Marcus Freeman Revisited

[indianamouse]

IIRC, the only starting QB who ended their career at ND were Rees, Kizer & Book. Whole all 3 contributed greatly to ND’s success during BK’s tenure, none of them were highly recruited or the type of QB that other successful P5 programs would covet.

Meanwhile UNC trotting out another first round draft pick like it’s nothing.

I was talking about the defense keeping qb containment

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I was talking about the defense keeping qb containment

My bad. I read that as “retain” not “contain”. You are correct but I think that’s the case w/ most teams that aren‘t UGA/OSU/Bama

As far as this season so far, that Plummer kid (who is not a running QB) tallied over 80 yards on open field lanes when no one was open. Maye is a far better runner than Plummer.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Very true for Notre Dame - but UNC isn't the standard to aspire to be;

I believe UNC has had 1 quarterback drafted higher than Book or Kizer in their history - Mitchell Trubisky

Right & Sam Howell had a helluva career after being a highly touted HS prospect. I believe Mack flipped him from FSU after he took the UNC job. And the RS FR they have now is straight out of central casting. 6’5” w/ an accurate arm and is not afraid to run? Sign me up.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

I want to "revisit" what he said right after the game on the field on TV when he said I love these kids and I love this PLACE.

Marcus Freeman has the spirit of Notre Dame more than any HC since Holtz. By a long shot.

Gerry Faust REALLY loved the university. Sometimes that’s just not enough.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I don't know these guys and this was after the Marshall loss and it does seem a bit harsh.

However, some points are somewhat valid.

1. Marcus advanced very quickly.
2. He played for a defensive minded-HC in Luke Fickell
3. His one year as DC at ND didn't have the defense any more dominant than Clark Lea's
4. He is a great recruiter and loved by many (I really want him to succeed, too).

What I question is whether Freeman can be decisive. Will he insert himself into the offensive side of the ball (much less the Defensive Side of the ball). Or does Swarbrick only have the reigns on Tommy Rees.

1. Fair point.
2. I assume you mean coached under. So did Kirby Smart. So did Lincoln Riley. So did Brent Venables.
3. I think this had more to do with the fact that there was a drop off in top tier playmakers on defense in '21. They lost JOK and had guys like Daelin Hayes, Ade Ogundeji and MTA added to guys like Foskey, Ademilola and Hinish. Then they lost Marist, who was supposed to be the havoc creator. Didn't help that LB depth was lacking because of poor recruiting.
4. What I'm concerned about is that NIL might mitigate that advantage.

I think Freeman has already inserted himself into the offense. It seems like Freeman is pretty clear that the offense is playing to his overall design, which is to be conservative and run-oriented. I think Marcus trusts Tommy to run the offense to meet this goal, but I doubt he's just making him the de-facto head coach of the offense.

 

[allenm5333]

I am hopeful MF is like Aranda. Suspect first season but learns year 2 and a leap is made

 

[StPaul_Irish]

I am hopeful MF is like Aranda. Suspect first season but learns year 2 and a leap is made

The team needs to adjust to the new coaching style, systems, culture. 1 step back to take 3 forward

 

[Irish#1]

I am hopeful MF is like Aranda. Suspect first season but learns year 2 and a leap is made

Freeman will be fine. He's just getting his feet wet and should take a big step forward next year. I trust Jack enough to believe when he interviewed MF, he heard the thoughts and saw the traits it takes to be a head coach. Jack wouldn't have offered him the job if he didn't think he would be successful.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Gerry Faust REALLY loved the university. Sometimes that’s just not enough.

He also jumped from high school to Notre Dame forty years ago.

I guess we can do Bob Davie, but I think Freeman's left thumb is smarter than Davie was when he got hired.

 

[Dale]

 

[calvegas04]

Notee Dame isn't a learn how to coach school. He should be at a MAC school

 

[irishtrain]

Everybody wanted Charlie/Faust/Davie/Willingham to succeed also-no way you should lose to Stanford not this Stanford team-they were out coached plain and simple and didnt look prepared for a junked up game.

 

[tko]

Smooth as fuck, though. That’s what matters. He’s a players coach.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Everybody wanted Charlie/Faust/Davie/Willingham to succeed also-no way you should lose to Stanford not this Stanford team-they were out coached plain and simple and didnt look prepared for a junked up game.

Uhhh, 50% of those coaches you listed weren't even the first choices of the admin.

Charlie was chosen because Urban picked Florida.
Ty was chosen because O'Leary decided to fudge his resume.

 

[irishff1014]

Smooth as fuck, though. That’s what matters. He’s a players coach.

To worried about being a pretty boy instead of a football coach.

 

[Grahambo]

To worried about being a pretty boy instead of a football coach.

Dude..

 

[irishrb]

In game coaching.......I expected to see a player's coach that resonated energy from his coaches to his team. I see a deer in headlights, with absolutely no energy, that slumbers down to his team. I'm honestly shocked.

 

[notredomer23]

Smooth as fuck, though. That’s what matters. He’s a players coach.

Is he smooth though? I like Marcus and think he’s gonna be fine, but outside these losses, I can’t stand the lost, scared look he always has on his face during the game. He needs to display strength

 

[CanadalovesND]

His facial expressions and body language equal that to all of us watching the game. I understand he's frustrated, but he constantly looks disappointed on the sidelines. He looks like a fan watching a game with A+ seats. Try to maintain some composure and not look so disgruntled after every play.

 

[NDRock]

His facial expressions and body language equal that to all of us watching the game. I understand he's frustrated, but he constantly looks disappointed on the sidelines. He looks like a fan watching a game with A+ seats. Try to maintain some composure and not look so disgruntled after every play.

His demeaner is a little surprising. I expected a more energetic guy but that may just be me not understanding his personality. I don't really care either way as long as he's successful. Just didn't expect a young Art Shell.

 

[notredomer23]

His demeaner is a little surprising. I expected a more energetic guy but that may just be me not understanding his personality. I don't really care either way as long as he's successful. Just didn't expect a young Art Shell.

I expected a Klopp like coach. To your point my understanding is just off. But even if he’s not that type of coach, the body language needs to be worked on.

 

[stlnd01]

His facial expressions and body language equal that to all of us watching the game. I understand he's frustrated, but he constantly looks disappointed on the sidelines. He looks like a fan watching a game with A+ seats. Try to maintain some composure and not look so disgruntled after every play.

Probably some adjustment from being an assistant/coordinator where no one really cares what you do to being the head coach where eyes are on your every move. Like a number of things, I suspect he will figure it out.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Probably some adjustment from being an assistant/coordinator where no one really cares what you do to being the head coach where eyes are on your every move. Like a number of things, I suspect he will figure it out.

He will, Kelly did. Kelly got a lot of flak for some of his early sideline antics and meltdowns, but he came from programs where there wasn't an extensive and intensive TV coverage with sideline camera shots.

 

[tko]

More alpha males please. This is a big boy sport.

 

[Grahambo]

Probably some adjustment from being an assistant/coordinator where no one really cares what you do to being the head coach where eyes are on your every move. Like a number of things, I suspect he will figure it out.

This.

I suspect he’s trying to figure out how to insert himself during game day.

 

[Irish2155]

I’m getting the Charlie Weis vibes.

But I’m usually wrong, so maybe it’s more Lou Holtz?

 

[yankeehater]

I would give the coaching staff a F grade so far. The team's unpreparedness to begin games is on the head coach. They put up a stat on 1st quarter point differential and it was off the charts in ND's opponent's favor.

I would much rather have screaming Kelly on the sideline than a head coach who looks befuddled and bewildered about what he is witnessing on the field yet does nothing to change it.

As for Rees, the icing on the cake was before the last drive when the announcers said the 2+ minutes on the final drive was an eternity then after one play the offense stood and stared at the sideline waiting for the play call as 30 seconds ran off the clock. SMFH!

 

[ThePiombino]

I would give the coaching staff a F grade so far.

I'd say D overall with the following breakdown:

• Rees - G (F is too kind)
• Golden - C (results are better than the performance if that makes any sense)
• Mason - B+ (Thanks, Sot)
• Freeman - D (he assembled the above, sans Rees, and simply needs to do a better job of managing all of the above)

 

[tko]

Waiting for Marcus to snap. Get mad one time.

 

[stlnd01]

I would give the coaching staff a F grade so far. The team's unpreparedness to begin games is on the head coach. They put up a stat on 1st quarter point differential and it was off the charts in ND's opponent's favor.

I would much rather have screaming Kelly on the sideline than a head coach who looks befuddled and bewildered about what he is witnessing on the field yet does nothing to change it.

As for Rees, the icing on the cake was before the last drive when the announcers said the 2+ minutes on the final drive was an eternity then after one play the offense stood and stared at the sideline waiting for the play call as 30 seconds ran off the clock. SMFH!

It's pretty frustrating. We start slow. We make too many careless mistakes. Our DBs and LBs too often are soft tacklers. (Say what you will about Brian Kelly the guy made sure his corners could tackle). We blitz a lot but rarely get home. We force very few turnovers. Our WRs drop too many balls. The OL has gotten better at pass pro but why can't we run in short yardage?

There are issues that extend to nearly every unit on the field, many of which are coachable. RBs, DLs and special teams are the probably the three groups that I'd say are playing well at this point. The rest of them...