Gerad Parker - Troy Head Coach :)

[Free Manera]

When there are literally 9 hats in the box you just have to check out of it. It’s not going to work. Someone, probably a couple someones, are gonna be unblocked. An H back in the flat or a quick slant or something else has to get put on.

 

[IrishLax]

Can we get this for Porker and Rudolph before Saturday?

 

[Grahambo]

Can we get this for Porker and Rudolph before Saturday?

 

[Giddyup]

Doug Nussmeier would be a great choice for next season’s OC

 

[Giddyup]

That machine might have fried during Tenuta’s reign.

 

[ulukinatme]

Doug Nussmeier would be a great choice for next season’s OC

The guy that Michigan "stole" from Alabama and flamed out there and at Florida pretty quick? I don't think he did the Cowboys any favors either, Dak didn't look any better last year or the year before. Right now he's coaching the Rams QBs and Stafford is having a worse statistical year than last year. Why would we take him?

 

[Giddyup]

He’s the Chargers QB coach

 

[ulukinatme]

He’s the Chargers QB coach

Fair point, I thought he was with the Rams. Herbert is playing marginally better than last year. Not certain Nussmeier has anything to do with that, could be Keenan Allen stepping up this year or other factors. Point still stands, why take Nussmeier?

 

[Giddyup]

Steal Chip Lindsey from UNC then. I’m just spit balling anyway

 

[ulukinatme]

Steal Chip Lindsey from UNC then. I’m just spit balling anyway

Phil Longo put that offense together, but I'm not sure we can steal him away from Wisconsin.
I'm not sure Lindsey has really proven he can step into a program and turn things around. The only previous success he had was at Auburn with Jarrett Stidham in Malzahn's best year, 2017. They got worse the next year and Lindsey tried running to Kansas for a month only to be named Troy's HC where he was fired 3 years later.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Phil Longo put that offense together, but I'm not sure we can steal him away from Wisconsin.

Makes $1.25M a year. That aside, I agree with you.

No interest in Nussmeier, but it stands to reason that if he wanted to be a college OC again, that's the type of guy they might want to look for.
I continue to get the impression that a lot of guys who get a taste of the League will want nothing to do with recruiting, NIL, the portal now. Or you have guys in college now who are working toward getting to the League. The pool of candidates will get smaller and you're going to really start to have to do national searches for guys.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Makes $1.25M a year. That aside, I agree with you.

No interest in Nussmeier, but it stands to reason that if he wanted to be a college OC again, that's the type of guy they might want to look for.
I continue to get the impression that a lot of guys who get a taste of the League will want nothing to do with recruiting, NIL, the portal now. Or you have guys in college now who are working toward getting to the League. The pool of candidates will get smaller and you're going to really start to have to do national searches for guys.

I'm a hard no on Nussmeier. Didn't do well away from Alabama, when he was equipped with elite recruits.

I make another hard run at Collin Klein (he's absolutely getting the KSU job after Kleiman - why feel the need to stay at KSU until that happens, even if you're an alum?).

An under the radar guy I really like is Mack Leftwich at Texas State. Think he could have a Shannon Dawson-type impact at ND (last week's trainwreck notwithstanding).

 

[ulukinatme]

Speaking of Malzahn, what about UCF's OC Darin Hindshaw? He's had success in his previous stops, he runs an uptempo Spread. UCF is 5th in the country in Total Yards this season and they're averaging 35 points a game. Their worst struggle was Boise State with 18 points scored, but put 30+ on Baylor and Kansas State. Only problem I see is he was a former UCF player so there may be some hometown favoritism that could make it difficult to leave. We would offer more money and a better stepping stone though.

Previous stops Darin Hinshaw - Wikipedia

Cincinnati[edit]​

Hinshaw was hired as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Cincinnati in 2013 on the staff of another head coach in its first season with their program, Tommy Tuberville. Hinshaw, along with Eddie Gran, developed an up-tempo split-spread offense. Hinshaw frequently called plays even though he wasn't the official offensive coordinator. Although he was paid similarly to Gran, Hinshaw's known for refusing to take credit and preferring to work behind the scenes. In 2013, the Bearcats led the American Athletic Conference in total offense (472.1) and rushing offense (168.3). The 2014 Cincinnati Bearcats football team finished the season AAC co-champions. The 2015 season, Cincinnati amassed (537.8) yards per game, which was 6th in the nation. [11] Several offensive players he coached and recruited went onto the NFL such as Chris Moore, Mike Boone, Justin Murray, Korey Cunningham, Parker Ehinger, Johnny Holton, Blake Annen, Kahlil Lewis, Mekale McKay, Tion Green, Deyshawn Bond and Josiah Deguara. He also signed several top recruits such as Gerrid Doaks and Hayden Moore.[12]

Kentucky[edit]​

Hinshaw was named the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Kentucky in 2016, following Cincinnati offensive coordinator Eddie Gran.[13] Hinshaw was the "eye in the sky" in the Press box, while Gran was the on field coach. Hinshaw frequently called third-down plays since Gran is known for his conservative calls while Hinshaw was known for his aggressive playcalling.[14] After the 2016–2017 seasons, Gran was criticized for his excessively conservative playcalling compared to his time at Cincinnati.[15] In 2018, they switched to a more aggressive-up tempo Hinshaw-influenced spread offense which led Kentucky to the best season in school history (10-3) and the Citrus Bowl victory against Penn State. They had a successful year in 2019 posting a (8-5) record. Hinshaw helped mentor wide receiver and kick returner Lynn Bowden to learn to play quarterback in 2019. Under Hinshaw’s guidance, he excelled and was honored Manning Award Quarterback of the Week and later won the Paul Hornung Award. Kentucky's offense generated 2,000 rushing yards and 2,000 passing yards three times (2016, 2017 and 2018) during Hinshaw’s tenure, the first time in school history Kentucky accomplished that in three straight seasons. After the 2020 season, Gran and Hinshaw were fired with a combined $3.1 million buyout.[16]

UAB[edit]​

UAB Interim Head coach Bryant Vincent announced the hiring of Hinshaw on July 29, 2022. At UAB as the offensive coordinator, the program set multiple records for total yards (5,697), rushing yards (3,063), yards per game (438.2) and rushing yards per game (235.6). Under his leadership, UAB running back DeWayne McBride turned in the most decorated season in school history, finishing the regular season as the nation's leading rusher with 1,713 yards. McBride would earn the Walter Camp second-team All-America honors, as well as being named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team Conference USA selection. Four O-linemen and two wide receivers were named all-conference team

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I'm a hard no on Nussmeier. Didn't do well away from Alabama, when he was equipped with elite recruits.

I make another hard run at Collin Klein (he's absolutely getting the KSU job after Kleiman - why feel the need to stay at KSU until that happens, even if you're an alum?).

An under the radar guy I really like is Mack Leftwich at Texas State. Think he could have a Shannon Dawson-type impact at ND (last week's trainwreck notwithstanding).

I understand where you're coming from with Klein, but I do believe that ship has set sail. They could surely revisit, but it would likely not even really steamroll into real conversations this time around. Just a guess, though.

With Leftwich, you have the right idea, but we're talking about a guy who is in only his second year of calling plays at 28 years of age. He could potentially be in awe of a personality like Marcus Freeman. He's another green guy who might be more on the upside in terms of potential but does he give command in the room or in game when Freeman decides to do something rash?

I like the idea of someone who has experience and a steady hand that would tell Marcus Freeman to punt the ball on 4th and 11 or kick a field goal to get points on the board early against Ohio State. There are ultimately a lot of possibilities, but hiring an OC in the same vein of Al Golden and Andy Ludwig is really what I'd be looking for the next time around.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I understand where you're coming from with Klein, but I do believe that ship has set sail. They could surely revisit, but it would likely not even really steamroll into real conversations this time around. Just a guess, though.

With Leftwich, you have the right idea, but we're talking about a guy who is in only his second year of calling plays at 28 years of age. He could potentially be in awe of a personality like Marcus Freeman. He's another green guy who might be more on the upside in terms of potential but does he give command in the room or in game when Freeman decides to do something rash?

I like the idea of someone who has experience and a steady hand that would tell Marcus Freeman to punt the ball on 4th and 11 or kick a field goal to get points on the board early against Ohio State. There are ultimately a lot of possibilities, but hiring an OC in the same vein of Al Golden and Andy Ludwig is really what I'd be looking for the next time around.

I think Leftwich is dynamic and his system would play well at ND. He's definitely a guy who runs along the lines of "think less, get ball to playmakers more." And I like the balance his offense has shown this year.

I don't think that it's necessarily fair to say that the offense's struggle relate to rash decisions by Freeman. It seems to me he's pretty hands off there.

If you're looking for Golden/Ludwig types, my biggest concern is that we'd be bringing in a retread. Who fits that bill? Dan Mullen? I just don't see anyone out there that makes sense.

 

[Lberry]

Wasn't Chip Long pretty good and a hell of a recruiter? I'm starting to get my OC timelines mixed up so I could be wrong..

 

[FWIrish4]

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.

Literally said this in real time at the game on Saturday to my brother in law. It was after one of the failed 3rd and shorts up the middle. The box was so stacked with the ends crashing with no regard to anything else. Hartman could legitimately walk for 10 yards untouched, and even take it to the house with a light jog.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think Leftwich is dynamic and his system would play well at ND. He's definitely a guy who runs along the lines of "think less, get ball to playmakers more." And I like the balance his offense has shown this year.

I don't think that it's necessarily fair to say that the offense's struggle relate to rash decisions by Freeman. It seems to me he's pretty hands off there.

If you're looking for Golden/Ludwig types, my biggest concern is that we'd be bringing in a retread. Who fits that bill? Dan Mullen? I just don't see anyone out there that makes sense.

Leftwich is a young guy from Texas who has spent the majority of his football life there. Does he leave for Notre Dame? It would be a super exciting progressive hire for anybody, but that's a guy who screams Big 12 lifer.

Freeman is hands off, but on the big calls someone needed to stop and think about what was about to be done. I think Freeman is a very smart, self aware guy and wanted Ludwig for a reason. He wants that steady hand who can act as the big brother/uncle that knows his way around a call sheet. Especially on offense. I get why Ludwig was Freeman's guy, but I really think they would have overpaid to get him, which was ultimately their call to make. With Ludwig in the fold and having his own OL coach alongside him, this team is unbeaten now. Duke probably doesn't get to a fourth quarter 2 minute drill comeback either. With a first time HC learning on the biggest job in the biggest fishbowl, you need that steady hand.

They only bring in a retread if that's what they decide to hire. There are plausible candidates they can hire if they search and try. Dan Mullen isn't plausible. There are people at this university and it's athletic department making a lot of money who can do this search, we just pass the time on the internet and throw out names. In my perfect world, ND gives Ryan Grubb a salary bump and prys him out of Washington. That won't ever happen. My hope is that with a new A.D. and now a new president with a new board chair they start to reinvest time, money and positive energy into football. Football revenue is only going to help them fund more research and more buildings. It's one of the bigger hands that feeds.

 

[ulukinatme]

Wasn't Chip Long pretty good and a hell of a recruiter? I'm starting to get my OC timelines mixed up so I could be wrong..

No...not a recruiter. Look at the 2019 and 2020 classes that he left us with. There's an incredible lack of skill players:
Kyren Williams
Kendall Abdur-Rahman (Transfered)
Brendon Clark (Transfered)
Cam Hart (Defense now)
Michael Mayer
Jordan Johnson (Transferred)
Chris Tyree
Xavier Watts (Defense now)
Kevin Bauman (Senior that can't crack the depth chart due to injuries)
Jay Brunelle (Transferred)
Drew Pyne (Transferred)

So he had 3 skill guys that basically panned out. 2 of them were phenoms, but in two whole classes it was 3 guys that panned out at all and the rest are basically gone or didn't cut it.

 

[NDohio]

No...not a recruiter. Look at the 2019 and 2020 classes that he left us with. There's an incredible lack of skill players:
Kyren Williams
Kendall Abdur-Rahman (Transfered)
Brendon Clark (Transfered)
Cam Hart (Defense now)
Michael Mayer
Jordan Johnson (Transferred)
Chris Tyree
Xavier Watts (Defense now)
Kevin Bauman (Senior that can't crack the depth chart due to injuries)
Jay Brunelle (Transferred)
Drew Pyne (Transferred)

So he had 3 skill guys that basically panned out. 2 of them were phenoms, but in two whole classes it was 3 guys that panned out at all and the rest are basically gone or didn't cut it.

To add to this, he was hated by the offensive players. It's the whole reason he left - it was reported that the locker room was ready to revolt.

 

[Giddyup]

Maybe we need a little of that. Let the other assistants smooth it over. If we’re good the players wouldn’t care anyway.

 

[ulukinatme]

To add to this, he was hated by the offensive players. It's the whole reason he left - it was reported that the locker room was ready to revolt.

Yup. I talk about how bad Long screwed up the skill position recruiting in back to back years, but the linemen weren't any better really. Correll was the best in those classes, the other linemen got passed up by underclassmen and also didn't really pan out. The poor recruiting and evaluations are a big reason we were starting two freshmen Tackles in 2021. That shouldn't be happening, not to mention the several other freshmen and sophomores that were forced to start those years to fill holes that should have been occupied by experienced upperclassmen.

 

[Giddyup]

Our offenses were top notch under Long, statistically speaking. He has been OC/te coach before. Doubt he’d be recruiting the ol, wr, rb anyway.

He’s an offensive analyst for Louisville this year. Sweet

 

[Armyirish47]

Our offenses were top notch under Long, statistically speaking. He has been OC/te coach before. Doubt he’d be recruiting the ol, wr, rb anyway.

He’s an offensive analyst for Louisville this year. Sweet

"Long was the OC at Memphis for one season, back in 2016. The Tigers offense was ranked 43rd per the SP+ in the ‘16 season. Prior to Long’s arrival at Memphis, the Tigers offense was ranked 35th in SP+. After Long’s departure, the Tigers offense was ranked 17th per the SP+ in 2017.

At Notre Dame, Long served as the OC from 2017-2019. The ND offense was ranked 18th in 2016 prior to Long’s arrival. Under Long’s direction, the Irish were ranked 19th, 33rd, and 20th.

In ‘20, after Long’s departure, the Irish offense was ranked 19th again. Meanwhile in ‘20, before Long’s arrival, the Tulane offense was ranked 39th. In Long’s one season guided the Green Wave offense they dipped to 75th."

From an article when he was hired to Georgia Tech Long for this?

 

[Giddyup]

I’d take that all day compared to what we’ve got.

 

[Giddyup]

Top 20 O’s with Ian Book.

 

[Giddyup]

Had our best 3 yr run as far as w’s to L’s during his years.

Damn I think I found our next OC. Need some asshole on the staff, quit coddling these players trying to be best buddies.

 

[IrishLax]

Chip Long was one of the most self-destructive coaches we have ever had at ND and that's saying something.

 

[Giddyup]

Ben Arbuckle at Washington State is also an up and coming OC

 

[ColinKSU]

Yup. I talk about how bad Long screwed up the skill position recruiting in back to back years, but the linemen weren't any better really. Correll was the best in those classes, the other linemen got passed up by underclassmen and also didn't really pan out. The poor recruiting and evaluations are a big reason we were starting two freshmen Tackles in 2021. That shouldn't be happening, not to mention the several other freshmen and sophomores that were forced to start those years to fill holes that should have been occupied by experienced upperclassmen.

Do other programs on Notre Dame’s general level have seemingly yearly “that should never happen here” recruiting and coaching situations?