Notre Dame Coaching Changes

[ndftbl]

If we actually end up with Lyght, Denson and Quinn, how is that not an improvement over what we had, from a coaching standpoint?

Does anyone seriously think our DBs, QBs and even RBs, had good seasons last year?

What is wrong with a real DB coaching our DBs, and a real RB coaching our running backs?

And why do we just assume that the three of them, as a team, can't recruit as well, or even better, than the three who just left?

How is it not outstanding for two coaches, WHO ACTUALLY RECEIVED THEIR DEGREES FROM NOTRE DAME, to talk to players and parents about the merits of graduating from Notre Dame?

I, for one, am pretty pumped, assuming we actually get these three.

And I also think that Kelly will now have a staff which will be pretty darn loyal to him, and Notre Dame.

 

[kmoose]

If we actually end up with Lyght, Denson and Quinn, how is that not an improvement over what we had, from a coaching standpoint?

Does anyone seriously think our DBs, QBs and even RBs, had good seasons last year?

What is wrong with a real DB coaching our DBs, and a real RB coaching our running backs?

And why do we just assume that the three of them, as a team, can't recruit as well, or even better, than the three who just left?

How is in not outstanding for two coaches, WHO ACTUALLY RECEIVED THEIR DEGREES FROM NOTRE DAME, to talk to players and parents about the merits of graduating from Notre Dame?

I, for one, am pretty pumped, assuming we actually get these three.

I don't disagree with you, really, but........

Why do we just assume that because a guy played the game, even at an elite level, that he can coach?

Why isn't Barry Sanders a great coach somewhere? Why isn't Ronnie Lott coaching? Why isn't Jerry Rice coaching in major college football?

These guys' primary jobs will be coaching. If they turn out to be really good recruiters, then that is a bonus. But they better be able to coach, first.

 

[ndftbl]

I don't disagree with you, really, but........

Why do we just assume that because a guy played the game, even at an elite level, that he can coach?

Why isn't Barry Sanders a great coach somewhere? Why isn't Ronnie Lott coaching? Why isn't Jerry Rice coaching in major college football?

These guys' primary jobs will be coaching. If they turn out to be really good recruiters, then that is a bonus. But they better be able to coach, first.

My point is, how can we do any worse?

And obviously Denson and Quinn have each produced some pretty darn good results.

 

[dwshade]

I don't disagree with you, really, but........

Why do we just assume that because a guy played the game, even at an elite level, that he can coach?

Why isn't Barry Sanders a great coach somewhere? Why isn't Ronnie Lott coaching? Why isn't Jerry Rice coaching in major college football?

These guys' primary jobs will be coaching. If they turn out to be really good recruiters, then that is a bonus. But they better be able to coach, first.

It's an easy answer to why Sanders, Lott and Rice aren't coaching. They don't want to. I have no doubt they could be but if you are not interested in coaching and all that it entails then why do it? They simply choose to do something else with their lives. Why will Lyght and Denson be good coaches? Because people who know them and have watched them coach give them very high marks. Because they are high character guys who WANT to coach and do it at a high level.

 

[drake29]

If we actually end up with Lyght, Denson and Quinn, how is that not an improvement over what we had, from a coaching standpoint?

Does anyone seriously think our DBs, QBs and even RBs, had good seasons last year?

What is wrong with a real DB coaching our DBs, and a real RB coaching our running backs?

And why do we just assume that the three of them, as a team, can't recruit as well, or even better, than the three who just left?

How is it not outstanding for two coaches, WHO ACTUALLY RECEIVED THEIR DEGREES FROM NOTRE DAME, to talk to players and parents about the merits of graduating from Notre Dame?

I, for one, am pretty pumped, assuming we actually get these three.

And I also think that Kelly will now have a staff which will be pretty darn loyal to him, and Notre Dame.

Well only one is a proven coach - none are a proven recruiter. I'm not sure how you could say anyone is an upgrade with the exception of Quinn for LaFluer. Even that might be stretching it. I think LaFluer was going to be key in us landing a top flight QB this cycle. Not that it can't be done now, but there are kids out there that would like to work with the guy that helped coach RGIII.

 

[drake29]

It's an easy answer to why Sanders, Lott and Rice aren't coaching. They don't want to. I have no doubt they could be but if you are not interested in coaching and all that it entails then why do it? They simply choose to do something else with their lives. Why will Lyght and Denson be good coaches? Because people who know them and have watched them coach give them very high marks. Because they are high character guys who WANT to coach and do it at a high level.

There's a saying that escapes me right now that basically says that elite players don't make good coaches. Guys that were elite players usually aren't film junkies or able to translate perfect technique into a lesson for other players.

 

[ndftbl]

Well only one is a proven coach - none are a proven recruiter. I'm not sure how you could say anyone is an upgrade with the exception of Quinn for LaFluer. Even that might be stretching it. I think LaFluer was going to be key in us landing a top flight QB this cycle. Not that it can't be done now, but there are kids out there that would like to work with the guy that helped coach RGIII.

Because they are ND alums.

Could make a HUGE difference, on the recruiting trail.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

It's an easy answer to why Sanders, Lott and Rice aren't coaching. They don't want to. I have no doubt they could be but if you are not interested in coaching and all that it entails then why do it? They simply choose to do something else with their lives. Why will Lyght and Denson be good coaches? Because people who know them and have watched them coach give them very high marks. Because they are high character guys who WANT to coach and do it at a high level.

Teaching is a separate skill. People who are excellent producers in their field are not always good teachers.

That doesn't mean that Denson, Lyght, and others are bad teachers. But their skill on the field does not automatically translate.

 

[dwshade]

There's a saying that escapes me right now that basically says that elite players don't make good coaches. Guys that were elite players usually aren't film junkies or able to translate perfect technique into a lesson for other players.

I've heard something similar but never have bought it. Larry Bird certainly was a good coach. Manning and Brady are film junkies and I have no doubt they'd be great coaches if they so desired. But in today's age the elite players have made so much money that coaching simply doesn't appeal to them because of the time commitment and work involved. They are more likely to get into TV or ownership of businesses that still give a lot of free time. You really have to want to coach because it's not an easy job.

 

[ndftbl]

Teaching is a separate skill. People who are excellent producers in their field are not always good teachers.

That doesn't mean that Denson, Lyght, and others are bad teachers. But their skill on the field does not automatically translate.

I don't know; they each seem like pretty smart guys, to me. And they are each very good at describing why Notre Dame is such a special place.

I'm pretty darn excited.

Though Kelly would be stealing Denson from his buddy, which makes me wonder whether he'd actually do it.

 

[NDRock]

I'm really more interested in how well these guys can coach. ND needs to win football games (10+) and if they do recruiting will be fine. If we keep averaging 8 wins then we'll definitely need some dynamic recruiters.

 

[kmoose]

Because people who know [him]them and have watched [him]them coach give [him]them very high marks. Because [he is a]they are high character guys who WANT to coach and do it at a high level.

You just described Charlie Weis to a T.

 

[dwshade]

You just described Charlie Weis to a T.

Charlie Weis has always been considered an excellent asst. coach just not a talented HC. That is a very different conversation.

 

[PerthDomer]

Denson just left Miami OH for USF. Martin no longer is his boss. If we do hire him it probably means Martin gave him very good reviews though.

 

[kmoose]

Charlie Weis has always been considered an excellent asst. coach just not a talented HC. That is a very different conversation.

No, it's not. The conversation that I was referring to was not whether or not these guys would be good coaches, but the idea that just because people say they will, that that makes it some kind of given that they will be.

 

[Luckylucci]

Per BGI it looks like the top two targets as Alford's replacement are Denson and Deland McCullough RB coach at Indiana. The main factors that Kelly is looking for is somebody that players can look up to as a role model and a good recruiter.

 

[dwshade]

No, it's not. The conversation that I was referring to was not whether or not these guys would be good coaches, but the idea that just because people say they will, that that makes it some kind of given that they will be.

Difference between asst. coach and head coach. Just because you are a good coach doesn't mean you'll be a good HC. Two completely different jobs.

 

[drake29]

I don't know; they each seem like pretty smart guys, to me. And they are each very good at describing why Notre Dame is such a special place.

I'm pretty darn excited.

Though Kelly would be stealing Denson from his buddy, which makes me wonder whether he'd actually do it.

And to that I would say that there are many people that are VERY intelligent that decide to go into teaching only to find out that it's not for them - it's one thing to understand the subject matter but to explain it to the lay person is very difficult sometimes. You may be right and I hope you are - I just choose to curb my enthusiasm because I don't want to hold out hope for a 10 win season again.

 

[ndftbl]

Per BGI it looks like the top two targets as Alford's replacement are Denson and Deland McCullough RB coach at Indiana. The main factors that Kelly is looking for is somebody that players can look up to as a role model and a good recruiter.

Thanks for the info.

To be quite honest, I am really surprised we were able to land such top replacements. Was worried that they themselves would be worried re the turnover, but obviously two ND alums and an old friend of Kelly's, aren't going to feel that way.

 

[kmoose]

Difference between asst. coach and head coach. Just because you are a good coach doesn't mean you'll be a good HC. Two completely different jobs.

Between Denson and Lyght, they have 3 total years of coaching at the DI-A level. All I'm saying is that it is not a given that they will be an upgrade over the people they are replacing. We all hope like hell that they are, but it's just too early to know.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I don't know; they each seem like pretty smart guys, to me. And they are each very good at describing why Notre Dame is such a special place.

I'm pretty darn excited.

Though Kelly would be stealing Denson from his buddy, which makes me wonder whether he'd actually do it.

There are lots of people who are very smart and are poor educators. Football and teaching are simply two different skills.

What you're describing would likely translate to recruiting, but not necessarily to teaching.

It comforts me to know that Denson worked with Martin for a year. That means Kelly probably has a good sense of his coaching skill.

 

[dwshade]

Denson just left Miami OH for USF. Martin no longer is his boss. If we do hire him it probably means Martin gave him very good reviews though.

Martin has already when asked about Denson to ND called it a no-brainer. He thinks very, very highly of him. TJ put up a video of Denson talking about his ND experience and it was incredibly impressive. He'll have no problem selling himself, his ND experience, and the current program to HS kids. And it doesn't hurt that he is from Florida.

 

[ndftbl]

Between Denson and Lyght, they have 3 total years of coaching at the DI-A level. All I'm saying is that it is not a given that they will be an upgrade over the people they are replacing. We all hope like hell that they are, but it's just too early to know.

They each played the position for a long time, and are bright people. I'm not worried.

Would be if they were hired to be an OC or DC.

 

[ndftbl]

Denson just left Miami OH for USF. Martin no longer is his boss. If we do hire him it probably means Martin gave him very good reviews though.

Thanks; didn't know that.

 

[dwshade]

Maybe someone can go to youtube and get Autry Denson-Strong and True and post it here.

 

[Luckylucci]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tocPjjxhvEk

I assume this is it.

 

[dwshade]

Thanks Lucky.

 

[kmoose]

Maybe someone can go to youtube and get Autry Denson-Strong and True and post it here.

And that has the square root of fvck-all to do with how good a coach he will be.

 

[PerthDomer]

I'd like to see Denson coach at USF for a few more years before taking him. It'd build up more relationships in Florida for him as well as give a better idea what kind of coach he is.

 

[ndftbl]

I'd like to see Denson coach at USF for a few more years before taking him. It'd build up more relationships in Florida for him as well as give a better idea what kind of coach he is.

Kind of depends on Martin's views. But I agree re having someone who can recruit Florida.