Michael Fredrick Denbrock Hired as Offensive Coordinator (2023)

[Huntr]

Last 3rd down play call to set up the FG was amazing

That was perfect. Everyone in the stadium except ND knew it was gonna be a run.

Chewed em up and spit em out with that pass.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Football is a game of adjustments. And he did just that - adjusted.

I don’t think our current roster allows him to play the style of offense he prefers. He still set school records. Just wait, it’s going to get even better in the coming seasons.

 

[ozzman]

I think he calls a brilliant game. He knows the defense is tough so he calls games that are safe but still explosive. This isn't last year's LSU team who needed a touchdown on every possession. Besides the second Leonard pick, this team has played exactly how it should all playoffs. When it gets tough, the playcalling is perfection. It's next level stuff imo.

That second pick was an unbelievable play by the dropping DE. It was a brilliant defensive call but that dude made an amazing play or it was a first down.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

That second pick was an unbelievable play by the dropping DE. It was a brilliant defensive call but that dude made an amazing play or it was a first down.

great play for certain
Leonard still has to get it over his head though.
Level 1 / Level 2 throws still a concern for Leonard
But dammit if he doesn't make up for it all the time lol

 

[ozzman]

great play for certain
Leonard still has to get it over his head though.
Level 1 / Level 2 throws still a concern for Leonard
But dammit if he doesn't make up for it all the time lol

Yep. Same as the first interception. He was open but ball wasn't thrown over

 

[RipWheeler]

Everyone needs to stop shifting on him. Our o this year has been literally very good. No ND team in the modern era has eclipsed what this offense has.

But could you imagine what WarDaddy would have done with this group!?

 

[Dale]

“There’s somebody in the offensive room that coaches defense, and it’s probably the head coach (Marcus Freeman). They are 50-50 in most everything. It’s the way they shift and motion, and where the motions are landing, and how they’ll tempo up the motions. They were all defensive headaches. It’s a big advantage”


Interesting. I think this is just Denbrock, as the article notes later but I’ve never heard the suggestion Freeman is impacting offense

What do opposing coaches think about Notre Dame’s chances against Ohio State?

Most coaches said they wouldn’t be surprised if the Irish pull off the upset against the Buckeyes for the CFP championship.

www.nytimes.com

 

[SaltyND24]

I just have this gut feeling that Denbrock is gonna scheme and call the game of his life and the offense is gonna surprise. When we win, both he and Golden get a damn statue too. Freeman is already a given! I need Monday to get here right tf now!

 

[NDWarrior]

I just have this gut feeling that Denbrock is gonna scheme and call the game of his life and the offense is gonna surprise. When we win, both he and Golden get a damn statue too. Freeman is already a given! I need Monday to get here right tf now!

This. I already post I just have this intuition that this IS the magical year for ND and they (with coaches scheming well) are gonna come out firing on all cylinders. Plus many of the NC games have been blowouts and ND is NOT going to get blown out so guess who's winning big?! 🍀🍀🍀

 

[ViewsFromTheDome]

Any chance we aren’t strictly shotgun and go under center some next year?

 

[irishandy]

I just have this gut feeling that Denbrock is gonna scheme and call the game of his life and the offense is gonna surprise. When we win, both he and Golden get a damn statue too. Freeman is already a given! I need Monday to get here right tf now!

Give both coordinators a raise after this season as well!

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Give both coordinators a raise after this season as well!

I’d say they all get a chunk of the wins crom each playoff game.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Any chance we aren’t strictly shotgun and go under center some next year?

It would be nice. That last serval under center snaps have been jet sweeps. It's going to blow up in our faces if they don't mix in something else.

 

[IrishTusker]

Very few carries for Love and Price. Insane and bizarre. An unimaginative and embarrassing offense.

Denbrock picked RL. And MF picked Denbrock.

 

[Dale]

Very few carries for Love and Price. Insane and bizarre. An unimaginative and embarrassing offense.

Denbrock picked RL. And MF picked Denbrock.

There’s been few of everything because the first half had 6 possessions. That’s how the clock works

 

[IrishTusker]

There’s been few of everything because the first half had 6 possessions. That’s how the clock works

RL ran 17 times.

 

[IrishLax]

4 good drives (3 TDs, one missed chip shot field goal) on 8 possessions against the #1 defense in the country where every single player will get drafted.

He was *not* the issue and I’m putting that mildly.

 

[Dale]

RL ran 17 times.

and they were majority objectively successful calls

 

[Dale]

If you said, ND is giving you 23 in a short possession game this morning, I would have taken it 100/100 times


Slot fades with Carr and Greathouse in 2025 we are so back

 

[ulukinatme]

4 good drives (3 TDs, one missed chip shot field goal) on 8 possessions against the #1 defense in the country where every single player will get drafted.

He was *not* the issue and I’m putting that mildly.

Yeah, I thought Denbrock called a pretty good game all things considered against the healthiest top defense in football. The 2nd drive we shot ourselves in the foot with two penalties, a false start and a holding penalty. The next drive we had the bad snap cost us that drive. Those were two of our three drives in the first half, and it helped put us in a hole. Neither of those stalled drives were really Denbrock's fault.

 

[Southside Sully]

Will be fun to see what he does with whoever’s under center next year. He did the best of what he could with 13s best traits and were 1 possession down in the natty with 3 mins left. Called a hell of a second half. Our OL played incredible tonight too. See you in Fall of 25

 

[Connman89]

If you said, ND is giving you 23 in a short possession game this morning, I would have taken it 100/100 times


Slot fades with Carr and Greathouse in 2025 we are so back

Think he's gonna COOK with Carr throwing to Fields, Greathouse, Faison with a veteran OL. Mind the running attack spearheaded with J Love.

 

[NDPhilly]

We over performed against the #1 defense in the country. Just didn’t have the ball enough. Hard to complain.

My only real issue is the play calling on the goaline when down 16. Just keep running the ball.

 

[MacIrish75]

We over performed against the #1 defense in the country. Just didn’t have the ball enough. Hard to complain.

My only real issue is the play calling on the goaline when down 16. Just keep running the ball.

If there’s any call I have to believe he would want back…it’s to run Riley on 1&G.

That was not a great playcall.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Very few carries for Love and Price. Insane and bizarre. An unimaginative and embarrassing offense.

Denbrock picked RL. And MF picked Denbrock.

This is a loser view point. I have no doubt you lack objectivity elsewhere in life if this is your takeaway.

Love obviously wasn't near 100% considering he had 4 touches. You still find creative ways for your most explosive player if he was truly 95+%.

Leonard shrunk in the moment. Missed wide open passes on the 2nd and 3rd offensive drives of the half. I really can't wait to see what Denbrock can create with an efficient, accurate, passing QB. We have loads of talent waiting in the wings and Denbrock showed he can craft an offense with one hand tied behind his back.

 

[Irish#1]

We over performed against the #1 defense in the country. Just didn’t have the ball enough. Hard to complain.

My only real issue is the play calling on the goaline when down 16. Just keep running the ball.

That was my only complaint. I was hoping for something more creative (like the 2pt conversion plays) to get OSU on their heals. Denbrock had used RL so much OSU was looking for him on first down. Following that up with the fade in the end zone was questionable given that's not RL's strong suit.

 

[NDFAN2008]

At the end of the day the offense did enough we just needed to stop them 1 of those 3 drives in the first half and probally kick that field goal we win the game

 

[IA4irish]

Next year is a huge season for Denbrock. I expect way more explosiveness. He had better get Carr or Minchey going. I love Angeli but you’re not making a playoff run with him as your primary starter.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Carr is a modern "pocket" quarterback. He can move more than enough to hurt you, but they aren't running QB power with him.
Imo, the offense will be better next year with teams forced to defend the whole field.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Next year is a huge season for Denbrock. I expect way more explosiveness. He had better get Carr or Minchey going. I love Angeli but you’re not making a playoff run with him as your primary starter.

Agree 100% I think next year's team should have a very balanced and explosive offense to go with a stout OL. I think Minchey and Carr both can be respectable runners not Leonard but enough to keep teams honest. Fields is gonna be a stud deep threat 6'4 220 lb receiver who is good at blocking, Greathouse is breaking out then had Faison and that is 3 good starters. You then had Pualing whose a very reliable 3rd down WR in short yardage catches. I expect Cam Williams, KK Smith and Gilbert to all provide quality production. Burress is a sleeper too to play right away. I'd like them to get the RB's more involved in the passing game next year tho.