemson and OSU, behind only Bama as the elite of modern college football.

Very true. Their ability to only make the playoffs once probably has more to do with playing LSU every year.

 

[dad4aa]

LSU has won 8 games or more every year since the turn of the century, except this covid shortened year. They’re only consider “inconsistent”, because 10 wins is considered poor for them. They are right there with Clemson and OSU, behind only Bama as the elite of modern college football.

Actually BK is 102-39 at ND and LSU over the same timeframe is 108-33. Pretty close and, IMO, outside of LSU playing Alabama every year, ND plays a tougher schedule so where does that put ND?

 

[tko]

Really curious to see the upcoming developments on this front.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

There was a great Athletic article about the Rams new DC and how he created a new defense to stop explosive plays. The gist of it was that he started figuring out matchups in the back and then worked towards the line, as opposed to the conventional way of determining how you want the box to look and then crafting your back end based on that. He was willing to even be outnumbered in the box because he wanted 2 on 1 matchups in the pass game and 1 on 1s in the run game.

I think our new DC needs to have a similar thought process. Maybe not the same scheme, but they need to build from the back even if that means losing the battle for the run game. We just saw it in both games last night, receivers hitting big plays are king now. Bama, Clemson, Ohio State are going to hoard WR talent the way Bama did with RBs at the start of the decade. I just don't see any way our offense can keep pace in a shootout, so we need to get ahead of the next tactical evolution to have a chance.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

There was a great Athletic article about the Rams new DC and how he created a new defense to stop explosive plays. The gist of it was that he started figuring out matchups in the back and then worked towards the line, as opposed to the conventional way of determining how you want the box to look and then crafting your back end based on that. He was willing to even be outnumbered in the box because he wanted 2 on 1 matchups in the pass game and 1 on 1s in the run game.

I think our new DC needs to have a similar thought process. Maybe not the same scheme, but they need to build from the back even if that means losing the battle for the run game. We just saw it in both games last night, receivers hitting big plays are king now. Bama, Clemson, Ohio State are going to hoard WR talent the way Bama did with RBs at the start of the decade. I just don't see any way our offense can keep pace in a shootout, so we need to get ahead of the next tactical evolution to have a chance.

I’m going to check that out. Nice find. It’s only a matter of time before defenses evolve to catch up

 

[Luckylucci]

There was a great Athletic article about the Rams new DC and how he created a new defense to stop explosive plays. The gist of it was that he started figuring out matchups in the back and then worked towards the line, as opposed to the conventional way of determining how you want the box to look and then crafting your back end based on that. He was willing to even be outnumbered in the box because he wanted 2 on 1 matchups in the pass game and 1 on 1s in the run game.

I think our new DC needs to have a similar thought process. Maybe not the same scheme, but they need to build from the back even if that means losing the battle for the run game. We just saw it in both games last night, receivers hitting big plays are king now. Bama, Clemson, Ohio State are going to hoard WR talent the way Bama did with RBs at the start of the decade. I just don't see any way our offense can keep pace in a shootout, so we need to get ahead of the next tactical evolution to have a chance.

I think that’s a really creative idea but I also think it’s something that I’d prefer for game specific game plans. Stopping the run is very important for a consistent defense. It puts a high floor in the defense that you make them have to throw the ball to be successful. Which, most teams can’t do very well. The goal is to win the regular season so you give yourself a shot at the playoffs and stopping the run is the most consistent way to do that for a defense. Remove the margin for error for upsets and make those undermanned teams that fill the schedule play other worldly to beat you. When the big matchups come, change it up.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

LSU has won 8 games or more every year since the turn of the century, except this covid shortened year. They’re only consider “inconsistent”, because 10 wins is considered poor for them. They are right there with Clemson and OSU, behind only Bama as the elite of modern college football.

Clemson won a natty in 1981. After that they were on prohibition for many years and their program stunk. Prior to this recent run by Dabo Clemson was a terrible football program. Not elite. Not historically good but bad. USC had beat this 5 straight times and Dabo was Clemsoning. Then something changed overnight.

Clemson doesn’t belong in the same historically elite schools with Bama and OSU. Clemson is “nouveau riche”

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

I think that’s a really creative idea but I also think it’s something that I’d prefer for game specific game plans. Stopping the run is very important for a consistent defense. It puts a high floor in the defense that you make them have to throw the ball to be successful. Which, most teams can’t do very well. The goal is to win the regular season so you give yourself a shot at the playoffs and stopping the run is the most consistent way to do that for a defense. Remove the margin for error for upsets and make those undermanned teams that fill the schedule play other worldly to beat you. When the big matchups come, change it up.

I don't necessarily disagree and I do think its a risk, but I don't think you can just play one way and then switch it up in a week to face the best team you will face all year. I think you need to craft your defense (and recruit to it) based on beating the elite teams, and then figure out how to adjust it for the other teams.

For example, I think a defense built from the back would require us to recruit a lot more DB talent each year. Maybe the adjustment for our variable schedule is that instead of taking a lot of guys that can play CB and then transition to Safety, instead we take more big bodied safeties that can move down to the box against run heavy teams. Against passing teams, maybe none of the safeties could match up with a receiver, but being able to move them around and drop them into coverage could cause confusion for the offense.

Similarly, instead of linebacker basically being a size progression from Rover to Buck to Mike, maybe recruit some really solid run stuffing Mikes. If we have a bunch of athletes running around behind the linebackers, maybe they don't need to be as good in coverage, which could also present a recruiting advantage because those types might be overlooked now. In a standard defense, maybe you have one of those guys on the field, but against run heavy teams or in goal line, then you can bring some more in.

 

[Bluto]

I think that’s a really creative idea but I also think it’s something that I’d prefer for game specific game plans. Stopping the run is very important for a consistent defense. It puts a high floor in the defense that you make them have to throw the ball to be successful. Which, most teams can’t do very well. The goal is to win the regular season so you give yourself a shot at the playoffs and stopping the run is the most consistent way to do that for a defense. Remove the margin for error for upsets and make those undermanned teams that fill the schedule play other worldly to beat you. When the big matchups come, change it up.

In my opinion ND needs more length on the backend ala Mccloud and Hamilton on the backend. Too bad nobody other than Crawford was able to be coached up or step into the other safety. A bit more length and a dash more speed there would’ve made a big difference in a couple of these games.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

OFD said on their podcast that Kelly and Elko are meeting on Sunday. Not sure if anyone put it out here yet

 

[Luckylucci]

OFD said on their podcast that Kelly and Elko are meeting on Sunday. Not sure if anyone put it out here yet

Oh man, please let this be. Best case scenario and not sure second is even that close. Keep the system and he's a good recruiter.

 

[rikkitikki08]

Elko? Did I miss the part where he’s not at Texas AM? Why would he come back?

 

[Luckylucci]

Elko? Did I miss the part where he’s not at Texas AM? Why would he come back?

He hasn't been able to parlay his A&M DC position into a HC gig. Probably due to overall program success. However, his successor at ND was able to rather quickly. Maybe ND can get the money to match and get him to come back. Also, and this is somewhat surprising to me, it's been said a lot that Elko and Kelly are on good terms since the split.

 

[ThePiombino]

Oh man, please let this be. Best case scenario and not sure second is even that close. Keep the system and he's a good recruiter.

He landed us Hamilton, right?

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[benneboy]

He landed us Hamilton, right?

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Pretty sure that was Joseph or one of the DB coaches who discovered him at his previous school

 

[rikkitikki08]

Well that would certainly be the best case scenario, only thing he would have to do is convince recruits and some players on the roster that he won’t turn around and jump ship again

 

[Luckylucci]

He landed us Hamilton, right?

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Hamilton committed in April of 2018 and Elko left in January of that year. So, Joseph closed the deal there. But, I do believe Elko got us in the door early as Hamilton was a November visitor the previous year. And, keep in mind that when Hamilton was on campus that November, he was an unknown 3 star S from GA.

 

[ThePiombino]

Would be huge to get Elko back, esp since we would maybe be able to keep Lezynski.

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[rikkitikki08]

It would be great for ND I just don’t see the benefit for elko? Unless he’s sour on how he left the program

 

[tko]

Maybe Sark isn't a done deal and Kelly is meeting with Elko to move over to Texas?

 

[tommyIRISH23]

It would be great for ND I just don’t see the benefit for elko? Unless he’s sour on how he left the program

I read somewhere that he’s not thrilled with his current situation both living in Texas and I’d assume his current gig

 

[Luckylucci]

Would be huge to get Elko back, esp since we would maybe be able to keep Lezynski.

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That'd be interesting as he took another ND grad assistant to A&M with him, Santucci to coach LB's. I wonder if he'd leave him there or want to bring him with him. I really like Nick Lezynski though.

 

[Free Manera]

Sign me up for Elko!

 

[Luckylucci]

It would be great for ND I just don’t see the benefit for elko? Unless he’s sour on how he left the program

You don't see how he left for A&M to improve his profile for a HC gig and ultimately his successor at ND beat him to it?

A&M has improved their national profile this season but over the previous two, it was 9-4 and 8-5 seasons.

Compare that to ND, 12-1, 11-2, and 10-2. With two undefeated regular seasons in there.

 

[NDRock]

Kelly meeting with Elko to see if he wants to come to Austin with him.