ND Coaching Search Megathread

[Grahambo]

Not questioning it as in don't think it's not a possibility, but where is this info from? Genuinely curious

Bryan Driskell said similar yesterday.

 

[IrishLax]

Based on everything I've read and seen:

Freeman and Elston did get along.

I can't speak to Elston's potential jealousy.

But Elston was not pushed out or encouraged to leave. BUT when Elston said he was interviewing and eventually leaving Marcus Freeman did not beg him or really try that hard to convince him to stay either.

Correct. Freeman was basically prepared for him to leave after he flirted so strongly with heading to LSU, but certainly didn't push him out.

 

[chicago51]

Freeman liked Elston and there was a lot respect between the two. But I think Freeman is sort of happy this is pretty much fully his defensive staff now.

When you have a lot of hold overs from a successful staff, there's always people saying "this is the way we used to it". I think Freeman is happy not that Elston is leaving per say but happy he can put more of his stamp on the program with these hires.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

This is a ridiculous take. If an ND alum chooses to go to NW Law School over ND Law School they aren't "giving up on ND" and it isn't "unsavory." They are looking for the best fit for them. MZ had nothing to gain by staying at ND.

Also, do you find it unsavory when coaches don't offer to bring back other 5th-year players who want to come back, or is this just a one-way street for you?

Yeah, it’s a one way street. Don’t know what to tell you. You don’t like, it, you can move on from my comment, I guess.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Really bad take. Kid was the #3 Dual Threat QB coming out of his class, patiently waited behind Golson instead of transferring like many of our QBs have. Got his shot and then broke his ankle, leading to the offense getting revamped under Kizer. The offense wasn't the same and neither was he after the injury. He graduated and only then did he consider leaving to get a 2nd chance for his career, there was nothing unclassy about his exit. He's still very much in ND's corner though. His podcast is often Irish focused and he's always pulling for them on social media. He also started a whiskey company in South Bend along with Te'von Coney and another ND student. The kid is still Irish. Take a lap.

Nah, it’s still unsavory. You can take your lap. I’ll be fine right here.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Zaire had his pro day at ND. Meaning the last reps he took were in South Bend.

It’s where he finished.

Don’t matter. He left. His “we” is gators…. And it was all his choice.

 

[chicago51]

Not questioning it as in don't think it's not a possibility, but where is this info from? Genuinely curious

Driskell and I believe him with this. I think Elston at times was one of their sources.

 

[bumpdaddy]

Don’t matter. He left. His “we” is gators…. And it was all his choice.

No, his we is ND. He's part of the ND family.

You aren't.

 

[Luckylucci]

I just listened to the II Instant Analysis on the coaching status and feel so good about the Washington hire. They were basically like ehh maybe Washington isn't as good of a teacher as Elston (maybe he is we just don't know yet). But he won't need to be because he won't rely on turning the #640th recruit into a starter; he is going to bring in high 4 and 5 stars all over the place.

I’m here for it. And already gave a couple of my reasons for optimism about it in his thread. But, there seems to be this prevailing thought that he won’t need to coach he’ll just recruit his way to success. Which, seems very odd to me. Especially after what we just went through.

1. We had a more talented roster than Ok St. They spotted us 21 pts and then proceeded to whip our ass. That’s the potential downside of these hires and lack of experience. It’s real and it can be ugly. All I’m hearing about now is how a lot of offensive coaches are very hands on and Freeman might do the same with the defense. I literally said before the game, I don’t see why Freeman can’t call the game as a lot of offensive coaches do it. Well that would’ve been a great idea before he got his defense embarrassed. Lack of experience matters.

2. The list of “elite” edge rushers that we “missed” on is long with names that didn’t end up doing shit. So, if we had “won” some of those instead of developing what we did, we’re not better off.

3. Let’s just remember that for the foreseeable future, a lot of the talent that Washington will be coaching was recruited by Elston. All those #640 ranked recruits, you know like, Mills, Rubio, Jayson A, Foskey, Botelho, Lacey, etc. Between the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 classes Elston brought in 9, 4 star DL per the composite. No need to play revisionist history with his recruiting successes to make ourselves feel better about this.

At this point in time Washington is not an upgrade. He could be, but he’s not right now. This whole staff is going to be one big futures bet. Again, I’m here for it and want to see what it’s got but there are risks, they are real, and I guarantee they’re felt at different times.

 

[ulukinatme]

Don’t matter. He left. His “we” is gators…. And it was all his choice.

He's more Irish than you'll ever be.

 

[Grahambo]

He's more Irish than you'll ever be.

I’m more Irish then he is and I didn’t go to school there.

 

[Grahambo]

Driskell and I believe him with this. I think Elston at times was one of their sources.

I also learned that Driskell and Tony Alford have been friends for years.

 

[Classic Irish]

Don’t matter. He left. His “we” is gators…. And it was all his choice.

I can play your game, too. If you didn't go to ND, you're a traitor and not a ND fan. It was your choice not to go to ND. If you didn't have the grades, you should have worked harder in school. See how this works?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Irish#1]

I’m here for it. And already gave a couple of my reasons for optimism about it in his thread. But, there seems to be this prevailing thought that he won’t need to coach he’ll just recruit his way to success. Which, seems very odd to me. Especially after what we just went through.

1. We had a more talented roster than Ok St. They spotted us 21 pts and then proceeded to whip our ass. That’s the potential downside of these hires and lack of experience. It’s real and it can be ugly. All I’m hearing about now is how a lot of offensive coaches are very hands on and Freeman might do the same with the defense. I literally said before the game, I don’t see why Freeman can’t call the game as a lot of offensive coaches do it. Well that would’ve been a great idea before he got his defense embarrassed. Lack of experience matters.

2. The list of “elite” edge rushers that we “missed” on is long with names that didn’t end up doing shit. So, if we had “won” some of those instead of developing what we did, we’re not better off.

3. Let’s just remember that for the foreseeable future, a lot of the talent that Washington will be coaching was recruited by Elston. All those #640 ranked recruits, you know like, Mills, Rubio, Jayson A, Foskey, Botelho, Lacey, etc. Between the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 classes Elston brought in 9, 4 star DL per the composite. No need to play revisionist history with his recruiting successes to make ourselves feel better about this.

At this point in time Washington is not an upgrade. He could be, but he’s not right now. This whole staff is going to be one big futures bet. Again, I’m here for it and want to see what it’s got but there are risks, they are real, and I guarantee they’re felt at different times.

To the bolded. We have no clue if they would have been better, worse or the same under Elston. Yet given what Elston developed, you'd have to think they might have turned out better under Elston.

 

[Free Manera]

I’m here for it. And already gave a couple of my reasons for optimism about it in his thread. But, there seems to be this prevailing thought that he won’t need to coach he’ll just recruit his way to success. Which, seems very odd to me. Especially after what we just went through.

1. We had a more talented roster than Ok St. They spotted us 21 pts and then proceeded to whip our ass. That’s the potential downside of these hires and lack of experience. It’s real and it can be ugly. All I’m hearing about now is how a lot of offensive coaches are very hands on and Freeman might do the same with the defense. I literally said before the game, I don’t see why Freeman can’t call the game as a lot of offensive coaches do it. Well that would’ve been a great idea before he got his defense embarrassed. Lack of experience matters.

2. The list of “elite” edge rushers that we “missed” on is long with names that didn’t end up doing shit. So, if we had “won” some of those instead of developing what we did, we’re not better off.

3. Let’s just remember that for the foreseeable future, a lot of the talent that Washington will be coaching was recruited by Elston. All those #640 ranked recruits, you know like, Mills, Rubio, Jayson A, Foskey, Botelho, Lacey, etc. Between the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 classes Elston brought in 9, 4 star DL per the composite. No need to play revisionist history with his recruiting successes to make ourselves feel better about this.

At this point in time Washington is not an upgrade. He could be, but he’s not right now. This whole staff is going to be one big futures bet. Again, I’m here for it and want to see what it’s got but there are risks, they are real, and I guarantee they’re felt at different times.

Agree, you definitely still need to coach and teach. But regarding recruiting top talent - something that really stuck with me is a story O'Malley told about Sam Young.

Sam Young was the 19th ranked prospect by Scout (throwback!) coming out of Aquinas. He started basically every game at ND. However most would say he didn't live up to his potential in college. He was drafted in the 6th round, which was not the expectation for him.

O'Malley was in an argument with someone about whether 5 stars are necessary to win. O'Malley was like "look at Sam Young!?" And the guy he was arguing with was like "yeah, exactly. You recruit top 100 players, they don't develop like you expect and are disappointing, but they literally start every game from their freshman season and play 10 years in the NFL." And O'Malley was like oh. He said this kind of changed his whole outlook on it.

Can you have total busts? Sure. But usually a top 100 "bust" is a guy that just starts every game and gets drafted late. A 3 star or low 4 star bust transfers to Western Kentucky to be a second stringer.

 

[NDIrish88]

I also learned that Driskell and Tony Alford have been friends for years.

Really? Did Tony confirm lol

 

[NDdomer2]

so the only plausible way i can see us filling out the D staff without a coordinator is either A) the next DC is very inexperienced or B) is in/has been in NFL and is ok with his staff getting built for him.

 

[Free Manera]

so the only plausible way i can see us filling out the D staff without a coordinator is either A) the next DC is very inexperienced or B) is in/has been in NFL and is ok with his staff getting built for him.

I don't think there are any very inexperienced prospects on the menu. Belk has the least experience but even he has been involved in coordinating defenses for 3 years. This was his first year with sole control though. But other than him, some of the prospects are young but still experienced.

 

[IrishRazor82]

How is HH not on the staff yet? Our HR is the worst. I bet it's because he won't get vacc'd or wear a mask lol. But seriously - what is going on?

 

[deise mike]

How is HH not on the staff yet? Our HR is the worst. I bet it's because he won't get vacc'd or wear a mask lol. But seriously - what is going on?

Do they want to announce all the appointments officially at the same time?

 

[NDIrish88]

Do they want to announce all the appointments officially at the same time?

Singer said this week it happens

 

[Rogue219]

Waiting on this DC hire. Hopefully they can close that out, get the RB coach and move along into the February signing day.

I feel like Freeman has taken this window as an opportunity to freshen the staff. Like what they've done to this point, so I hope they don't hire Al Golden or Derek Mason. LOL

 

[notredomer23]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/ND_FB_Analytics/status/1483456584235823106?s=20[/TWEET]

V good thread retweeted by Pete.

 

[DONTH8]

V good thread retweeted by Pete.

Good thread.

When I read Petes article, and saw Phil Parker, I had to do a double take. If you can get him to come, I would take it in a heartbeat.

I think that could be a really nice mix of Freeman's aggression, and Phil's steady hand. I would sign up for that.

 

[Dale]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/brucefeldmancfb/status/1483462730313080836?s=21[/TWEET]

 

[Dale]

Alford and Hartline owe MF a steak dinner to celebrate the new titles.

 

[IrishLax]

ISD reported yesterday that Freeman is OK letting the dust settle a little bit on the DC hire because he's had a bit of a "change of heart" about how hands on he wants to be with the defense. Basically, he may want to go so far as calling the defense himself, or at least putting his stamp on that side of the ball and running things his way a la Lincoln Riley, Kirby Smart, etc.

Reading between the lines, I wouldn't be surprised if the Oklahoma State debacle where Elston had no feel for how to call the game or adjust to tempo + negotiating with Heacock where he wanted a tremendous amount of control over that side of the ball changed his perspective on how he's going to be most successful as HC. So he's probably looking for someone who wants to adapt to him and collaborate, not the other way around.

 

[benneboy]

ISD reported yesterday that Freeman is OK letting the dust settle a little bit on the DC hire because he's had a bit of a "change of heart" about how hands on he wants to be with the defense. Basically, he may want to go so far as calling the defense himself, or at least putting his stamp on that side of the ball and running things his way a la Lincoln Riley, Kirby Smart, etc.

Reading between the lines, I wouldn't be surprised if the Oklahoma State debacle where Elston had no feel for how to call the game or adjust to tempo + negotiating with Heacock where he wanted a tremendous amount of control over that side of the ball changed his perspective on how he's going to be most successful as HC. So he's probably looking for someone who wants to adapt to him and collaborate, not the other way around.

Ideally that frees him up to hire some recruiting witch position coach to get the DC tag and go hunt down all the 5 *s.

 

[Free Manera]

ISD reported yesterday that Freeman is OK letting the dust settle a little bit on the DC hire because he's had a bit of a "change of heart" about how hands on he wants to be with the defense. Basically, he may want to go so far as calling the defense himself, or at least putting his stamp on that side of the ball and running things his way a la Lincoln Riley, Kirby Smart, etc.

Reading between the lines, I wouldn't be surprised if the Oklahoma State debacle where Elston had no feel for how to call the game or adjust to tempo + negotiating with Heacock where he wanted a tremendous amount of control over that side of the ball changed his perspective on how he's going to be most successful as HC. So he's probably looking for someone who wants to adapt to him and collaborate, not the other way around.

Gotta be Belk then right? He's only been running the show for a year, so he can't be that set in his ways yet.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

ISD reported yesterday that Freeman is OK letting the dust settle a little bit on the DC hire because he's had a bit of a "change of heart" about how hands on he wants to be with the defense. Basically, he may want to go so far as calling the defense himself, or at least putting his stamp on that side of the ball and running things his way a la Lincoln Riley, Kirby Smart, etc.

Reading between the lines, I wouldn't be surprised if the Oklahoma State debacle where Elston had no feel for how to call the game or adjust to tempo + negotiating with Heacock where he wanted a tremendous amount of control over that side of the ball changed his perspective on how he's going to be most successful as HC. So he's probably looking for someone who wants to adapt to him and collaborate, not the other way around.

So are you thinking it will be someone like Belk or Lukabu?