ND “prioritizing” Jon Heacock for DC

[Rogue219]

Can't be understated the "talent" discrepancy between ND and Iowa State. Iowa State has ZERO former four star recruits on defense. The highest rating of a recruit on their defense player is 87 on the 247 composite.

Here is his profile. Type of guy who is a back up plan for a back up plan at ND.
https://247sports.com/Player/Blake-Peterson-46037127/

So the guy can obviously coach and develop talent. If Freeman helps spearhead defensive recruiting, that should be a pretty damn good combo.

Can't emphasize this enough. Great post.

The Cyclone defense gave fits to most of that conference who are known for putting up points and not having much defense to speak of. They truly have done more with less, and Heacock is a big part of that, hence why I'm not high on Matt Campbell as being anything more than this generation's Bill Snyder.

Don't worry, guys, the linebackers will just coach themselves. ND is a smart school, don't forget. They'll be fine.

 

[Rasputin]

There is allegedly still a mystery candidate out there and Heacock hasn’t accepted the job yet. I feel like the speculation is probably true that he wants his own guys.

Also, there is smoke on the Michigan 247 board that they are after Elston.

Elston turned down more money to go with Kelly to LSU because wanted to stay at ND (and his kids wanted the same). It would be incredibly surprising that he'd change his tune 6 weeks later and bolt for Michigan, especially after securing the return of Foskey and the twins. Elston's commitment to ND seems real.

Michigan can covet Elston all they want but the marriage will need two willing parties if it's going to be consummated.

 

[IrishRazor82]

Moving from IN to MI is a lot more familiar for a family than moving from IN to LA. I hope Elston stays but after him being passed multiples time for DC then looking lost in the bowl game, Michigan can gladly take a flyer on him if it means we get Heacock.

 

[ThePiombino]

Elston turned down more money to go with Kelly to LSU because wanted to stay at ND (and his kids wanted the same). It would be incredibly surprising that he'd change his tune 6 weeks later and bolt for Michigan, especially after securing the return of Foskey and the twins. Elston's commitment to ND seems real.

Michigan can covet Elston all they want but the marriage will need two willing parties if it's going to be consummated.

Hear ya, But Elston to Michigan makes a butt-ton more sense than Kelly to LSU and yet here we are.

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[IrishRazor82]

Of replacing OL, WR, and BK, replacing Elston would be about the least of my worries. I want him at ND and think he does a great job, but he's at his ceiling IMO and if he wants to go coach Michigan I wish him all the best, and fully trust MF to get at least as good of a DL coach.

 

[stpeteirish]

I did read some where that Heacock wants to bring some of his own coaches. If that's the case he can stay in Iowa.

him and his 3-3-5 can stay in Iowa IMO. We can recruit edge rushing DE's now why run a damned defense that doesn't have any.

 

[Free Manera]

Elston turned down more money to go with Kelly to LSU because wanted to stay at ND (and his kids wanted the same). It would be incredibly surprising that he'd change his tune 6 weeks later and bolt for Michigan, especially after securing the return of Foskey and the twins. Elston's commitment to ND seems real.

Michigan can covet Elston all they want but the marriage will need two willing parties if it's going to be consummated.

Agree I don't think he is going to leave ND any time soon, unless it's for a head coaching job. He said something like "I want my kids to have a place to come home to once they move out, and South Bend is our home." It was very convincing stuff.

But it still seemed relevant especially with the suspicions that Heacock wants to bring his own guy(s).

 

[Free Manera]

him and his 3-3-5 can stay in Iowa IMO. We can recruit edge rushing DE's now why run a damned defense that doesn't have any.

This sentiment has shown up a bunch of places and people smarter than me keep saying fuhgedaboudit. He started running a 3-3-5 at ISU because that is what his roster was suited for. He is smart enough and experienced enough to run whatever defense he wants. He will do what gives his defense the best chance to succeed.

The fact that the best coaches in the world sent their staffs to Ames to learn from Heacock tells me all I need to know about his abilities.

 

[chicago51]

To add on here, being multiple is great so long as the offense is playing along. If they go hurry up, the wrong three down linemen can get exploited. The same goes for 4-2-5 if the Rover is a better "in the box" player.

You do it based on personel grouping. And by rule if offense substitutes, defense gets to substitute .

 

[IrishLax]

There is allegedly still a mystery candidate out there and Heacock hasn’t accepted the job yet. I feel like the speculation is probably true that he wants his own guys.

Also, there is smoke on the Michigan 247 board that they are after Elston.

This seems to happen once every three years. I have a tough time seeing it go down after what he said at the signing day presser. But weirder things have happened, and the Fiesta Bowl did not go well for him so who knows where his head is at.

Also, if Heacock wants "his own guys" and thinks he has someone that he can bring who is a better coach than Elston then that should be the biggest red flag of all time and Freeman should move on to the next name. Elston has consistently proven to be as good as it gets.

 

[Free Manera]

Per Loy the mystery candidate is a very close 1b to Heacock. It's gotta be Mason right?

 

[tko]

The last time we gave up 50+ points in regulation was 2014 against Arizona State. Our defense that year ranked a middling 55th.

Our defense this year was a top-10 unit, and virtually every starter is returning. OSU's offense was absurdly good this year, significantly better than even 2nd ranked 'Bama's, but they're losing a lot more to the draft than we are. Their most impressive showings were hanging 59 on Purdue's 26th ranked defense and 48 on Utah's 21st ranked defense. But as Philly pointed out, they lost to a bad Oregon team and a Michigan team with a defense inferior to ours.

So I don't expect them to hang 50 on us. 35ish is likely though. The real question is whether our Buchner-led offense can keep up with them. OSU's defense only ranked 42nd, and they're losing a ton of starters to the draft, so they're likely to be even worse in game one against us.

Maybe it's my mind drifting to Clarence Lewis trying to make a play.

 

[DONTH8]

Is Heacock the DC that first time OC Tommy Rees was able to out coach with an "unenthused ND team"? Asking for a friend.

 

[DCDomer]

Is Heacock the DC that first time OC Tommy Rees was able to out coach with an "unenthused ND team"? Asking for a friend.

That was a 7-5 Iowa State team. I think he'll be okay with our roster.

 

[DONTH8]

That was a 7-5 Iowa State team. I think he'll be okay with our roster.

I’m pretty sure our team was only -3.5 favorites going into the game. Our team that year wasnt seen as world beaters by any stretch of the imagination. And I remember a lot of people saying that ISU should have had a good chance for the upset.

But I remember Claypool taking advantage of drags, a couple screens, and hit the seams well, and then Tony Jones Jr. stiff arming the dude into oblivion on his longest run of his career. If our DC had a performance like that in that situation I’m pretty sure we would be scratching our heads.

Idk, I trust the staff to make the best decision and they definitely know better than I do. I’m just saying I remember Elko giving us trouble with Wake Forest and that was why I was excited by the hire. And that was a much less talented Wake team.

 

[Free Manera]

There is allegedly still a mystery candidate out there and Heacock hasn’t accepted the job yet. I feel like the speculation is probably true that he wants his own guys.

Also, there is smoke on the Michigan 247 board that they are after Elston.

Once again smoke = fire. This is like the Kelly departure all over. Smoke, then us being like lol wut makes no sense, followed by seeya.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Once again smoke = fire. This is like the Kelly departure all over. Smoke, then us being like lol wut makes no sense, followed by seeya.

Yup. He gone. Officially.

 

[stpeteirish]

Maybe he didn’t want to be DL coach of Heacock’s shitty 3 man front defense

 

[GowerND11]

Moving from IN to MI is a lot more familiar for a family than moving from IN to LA. I hope Elston stays but after him being passed multiples time for DC then looking lost in the bowl game, Michigan can gladly take a flyer on him if it means we get Heacock.

Hell... it's a 2 and a half hour commute. The family could stay in Indiana (Granger, I assume) and he could get an apartment in Michigan or something. Much different circumstances than going to Louisiana.

 

[Rogue219]

Sucks losing Eltman. Just means Reese is going to have to score a ton of points and maybe coach linebackers.

I don't know. I think I'm going to just sell my TV and screw next season.

 

[ACamp1900]

Really hard to believe Elston had options and took a lateral to scUM of all places,… I’ll wait a while and see how things play out. This feels like one of those that will make sense once other aspects are known

 

[Valpodoc85]

Anybody know what prioritizing means? Is that like wish list or just ironing out the details?

 

[GoldenAura]

Maybe he didn’t want to be DL coach of Heacock’s shitty 3 man front defense

Glad we've already decided it's gonna be terrible.

 

[phillyirish]

Really hard to believe Elston had options and took a lateral to scUM of all places,… I’ll wait a while and see how things play out. This feels like one of those that will make sense once other aspects are known

Really? To me it makes all too much sense. Mich alum who has been passed over for promotion multiple times here. Maybe he is pissed he didnt get the job this time (if he was considered at all), maybe he got a chewing from Freeman after the Fiesta Bowl, maybe he doesnt feel comfortable adapting to the potential new DC scheme. All speculation but taking a lateral move to your alma mater shouldnt be surprising.

 

[irishog77]

Heacock doesn't get my juices flowing. This seems more like MF making himself comfortable, and not challenging himself (which goes against what he preaches). Heacock may have success at ND. But he's also 61, has nothing spectacular on his resume, and teams and schools from across the country aren't beating down the door to hire him from Iowa State.

He also has a DB coaching background. The team doesn't really need a 3rd secondary coach.

 

[ulukinatme]

That was a 7-5 Iowa State team. I think he'll be okay with our roster.

That 7-5 Iowa State team lost by a combined 4 points to Iowa, Baylor, and Oklahoma. Worst loss was by 10 points to Kansas State at the end of the season, I think due in part to injuries.

I think DONTH8 has a point though...this is the same guy that Tommy carved up in his first game as OC, made that defense look silly. Heacock has a pretty good record in the Big 12, but there's a reason that conference has gotten left out of the playoff numerous times. Few of those teams play any defense, so when one team like Iowa State or OK State comes in and starts playing stingy they look godly. I'm just not sure how I feel about this hire given the fact Tommy was able to dismantle that defense so easily, especially if he's wanting to bring guys with him and it's at the expense of Elston.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

Heacock doesn't get my juices flowing. This seems more like MF making himself comfortable, and not challenging himself (which goes against what he preaches). Heacock may have success at ND. But he's also 61, has nothing spectacular on his resume, and teams and schools from across the country aren't beating down the door to hire him from Iowa State.

He also has a DB coaching background. The team doesn't really need a 3rd secondary coach.

Heacock is one of the most well respected defensive minds in the college game. He is who other elite coaches go to to learn how to stop the spread. Teams HAVE been trying to get him, but he has stayed loyal to Campbell and stayed at a place he was comfortable, much like Elston or HH.

 

[Rogue219]

Heacock doesn't get my juices flowing. This seems more like MF making himself comfortable, and not challenging himself (which goes against what he preaches). Heacock may have success at ND. But he's also 61, has nothing spectacular on his resume, and teams and schools from across the country aren't beating down the door to hire him from Iowa State.

He also has a DB coaching background. The team doesn't really need a 3rd secondary coach.

So you maintain that the 61 year old defensive coordinator must not be capable of coaching other positions on the defense, correct?

 

[chicago51]

You fine the best DC, and make your defensive room work after the fact.

 

[Classic Irish]

Really hard to believe Elston had options and took a lateral to scUM of all places,… I’ll wait a while and see how things play out. This feels like one of those that will make sense once other aspects are known

You do know that Elston is a Michigan grad, right?


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