Marcus Freeman Revisited

[Jiggafini19Deux]

This year's defense is very good, but it isn't elite. We've been used to elite for probably the last five years or so, and with this unit not being that on top of whatever the offense is it's probably feeling like the defense isn't good.

They're a strong unit but they're void of playmakers as evidenced by the lack of sacks and turnovers.

 

[irishff1014]

This year's defense is very good, but it isn't elite. We've been used to elite for probably the last five years or so, and with this unit not being that on top of whatever the offense is it's probably feeling like the defense isn't good.

They're a strong unit but they're void of playmakers as evidenced by the lack of sacks and turnovers.

The D line doesn’t seem as good/active/creative as they normally do. I would have to say that’s by design. I know Washington is a better recruiter but so far in the coaching doesn’t seem to be any better than Mike.

And for these d line players to come out and say we can do this or that or we can be the best is not really the case. If you could then why aren’t you?

 

[PANDFAN]

Nobody throws at Joseph. He’s getting targeted once every 39 snaps to this point. 39!

Only two missed tackles, one was just the glaring one versus Marshall.

IMO he’s lived up to his billing. He’s just not even getting the chance to show some of it - which is respect by the opponents.

he hasn't had any impact plays which is what KH brought to the table....i think the hype coming in with him was he would be making some sort of impact in terms of big plays...just haven't seen that which is why i feel many feel he isn't living up

 

[BleedBlueGold]

This year's defense is very good, but it isn't elite. We've been used to elite for probably the last five years or so, and with this unit not being that on top of whatever the offense is it's probably feeling like the defense isn't good.

They're a strong unit but they're void of playmakers as evidenced by the lack of sacks and turnovers.

Agree with first part. But other than this past weekend, the sacks have been there. Aren't they still on pace towards reaching last year's sack total? They're still top 35 in the country (even after only getting 1 sack against Stanford). Foskey hasn't lived up to the off season hype. Are teams doubling him or game planning away from him? Idk. I do know many have pointed out he seems to not be on the field for certain times. Is that a product of Golden's scheme? Idk. Either way, the sack numbers aren't bad. I just think that most assumed Foskey would wreak havoc this year and he just hasn't to this point.

Edit: Just saw where the havoc rates are pretty bad. So if that's what you're referring to, I agree. My mention of sack totals were based on Prister and Sampsons discussion from their recent podcast.

 

[NDRock]

This year's defense is very good, but it isn't elite. We've been used to elite for probably the last five years or so, and with this unit not being that on top of whatever the offense is it's probably feeling like the defense isn't good.

They're a strong unit but they're void of playmakers as evidenced by the lack of sacks and turnovers.

Have we really had an elite defense the last 5 years? I’ve not really looked how we’ve rated out. Would have assumed we’re in the step below elite. Either way, it’s been the main reason for our recent success.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Have we really had an elite defense the last 5 years? I’ve not really looked how we’ve rated out. Would have assumed we’re in the step below elite. Either way, it’s been the main reason for our recent success.

Yeah. At worst they've been very good bordering on elite.

 

[notredomer23]

Have we really had an elite defense the last 5 years? I’ve not really looked how we’ve rated out. Would have assumed we’re in the step below elite. Either way, it’s been the main reason for our recent success.

Last year was probably a bit of a paper tiger, but still good. 2017 was a bit of a paper tiger too, but soooo much improved from those VanGorder defenses so everybody loved it. I think 2020 was definitely elite and it's a shame people didn't get to support it in person. JOK, Kurt Hinish, Daelin Hayes, Ade Ogundeji, Kyle Hamilton, and Nick McCloud are all on active NFL rosters and contribute. Throw in Shaun Crawford as a grad student for some leadership. It gave up under 20 points a game despite playing Clemson twice and Alabama.

 

[IrishSpartan]

Peoples expectations were way to high for this season simple as that. New it wasn’t going to be pretty when my dad saw Tyler play last year and his first words were, “ He looks like a Hendrix clone”. Me: “Fuck”

 

[stlnd01]

Peoples expectations were way to high for this season simple as that. New it wasn’t going to be pretty when my dad saw Tyler play last year and his first words were, “ He looks like a Hendrix clone”. Me: “Fuck”

Ha. Andrew Hendrix. That guy threw the ball so damn hard. And I was at the 2013 USC game when Rees got hurt and he played the whole second half and our offense was just miserable (but so was theirs, and so we won).
Did have that great run against Air Force though.

 

[Free Manera]

Ha. Andrew Hendrix. That guy threw the ball so damn hard. And I was at the 2013 USC game when Rees got hurt and he played the whole second half and our offense was just miserable (but so was theirs, and so we won).
Did have that great run against Air Force though.

He really did I feel like he threw every single pass as hard as he could, didn't matter if it was a 7 yard slant, a screen pass, or a 35 yard vert.

 

[Spurt Reynolds]

Peoples expectations were way to high for this season simple as that. New it wasn’t going to be pretty when my dad saw Tyler play last year and his first words were, “ He looks like a Hendrix clone”. Me: “Fuck”

I had us losing to BYU/UNC, Clemson, Usc and Ohio State......NOT Marshall and Stanford.

I'm pretty sure I can say MOST of us on here weren't expecting miracles....just not to lose to teams we should beat with our 3rd stringers in REGARDLESS of who is coaching/calling plays.

 

[ulukinatme]

Ha. Andrew Hendrix. That guy threw the ball so damn hard. And I was at the 2013 USC game when Rees got hurt and he played the whole second half and our offense was just miserable (but so was theirs, and so we won).
Did have that great run against Air Force though.

We had no business holding onto that lead once Rees got hurt, we played so bad...it's amazing USC somehow managed to be worse.

 

[notredomer23]

We had no business holding onto that lead once Rees got hurt, we played so bad...it's amazing USC somehow managed to be worse.

I specifically remember Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt absolutely dominating that game and winning it for ND in the second half. ESPN doesn't have the boxscore for defense but I remember they were unstoppable that night.

 

[ulukinatme]

I specifically remember Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt absolutely dominating that game and winning it for ND in the second half. ESPN doesn't have the boxscore for defense but I remember they were unstoppable that night.

7 drives and we managed just one 1st down on a 12 yard run by GA III once Hendrix came in. USC ended up in ND territory multiple times only to come away with no points on a missed FG and turnovers on down. It's rare, but sometimes 14 points is all you need to beat Southern Cal

 

[IRISHMAN]

not sure if this has been talked about but did MF move the pep rallies from friday to saturday (gameday)? if so to me that is crazy, i'd much rather the pep rallies remain on friday. the team should be focused on the game saturday not goofing off at a pep rally. also not a fan of bringing back the church service the day of the game.

 

[Irishdrunk]

I think if they 7-5 or 6-6, Swarbrick will be panicked that he may not be able to "Make the ship right" before his tenure is done. I think after the season he tells Freeman to hire whomever he wants as his Coordinators but that 2023 has to be 8 wins minimum to show improvement.

I don't see Freeman getting a 3rd year if the first two years are 6 or 7 wins seasons. Freeman better realize he is not a bystander but start demanding changes now and in this offseason. I hope he can do it.

 

[ThePiombino]

I think if they 7-5 or 6-6, Swarbrick will be panicked that he may not be able to "Make the ship right" before his tenure is done. I think after the season he tells Freeman to hire whomever he wants as his Coordinators but that 2023 has to be 8 wins minimum to show improvement.

I don't see Freeman getting a 3rd year if the first two years are 6 or 7 wins seasons. Freeman better realize he is not a bystander but start demanding changes now and in this offseason. I hope he can do it.

Barring the wheels falling off (despite what people think, that's not currently happening...yet), no way MF gets less than 3 season IMO. I just need him to show the type of willingness to make the hard decision that equate to program improvement a la BK post-2016.

 

[Free Manera]

I think if they 7-5 or 6-6, Swarbrick will be panicked that he may not be able to "Make the ship right" before his tenure is done. I think after the season he tells Freeman to hire whomever he wants as his Coordinators but that 2023 has to be 8 wins minimum to show improvement.

I don't see Freeman getting a 3rd year if the first two years are 6 or 7 wins seasons. Freeman better realize he is not a bystander but start demanding changes now and in this offseason. I hope he can do it.

Swarbrick is clueless on football. He did a tremendous job with athletics in general, raising the tide to lift all ships. He did well with somewhat improving the infrastructure of ND football. But when it comes to the finer details, football has a LONG way to go. And I'm not talking NIL or academic exceptions. I'm talking the day-to-day. I'm talking the stadium experience. I'm talking the G ratedness of the whole affair. Maybe just bump it up to like PG-13.

Football is the cash cow and should take precedence. I doubt ND will ever handle it right in the future either, but they need a football guy either as AD or as like the Assistant AD (football czar).

 

[Reaper97]

Swarbrick is clueless on football. He did a tremendous job with athletics in general, raising the tide to lift all ships. He did well with somewhat improving the infrastructure of ND football. But when it comes to the finer details, football has a LONG way to go. And I'm not talking NIL or academic exceptions. I'm talking the day-to-day. I'm talking the stadium experience. I'm talking the G ratedness of the whole affair. Maybe just bump it up to like PG-13.

Football is the cash cow and should take precedence. I doubt ND will ever handle it right in the future either, but they need a football guy either as AD or as like the Assistant AD (football czar).

Football actually isn’t ND’s cash cow.
ND football isn’t even expected to fund itself.
ND’s $30 billion endowment has nothing to do with football. That’s why the TV & conference contracts don’t persuade ND. Only the ability to play for a title does.
And Swarbrick knows more football than you will ever imagine too. That’s why he is continually selected to be on the four man decision committee for all of CFB. He doesn’t even represent a conference, but the other conference commissioners & AD’s vote for him to be on the decision panel.

 

[Free Manera]

Football actually isn’t ND’s cash cow.
ND football isn’t even expected to fund itself.
ND’s $30 billion endowment has nothing to do with football. That’s why the TV & conference contracts don’t persuade ND. Only the ability to play for a title does.
And Swarbrick knows more football than you will ever imagine too. That’s why he is continually selected to be on the four man decision committee for all of CFB. He doesn’t even represent a conference, but the other conference commissioners & AD’s vote for him to be on the decision panel.

No it's not. He is selected to be on committees because he knows how to manage a brand, negotiate contracts, and make money.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Well regardless- Jack has an ego. If this offseason doesn't have serious changes and we are 6-6 next year too - Swarbrick may make the move on Freeman.

Last week was more of the same from the offense. No indication that Freeman has been doing any managing of Rees or input to the game plan. Syracuse will be a problem.

 

[notredomer23]

I like this quote from Freeman today on getting receivers more involved:

Well, I think the reality is that you tailor what you're doing to your strengths. Right now the best player in our offense is Michael Mayer. We have to get him the ball. We have an OL and RBs that are playing at a high level. We're going to try and run the ball. Confidence and opportunities come from trust. Our WRs have to play better. We have to take advantage of the opportunities that come their way. Quarterback has to play better. Have they grown? Yes, they've gotten better. It's a young room. We have confidence in those guys. If I'm a recruit, let me go there and get on the field and try and earn some confidence from the staff. You have to tailor your game to your players though. I never believed in a specific system that you put the pieces into. No, you get the best recruits you can get, within your framework and philosophy, then tailor what you're doing around those players.

A bit of a challenge to the receivers and QB. Play better or we will recruit over you unless you're a QB.

 

[ulukinatme]

It's the right message. OL, TEs, RBs all seem to be doing their job. QBs and WRs gotta get on the same page.

 

[calvegas04]

Oregon's HC is younger than MF and isn't running into the same issues

 

[NDPhilly]

Oregon's HC is younger than MF and isn't running into the same issues

He has a QB. Bo Nix is top 10 in QBR nationally. He also got murdered by Georgia while we hung with OSU.

 

[KyfightingIrish36]

I hope he can weather the storm here. We were are probably TB12 pick six and Estime fumble from being 6-1. We’ve played awful in those two games though. I would say Styles is heading to Columbus as soon as he can.

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

Barring the wheels falling off (despite what people think, that's not currently happening...yet), no way MF gets less than 3 season IMO. I just need him to show the type of willingness to make the hard decision that equate to program improvement a la BK post-2016.

So we probably go either 6-6 or 7-5 this year, right? I think if we go 6-6 again next year how can there be any question MF is not the guy and needs to go. Heck if we lose out (which seems at least somewhat possible) he should be gone this year.

 

[NDohio]

I hope he can weather the storm here. We were are probably TB12 pick six and Estime fumble from being 6-1. We’ve played awful in those two games though. I would say Styles is heading to Columbus as soon as he can.

For what? Is there an Aldi there he wants to visit?

 

[IrishLax]

So we probably go either 6-6 or 7-5 this year, right? I think if we go 6-6 again next year how can there be any question MF is not the guy and needs to go. Heck if we lose out (which seems at least somewhat possible) he should be gone this year.

Firing a HC one year into his tenure is beyond the pale stupid. That short of a leash and you’d struggle to ever hire another HC because they wouldn’t trust the admin.

 

[tko]

I really do want Freemanham to succeed. I just don’t like the vibe right now on this team. Something isn’t right.