ND Coaching Search Megathread

[ab2cmiller]

I don't know why this GIF makes me laugh hysterically and feel nauseous all at the same time.

 

[tko]

Is this Stuckey cat officially hired?

 

[GoldenAura]

Is this Stuckey cat officially hired?

Not official enough for a university announcement yet, but it'll happen.

 

[Rogue219]

Even with the offenses of today, defense still wins championships.

It's a bit cliché for me in 2022 considering what some of these other programs have done recently with top QB1s, and that's coming from a defensive guy that never played a down of offense after 8th grade through high school and college.

I want the elite offense if given choice.

 

[317Irish]

Not official enough for a university announcement yet, but it'll happen.

Official enough for Arrow to confirm it?? I keed, I keed!

 

[T-Boone]

Looking at the list of DL coaches are there really 29 better DL coaches out there than Elston? (or even as good as)
Remarkable.

 

[T-Boone]

Actually now I look at the list it is essentially just a list of the best defenses for the season.

 

[Irish#1]

Right. It's still half of your roster, and a hugely significant part of the game. And the hypothetical I outlined above has never happened, because the teams that play for the title each year are stacked with 5-star talent on both sides of the ball.

The real argument is over which is more impactful today. "Defense wins championships" just isn't true anymore.

One could argue that Georgia’s did.

I get everything is tilted towards the offense, but the teams with decent defenses still have a say in the outcome.

Notre Dames defense this year had eight games where the offense didn’t have to produce much to win.They also got the stops to let the offense pull it out in the VT game.

 

[chicago51]

He played DL at ND. There is no other reason to mention him despite it not being a plausible or sensible hire.

New rule: If you would not consider someone if they weren't an alum, you probably shouldn't consider them, even though they are an alum.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

One could argue that Georgia’s did.

One could try, though it wouldn't be a very good argument. 'Bama was without their top 2 WRs and was fielding a mash unit at OL, and they still almost beat Georgia, despite the Dawgs fielding an historically dominant defense.

I get everything is tilted towards the offense, but the teams with decent defenses still have a say in the outcome.

I never argued otherwise.

Notre Dames defense this year had eight games where the offense didn’t have to produce much to win.They also got the stops to let the offense pull it out in the VT game.

Our defense was a top-10 unit this year, and they definitely carried us through all the offensive growing pains. But the best offense we faced this year was UNC*, which ranked 22nd with an OFEI of 0.72. You think our defense would have kept us competitive against OSU (1st, 2.08 in OFEI) or 'Bama (2nd, 1.70 in OFEI)? Those offenses were roughly 3 times and 2.5 times more efficient than the best we faced. Even with a top-10 defense, we wouldn't have been able to keep up offensively with either of those teams.

*Virginia technically ranked higher at 16th, with an OFEI of 0.94. Though I'm discounting them since they weren't nearly that good without Armstrong.

 

[T-Boone]

Has Belk interviewed or something? Why are we talking about him as a candidate?

 

[Dale]

Has Belk interviewed or something? Why are we talking about him as a candidate?

The second time Loy mentioned a group of candidates a week or so ago he included Tressell, Heacock, Ash, Mason, Golden, and Belk.

There was also a post about ISD mentioning him again post Heacock turn down.

 

[IrishBoognish]

I've been reading a lot about Belk.

I know prevailing wisdom tells us that a more aged and "veteran" coordinator would be the wise move... but... he seems pretty great?

Maybe just load up on young dudes that want to change the game?

I'm reminded of the Moneyball scene when Pitt says, "If we try to play like the Yankees in here... we're going to lose to the Yankees out there"


I dunno. Its been a long week. Maybe I'm dumb.

 

[NDdomer2]

So was Heacock for sure about bringing his own staff or was there something to not having full control of defense? I know there was some discussion about unlikely we go to a 3 down front with our current personnel and MF preference to maintain current terminology.

 

[T-Boone]

The second time Loy mentioned a group of candidates a week or so ago he included Tressell, Heacock, Ash, Mason, Golden, and Belk.

There was also a post about ISD mentioning him again post Heacock turn down.

thanks

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Looking at the list of DL coaches are there really 29 better DL coaches out there than Elston? (or even as good as)
Remarkable.

Remember ND Dline recruiting and development before Elston got to ND? Lightyears away.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Remember ND Dline recruiting and development before Elston got to ND? Lightyears away.

Keith Gilmore’s 2016 class was great. He just wasn’t at ND long enough to enjoy it.

Daelin Hayes
Khalid Kareem
Jonathan Jones
Ade Ogundeji

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

The huge coaches convention was last week in San Antonio. Would love to see/ hear the interaction between Freeman and BK if they were to bump into each other.

 

[Dale]

Singer is hearing there is some real legs on Al Washington for the DL job, possibly even before a DC is hired.

To do that, I’d have to think Freeman may view him as cant miss in this spot

 

[NDIrish88]

Singer is hearing there is some real legs on Al Washington for the DL job, possibly even before a DC is hired.

To do that, I’d have to think Freeman may view him as cant miss in this spot

I think he's a good hire from a recruiting standpoint. I know a few OSU fans weren't impressed with the LBs this year but their D overall wasn't great either.

 

[Dale]

From what I’ve read on Washington it’s a lot of “they say”

- Some say he’s an elite recruiter, and the results do show it. But others say those were “layup” signees he got and anyone could

- Some say he’s a better DL coach than LB, even he was waiting for LJ to retire. The results say he can’t be that good of a LB coach

Just would seem odd to be to go this route before DC.

 

[GoldenAura]

Singer is hearing there is some real legs on Al Washington for the DL job, possibly even before a DC is hired.

To do that, I’d have to think Freeman may view him as cant miss in this spot

https://247sports.com/Season/2022-Football/CompositeCoachRankings/

According to 247's ranking of recruiters, Washington sits at #6 overall. Recruited Sonny Styles.

 

[chicago51]

I’m cautiously okay with Washington at DL. But I’d take Brian Early from UH, over him if Belk is going to be DC.

 

[BoredIrish]

I may be wrong, but I believe Washington coached the dline under freeman in 2017 at Cincinnati. That was freeman's first year as DC.
​​​​​​

 

[Free Manera]

Freeman and Belk are tight and their wives are friends from way back. - Loy

 

[Dale]

He was taking about Washington

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Freeman and Belk are tight and their wives are friends from way back. - Loy

He was referring to Al Washington

 

[chicago51]

I may be wrong, but I believe Washington coached the dline under freeman in 2017 at Cincinnati. That was freeman's first year as DC.
​​​​​​

Yep and they stunk on defense that year.

 

[irish o'phile]

Washington seems to have done well and been a part of a lot of high ranking Ds everywhere he has been.

https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/coach/al-washington/

 

[irish o'phile]

So, is Golden a good option? This thing has all the characteristics of being a thing given his historical relationship with Freeman.