End of year Coach grading 2022

[Dizzyphil]

This is strictly opinion on my observations on the year. I hope all would grade based on your own opinions and what you all think could be added to each.

So instead of going to each coach’s thread, thought I would do an ‘end-of-year’ 2022

Marcus Freeman Grade B+
All calls and game plan goes through him. Allowing some of the plays throughout the year on offense have been atrocious and head-scratchers at different times during the game. Rees (undoubtedly) comes back next year and hopefully there is a ‘meeting of the minds’ on how to fix play-calling based on the abilities of the starting QB/OL. Losses to Marshall and Stanford were bad – period. Love his enthusiasm and love for the Irish.

Al Golden Grade C- Defense has to improve on it’s schemes especially on blitzing calls.

Tommy Rees Grade C- Could have been D+ His development of QBs is still to be seen, his playcalls are definitely head-scratchers. There is a lot to say but I’m sure more of you will touch on them.

Brian Mason A+ He needs to get a raise and continue to do what he is doing.

Harry Hiestand C+ I expected to see more with his return. It may be I was thinking he would have had more success due to what I watched him do when he first arrived to ND.

Deland McCullough B+ As the year went on, Estime and Diggs started to get into a groove seeing the holes and becoming more confident. Great pair – hopefully Tyree starts making more of an impact next year.

Mike Mickens / Chris O'Leary Grade C

Gerad Parker Grade A

Chansi Stuckey Grade B- still need the Irish receivers to help the QB in trouble and find space and work on hands.

Al Washington Grade B- Has done well with what he has but, needs to build a solid nose-tackle

 

[Dale]

Mickens C is one of the hottest takes ever posted on this board i think.

 

[jpachuta33]

Go back and look at all the shitty positions the offense left the defense this year... Golden deserves a better grade than Rees.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Go back and look at all the shitty positions the offense left the defense this year... Golden deserves a better grade than Rees.

Go back and look what I posted early in the thread. Grade him as you wish and let us know why. I didn't post this to create an argument.

 

[IA4irish]

I think you have to take into account the coaching position grades with what they had to work with. Mickens got two freshmen to play and one to be a freshman all-American. Stuckey got a lot out of a pretty weak group.

 

[ACamp1900]

I’d give Freeman a lower grade than dizz and Golden a higher grade. Agree with most everything else

 

[Valpodoc85]

Given a new young head coach and where we started I would give the coaching staff a +. I was happy to see MF install his own new identity on the team. I can't say how important I feel this is. He didn't try and continue the BK leadership style but applied his own.
Rees will be fine and the offense next year could be special. Golden will prove to be valuable and is likely gone after next year. Mason has shown us how important special teams are.
I suspect the expectations for next year will be unrealistic but it will be fun.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Yeesh, I'm not fit to grade because I don't know enough.

I look forward to the responses (except the 3 people I have permanently on ignore).

 

[Dizzyphil]

Given a new young head coach and where we started I would give the coaching staff a +. I was happy to see MF install his own new identity on the team. I can't say how important I feel this is. He didn't try and continue the BK leadership style but applied his own.
Rees will be fine and the offense next year could be special. Golden will prove to be valuable and is likely gone after next year. Mason has shown us how important special teams are.
I suspect the expectations for next year will be unrealistic but it will be fun.

That in itself - I should have given MF a higher grade.

 

[Dale]

Might address Freeman and offense too but feel the defensive grades posted are so ridiculous, no offense, that gonna give this a whirl:

Golden: B

- He had next to zero responsibility for the the personnel given. Like none. The amount of roster holes and guys that don’t quite fit are aplenty. I thought he wasn’t creative enough blitz wise (though not sure how much is on Washington too) and the red zone D was not good. Mixed bag at coaching LB. Next year will be a bigger tell. Turnover wise truly unlucky first half of the year. Elite standard downs at times between the 20s. Suppressed a gauntlet of QBs/passing attacks.

Mickens: A+

- Morrison and Bracy were two of your top 3 players. I honestly can’t fathom below an A.

O Leary: B-

- Brown did not continue his positive momentum from end of last year, but he got Watts to come on. Much of the safety depth is not on him but some is in the end to tie in recruiting. Joseph I liked more than many people here. I think those expecting a super star didn’t watch him at Northwestern. He’s an opportunistic ball hawk that was not targeted very often - meaning there isn’t balls to hawk. We didn’t suppress almost all downfield passing without decent safety play on the back end. Safeties didn’t offer enough in run support though.

Washington: B-

I don’t know how much the lack of stunting was on him versus Golden but I’m gonna assume some at least was on him. Didn’t get enough out of Jayson A and Foskey at times. The Mills DE experiment was not good for the most part. Still Elston left him with some odd parts on the interior. Foskey obviously in the end is a positive. NaNa, Botelho and Rubio were good developments overall. This is probably a C if he had recruited the guys.

 

[Reaper97]

I give Freeman a C.

I know that seems harsh, but I’m not grading on a curve because it’s his first year.

9-4 is average, & actually probably below average with ND’s roster and overall program strength (was a top 5 program the past 5 years).

Losing at home to Marshall & especially Stanford were horrible losses.

The floor at ND in a 13 game season is 10 wins.
So only winning 9 is actually below average, but I will still give him a C.

 

[irishfan]

I want the whole staff back next year. The three who I feel need to prove themselves still in terms of on-field production and recruiting are Washington, O’Leary, Golden in that order.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Might address Freeman and offense too but feel the defensive grades posted are so ridiculous, no offense, that gonna give this a whirl:

Golden: B

- He had next to zero responsibility for the the personnel given. Like none. The amount of roster holes and guys that don’t quite fit are aplenty. I thought he wasn’t creative enough blitz wise (though not sure how much is on Washington too) and the red zone D was not good. Mixed bag at coaching LB. Next year will be a bigger tell. Turnover wise truly unlucky first half of the year. Elite standard downs at times between the 20s. Suppressed a gauntlet of QBs/passing attacks.

Mickens: A+

- Morrison and Bracy were two of your top 3 players. I honestly can’t fathom below an A.

O Leary: B-

- Brown did not continue his positive momentum from end of last year, but he got Watts to come on. Much of the safety depth is not on him but some is in the end to tie in recruiting. Joseph I liked more than many people here. I think those expecting a super star didn’t watch him at Northwestern. He’s an opportunistic ball hawk that was not targeted very often - meaning there isn’t balls to hawk. We didn’t suppress almost all downfield passing without decent safety play on the back end. Safeties didn’t offer enough in run support though.

Washington: B-

I don’t know how much the lack of stunting was on him versus Golden but I’m gonna assume some at least was on him. Didn’t get enough out of Jayson A and Foskey at times. The Mills DE experiment was not good for the most part. Still Elston left him with some odd parts on the interior. Foskey obviously in the end is a positive. NaNa, Botelho and Rubio were good developments overall. This is probably a C if he had recruited the guys.

Very respectful response.... I know my grading was low on the defensive end. Again, this is an opinion-based thread. With that said -

At points in various games and situations, I believe the defensive calls that were sent in made the secondary porous. Morrison was a God-Send and played his ass off. Foskey made the DL very dangerous which upgraded the rest.

I take your bitterness with my grade on Mickens. I will take the shot on that one. He IS a good coach. But I want to see more from them. The Irish have been lacking in this department for so long, I want more. I know that is selfish as a fan but, the players the Irish have now are long and have good hands.... let 'em loose and take more chances.

Great post my friend.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Freeman C
Golden C
Rees D- (wanted to give an F, but he had moments)
Mason A+

 

[Dizzyphil]

Freeman C
Golden C
Rees D-
Mason A+

For Freeman - why C ?... just wondering.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

For Freeman - why C ?... just wondering.

Marshall and Stanford weigh heavy. I think he grew throughout the year though.

 

[Giddyup]

Harry Hiestand C-
Couldn’t run the ball against OSU, Marshall, Stanford and USC.

 

[ACamp1900]

I give Golden one of the best grades on the entire staff,… I’m very excited to see what he does once his guys are in there.

 

[Dizzyphil]

I give Golden one of the best grades on the entire staff,… I’m very excited to see what he does once his guys are in there.

Would love to be a 'Fly-on-the-Wall' between Golden and HH on schemes to defeat each other...

 

[phillyirish]

Al Golden Grade C- Defense has to improve on it’s schemes especially on blitzing calls.


Mike Mickens / Chris O'Leary Grade C


Al Washington Grade B- Has done well with what he has but, needs to build a solid nose-tackle

Total defense was 22nd, not sure how that warrants a C-.

Pass defense was 21st and Rushing defense 46th, so not sure why you have these guys rated like that. Especially since Washington had essentially a completely returning elite dline that took a step back, while Mickens was working with two brand new starters including a Freshmen.

 

[ACamp1900]

Idk how people hate on what Golden did this year,… y’all do you I guess.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Wow, even some Heistand hate? I get it that the OL wasn't consistent, but from Week 1 to the Bowl game, tremendous improvements and cohesion were made.

 

[Reaper97]

For Freeman - why C ?... just wondering.

I have Freeman a C and almost gave him a C-.
I explained it above.

 

[calvegas04]

Freeman - B

Rees - B+

Golden - C

Mason - A

HH - C-

McC - B+

Please no comments or questions

 

[CanadalovesND]

Freeman - B

Rees - B+

Golden - C

Mason - A

HH - C-

McC - B+

Please no comments or questions

Respect my decision.

 

[IrishBoognish]

Freeman - B

Rees - B+

Golden - C

Mason - A

HH - C-

McC - B+

Please no comments or questions

HH C- ????


I'm questioning that and asking for comment STAT

 

[Giddyup]

ND only ran for 3.5 ypa against Marshall, USC, Cal. That’s atrocious.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

A+

 

[Dizzyphil]

Total defense was 22nd, not sure how that warrants a C-.

Pass defense was 21st and Rushing defense 46th, so not sure why you have these guys rated like that. Especially since Washington had essentially a completely returning elite dline that took a step back, while Mickens was working with two brand new starters including a Freshmen.

Like my post states it's an opinion grade

 

[CanadalovesND]

Like my post states it's an opinion grade

An opinion can be a poor one if stats prove it.