Gerad Parker - Troy Head Coach :)

[IRISHDODGER]

Serious Question, and maybe discussed elsewhere:

How much of the "playcalling" and running into a stacked box is on Hartman?

Can't he look at it and say "hmmm, that's a lot of guys, maybe we shouldn't do this" ?

I’ve heard mixed responses on whether or not he’s able to audible or if just looks to the sideline. Jamie U stated most QB in CFB don’t have the leeway to audible. I wasn’t award of that. Then I heard another media member say that the staff were confident in Hartman’s decision making regarding plays before the season but when the question was posed to MF recently, the answer was wishy-washy. So WTH knows.

 

[Sea Turtle]

I have seen a lot of people wanting Gino to take over play calling. As much as UC fans loved Gino as a QB coach, they really didn't like him as a play caller. Just as ND fans are calling for Parker's demotion back to TE coach, UC fans were doing the same with Gino. Which might be part of the problem with this offense now. Freeman has mentioned that the offense coaches are all very involved in the game plan and if Gino isn't a good play caller, he may be contributing to the issue.

Yep. I think it's fantasy to think he or anyone else on the staff is going to magically be much better.

And fantasy and magic can be fun. When I was a kid, I used to take a trash can lid and a mop handle and pretend I was fighting dragons.
But then one day my dad came outside and said 'son, you're 18 years old now. It's time to move on from this stuff.'

And that was that.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Serious Question, and maybe discussed elsewhere:

How much of the "playcalling" and running into a stacked box is on Hartman?

Can't he look at it and say "hmmm, that's a lot of guys, maybe we shouldn't do this" ?

Freeman pretty much stated that hartman doesn't have too much audible ability. They call a lot of run plays where they want to run it no matter what the opposition does with their lineup.

Pretty ridiculous we aren't utilizing a QB with his experience.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Yep. I think it's fantasy to think he or anyone else on the staff is going to magically be much better.

And fantasy and magic can be fun. When I was a kid, I used to take a trash can lid and a mop handle and pretend I was fighting dragons.
But then one day my dad came outside and said 'son, you're 17 years old now. It's time to move on from this stuff.'

And that was that.

Agree, but if USC doesn't go well, like players, you need to see what ya got for next year. It wasn't elson, and we got golden. It's not parker/gino/DMC, go get someone real good.

 

[irishff1014]

Serious Question, and maybe discussed elsewhere:

How much of the "playcalling" and running into a stacked box is on Hartman?

Can't he look at it and say "hmmm, that's a lot of guys, maybe we shouldn't do this" ?

One of the PC's Freeman was asked if Hartman could change the play and he said something to the tune of kinda. I can't remember it word for word. Freeman said it would change the assignments of players and that personnel on the field.

Well one its supposed to change the assignment and tow it sounded like they didn't have the faith of the players to execute the change. It was either after OSU or Duke PC's.

 

[PutuporShutup]

One of the PC's Freeman was asked if Hartman could change the play and he said something to the tune of kinda. I can't remember it word for word. Freeman said it would change the assignments of players and that personnel on the field.

Well one its supposed to change the assignment and tow it sounded like they didn't have the faith of the players to execute the change. It was either after OSU or Duke PC's.

yep, and he said sometimes they call a run play and it's that play no matter what the D does formation or personnel wise.

 

[NDWarrior]

I think if offense explodes vs USC and we win, and finish the year strong #1

If the offense struggles, parker becomes Co OC with Gine or DMC and they see if that improves end of year. If the offense improves then it's a co OC for next year, if the offense doesn't improve, we go outside current staff.

Yes, I say give someone else Co-duties and see what happens and at end of season, see how it all looks and go from there. There are plenty of historical examples of this working itself out... Joe Brady working as PG Coord. along with the longtime OC; Tulane's Slade Nagle being TE coach but unofficial play caller for Tulane's fantastic '22 season, then promoted to OC (other guy is let go more or less).

 

[NDWarrior]

I have seen a lot of people wanting Gino to take over play calling. As much as UC fans loved Gino as a QB coach, they really didn't like him as a play caller. Just as ND fans are calling for Parker's demotion back to TE coach, UC fans were doing the same with Gino. Which might be part of the problem with this offense now. Freeman has mentioned that the offense coaches are all very involved in the game plan and if Gino isn't a good play caller, he may be contributing to the issue.

It could also be to bring someone in now as analyst but probably too hard of a point in the season to do so.

 

[Giddyup]

Get Greg Davis on the phone. He’s 72 and could probably run circles around our current O guys.

 

[BoredIrish]

FWIW Joe Moorehead has had two bad seasons as HC at Akron and is only making $500k.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

FWIW Joe Moorehead has had two bad seasons as HC at Akron and is only making $500k.

Was in my top group of dream OC's when Tommy boy split.

Only problem is, if we go the outside route, who leaves?

 

[Giddyup]

Sounds like Morehead sucks and has lost it. Plus MF doesn’t want up tempo O

 

[NDWarrior]

FWIW Joe Moorehead has had two bad seasons as HC at Akron and is only making $500k.

Someone said it somewhere on IE... Some are meant to achieve HC greatness and some are meant for OC/DC greatness. It would be great to acquire one of the latter who's just done realized he's not the one of the former, maybe because his current team showed him - by showing him the door - that he's not!

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

FWIW Joe Moorehead has had two bad seasons as HC at Akron and is only making $500k.

Moorhead got a contract extension in February after his first season (2-10) at Akron. He had interest from the Baltimore Ravens and Notre Dame, reportedly, among others.

I'm guessing he has a buyout of some kid, maybe like Jason Candle at Toledo.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Was in my top group of dream OC's when Tommy boy split.

Only problem is, if we go the outside route, who leaves?

Doesn't matter. Those are the kinds of shrewd decisions Freeman is going to have to make if he wants to get this thing where he says he wants to be able to take it. He might have to put Parker and Gino to the sword.

Moorhead may want to bring someone with him ala Elko/Lea. Accommodations of this kind could be likely and buyouts would likely need sorting. That's college football today and going forward.

 

[PutuporShutup]

FWIW Joe Moorehead has had two bad seasons as HC at Akron and is only making $500k.

He’s who I personally wanted to get last search

 

[IrishLion]

I have seen a lot of people wanting Gino to take over play calling. As much as UC fans loved Gino as a QB coach, they really didn't like him as a play caller. Just as ND fans are calling for Parker's demotion back to TE coach, UC fans were doing the same with Gino. Which might be part of the problem with this offense now. Freeman has mentioned that the offense coaches are all very involved in the game plan and if Gino isn't a good play caller, he may be contributing to the issue.

Gino at UC was just a worse version of Mike Denbrock, which isn’t great if you don’t have a stud QB. It worked okay because Gino was calling plays for Desmond Ridder, who could make almost anything work, but I don’t think it portended success elsewhere.

Gino was essentially going to take a demotion to follow Fickell to Wiscy.

Having said that, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that a year in a new place, working with a new staff, would result in an uptick from Gino’s playcalling acumen. Maybe he’s seen enough from a different perspective to better understand how he’d like to build his call sheet and adjust during games…

Just wouldn’t bet the future of the ND offense on it, imo, unless it’s a trial-by-fire basis because someone got fired/demoted.

 

[ThePiombino]

Gino at UC was just a worse version of Mike Denbrock, which isn’t great if you don’t have a stud QB. It worked okay because Gino was calling plays for Desmond Ridder, who could make almost anything work, but I don’t think it portended success elsewhere.

Gino was essentially going to take a demotion to follow Fickell to Wiscy.

Having said that, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that a year in a new place, working with a new staff, would result in an uptick from Gino’s playcalling acumen. Maybe he’s seen enough from a different perspective to better understand how he’d like to build his call sheet and adjust during games…

Just wouldn’t bet the future of the ND offense on it, imo, unless it’s a trial-by-fire basis because someone got fired/demoted.

No need to bet the future. Just the rest of the season. Odds are he can't be worse than Parker. And even if he is, it makes getting rid of him for next season even easier when you bring in the new OC.

 

[Luckylucci]

They have to do something. It quite literally feels like that time where something has to be done. If nothing is done and results stay the same. That's what gets more than just one assistant fired.

Therefore, to me, the most reasonable thing to do is get the QB coach involved in the passing game.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Freeman had guys lined up with the philosophy he wanted on offense. Neither worked out obviously but Porker must have fed some line of shit about his vision of offense after sitting in on those interviews. Damn shame because he has his TEs producing the last couple of years. Duke and UL were very tough watches when you see the rest of college football looking like a video game on offense.

 

[Luckylucci]

Next season is next season and worry about future OC duties when that times comes.

 

[ThePiombino]

They have to do something. It quite literally feels like that time where something has to be done. If nothing is done and results stay the same. That's what gets more than just one assistant fired.

Therefore, to me, the most reasonable thing to do is get the QB coach involved in the passing game.

This cannot be overstated. This will be looked back on as a pivotal moment in Freeman's career. Who knows how it ends, but if he has a shot of it working out, this is a move that needs to be made.

 

[stlnd01]

Next season is next season and worry about future OC duties when that times comes.

Yeah. I’m with you. If we again shit the bed on offense this week, use the by week to catch our breath, give Gino a shot as interim OC - he can’t be worse - and then run a proper search after the season.

 

[supairishfan]

Sounds like Morehead sucks and has lost it. Plus MF doesn’t want up tempo O

If MF is so steadfast in his ball control, establish the run, kick 52 yard field goals on 4th and 3 offense, then he won’t be long here.

We will never have enough talent to win consistently at the highest level playing like this. Doesn’t matter who the OC is at a certain point.

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

Demoting/firing Parker and promoting Gino to the OC chair doesn't make a ton of sense. Gino has as much OC experience at Parker does.

A Ludwig type of hire is what was needed nine months ago and it is what is needed NOW unless Parker somehow turns things around incredibly in the next couple of months.

I totally agree with you. I just think it would be the semantics of it all by basically saying I'm (Freeman) not ok with whats going on and there needs to be a change.

 

[jpachuta33]

Hopefully we see some more counters on third and short.

 

[Irish#1]

The thing is... when you put literally your entire team where we want to run the ball, you are supposed to be good enough / smart enough to "take what the defense gives you". For most teams if Louisville lines up in some asinine defense like that it's a TD. Texas, Bama, USC, Michigan, etc. it's just an easy TD or big gain for the single covered WR who has no help AND has to play them straight up on the wide side of the field.

I don't disagree with you that ND "should" be able to get a yard against any defensive alignment, but I just feel we are making it wayyyyyyyyy harder on ourselves than it needs to be through bad coaching.

Third and one is as simple as Sam going under center and Estime hitting the hole with a head of steam.

 

[stlnd01]

Third and one is as simple as Sam going under center and Estime hitting the hole with a head of steam.

Yep. If we can’t get that yard that’s on us. But trying would be better than all the cute misdirection shit we usually try in that spot.

I watched that stupid Tyree jet sweep fumble again because I’m a masochist. And with a clean handoff it could have gone a long long way if he got the corner, which he probably would have. But they had a guy we didn’t block on the back side and that was that. Like it usually is. Just take the yard.

 

[tko]

We really need to stop the false starts.

 

[IrishLion]

I’m not smart enough to break down the full issue, or to even offer a solution without making myself look like a fool… but one of the major issues the run game has had for seemingly 3+ years now is the willingness of opposing defenses to put 8/9 in the box and pinch everything inwards on ND’s running game.

It’s like you can’t run off tackle, or even through the A/B gaps sometimes because the defense is crashing in so hard from the outside off both tackles/TE’s in certain situations. If you try to run off tackle, you need a superhuman effort by your RB to miss a tackler and get through the LOS. If you run A or B gap, you have to get downhill NOW, but we often see those plays where the RB starts with a lateral step, or delays to let one or two OL pull on an inside trap action, and even hitting the inside gaps is impossible at that point when the DE’s are crashing in behind down blocks, and then OLB’s or safeties are back-filling behind them.

It’s an extension of the problem where opposing defenses have no respect for ND getting creative in short yardage situations, but I’ve noticed it on more standard downs, too… I’ve seen many first-down runs that get ruined by both sides of rhe DL simply slanting inside and causing issues for the interior OL, and erasing any daylight the RB’s might be looking for.

When we do see ND try to get “creative,” it’s generally pretty telegraphed, it seems.

What’s the answer? Letting Hartman actually keep it backside on a bootleg a time or two? Change your blocking scheme to avoid down blocks in those situations? Run a couple of quick pitches outside to keep the defense honest, even if it might sacrifice a conversion a time or two? Idk.