Mike Elko - Defensive Coordinator

[koonja]

This is getting OT now so I'm not going to respond other than to disagree with your assessment as strongly as possible. There are like 9 toss up ish games on the schedule next year.

With Elko here, both QBs returning, essentially 4 starters on the OL, and 8 on defense? Get real.

You can disagree with me but 9 toss up games with Elko here is straight bananas.

 

[ulukinatme]

Well now...


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/818669662

Comes with the territory when you're talking about Texas Aggy. It doesn't include their use of jizz jars though.

 

[NDdomer2]

It shouldn't be, but it was with Elko. He's by far the best coach on the team and the only one capable of making sure we don't get embarassed.

I dont see it that way. After BVG's firing and Hudson taking over DC the team instantly improved (maybe not to a 21st in country efficiency level) but certainly at an "acceptable" level of play that would definitely kept ND from going 4-8 had it been in place the whole season.

ND doesnt need the best DC in the world, it needs a competent one that is willing to bust his tail on the recruiting trail.

While Elko was more than competent and busted his ass, this hurts for sure, but its certainly something the program can recover from contingent on the next hire isnt a bust.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

There's a reason Jimbo Fisher went HAM after Elko. He's coached against him for 3 years.

He wasn't his first choice, he went harder at Aranda. I think Elko is awesome, but I'm going to be watching how the 4-2-5 stands up to SEC power offenses and pro sets. This defense was based around stopping the spread. It's going to be interesting to watch moving forward.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

to be clear, I'm not shrugging off his departure. I respect his coaching ability and recruiting prowess. What I'm not willing to do is proclaim him a top 3 DC and predict our defensive doom going forward. We are just going to have to see.

Agreed on this as well. Of available DCs, he was easily top 3 (which gets to Lax's frustration with our apparent inability to write a proper reciprocal buyout). But Top 3 in the game right now? That's yet to be seen. And I don't expect defensive doom. I expect we'll find a way to at least hold steady, or maybe make some small improvements with better safety play. We just can't count on the big "year 2" step forward without Elko around.

 

[Irish#1]

Yeah. I think our QB situation would improve by default, our OL will be great again, and our defense would be top 5 in the country. We had arguably the best DC and very likely returning 8 starters.

Michigan - Push
Stanford - Win - We can seem to beat them anymore.
At VT - Push - First trip there since forever. That place will be going bonkers.
FSU - Push
At USC - Loss

And with Elko, you don't have "WTF" losses IMO.

See above

 

[NDdomer2]

NDC - Kelly Gale for the win!

 

[koonja]

https://twitter.com/AnwarRichardson/status/949345784037814272

 

[BobbyMac]

Right, but if the system is so fragile that the d-coordinator is the one holding it together, is there really a right answer?

I wish they would've spent the cash to keep him btw, just spitballing about what this means at large, and pointing out that failing to pay $300k or not, millions of dollars are already at risk if it's being held together by one coordinator that's only been around for a year.

That's fair to ask that but I personally feel that they should have paid him the money because what was started is not yet at critical mass. I fully believe ND is on the verge of having a roster from 2019 on that no one could feck up.

I've spent a career prognosticating in my industry. Weighing cash in plays vs cash out expectations in a volatile and hyper-competitive market. Finding trends and betting on them. Managing and applying labor assets to fill the needs that the above variable called for. Funny how ND football and the retail auto industry have so much in common.

ND was on a bull move, trending + with the OL unit, Elko/Lea's Rover-D, the rejuvenated and impressively targeted recruiting efforts, a quietly yet well stocked & impressively talented roster, already assembled that was gonna get full blown elite with this class (better than anyone knows, I <strike>believe</strike> promise) and what seemed if not destined, at least trending towards, in regards to the OL and the DL/DB's in '19.

Now the positive curve I believed was fixed has to go through a re-validation period starting with the hire, then how the staff closes on 2018, how the interaction w/ the '19 class goes from here and how the '19 targets that has ND as leaders reacts to the changes.

It all starts with keeping Lea in South Bend. It's his time.

 

[CraigKrenzel]

https://twitter.com/AnwarRichardson/status/949345784037814272

Color me skeptical about that raise "rewarding loyalty."

 

[IrishLion]

Color me skeptical about that raise "rewarding loyalty."

That raise was to ward off potential suitors lol.

 

[stlnd01]

https://twitter.com/AnwarRichardson/status/949345784037814272

Here’s what pisses me off most about Elko. He wasn’t A&M’s first (Aranda) or maybe even second (Orlando) choice. No ties to the school, the state, or Jimbo Fisher. And he went anyway, after agreeing to a raise from ND, for no apparent reason other than a little more money. Fuck him. I hope Alabama drops 50 points on them next year.

Anyway, on to the next one.

 

[arahop]

Now we know Texas just gave their DC Orlando a raise to 2 million a year. The market changed just as I knew it would. Now 2 mil for Elko doesn't seem crazy at all. once again behind the times

 

[snoopdog]

Yeah. I think our QB situation would improve by default, our OL will be great again, and our defense would be top 5 in the country. We had arguably the best DC and very likely returning 8 starters.

Michigan - Push
Stanford - Win
At VT - Push
FSU - Push
At USC - Loss

And with Elko, you don't have "WTF" losses IMO.

Agreed

Miami was WTFF loss

 

[ab2cmiller]

Now no we know Texas just gave their DC Orlando a raise to 2 million a year. The market changed just as I knew it would. Now 2 mil for Elko doesn't seem crazy at all. once again behind the times

This may be true, but the point remains that you don't keep renegotiating with a guy who accepts your increased offer and then keeps coming back to you for more money after the fact.

 

[phgreek]

Here’s what pisses me off most about Elko. He wasn’t A&M’s first (Aranda) or maybe even second (Orlando) choice. No ties to the school, the state, or Jimbo Fisher. And he went anyway, after agreeing to a raise from ND, for no apparent reason other than a little more money. Fuck him. I hope Alabama drops 50 points on them next year.

Anyway, on to the next one.

They've got Clemson and Alabama in the first 4 games...

and a couple good SEC teams after including SCAR, Auburn, and LSU. Then the middling Mississippi teams.

Elko will get his chance to prove something...but if I'm betting, I think he beats 2 SEC teams (Kentucky and Arkansas), and some teams like NW State, L-Monroe, UAB. They are going to have to work to be bowl eligible.

If they fail to make a Bowl, watch the heat turn up....fast.

 

[Kingbish01]

Elko has had his rush defense ranked in the top 30 once, and total defense ranked in the top 30 twice (both at Bowling Green) I think his defenses get murdered in the SEC West and if we want him so bad, wait 3 years and we can grab him again at 400k a year. Us ND fans may be so enamored with how much better he did than BVG, that we are having a hard time seeing that this guy is NOT a 2 million dollar a year DC. Dave Aranda on the other hand...He is worth 2 Mil a year...His defenses have been in the top 25 (total, pass, and rush) since 2012. I'm thinking we avoided another Charlie Weis contract with a guy that got us excited because he was better than Uncle Rico.

 

[IrishLax]

Elko has had his rush defense ranked in the top 30 once, and total defense ranked in the top 30 twice (both at Bowling Green) I think his defenses get murdered in the SEC West and if we want him so bad, wait 3 years and we can grab him again at 400k a year. Us ND fans may be so enamored with how much better he did than BVG, that we are having a hard time seeing that this guy is NOT a 2 million dollar a year DC. Dave Aranda on the other hand...He is worth 2 Mil a year...His defenses have been in the top 25 (total, pass, and rush) since 2012. I'm thinking we avoided another Charlie Weis contract with a guy that got us excited because he was better than Uncle Rico.

In advanced stats -- not vanilla crap that isn't opponent adjusted -- Elko's defense finished this year 21st by FEI and 27th by S&P+.

In FEI, that was a huge improvement from 63rd last year... 42 spots in a single season with basically all the same personnel.

 

[Irish#1]

That's fair to ask that but I personally feel that they should have paid him the money because what was started is not yet at critical mass. I fully believe ND is on the verge of having a roster from 2019 on that no one could feck up.

BVG says hello.

 

[Kingbish01]

In advanced stats -- not vanilla crap that isn't opponent adjusted -- Elko's defense finished this year 21st by FEI and 27th by S&P+.

In FEI, that was a huge improvement from 63rd last year... 42 spots in a single season with basically all the same personnel.

I think that same personnel probably didn't try as hard after starting 1-3 or 2-5 last year, as they did with their fresh start this year.

 

[Irish#1]

Now we know Texas just gave their DC Orlando a raise to 2 million a year. The market changed just as I knew it would. Now 2 mil for Elko doesn't seem crazy at all. once again behind the times

Not really. This all just started evolving in the last few weeks and we countered with a decent offer.

 

[Luckylucci]

Here’s what pisses me off most about Elko. He wasn’t A&M’s first (Aranda) or maybe even second (Orlando) choice. No ties to the school, the state, or Jimbo Fisher. And he went anyway, after agreeing to a raise from ND, for no apparent reason other than a little more money. Fuck him. I hope Alabama drops 50 points on them next year.

Anyway, on to the next one.

FWIW, when all this A&M DC speculation started, it was said that Elko was Jimbo's first choice. In fact, that was someone he wanted while at FSU. Apparently, the last part is something Jimbo was fairly open about. Respecting Elko that much. How it all went down and the order of events, I don't know, in regards to the other coaches. But they went after Elko, ND gave him a raise, he agreed to it, and then they re-raised ND. I'm not sure where in this Aranda and Orlando were, but Elko was the initial "big" name DC from A&M reports.

I would guess he was at no worse than #2 on that list. If I was a betting man, I'd actually say #1. My speculative order: Go after Elko, gets a raise to 1.5, go after aranda agrees to raise at 2.5, go after Orlando agrees to raise at 2. Both Orlando and Aranda agree to raises that were well outside what they were going to pay them, go back to Elko. Elko agrees to terms with A&M at 1.8, and his greedy ass probably felt slighted by ND, as he was aware that Aranda was going to get 2.5 and Orlando 2. With Venables and Leavitt at 1.7.

 

[koonja]

I'm over Benedict Elko.

Just want to know who our new DC is so we can manipulate some of his stats to get us hyped up. Long off season, let's get some kool aid!

 

[BobbyMac]

BVG says hello.

Nope, not even he could mess up what was building.

I could take the 4 guys on my IE Ignore List and put them at DC, DLc, LBc and DBc and they'd win 11.

Sorry you didn't make the cut.

 

[Luckylucci]

That's fair to ask that but I personally feel that they should have paid him the money because what was started is not yet at critical mass. I fully believe ND is on the verge of having a roster from 2019 on that no one could feck up.
I've spent a career prognosticating in my industry. Weighing cash in plays vs cash out expectations in a volatile and hyper-competitive market. Finding trends and betting on them. Managing and applying labor assets to fill the needs that the above variable called for. Funny how ND football and the retail auto industry have so much in common.

ND was on a bull move, trending + with the OL unit, Elko/Lea's Rover-D, the rejuvenated and impressively targeted recruiting efforts, a quietly yet well stocked & impressively talented roster, already assembled that was gonna get full blown elite with this class (better than anyone knows, I <strike>believe</strike> promise) and what seemed if not destined, at least trending towards, in regards to the OL and the DL/DB's in '19.
Now the positive curve I believed was fixed has to go through a re-validation period starting with the hire, then how the staff closes on 2018, how the interaction w/ the '19 class goes from here and how the '19 targets that has ND as leaders reacts to the changes.

It all starts with keeping Lea in South Bend. It's his time.

Yea, putting the 18' and 19' classes back to back is how you setup for the future. As long as Elko doesn't become a huge piece of shit and he leaves after a reasonable two year stint, then all that talent is there for another DC to work with. I hope that tool gets rotiserried.

 

[BobbyMac]

Yea, putting the 18' and 19' classes back to back is how you setup for the future. As long as Elko doesn't become a huge piece of shit and he leaves after a reasonable two year stint, then all that talent is there for another DC to work with. I hope that tool gets rotiserried.

 

[NDdomer2]

Now we know Texas just gave their DC Orlando a raise to 2 million a year. The market changed just as I knew it would. Now 2 mil for Elko doesn't seem crazy at all. once again behind the times

lol by what 2.5 days and .5M?

if ND is paying top 10 coord money they arent behind the times by any stetch of the imagination. Elko was really good but he isnt top 3 DC in football, only paid like one.

 

[Kingbish01]

Any chance Gene Chizik is sick of his family yet??

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

What about a guy like Morgan Scalley from UTAH? he runs a 4-3 with a rover and Utah has been known to have solid defenses they ranked 25 in total defense this year, would be a tough pull because is is from Utah and played there. Never know though.

 

[Wingman Ray]

if ND is paying top 10 coord money they arent behind the times by any stetch of the imagination. Elko was really good but he isnt top 3 DC in football, only paid like one.

I think guys what we are discounting is how good the talent is/was at ND. Raw talent yes indeed but most of NDs players are 4 star high 3 star players. Most teams in the country do not have that. Elite teams yes but most not even close.

Not saying Elko didnt do a much better job than the clown before him (that had zero rights to be anywhere near a CFB team) but when Miami hangs 41 on you, it isnt like you are a defensive genius or something.