Marcus Freeman New DC

[tommyIRISH23]

Are there any recruits we have a chance of bringing in off this hire?

 

[rtrn2glory]

Are there any recruits we have a chance of bringing in off this hire?

Time will tell but I'm really hoping we see some improvement especially on the backend

 

[IrishLax]

The one thing I worry about is the 3-3-5. If he goes back to the 4-2-5 he ran previously I think we will be in good shape. But we have four years of recruiting to a 4 man front and it’s the strength of the defense. Botelho and Foskey next year could be elite pass rushers, and we have a ton of quality depth at DT. None these guys except Hinish are suited to play in a 3 man front.

Similarly, our DBs are a weakness and you don’t want 5 of them in the field unless the 5th is a hybrid like how we used the ROVER.

 

[allenm5333]

The one thing I worry about is the 3-3-5. If he goes back to the 4-2-5 he ran previously I think we will be in good shape. But we have four years of recruiting to a 4 man front and it’s the strength of the defense. Botelho and Foskey next year could be elite pass rushers, and we have a ton of quality depth at DT. None these guys except Hinish are suited to play in a 3 man front.

Similarly, our DBs are a weakness and you don’t want 5 of them in the field unless the 5th is a hybrid like how we used the ROVER.

I actually think our personnel would work. Imagine Mills, Hinish, MTA as the 3 DL. You could put Foskey as the boundary overhang. The Rover could be the overhang to the field.

 

[Dale]

The one thing I worry about is the 3-3-5. If he goes back to the 4-2-5 he ran previously I think we will be in good shape. But we have four years of recruiting to a 4 man front and it’s the strength of the defense. Botelho and Foskey next year could be elite pass rushers, and we have a ton of quality depth at DT. None these guys except Hinish are suited to play in a 3 man front.

Similarly, our DBs are a weakness and you don’t want 5 of them in the field unless the 5th is a hybrid like how we used the ROVER.

I’d feel pretty confident especially given the majority and first part of our schedule you see essentially a 4-2-5. Now you do happen to have a bye followed by USC and UNC, maybe a twist there?

Seems like his main focus is A) just doesn’t want someone covering someone they have no business doing so and B) get pressure with as few but as multiple as possible. His DL was better than most OL’s they faced so no need for four. Against Power 5 opponents, I’d assume he knows that may not be the case.

 

[ThePiombino]

The one thing I worry about is the 3-3-5. If he goes back to the 4-2-5 he ran previously I think we will be in good shape. But we have four years of recruiting to a 4 man front and it’s the strength of the defense. Botelho and Foskey next year could be elite pass rushers, and we have a ton of quality depth at DT. None these guys except Hinish are suited to play in a 3 man front.

Similarly, our DBs are a weakness and you don’t want 5 of them in the field unless the 5th is a hybrid like how we used the ROVER.

I don't necessarily disagree with you, but I do think that if ever there was a time to hit the reset button or at least pivot a little, this is the year to do it. That said, hasn't Freeman already proven that he can run a 4-man front? I wouldn't mind being able to run multiple formations out there as well. Would be an awful lot for opposing offenses to have to get game plan against.

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[WilliamWallace]

The one thing id like to see changed is how our DB’s sit back and play off guys against teams like Clemson this kills you QB’s just sit back and pick us apart

Good quarterbacks will always be hard to defend. According to what I’ve read, Freemans’ corners play press coverage, lining up directly across from the receivers. The idea being to jam and disrupt the routes. On the flip side the receivers that have some speed can get behind the cb. So our corners will also need to be able to fly to prevent giving up a big play.

 

[NDdomer2]

BK after hiring Freeman away from LSU:

 

[irish4ever]

Two great hires/signings today.

1. Freeman to ND

2. Harbaugh staying at UM

I might buy a lottery ticket today.

Ditto! I don't which one is 1a and 1b for me. Muck fichigan and 'ol khaki pants! Great hire for ND! Wooooooo!!!

 

[irish4ever]

ND lost a home run DC coach in Lea and they replaced him with a home run hire in Freeman. Welcome to ND!!

I hope Elston stays at ND.

Me too.

 

[N_D_Fighting_Irish]

Don’t get all the hype. Nothing changes other than the defense will be a little unknown. Our issues have been on the offensive side of the ball....in every big game.

 

[Huntr]

The one thing I worry about is the 3-3-5. If he goes back to the 4-2-5 he ran previously I think we will be in good shape. But we have four years of recruiting to a 4 man front and it’s the strength of the defense. Botelho and Foskey next year could be elite pass rushers, and we have a ton of quality depth at DT. None these guys except Hinish are suited to play in a 3 man front.

Similarly, our DBs are a weakness and you don’t want 5 of them in the field unless the 5th is a hybrid like how we used the ROVER.

Relevant

“As long as the system can marry with our recruiting, that's the most important thing,” Kelly said. “I'm open to what the system looks like — it doesn't necessarily have to be always four down [linemen]. We can be in some three down and some four down.

“But it can't be — we're not going to a 3-4 defense. We will be a team that is continuously looking at our personnel that we've been recruiting to match the scheme.”

 

[ThePiombino]

Don’t get all the hype. Nothing changes other than the defense will be a little unknown. Our issues have been on the offensive side of the ball....in every big game.

If you can't understand why this was an absolute clutch home run hire then I'm afraid I got nothing for ya, bud.

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[N_D_Fighting_Irish]

If you can't understand why this was an absolute clutch home run hire then I'm afraid I got nothing for ya, bud.

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Kind of early to say it is a home run hire, but the eagerness to address the DC position and hire an up and coming candidate is a good sign. Just don’t understand the hype. Our limited history of “big name” hires is not good.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

If he’s as good as everyone says then he can take our personnel, recruit his own and not miss a beat. Not worried.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Don’t get all the hype. Nothing changes other than the defense will be a little unknown. Our issues have been on the offensive side of the ball....in every big game.

Uhh how about the fact that the architect of our defensive and one of the best X's and O's guys in the college game left for a HC gig...whether the offense has been the issue or not, the driving force behind the defense NOT being the issue was no longer going to be here.

To not go backwards, it was VITAL that we ended up with a homerun hire to continue to make sure the defense does not regress and become part of the problem too.
Not to mention the prevailing belief is not only can dude coach, but he will be instrumental in getting a higher level of talent here on the D side.

Don't get how you don't get why that would have people hyped...to keep moving forward.

 

[IrishBoognish]

Don’t get all the hype. Nothing changes other than the defense will be a little unknown. Our issues have been on the offensive side of the ball....in every big game.

This is a very weird take.

"Our defense has been good, we don't need to worry about losing the guy who coached it"

Freeman is wildly respected all over the country and is an A+ recruiter.

As for the offense? We. had. no. weapons. Losing our all American center made or O line just good, and we had zero clutch recievwrs.

Next year, our O line will not be as good, but we will have potential weapons all over the place. We needed a DC that could keep the excellent culture intact.

Freeman is a culture guy first and foremost. Its a home run hire.

https://youtu.be/zKazdlFdzI0


The link i added is a really good interview with Freeman that underlines the culture aspect i was talking about. I was already excited about him, but after listening to that, I wanna play for him. (Sorry I can't embed)

 

[tussin]

For a football brainlet, explain why this is a home run beyond him being the hot DC of the year.

 

[BilboBaggins]

For a football brainlet, explain why this is a home run beyond him being the hot DC of the year.

He's good at his job.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

For a football brainlet, explain why this is a home run beyond him being the hot DC of the year.

By F+ he helped put together the 7th best defense in the country this past season. By that metric Notre Dame was 12th.

Per the 247 recruiting rankings Cincinnati is putting together a 2021 class that’s better than any other G5 and ahead of 1/3 of the P5.

He’s 34 years old and BK liked his defensive philosophy so much that he went after Mickens so he could help incorporate it in South Bend.

 

[tussin]

He's good at his job.

Thanks, I get it now.

 

[Meacon Irish]

I love how his defenses attack, and the blitz packages he calls. His defense is aggressive and forces turnovers. I wanted this guy as DC as soon as I heard Lea was gone. Very, very excited to see how the D looks next year with him in charge.

 

[philipm31]

Kind of early to say it is a home run hire, but the eagerness to address the DC position and hire an up and coming candidate is a good sign. Just don’t understand the hype. Our limited history of “big name” hires is not good.

Did you think that Barry Alvarez was a home run hire on defense? Bob Davie? Charlie Weis? When was the last time ND had a homerun hire at any level?

The last hire that was considered even good in the last 40 years was Holrz, who had just come off a short tenure at Minnesota and was a decade from his biggest win at Arkansas.

ND has not had a homerun hire, literally ever, in ND history. Every hire has been essentially unknown, nationally.

 

[NDIrish88]

The best thing about this hire is that it shakes up the staff to not only have good coaches who can develop talent, but also those who are great recruiters.

 

[irishtrooper]

Don’t get all the hype. Nothing changes other than the defense will be a little unknown. Our issues have been on the offensive side of the ball....in every big game.

Really!? This hire is a signal of the willingness of the admin to actually step up and do what needs to be done. He was THE guy this offseason and ND got him. If you can’t understand why this matters.........

 

[ThePiombino]

Did you think that Barry Alvarez was a home run hire on defense? Bob Davie? Charlie Weis? When was the last time ND had a homerun hire at any level?

The last hire that was considered even good in the last 40 years was Holrz, who had just come off a short tenure at Minnesota and was a decade from his biggest win at Arkansas.

ND has not had a homerun hire, literally ever, in ND history. Every hire has been essentially unknown, nationally.

FWIW many considered Kelly a home run hire, but that's obviously highly debatable and your point stands regardless - it's just not what ND does typically.

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[Irish#1]

LOTS of vitriol over there atm. I especially like this one:

"I hate Catholics"

That said, a lot of reason as well. But it's clear there is a stench of entitlement in the south and an overwhelming belief that Notre Dame is living purely on rep. Hopefully this will be the 1st of many donkey punches we deliver to that narrative.

They forget we beat them the last two times we played them.

 

[ThePiombino]

They forget we beat them the last two times we played them.

That was part of the reasonable input. Most there realize LSU just got had on this one without having to deflect in ND's direction.

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[Luckylucci]

I found this article and I think it’s worth a read.

https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/marcus-freeman-notre-dame-defensive-coordinator-scheme


I’m not overly concerned about the DL because as you can see from that article, he’s very multiple. But I also think the assumption of a traditional 3 down front and how he actually uses it are different. I think we have guys for these roles.

Myjai Sanders is a Foskey clone, physically. You can see how he’s used in his highlights below.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/87-A1GETh5g" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Their Big End was Elijah Ponder, who’s 6’3 275. That’s basically the profile of MTA and Jayson A. Its also probably a prototype role for guys like Rylie Mills or Jason Onye. And I think Schweitzer and Botelho are perfect compliments as the overhang defenders or “Mug” LB’s. Both played significant amounts of their HS careers as off ball LB’s while also projecting to being collegiate pass rushers.

I also think we’ve recruited a lot for him to work with at DB. Not all these guys will hit but Hart, Henderson, Offord, And Riley just to name a handful. Variations of length, speed, and physicality

 

[GATTACA!]

Did you think that Barry Alvarez was a home run hire on defense? Bob Davie? Charlie Weis? When was the last time ND had a homerun hire at any level?

The last hire that was considered even good in the last 40 years was Holrz, who had just come off a short tenure at Minnesota and was a decade from his biggest win at Arkansas.

ND has not had a homerun hire, literally ever, in ND history. Every hire has been essentially unknown, nationally.

Kelly was the home run hire of that cycle. I agree with your broader point though.