Diaco Hired as Purdue DC

[yankeeND]

I'll trust that you guys are right. I just remember how bad we were on defense 4 years ago.

He was certainly a huge upgrade over what we had, nobody can deny that. I think his redzone schemes were the difference. They D really tightened up down there over the last 2 1/2 years. I think there is an opportunity with the right hire for it to improve and bring more excitement with a little less vanilla scheming. It is what it is though, and we are gonna have to deal with whatever the choice is. I am staying cautiously optimistic that we will be content once the final staff decisions are made. I just hope it is soon so recruiting can remain in good standing.

 

[tko]

Well this news just ruined my morning. Oh well, we weren't going to keep Diaco forever. Good luck to him. UConn seems like an odd choice. I know it's his 1st HC job, but it still seems a little low profile for a guy of Diaco's caliber.

I think it's a means to an end, as mentioned earlier. He would probably love to take the Iowa job someday.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Let me start by saying I don't disagree with the bolded.

With that said, I could see two counterpoints to that argument.
1. It prospered with a once in a generation MLB, a NFL safety and 2 potential NFL first round draft picks on the DL. The results are wonderful, however, could they ever be replicated with lesser recruiting?
2. While 2012 was a fantastic year on defense, the other three years show good but not great results. For every game like USC this year, there is a Navy. For every MSU game, there is a Michigan game. Running QB's seemed to be problematic (most, but not all the time). Simply put, outside of 2012, the results were solid, but not spectacular.

On the other hand, the MLB was not remotely elite before he arrived. And the NFL safety was as berated by ND fans as Mathias Farley.

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

On the other hand, the MLB was not remotely elite before he arrived. And the NFL safety was as berated by ND fans as Mathias Farley.

He had just played his freshman year for goodness sakes. How many 5 star players are elite in their first year of college football. It's not like he when he came in he instantly became the best mlb in COllege football. You are giving way to much credit to Diaco and not enough to Manti. Who is to say Manti wouldn't have turned out the same way if Diaco had not come? He was the 2nd ranked player in the class it's not like he was a nobody

Also, MOtta was basically crapped on until his last year. It's not like he instantly became a better player.

 

[Cackalacky]

Well, so much for a quiet off-season!

C'mon man...you aint foolin nobody. You know you loving this

 

[tko]

C'mon man...you aint foolin nobody. You know you loving this

Let's hire a DC that doesn't wear a wig!

 

[IrishJayhawk]

He had just played his freshman year for goodness sakes. How many 5 star players are elite in their first year of college football. It's not like he when he came in he instantly became the best mlb in COllege football. You are giving way to much credit to Diaco and not enough to Manti. Who is to say Manti wouldn't have turned out the same way if Diaco had not come? He was the 2nd ranked player in the class it's not like he was a nobody

Also, MOtta was basically crapped on until his last year. It's not like he instantly became a better player.

First bold, of course you're right.

Second bold, I was actually incorrectly thinking of Harrison Smith, who appeared lost in the previous regime.

Poor post on my part.

 

[aubeirish]

Let's hire a DC that doesn't wear a wig!

Blasphemy!

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Let me start by saying I don't disagree with the bolded.

With that said, I could see two counterpoints to that argument.
1. It prospered with a once in a generation MLB, a NFL safety and 2 potential NFL first round draft picks on the DL. The results are wonderful, however, could they ever be replicated with lesser recruiting?
2. While 2012 was a fantastic year on defense, the other three years show good but not great results. For every game like USC this year, there is a Navy. For every MSU game, there is a Michigan game. Running QB's seemed to be problematic (most, but not all the time). Simply put, outside of 2012, the results were solid, but not spectacular.

Keith Arnold put up a stat last night, stating that our defensive scoring average from 2010-2013 was good for 9th during that time frame. That's pretty good, and goes all the way back to when Manti will still developing. I think, compared to where we were before this, that it's pretty spectacular. But I'm with you in that it doesn't mean we can't improve, as we know we can and should.

As an aside, running QB's are tough on every team. We somehow think we have some sort of plague with running QB's. Every fan base makes this statement.

 

[BGIF]

Well this news just ruined my morning. Oh well, we weren't going to keep Diaco forever. Good luck to him. UConn seems like an odd choice. I know it's his 1st HC job, but it still seems a little low profile for a guy of Diaco's caliber.

Well the "Cradle of Coaches" job was just taken for 1/3 the UConn salary.

The Urban Meyer "Road To Success" stepping stone wasn't open either.


He missed out on Wake and one of the michigan directional schools, what choice would have been better?

Boise perhaps but were they interested in him?

Wait for the axe to fall at WVU, Nebraska, or one of the other bigs next year?

Would another year of giving up 22 or 25 pts per game build his H.C. Resume?

We've all read that ND will average 45+ per game, go undefeated, and win a Heisman or two under Golson but would Diaco's D really be any better? ND's giveaways may drop by a half dozen INTsinuit since when has a Diaco D been a Takeaway Machine?

Diaco pulled the trigger probably for the combined max $$$ and lowest expectations. Now if he could just schedule Molnar and Martin 3 or 4 times a year ... each.

 

[Cackalacky]

Let's hire a DC that doesn't wear a wig!

Its truly an impeccable coif.

 

[irishog77]

Will Diaco leaving have an effect on the dream of putting 11 CAT's on the field at one time?


Only sort of joking.

 

[gkIrish]

The more head coaches that spring from ND, the better. Especially if they leave on good terms.

 

[IrishLax]

The thing about Diaco's D is that it flat out doesn't work unless you out-talent the opposition. It's great if you could have a DL of 2xTuitt + Nix for 1st/2nd down and 2xTuitt + 2xClowney for passing downs. It also works really well if you're going against a "can't throw accurately" mobile QB, a mediocre or worse pocket passing QB, or a team with a really bad OL... but even that doesn't guarantee success if they opt to efficiently use a quick passing attack.

I don't know if someone currently on the staff is the right answer, but I do know that no matter what way you try to slice it the defensive schemes heading into next year needed quite a few tweaks if we were going to have any hope of fielding a top 25 defense. You can't keep your safeties 15+ yards off the LOS against a team like Stanford. You can't have your CBs always playing 8 yards off the WRs... especially if it's someone like Gallon who is small but explosive. You can't run a 3-4 without having disguised, effective blitz packages. It was pretty disgusting watching how the LBs were used most of the year on passing downs... although it slowly but surely got progressively better. It's like Diaco was doing OTJ training in terms of trying to figure out what twists worked and which were stupid. Ishaq dropping 20 yards deep in coverage on 3rd & 20? NO. Romeo Okwara at DT dropping in a shallow zone to undercut a crossing route on 3rd and short? YES.

I'm not worried about losing Diaco the coach as much as I'm worried about what it might do to recruiting/Tuitt... especially if other coaches follow him.

 

[yankeeND]

The thing about Diaco's D is that it flat out doesn't work unless you out-talent the opposition. It's great if you could have a DL of 2xTuitt + Nix for 1st/2nd down and 2xTuitt + 2xClowney for passing downs. It also works really well if you're going against a "can't throw accurately" mobile QB, a mediocre or worse pocket passing QB, or a team with a really bad OL... but even that doesn't guarantee success if they opt to efficiently use a quick passing attack.

I don't know if someone currently on the staff is the right answer, but I do know that no matter what way you try to slice it the defensive schemes heading into next year needed quite a few tweaks if we were going to have any hope of fielding a top 25 defense. You can't keep your safeties 15+ yards off the LOS against a team like Stanford. You can't have your CBs always playing 8 yards off the WRs... especially if it's someone like Gallon who is small but explosive. You can't run a 3-4 without having disguised, effective blitz packages. It was pretty disgusting watching how the LBs were used most of the year on passing downs... although it slowly but surely got progressively better. It's like Diaco was doing OTJ training in terms of trying to figure out what twists worked and which were stupid. Ishaq dropping 20 yards deep in coverage on 3rd & 20? NO. Romeo Okwara at DT dropping in a shallow zone to undercut a crossing route on 3rd and short? YES.

I'm not worried about losing Diaco the coach as much as I'm worried about what it might do to recruiting/Tuitt... especially if other coaches follow him.

Agree with all of this. I don't like losing Diaco because the players love him not because he is a defensive guru. I really think this could turn out to be a great thing if Kelly makes the right hires.

 

[enrico514]

Good luck to Coach Diaco! He was definitely an interesting character! I'm not sure how his personality is suited to being a HC.

If I was UCONN I would have probably gone with Narduzzi!

 

[ACamp1900]

The more head coaches that spring from ND, the better. Especially if they leave on good terms.

Honestly, losing Coach D and Chuck doesn't phase me much... but this is this attitude really sits wrong with me for some reason... I almost posted on it last night but let it go..., shouldn’t ND prove something or actually win more than say eight games a year on average before we start with this, “it’s a sign of a solid program stuff” ??? To me, this program is not there yet… and losing coordinators is not a good thing… yet. Win some big bowls or win ten games consistently, then talk to me about losing two coordinators being anything more than just another bump in an already bumpy road.

With that said, it's not like I’m panicked so long as they hold the class together and land at least one of the guys we all assumed they would this time yesterday… but ND is not where they need to be, to be having this talk like they are back... they're not, and losing coaches will always hurt more than help until they are.

 

[gkIrish]

Honestly, losing Coach D and Chuck doesn't phase me much... but this is this attitude really sits wrong with me for some reason... I almost posted on it last night but let it go..., shouldn’t ND prove something or actually win more than say eight games a year on average before we start with this, “it’s a sign of a solid program stuff” ??? To me, this program is not there yet… and losing coordinators is not a good thing… yet. Win some big bowls or win ten games consistently, then talk to me about losing two coordinators being anything more than just another bump in an already bumpy road.

With that said, it's not like I’m panicked so long as they hold the class together and land at least one of the guys we all assumed they would this time yesterday… but ND is not where they need to be, to be having this talk like they are back... they're not, and losing coaches will always hurt more than help until they are.

My point wasn't that "it's a sign of a solid program." My point is that head coaches in place at other schools is good for some of the following reasons:

1. Down the line, if they are successful, could come back to head coach ND.
2. Guys with ND connections could get placed on committees where they may look out for our interests (i.e. Barry Alvarez on the playoff selection committee).
3. Less likely to negative recruit against us than another head coach. (again assuming they leave on good terms).
4. If a recruit is deciding between ND, Uconn, and Rutgers, for example, and decides to eliminate Uconn, the recruit may inform Coach Diaco about it and ask if he had an opinion about one of the other two schools. May not happen often, but it's possible.
5. Puts them in a better position to move on to the NFL some day. If so, could push for ND players to be drafted.

A lot of these points may never materialize, but clearly could happen.

 

[ACamp1900]

I got you, I wasn't so much directed at you as much as just generally to a sentiment I have seen pop up a bit since the news broke...

 

[Emcee77]

Honestly, losing Coach D and Chuck doesn't phase me much... but this is this attitude really sits wrong with me for some reason... I almost posted on it last night but let it go..., shouldn’t ND prove something or actually win more than say eight games a year on average before we start with this, “it’s a sign of a solid program stuff” ??? To me, this program is not there yet… and losing coordinators is not a good thing… yet. Win some big bowls or win ten games consistently, then talk to me about losing two coordinators being anything more than just another bump in an already bumpy road.

With that said, it's not like I’m panicked so long as they hold the class together and land at least one of the guys we all assumed they would this time yesterday… but ND is not where they need to be, to be having this talk like they are back... they're not, and losing coaches will always hurt more than help until they are.

I think it's both though. The "sign of a solid program" line doesn't make me feel any better about losing our coordinators. I agree with you that losing the coordinators itself does nothing but present an obstacle for us. I'd much prefer consistency and stability to the opportunity to hire another good coach, which is always a risk (what if he turns out not to be such a good coach).

It does make me feel better about the overall state of our program though. Both coordinators getting HC jobs means the perception in the college football community is that BK and his assistants are doing a good job. Some people might have thought that, after an 8-4 season, nobody would want our coaches because 8-4 is nothing to write home about. That people DO want our assistants to be their head coaches is an encouraging sign. At least some people in the business are looking at this 8-4 season as a good coaching job, not a disappointment.

So I definitely feel ambivalent about the loss of the coordinators. It's shitty for us. But it's great for them and it means the program is in good shape under BK.

 

[yankeeND]

I think it's both though. The "sign of a solid program" line doesn't make me feel any better about losing our coordinators. I agree with you that losing the coordinators itself does nothing but present an obstacle for us. I'd much prefer consistency and stability to the opportunity to hire another good coach, which is always a risk (what if he turns out not to be such a good coach).

It does make me feel better about the overall state of our program though. Both coordinators getting HC jobs means the perception in the college football community is that BK and his assistants are doing a good job. Some people might have thought that, after an 8-4 season, nobody would want our coaches because 8-4 is nothing to write home about. That people DO want our assistants to be their head coaches is an encouraging sign. At least some people in the business are looking at this 8-4 season as a good coaching job, not a disappointment.

So I definitely feel ambivalent about the loss of the coordinators. It's shitty for us. But it's great for them and it means the program is in good shape.

The thing is, I think "solid" is exactly what kind of program we are. 8-9 wins a year earns that merrit. However, "great" is what we are potentially. Getting to the NC game was the first step. Keeping a stud QB already on the roster out of trouble is the difference.

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>RT <a href="https://twitter.com/coachingsearch">@coachingsearch</a>: Bob Diaco plans to offer the defensive coordinator job to Notre Dame DL coach Mike Elston, per source.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDatRivals/statuses/411198676195745792">December 12, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[irishff1014]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>RT <a href="https://twitter.com/coachingsearch">@coachingsearch</a>: Bob Diaco plans to offer the defensive coordinator job to Notre Dame DL coach Mike Elston, per source.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDatRivals/statuses/411198676195745792">December 12, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Oh boy

 

[tko]

Bob, take your hair piece and leave now. Go find some other teams to bring down.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

So this is basically what Kelly said not to do...right?

 

[#1rish]

Can he even do that?

 

[rtrn2glory]

that'll make things interesting.

imo that would be considered a lateral move.

either way if the reports are true i anticipate elston gettting some bump from within the staff if they're going to hire from within.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Mike Frank on ISD warned about this last night. Seems he was right.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Why would Bob Diaco offer Elston and not Cooks?

That seems telling to me.

 

[ACamp1900]

Losing Diaco and Elston would almost certainly impact the defensive recruiting in a negative way unless ND hires a 'name' replacement quick style... now of course you don't rush things just for one class, but damn, things were really coming together ...