Marcus Freeman New DC

[Dale]

From the Composite I had 3 four stars and 9 three stars but could have miscounted or idk if 247 has one of those guys as a 4.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

From the Composite I had 3 four stars and 9 three stars but could have miscounted or idk if 247 has one of those guys as a 4.

There were a couple athletes listed I didnt count. Doesnt matter.. Still very poor. Its a valid point you bring up.

 

[calvegas04]

Every DC we have had everyone has crowned them the savior of ND and the next HC

 

[BobbyMac]

Every DC we have had everyone has crowned them the savior of ND and the next HC

I like Freeman but until he can pull All-American LB's from NOLA and the ATL, I'm going with this guy in the glorious jogging suit and Porsche Carrera polarized sunglasses.

 

[NDdomer2]

The Freeman convo seems rather simple to evaluate to date no? The whole reason for the BCR is it’s simplicity.

Defensive BCR under Lea (someone can correct my math):

- 2021: 25%
- 2020: 29%
- 2019: 77%

Lea is bringing down our BCR. The offensive recruiting has actually sustained our 55%. Do we believe Freeman can in 3YoY do better than that? I’d say definitively yes

This is so hard to do a fair comparison though. Lea/Elko are coming in after the worst DC in Kelly era so easy to understand why their averages year 1/2 would be low. Freeman is coming in right after the best DC we've had in K lot era. Kids were already excited to play here.

 

[Dale]

This is so hard to do a fair comparison though. Lea/Elko are coming in after the worst DC in Kelly era so easy to understand why their averages year 1/2 would be low. Freeman is coming in right after the best DC we've had in K lot era. Kids were already excited to play here.

No Lea fed of Elko Year 1 and then didn’t produce in recruiting 2 and 3.

 

[NDdomer2]

No Lea fed of Elko Year 1 and then didn’t produce in recruiting 2 and 3.

Regardless it's just not apples to apples being the point. Freeman just has to maintain to exceed those 3 year numbers posted above.

 

[Dale]

Regardless it's just not apples to apples being the point. Freeman just has to maintain to exceed those 3 year numbers posted above.

That’s not true though. By your argument Lea had to just maintain Elko and his recruiting production dropped from Elko. The majority of recruits’ comments play that out when they talk about Freeman. It’s not a knock on Lea as a coach, but he was not a good recruiter

 

[NDdomer2]

That’s not true though. By your argument Lea had to just maintain Elko and his recruiting production dropped from Elko. The majority of recruits’ comments play that out. It’s not a knock on Lea as a coach, but he was not a good recruiter

I'm certainly not arguing that he was but what did he have to sell. It wasn't early PT, it wasn't him being an established DC. He had never been one.

Freeman has early PT and established DC, check and check.

I maintain it won't be apples to apples. If Freeman can't hold a 3 year BCR average of 43.6 he will be a massive failure, imo.

That's a low low bar.

 

[ThePiombino]

It's not a knock on Lea as a coach, but he was not a good recruiter

This is the part that everybody likes to gloss over. And to be fair, I wouldn't say he was a bad recruiter, but he certainly wasn't as aggressive or involved as I would have liked to have seen. Or maybe he just needed to broaden his board a little (lot)? Either way, Freeman has proven to be a far more efficient recruiter which is exactly what this staff needs more of.

 

[Rogue219]

Why is everyone crowning him? He hasnt even coached single down for ND. Ill galdly eat crow three years from now but we are still headed for a 8-10 ranked class like normal.

I agree with you, but I also think there are some verbals right now that would not be verbals if Lea was still here, and I like Clark Lea a lot.

I am impressed with all that I have seen thus far. I think there is an energy about him and a fit for the program that just "feels" right. Like I said, cautiously thirsty. I want to see the defense perform before I start pushing chips in the middle.

 

[Irish#1]

This is the part that everybody likes to gloss over. And to be fair, I wouldn't say he was a bad recruiter, but he certainly wasn't as aggressive or involved as I would have liked to have seen. Or maybe he just needed to broaden his board a little (lot)? Either way, Freeman has proven to be a far more efficient recruiter which is exactly what this staff needs more of.

Freeman is obviously more involved in recruiting than Lea. Which raises the question, What requirements (if any) does BK put on his coaches when it comes to recruiting? There has to be some discussion during the interview phase.

 

[Rogue219]

Freeman is obviously more involved in recruiting than Lea. Which raises the question, What requirements (if any) does BK put on his coaches when it comes to recruiting? There has to be some discussion during the interview phase.

For me, it should be best of the best. Know your Xs and Os but WANT to be on the road doing the recruiting. You MUST have coaches with that kind of skill set at the college level. If you're an NFL guy, fine, so be it. Go there and enjoy not having to deal with recruiting headaches.

To me, you have to be able to have the hunger to want to recruit or it isn't going to work. Even your weakest cog in the wheel should be an animal on the recruiting trail.

Plus ND is swimming in a smaller pool than most so You have to work that much harder to make sure Stanford or Nortwestern don't pip any guys you absolutely want in your class if they fit the mold.

 

[Dale]

Freeman is obviously more involved in recruiting than Lea. Which raises the question, What requirements (if any) does BK put on his coaches when it comes to recruiting? There has to be some discussion during the interview phase.

I’d guess BK is not Cristobal where he reportedly makes the staff be at the office to do recruiting calls and doesn’t trust to do from home at night (I’m pretty sure it’s Cristobal but not 100%). But a interesting question, never heard what level of homework the assistants have.

 

[Dale]

It was said in the buildup to his hire, but a lot of these guys including Vernon call Chad Bowen “Coach Bowen” and he gets as much mention as the position coaches almost lately for some of these guys.

Also Mike McCray is a GA assistant haven’t heard his names only a few times but while hyping up the unsung guys, Ws like Vernon aren’t just Freeman need a full wave of effort

 

[BeauBenken]

It was said in the buildup to his hire, but a lot of these guys including Vernon call Chad Bowen “Coach Bowen” and he gets as much mention as the position coaches almost lately for some of these guys.

Also Mike McCray is a GA assistant haven’t heard his names only a few times but while hyping up the unsung guys, Ws like Vernon aren’t just Freeman need a full wave of effort

Chad has been a total Chad. Glad he came with Freeman.

 

[Irish#1]

For me, it should be best of the best. Know your Xs and Os but WANT to be on the road doing the recruiting. You MUST have coaches with that kind of skill set at the college level. If you're an NFL guy, fine, so be it. Go there and enjoy not having to deal with recruiting headaches.

To me, you have to be able to have the hunger to want to recruit or it isn't going to work. Even your weakest cog in the wheel should be an animal on the recruiting trail.

Plus ND is swimming in a smaller pool than most so You have to work that much harder to make sure Stanford or Nortwestern don't pip any guys you absolutely want in your class if they fit the mold.

I’d guess BK is not Cristobal where he reportedly makes the staff be at the office to do recruiting calls and doesn’t trust to do from home at night (I’m pretty sure it’s Cristobal but not 100%). But a interesting question, never heard what level of homework the assistants have.

I suspect BK lets his staff put together their plans and gives final approval or recommends changes that he wants included in the process. BK understands the need to land the studs. My question is more along the lines during the interview process and if he tells them his expectations for them when it comes to recruiting? Would love to be a fly on the wall.

 

[WilliamWallace]

Posted over on Rivals,

https://notredame.rivals.com/news/marcus-freeman-addresses-head-coaching-goals-notre-dame-longevity

 

[greyhammer90]

The Zorich Podcast: Conversations with Leaders & Legends - The Zorich Podcast with Marcus Freeman (7/8/21) (google.com)

Another great listen. If Freeman's pitch is anything like this, no wonder he's a killer. Also, the anecdote of BK calling Freeman and saying "Money isn't a concern, we'll take care of that..." bodes extremely well.

Freeman seems to be much more "open" than most other assistant coaches we've had recently. Lea did a podcast with Sampson last year, but other than that I can't remember the last time we had an active assistant on podcasts. Freeman has been on two niche podcasts that I've seen since he was hired.

 

[greyhammer90]

Another Kelly tidbit: Freeman said that when he called Kelly and told him he was coming to Notre Dame, Kelly said "Let's close that gap."

Guys, I think he knows.

 

[Valpodoc85]

I suspect Freeman out works everyone on the team. Which is saying something. Most coaches in D1 sports put in the hours.

 

[NorthDakota]

Chad has been a total Chad. Glad he came with Freeman.

Who knew Kelly was based?

 

[T-Boone]

He got a black belt in Taekwondo at 12. Impressive.

 

[T-Boone]

half way through. Great interview. I hope we can keep him.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I suspect Freeman out works everyone on the team. Which is saying something. Most coaches in D1 sports put in the hours.

This is not an anti Kelly post.

Of the current HC hierarchy, BK is up there, but not the top 3. He is very good at what he does. But, there is still a difference between him and Saban, or what Urban Meyer was. Its the feeling that they will doing anything in this world to not lose. It drives the. More than their peers.

Again, BK is really good and he has been fantastic for ND. But Freeman is giving that sense that he won't be stopped. Its different than Lea or Elko. I hope ND does whatever it takes to ensure he never leaves. We don't want another Urban Meyer situation.

 

[Irish#1]

This is not an anti Kelly post.

Of the current HC hierarchy, BK is up there, but not the top 3. He is very good at what he does. But, there is still a difference between him and Saban, or what Urban Meyer was. Its the feeling that they will doing anything in this world to not lose. It drives the. More than their peers.

Again, BK is really good and he has been fantastic for ND. But Freeman is giving that sense that he won't be stopped. Its different than Lea or Elko. I hope ND does whatever it takes to ensure he never leaves. We don't want another Urban Meyer situation.

I've given that a lot of thought and not sure he isn't one of the top 3. I can't see Saban or Meyer doing much better at ND. Meyer turned it down because of the restrictions which tells me he probably couldn't do better. For all we know, if BK was at Bama, OSU or UF he may already have a NC or two.

I hope Freeman's D is as good as his recruiting, but BK needs to keep him on staff for the recruiting alone!

 

[IrishLion]

Another Kelly tidbit: Freeman said that when he called Kelly and told him he was coming to Notre Dame, Kelly said "Let's close that gap."

Guys, I think he knows.

 

[FWIrish4]

Man, if you haven’t listened to that podcast you absolutely need to. A ton of great insight and he’s a rockstar. He even talked about recruiting examples of letting kids decompress after visits because Notre Dame is always going to win out just like it did with his choice over LSU. I think the example he gave was Benjamin Morrison about trying to commit to another school at a visit and he got him to decompress and realize ND was best. Idk I may be off but that was my first guess of who he was talking about.

 

[IrishLax]

The Zorich Podcast: Conversations with Leaders & Legends - The Zorich Podcast with Marcus Freeman (7/8/21) (google.com)

Another great listen. If Freeman's pitch is anything like this, no wonder he's a killer. Also, the anecdote of BK calling Freeman and saying "Money isn't a concern, we'll take care of that..." bodes extremely well.

Freeman seems to be much more "open" than most other assistant coaches we've had recently. Lea did a podcast with Sampson last year, but other than that I can't remember the last time we had an active assistant on podcasts. Freeman has been on two niche podcasts that I've seen since he was hired.

This is an absolute must listen for everyone.

 

[greyhammer90]

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