Joe Rudolph - Offensive Line Coach

[Old Man Mike]

Yeh, something seems badly "off" about that history.

 

[AvesEvo]

I was intrigued reading this until the part about Balis. Balis leaving had nothing to do with Freeman "watching a PowerPoint" or any staff dysfunction it was because of stuff outside of ND. So now I have to question pretty much everything else in this post.

I remember it being stated on this board that Balis left because he didn't feel qualified to teach the modern S&C techniques that Freeman wanted to implement.

 

[GoIrish41]

Opposite.
You think the OL who won way more than Freeman has, are soft because they aren’t impressed with his crap?

He talks cool, he’s young, good looking, blah, blah, blah. He loses.

OL aren’t impressed by that.
I’m not impressed by it.

ND fans caught up in Freeman hype are soft.

We are losing because the OL is not playing well. Coaches are not impressed by that I’m not impressed by that. It wasn’t the OL coach being tossed into the backfield against Duke or not picking up stunts against anyone. If I’m an interior OL recruit I’m feeling good about early playing time at ND. We have a highly respected OL coach with proven track record and an interior line that is unproven and pretty consistently ineffective. Fischer seems disinterested and sloppy at times. Even Alt shit the bed this week. Something needs to give.

 

[PutuporShutup]

We are losing because the OL is not playing well. Coaches are not impressed by that I’m not impressed by that. It wasn’t the OL coach being tossed into the backfield against Duke or not picking up stunts against anyone. If I’m an interior OL recruit I’m feeling good about early playing time at ND. We have a highly respected OL coach with proven track record and an interior line that is unproven and pretty consistently ineffective. Fischer seems disinterested and sloppy at times. Even Alt shit the bed this week. Something needs to give.

Alt had one really bad play, not saying he was perfect every other play but the oline wasn't brutal other than maybe fisher. Everyone had at least one really bad play that cost ND. Fisher had a few. Our run plays are being set up that if one olinemen doesn't do their job there's no chance of it working since teams are selling out to stop the run.

There was one play that oline blocked perfectly except Raridon, his guy whipped him and made the tackle just as a hole was formed to take one to the house.

Oline must play better pass pro and run game, but first play calling needs to give them a chance.

 

[IrishLax]

I remember it being stated on this board that Balis left because he didn't feel qualified to teach the modern S&C techniques that Freeman wanted to implement.

I really, really don't think that's true unless I was lied to.

 

[Old Man Mike]

There are a helluva lot greater reasons that we are losing than OLine play. If one made a list of 100 offense-related issues that teams could possibly have, 90+ of them would be of greater concern than OLine play for us --- and almost all of those will regard WRs generally, blocking by everybody other than the OLine, playcalling, and the whole thing driving Sam crazy. The OLine has its flaws --- especially too many false starts. Fisher has gotten slow-minded too many times. Correll gets bulled (but not as much as you think; watch the tape and count --- if we had receiver separation, Sam does have time.) The guards make an occasional read mistake, but this is not common --- again, these breakdowns are mostly TE blocking or RB pick-ups, or Sam simply not having a receiver --- and not having a receiver despite the opponent playing stack the box --- they just aren't afraid of us at all. Our OLine ALWAYS has more guys to block than can be blocked by just them. They usually DO block their five.

 

[AvesEvo]

I really, really don't think that's true unless I was lied to.

You would know better than me. I only know what you and others post.

Looks like it was Reaper.

"Freeman wanted to go in a different direction, but wanted Balis to be the one to do it, but Balis wasn’t comfortable with it.
Freeman didn’t expect Balis to resign."

"More modern, sports science based training."

 

[bumpdaddy]

these breakdowns are mostly TE blocking or RB pick-ups, or Sam simply not having a receiver

Here's an example of what you are talking about...

 

[PutuporShutup]

Here's an example of what you are talking about...

I talked about this play earlier today … it’s why it seems like our plays are designed to not get a few but always to get a home run

 

[Luckylucci]

Harry Heistand did this ALL THE TIME.
In fact, he did it with true Freshman.
Robert Hainsey tells hilarious stories about OL getting thrown into games without zero practice with the 1’s all week & no clue they were playing.
This is completely being blown out of control.
The ND OL, all of them who played, were still more talented than UL & plenty prepared.
They just stunk.

Name the last time that Notre Dame was on the road in a crazy environment against a top 25 opponent and HH subbed out the entire IOL with multiple personnel groupings and no prior practice of it?

And, he certainly never did that with Freshman, lol.

Throwing OL out there during blowouts against Nevada or New Mexico is not the same thing as what happened on Saturday night.

 

[mrmcgrail]

It's how Michigan beats Ohio state every year they stack the box and if you get to the second level you're gone. Estime has had huge runs because of that all year. Lately we haven't had the blocking we need especially when guards are pulling and guys blocking on the backside

 

[Grahambo]

I really, really don't think that's true unless I was lied to.

Nor is it believable that Balis isn’t capable of teaching new techniques or incorporating some new science.

 

[PutuporShutup]

It's how Michigan beats Ohio state every year they stack the box and if you get to the second level you're gone. Estime has had huge runs because of that all year. Lately we haven't had the blocking we need especially when guards are pulling and guys blocking on the backside

That’s how they close them out when osu is gassed, they throw the ball with success early when osu is trying to stop run. Last year they had 3 really long passing tds before any long td runs.

Your good run game and oline force teams to stack box… nd has this… then you make them pay over the top or with downfield slants… nd doesn’t have a plan to do this

 

[Bluto]

Here's an example of what you are talking about...

I’m thinking if that’s Love with the ball he’s just a step quicker and he’s gone.

Maybe it’s the old combo of players needing to execute but also having the right players in the game who can compensate for when some dummy doesn’t execute?

 

[PutuporShutup]

I’m thinking if that’s Love with the ball he’s just a step quicker and he’s gone.

Maybe it’s the old combo of players needing to execute but also having the right players in the game who can compensate for when some dummy doesn’t execute?

More concerning is shouldn’t that have been Evans or any other te that has been practicing …

 

[mrmcgrail]

Yeah because they stack the box look at all of Mccarthys touchdowns they are usually man to man blown coverages off of play action

 

[PutuporShutup]

Yeah because they stack the box look at all of Mccarthys touchdowns they are usually man to man blown coverages off of play action

That’s my point… a team that has to stack box to stop the run should be exploited

 

[zbikowski88]

I remember it being stated on this board that Balis left because he didn't feel qualified to teach the modern S&C techniques that Freeman wanted to implement.

I don’t know if it’s true or not. One thing I do know from working with strength & conditioning coaches… those who have been in the field for awhile don’t like the new techniques. Most older s&c coaches like the old school methods not the science research s&c.

 

[PutuporShutup]

I don’t know if it’s true or not. One thing I do know from working with strength & conditioning coaches… those who have been in the field for awhile don’t like the new techniques. Most older s&c coaches like the old school methods not the science research s&c.

Rocky 4

 

[Giddyup]

New age stuff is lifting your smart phone 100 times to your ear or walking 5 miles to the bus stop

 

[stlnd01]

Yeah because they stack the box look at all of Mccarthys touchdowns they are usually man to man blown coverages off of play action

Have we thrown a play-action deep ball since the NC State game? That was the last time I recall us even trying to exploit a defense that was stacking the box.

 

[stpeteirish]

Analytics anabolics tomato tomahto

 

[ThePiombino]

I remember it being stated on this board that Balis left because he didn't feel qualified to teach the modern S&C techniques that Freeman wanted to implement.

I was under the impression Balis was dealing with outside factors that he felt wouldn't allow him to be 100% focused on his job. Not sure if that was the real reason or not, but I thought that was the party line at the very least. I also remember reading that Freeman offered him flexibility and he declined because if he couldn't give 100%, he wasn't interested.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

ND fans caught up in Freeman hype are soft.

This sentence was soft, but otherwise you've been 100% spot on.

Marcus Freeman, if nothing else, projects an actual love and passion for the university that we probably haven't seen since Lou Holtz. Like it or not, that means something to a lot of alums and fans of this football program. I have often stated I hope that he is the person he has projected himself to be and I hope that he wins because I want him to succeed not just for the program but for himself because he is likeable for a multitude of reasons. The program felt as if it was going through the motions and how it all came undone with the previous regime gave people plenty of reason to be excited about Marcus Freeman.

Holtz went 8-4 in year two. Kelly went 8-5. Weis went 10-3. Davie 9-3. Willingham....well, let's hope Freeman isn't on that level.

I never wanted any of these guys to fail. Freeman brought a certain energy when he was hired that is undeniable. That equity could be undone should he continue to lose, but building your own program takes time, and he can't do a portal overhaul like everyone else and he's self aware enough to know what he was getting into. The truth about Marcus Freeman, right now, probably lies somewhere in the middle of Tyrone Willingham and "what if Ryan Day leaves and Ohio State comes calling?"

 

[PutuporShutup]

This sentence was soft, but otherwise you've been 100% spot on.

Marcus Freeman, if nothing else, projects an actual love and passion for the university that we probably haven't seen since Lou Holtz. Like it or not, that means something to a lot of alums and fans of this football program. I have often stated I hope that he is the person he has projected himself to be and I hope that he wins because I want him to succeed not just for the program but for himself because he is likeable for a multitude of reasons. The program felt as if it was going through the motions and how it all came undone with the previous regime gave people plenty of reason to be excited about Marcus Freeman.

Holtz went 8-4 in year two. Kelly went 8-5. Weis went 10-3. Davie 9-3. Willingham....well, let's hope Freeman isn't on that level.

I never wanted any of these guys to fail. Freeman brought a certain energy when he was hired that is undeniable. That equity could be undone should he continue to lose, but building your own program takes time, and he can't do a portal overhaul like everyone else and he's self aware enough to know what he was getting into. The truth about Marcus Freeman, right now, probably lies somewhere in the middle of Tyrone Willingham and "what if Ryan Day leaves and Ohio State comes calling?"

Agree other than if his first priority is to the university and players, then he'll make tough decisions. I get not this week, but if the offense isn't drastically improved and we win vs USC, Parker can not be OC after the bye.

 

[irishff1014]

This sentence was soft, but otherwise you've been 100% spot on.

Marcus Freeman, if nothing else, projects an actual love and passion for the university that we probably haven't seen since Lou Holtz. Like it or not, that means something to a lot of alums and fans of this football program. I have often stated I hope that he is the person he has projected himself to be and I hope that he wins because I want him to succeed not just for the program but for himself because he is likeable for a multitude of reasons. The program felt as if it was going through the motions and how it all came undone with the previous regime gave people plenty of reason to be excited about Marcus Freeman.

Holtz went 8-4 in year two. Kelly went 8-5. Weis went 10-3. Davie 9-3. Willingham....well, let's hope Freeman isn't on that level.

I never wanted any of these guys to fail. Freeman brought a certain energy when he was hired that is undeniable. That equity could be undone should he continue to lose, but building your own program takes time, and he can't do a portal overhaul like everyone else and he's self aware enough to know what he was getting into. The truth about Marcus Freeman, right now, probably lies somewhere in the middle of Tyrone Willingham and "what if Ryan Day leaves and Ohio State comes calling?"

I don’t think anyone wanted any of them to fail.

 

[Bobias]

For all the talk of firing Parker, Joe Rudolph has been even worse. It's truly pathetic how much this Oline has regressed from Hiestand in 1 year. Our line seems to have had their manhood taken from them and look like they are in the before part of a testosterone supplement commercial

 

[NDFAN2008]

For all the talk of firing Parker, Joe Rudolph has been even worse. It's truly pathetic how much this Oline has regressed from Hiestand in 1 year. Our line seems to have had their manhood taken from them and look like they are in the before part of a testosterone supplement commercial

It’s being inconsistent. Clemson had two backups in yesterday and their OL played fine. It’s like when Craig came in we couldn’t do anything on offense

 

[stpeteirish]

For all the talk of firing Parker, Joe Rudolph has been even worse. It's truly pathetic how much this Oline has regressed from Hiestand in 1 year. Our line seems to have had their manhood taken from them and look like they are in the before part of a testosterone supplement commercial

Hyperbole notwithstanding there’s some truth to this. With our slow developing run plays and refusal to use the roll out vs heavy pass rushing teams it appears our coaches think their OLine is better than it is.

 

[zbikowski88]

Most of the OL not all BUT most play finesse, the strength & power play from years past is not there.