Mike Elko - Defensive Coordinator

[ab2cmiller]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Opponents facing <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMikeElko?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachMikeElko</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/AggieFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AggieFootball</a> defense have punted 59% of possessions. This is the best among FBS teams for 2018.</p>— SportSourceAnalytics (@SportSourceA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportSourceA/status/1052265763707469826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

They also rank #107 in allowing plays of 20+ yards or more.
#102 - 30+ yards
#112 - 40+ yards
#114 - 50+ yards
#90 - 60+ yards

 

[ab2cmiller]

They also rank #107 in allowing plays of 20+ yards or more.
#102 - 30+ yards
#112 - 40+ yards
#114 - 50+ yards
#90 - 60+ yards

While Notre Dame is

#22 - 20+ yards
#6 - 30+ yards
#5 - 40+ yards
#6 - 50+ yards
#1 - 60+ yards

Congrats to A&M on their semi-meaningless stat of 3 and outs.

 

[IrishLax]

Where is Texas A&M on this list?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Defensive Points Per Drive<br>(vs FBS, no garbage time) <br><br>1. Alabama.. 0.9 <br>2. Fresno St.. 0.9<br>3. N. Texas.. 1.0 <br>4. Kentucky.. 1.1 <br>5. Clemson.. 1.1<br>6. Michigan.. 1.1<br>7. Cincinnati.. 1.2<br>8. N. Dame.. 1.2<br>9. Auburn.. 1.3<br>10. Iowa.. 1.3 <br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/bcfremeau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bcfremeau</a>) <br><br>Garbage Time Definition —> <a href="https://t.co/I4EvpKhO4s">pic.twitter.com/I4EvpKhO4s</a></p>— The Solid Verbal (@SolidVerbal) <a href="https://twitter.com/SolidVerbal/status/1052543331144818688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[Rack Em]

Where is Texas A&M on this list?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Defensive Points Per Drive<br>(vs FBS, no garbage time) <br><br>1. Alabama.. 0.9 <br>2. Fresno St.. 0.9<br>3. N. Texas.. 1.0 <br>4. Kentucky.. 1.1 <br>5. Clemson.. 1.1<br>6. Michigan.. 1.1<br>7. Cincinnati.. 1.2<br>8. N. Dame.. 1.2<br>9. Auburn.. 1.3<br>10. Iowa.. 1.3 <br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/bcfremeau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bcfremeau</a>) <br><br>Garbage Time Definition —> <a href="https://t.co/I4EvpKhO4s">pic.twitter.com/I4EvpKhO4s</a></p>— The Solid Verbal (@SolidVerbal) <a href="https://twitter.com/SolidVerbal/status/1052543331144818688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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[NDRock]

I think Elko has proven to be a very good hire for both ND and A&M.

 

[IrishLax]

I was going to screenshot this but Texas A&M (27th) and Notre Dame (4th) aren't even on the same page of my monitor.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I was going to screenshot this but Texas A&M (27th) and Notre Dame (4th) aren't even on the same page of my monitor.

And remember how many NFL prospects we have on this defensive unit. Like it or not, Lea inherited a fullhosue and Elko's been playing with a low pocket pair.

Just give Elko a couple years to get his recruits into his system and I bet his numbers shoot up drastically. I dislike the money game Elko played while here and he left a bad taste in everyone's mouth but he's a very good defensive coach.

And I love what Lea has done in his first year as our DC and I hope he continues to build on it.

 

[irishog77]

And remember how many NFL prospects we have on this defensive unit. Like it or not, Lea inherited a fullhosue and Elko's been playing with a low pocket pair.

Just give Elko a couple years to get his recruits into his system and I bet his numbers shoot up drastically. I dislike the money game Elko played while here and he left a bad taste in everyone's mouth but he's a very good defensive coach.

And I love what Lea has done in his first year as our DC and I hope he continues to build on it.

The 11th, 17th, 13th, and 18th national recruiting classes in the last 4 years are a low pair?

I agree though that Elko will probably have that D really rolling in a year or two.

 

[Rack Em]

And remember how many NFL prospects we have on this defensive unit. Like it or not, Lea inherited a fullhosue and Elko's been playing with a low pocket pair.

Just give Elko a couple years to get his recruits into his system and I bet his numbers shoot up drastically. I dislike the money game Elko played while here and he left a bad taste in everyone's mouth but he's a very good defensive coach.

And I love what Lea has done in his first year as our DC and I hope he continues to build on it.

I know recruiting rankings aren't the end-all-be-all, but it's not like Elko walked into Purdue and is putting up these numbers. He's got just as good of star talent as ND, and maybe even better. Go back and look at the 247 Composite scores for the ND starting defense. Houston Griffith is the highest rated player of ANYONE on our defense at .96xx. The next highest (of anyone who plays...so not Derrik Allen) is Daelin Hayes at .94xx and Shaun Crawford at .94xx. So 2 part-time players and an injured NB are the highest rated players Lea is working with. A&M has a 5 star DT in Daylon Mack and a couple of high 4 star talents I believe. Elko is working with a lot of similar star power.

For that money, put up or shut up. He came to ND and turned it around quickly with about the same.

 

[Rack Em]

The 11th, 17th, 13th, and 18th national recruiting classes in the last 4 years are a low pair?

I agree though that Elko will probably have that D really rolling in a year or two.

 

[irishog77]

About to head over to see Wolly's mom, eh?

 

[Irish#1]

I was going to screenshot this but Texas A&M (27th) and Notre Dame (4th) aren't even on the same page of my monitor.

Get a bigger monitor.

 

[NDRock]

I know recruiting rankings aren't the end-all-be-all, but it's not like Elko walked into Purdue and is putting up these numbers. He's got just as good of star talent as ND, and maybe even better. Go back and look at the 247 Composite scores for the ND starting defense. Houston Griffith is the highest rated player of ANYONE on our defense at .96xx. The next highest (of anyone who plays...so not Derrik Allen) is Daelin Hayes at .94xx and Shaun Crawford at .94xx. So 2 part-time players and an injured NB are the highest rated players Lea is working with. A&M has a 5 star DT in Daylon Mack and a couple of high 4 star talents I believe. Elko is working with a lot of similar star power.

For that money, put up or shut up. He came to ND and turned it around quickly with about the same.

Yeah, just a quick look at Rivals and it looks like their starting D consists of six 4*s and five 3*s. I would assume it's fairly equal to ours. I had looked at one of their boards last week and the fanbase seems very happy with Elko. No surprise there. Glad he brought Lea with him to ND. Things may work out well for both schools.

 

[IrishFaninTX]

Yeah, just a quick look at Rivals and it looks like their starting D consists of six 4*s and five 3*s. I would assume it's fairly equal to ours. I had looked at one of their boards last week and the fanbase seems very happy with Elko. No surprise there. Glad he brought Lea with him to ND. Things may work out well for both schools.

I only looked at the recruiting profiles so not sure if they were all up to date. In the 247 Composite, ND has 7 3 stars, 4 4 stars, and 1 NR in their starters. I included Coleman since he is the Nickel starter. Gilman was the NR. Julian Love was surprisingly a 3 star in the composite. Again, not sure if the profiles are updated, though.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Coach who doesn’t get enough credit: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TAMU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TAMU</a> DC Mike Elko. The Aggies lead the SEC in rushing D by a wide margin and haven’t allowed more than 143 yds in a game all season. Last year A&M allowed 200+ eight times.</p>— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/BruceFeldmanCFB/status/1064893054010699776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[drayer54]

Aggies also have two complete studs up front in Mack and KeKe. The third one doesn't suck either. Mack was that top recruit who flipped to A&M when they hired Chevis but didn't shine until Elko showed up.

 

[Ndaccountant]

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/40/p3

Teams don't have to run.

If you look at S&P+, pass defense is 89th.

They don't TO people either. According to FEI, their defensive turnover rate is 127th out of 130 teams.

Elko will be fine, but pumping him up b/c of run defense isn't telling the whole story for 2018.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/40/p3


....Elko will be fine, but pumping him up b/c of run defense isn't telling the whole story for 2018.

This.
Cherry picking "good stats" is silly.

 

[IrishLax]

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/40/p3

Teams don't have to run.

If you look at S&P+, pass defense is 89th.

They don't TO people either. According to FEI, their defensive turnover rate is 127th out of 130 teams.

Elko will be fine, but pumping him up b/c of run defense isn't telling the whole story for 2018.

Yup, overall they're 33rd in country per S&P+ and 89th against the pass. Extremely mediocre overall.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

When the Edmonton Eskimos come calling this offseason and offer him a raise he'll jump ship anyways.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Fire Mike Elko .... gave up 72 points to an offensively challenged LSU team

 

[Southside Sully]

Brian Williams rethinks his commitment?!

 

[BeatSC]

Im sure TAM will get a sweat bowl game. BTW LSU has been a top 10 fraud.

 

[BoredIrish]

In the running to be HC at Temple

In the running to be HC at Temple

Might actually be a good fit.

http://footballscoop.com/news/update-temple-head-coaching-search/

 

[Valpodoc85]

interesting article. could be interesting. what do you think his A&M buy out is?

 

[BoredIrish]

interesting article. could be interesting. what do you think his A&M buy out is?

I presume he would have an out in his contract for a promotion. Might have to to take a pay cut though.

 

[Irish YJ]

He should stay a few more years and then take a HC spot. If he can deliver at TAMU, he'll easily get an op for a HC spot in a decent P5 program. If he goes to Temple, it may even prolong a good jump. Temple is a very decent jumping off program, but I just don't see the benefit here.

 

[stlnd01]

I presume he would have an out in his contract for a promotion. Might have to to take a pay cut though.

He's making $1.8 million at A&M. Couldn't find Temple's coach's salary but AAC head coaches range from $1M (buyout baby Charlie Strong) to $2.6M (Mike Norvell) with most grouped between $1.5 and $2M.
So, figure it's a break even deal for Elko. Is he better off taking it or doing another year or two at A&M in hopes of getting a P5 job?

 

[stlnd01]

He should stay a few more years and then take a HC spot. If he can deliver at TAMU, he'll easily get an op for a HC spot in a decent P5 program. If he goes to Temple, it may even prolong a good jump. Temple is a very decent jumping off program, but I just don't see the benefit here.

The benefit is that he's a head coach, and if he does well at Temple, he could go almost anywhere - witness Miami, BC, Baylor, Ga. Tech. Without head coaching experience, he'd probably still have P5 options in a year or two, but fewer, as some schools will want someone who has run the whole thing or, absent that, familiarity with the program. So, for Elko, maybe Wake, which is not a better job than he could get from Temple. Not Notre Dame or A&M.
How many coordinators are getting hired away to run upper-end P5 programs? There are a few, but not many.

 

[Irish YJ]

The benefit is that he's a head coach, and if he does well at Temple, he could go almost anywhere - witness Miami, BC, Baylor, Ga. Tech. Without head coaching experience, he'd probably still have P5 options in a year or two, but fewer, as some schools will want someone who has run the whole thing or, absent that, familiarity with the program. So, for Elko, maybe Wake, which is not a better job than he could get from Temple. Not Notre Dame or A&M.
How many coordinators are getting hired away to run upper-end P5 programs? There are a few, but not many.

IDK.... Stoops and Pruitt both got SEC HC gigs from a DC position and are of Jimbo's coaching tree.