Offensive Coordinator Search

[koonja]

70th in stnd lines, and 90th in power success....

nominated for hot take of the new year....

btw, i rewatched 4 games this year, and spent enough time with my eyes on the OL.... yes the RB room sucked, but so did the OL at times.

The OL opened multiple running lanes that any top 30 back would exploit, each game.

You won't see that in your OL stats. That takes eye balls and a little attention.

 

[Irishize]

HH doesn't want to recruit - will more than likely stay in pros somewhere.

I agree. Eric Hansen of the SBT cited a source telling him that there is zero chance of HH returning to ND.

 

[ThePiombino]

The OL was good in run blocking every game...

I realize no ones going to rewatch old games and focus on OL, but the lack of running game is 100% on the RBs we have

Not true. While I agree MOST of our running game problems are on our lack of talent at the RB position, the O-line was NOT good at run blocking by any measure. Many assignments were missed this year.

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[317Irish]

Not true. While I agree MOST of our running game problems are on our lack of talent at the RB position, the O-line was NOT good at run blocking by any measure. Many assignments were missed this year.

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Your opinion bears no weight unless you claim to have rewatched old games. Few, nay Nobody can see missed blocking assignments and lack of holes without watching the game multiple times.

 

[spoonidentity]

Just to add an incoming player's input on offensive line play:

Tyree watched Notre Dame’s season opener at Louisville at home with his parents. Instead of following through the traditional ESPN broadcast, Tyree flipped over to the SkyCam simulcast from behind the line of scrimmage. If “A Season With Notre Dame Football” was a 14-part advertisement for the program, the Louisville game was proof of why the program went so hard after Tyree in the first place, using a half-dozen coaches to get the job done. It was evidence of what the Irish have been missing and what everybody around Chester seems to know Tyree can provide.

“Seeing how big the holes were and how much the plays were developing, it was crazy,” Tyree said. “I was picturing myself scoring like four touchdowns.

“There were a lot of big plays available.”

Chris Tyree from an article on The Athletic

 

[fightingirish26]

I think many would agree that there were a lot of plays which, if we had a more explosive back, would have turned into big gains. Between not seeing the hole, or being too slow to the hole, we didn't execute well enough.

But the problem for me was in short yardage situations, we would be pulling guards and the defense would shoot the gaps when we had the size and talent up front to just punch them in the mouth and get the yard that we needed. Those plays weren't on the RBs imo. Except Jafar who couldn't break a tackle or move a pile to save his life.

 

[Irishize]

I think many would agree that there were a lot of plays which, if we had a more explosive back, would have turned into big gains. Between not seeing the hole, or being too slow to the hole, we didn't execute well enough.

But the problem for me was in short yardage situations, we would be pulling guards and the defense would shoot the gaps when we had the size and talent up front to just punch them in the mouth and get the yard that we needed. Those plays weren't on the RBs imo. Except Jafar who couldn't break a tackle or move a pile to save his life.

Bingo. I agree that a more electric back could exploit the creases the OL was creating. We knew the RB position was going to be lacking a game breaker. It’s the short yardage plays that got stuffed by shit defenses that was inexcusable. ONE YARD OR LESS...and they’d fail

 

[Sea Turtle]

How good do you guys think Armstrong can be if he stays healthy next year?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

How good do you guys think Armstrong can be if he stays healthy next year?

He can have a decent year at WR next year. He can play outside or inside at the slot.


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[317Irish]

How good do you guys think Armstrong can be if he stays healthy next year?

I hope he comes back rejuvenated and focused next year. The Jafar I saw post injury this year wasn’t even a guy that deserved reps, but everyone knows he’s better than how he played this year. He looked either lost, unfocused, or the more likely reason was that he was just hesitant. A healthy Jafar should mean the possibility of a dynamic RB screen game- with a decent amount if practice time spent on it, mixed with a few long distance runs each game. Otherwise we will have to rely on C-Bo and Tyree to fill that role.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I hope he comes back rejuvenated and focused next year. The Jafar I saw post injury this year wasn’t even a guy that deserved reps, but everyone knows he’s better than how he played this year. He looked either lost, unfocused, or the more likely reason was that he was just hesitant. A healthy Jafar should mean the possibility of a dynamic RB screen game- with a decent amount if practice time spent on it, mixed with a few long distance runs each game. Otherwise we will have to rely on C-Bo and Tyree to fill that role.

I really think with Smith, C-Bo, Kryen, Tyree and Avery Davis it gives Jafar a chance to go back to his natural position of WR. Maybe that’s in the cards or maybe it’s not. But that’s what I would like to see.


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[koonja]

How good do you guys think Armstrong can be if he stays healthy next year?

Contender: Jamir Smith
Pretender: Cbo Flemister
TBD: Jafar Armstrong

 

[Circa]

Contender: Jamir Smith
Pretender: Cbo Flemister
TBD: Jafar Armstrong

Geez... Kuenja!
<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/7T93PezGGeV31q6Z3O" width="480" height="260" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/reaction-7T93PezGGeV31q6Z3O"

 

[IrishFaninTX]

Contender: Jamir Smith
Pretender: Cbo Flemister
TBD: Jafar Armstrong

C'Bo looked the best on the roster at times. Especially considering nobody really thought he'd ever play. I like Smith, too, he just seems slow to me. I'm hoping well get to see some Kyren next year

 

[rtrn2glory]

Of the RBS on the roster I still don't see any game changers to the likes of what we had with Adams and Dexter. I like jahmir and c Bo but more so as the number two even though both are going to be needed to have bigger roles next year. Jafar I feel bad for. The position switch at the time looked like a good idea but it turned out to be too much for him and the injury didn't help.

 

[arrowryan]

Hansen also thinks there's a 0% chance Heistand returns to Notre Dame.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Would expect Hiestand to remain in the NFL. <a href="https://t.co/vdThEietOT">https://t.co/vdThEietOT</a></p>— Irish Illustrated (@timprister) <a href="https://twitter.com/timprister/status/1213760066635083776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[rtrn2glory]

Hansen also thinks there's a 0% chance Heistand returns to Notre Dame.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Would expect Hiestand to remain in the NFL. <a href="https://t.co/vdThEietOT">https://t.co/vdThEietOT</a></p>— Irish Illustrated (@timprister) <a href="https://twitter.com/timprister/status/1213760066635083776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Yeah most guys that get in the league like to stay there. It is the peak of the profession so it's hard to blame them I guess

 

[arrowryan]

In today's SBT, Hansen has a pretty good article on the next OC hire or the next hiring of an offensive mind. He brought up Mike Denbrock. His reasoning actually makes a lot of sense. Bring him in a mentor role for Rees. BK would also be getting another good recruiter on his staff.

 

[IrishBryan77]

Please not Hiestand. He was a failure before! Why bring him back to fail again?

 

[317Irish]

Of the RBS on the roster I still don't see any game changers to the likes of what we had with Adams and Dexter. I like jahmir and c Bo but more so as the number two even though both are going to be needed to have bigger roles next year. Jafar I feel bad for. The position switch at the time looked like a good idea but it turned out to be too much for him and the injury didn't help.

CBo kind of reminds me of a Josh Adams type for some reason. Unfortunately we never got to see him rip a 70 yarder so I’m not sure if he has the same breakaway speed or not. I think both he and Smith will take a leap next year knowing that they will have the opportunity for more PT. They both look like they have too much potential to get left behind on the depth chart again next year.

 

[IrishLax]

Please not Hiestand. He was a failure before! Why bring him back to fail again?

Lol what? Developed 4 first round picks, 3 of whom are currently 1st team All Pro in the NFL (which has NEVER happened before). Won the Joe Moore award. Failure? No.

 

[irishff1014]

I hope he comes back rejuvenated and focused next year. The Jafar I saw post injury this year wasn’t even a guy that deserved reps, but everyone knows he’s better than how he played this year. He looked either lost, unfocused, or the more likely reason was that he was just hesitant. A healthy Jafar should mean the possibility of a dynamic RB screen game- with a decent amount if practice time spent on it, mixed with a few long distance runs each game. Otherwise we will have to rely on C-Bo and Tyree to fill that role.

Jafar is not a running back. I know his injury slowed his speed down but he has very limited vision. Doesn’t see holes and doesn’t have much power. Use him in jet sweeps and put him in the slot some other than that I just don’t see this project working out.

 

[dad4aa]

Please not Hiestand. He was a failure before! Why bring him back to fail again?

Maybe you should stick to reading and not posting. He was far from a failure as Lax pointed out.

 

[EddytoNow]

Maybe you should stick to reading and not posting. He was far from a failure as Lax pointed out.

While Hiestand was certainly not a grand failure, he was also not the offensive line guru that some seem to think.

Based on the NFL play of some of his former players at Notre Dame, he seems particularly well-suited to developing solid individual technique. However, his offensive lines never excelled as a unit. In other words, he could teach the techniques, but could not get the line functioning as a cohesive blocking unit.

Hiestand's success is pretty much limited to a couple of years at Notre Dame. He accomplished little while at Tennessee and has just been fired from the Bears. It will be interesting to see where he lands next. There doesn't seem to be a rush to his door at the moment.

 

[dad4aa]

While Hiestand was certainly not a grand failure, he was also not the offensive line guru that some seem to think.

Based on the NFL play of some of his former players at Notre Dame, he seems particularly well-suited to developing solid individual technique. However, his offensive lines never excelled as a unit. In other words, he could teach the techniques, but could not get the line functioning as a cohesive blocking unit.

Hiestand's success is pretty much limited to a couple of years at Notre Dame. He accomplished little while at Tennessee and has just been fired from the Bears. It will be interesting to see where he lands next. There doesn't seem to be a rush to his door at the moment.

I don't look at what he did in the NFL because that is totaling different than developing and growing talent in 18-23 year-olds. As far as the bolded, you don't win the Joe Moore without a cohesive unit so I will definitely disagree. Could care less what he did at Tennessee, the discussion was about bringing him back to Notre Dame and the comment was "he was a failure before" which he definitely was not at Notre Dame.

 

[IrishLax]

While Hiestand was certainly not a grand failure, he was also not the offensive line guru that some seem to think.

Based on the NFL play of some of his former players at Notre Dame, he seems particularly well-suited to developing solid individual technique. However, his offensive lines never excelled as a unit. In other words, he could teach the techniques, but could not get the line functioning as a cohesive blocking unit.

Hiestand's success is pretty much limited to a couple of years at Notre Dame. He accomplished little while at Tennessee and has just been fired from the Bears. It will be interesting to see where he lands next. There doesn't seem to be a rush to his door at the moment.

Yeah, that's a lie. They literally won OL of the year in '17 and powered an otherwise mediocre team (UDFA RB, inconsistent QB/passing game, undertalented pass catchers) towards a successful season. They also dominated in '15, ranking exceptionally well in many categories with a 1st year QB and 1st year RB. They were the safety blanket for a team that could've otherwise imploded after Zaire went down, and that team ended up having one of the most potent offenses in the last 30 years at Notre Dame. By advanced stats, they still rank as by far the best of the Kelly era and it was primarily because of the OL + Will Fuller.

To your last paragraph of half-truth, Olin Kreutz and many other elite linemen say he is the best in the business. So no, his success is not "limited" to "a couple years at Notre Dame" and even if it was that would be an incredibly myopic way of evaluating him as a coach.

 

[stlnd01]

Jafar just isn't a natural running back, and he probably shouldn't be our RB1. Not his fault, but running between the tackles just isn't what he's best at. Get him the ball on swing and screen passes, jet sweeps, the sort of stuff that gets him a lane in space, and he can do some damage. But that's like five to seven touches a game.

As for who should be our main go-to guy in September of 2020: We'll see how spring ball goes but I'd bet it's Kyren Williams. I like Smith and CBo as complimentary backs but Kyren, on paper, is closest to the complete package among returning RBs. Not sure why they shut him down so quick but I think (hope) with another year in the system he can pick up the little things he's likely lacking (pass pro, receiving, etc.). Then bring Tyree along over the course of the season.

 

[IrishLax]

Jafar just isn't a natural running back, and he probably shouldn't be our RB1. Not his fault, but running between the tackles just isn't what he's best at. Get him the ball on swing and screen passes, jet sweeps, the sort of stuff that gets him a lane in space, and he can do some damage. But that's like five to seven touches a game.

As for who should be our main go-to guy in September of 2020: We'll see how spring ball goes but I'd bet it's Kyren Williams. I like Smith and CBo as complimentary backs but Kyren, on paper, is closest to the complete package among returning RBs. Not sure why they shut him down so quick but I think (hope) with another year in the system he can pick up the little things he's likely lacking (pass pro, receiving, etc.). Then bring Tyree along over the course of the season.

People thought he would take the same path as CJ Prosise, but he has suffered significant injuries. Right now, he is not explosive enough. Will he be next year? The thing that has always shocked me the most though was that he was recruited at WR and we haven't really used him as a pass catching back.

Ultimately, I think that Tyree and Kyren Williams are likely to be the top 2 in touches next year. I wouldn't be shocked to see Smith or Armstrong win the starting job, because I think both have a lot of potential, but I think Williams because of his build/style/hands is best suited for what ND is going to want their compliment to Tyree to do.

 

[Irishize]

How good do you guys think Armstrong can be if he stays healthy next year?

I think IF is a huge word for him. I wish him the best, but he hasn’t shown the durability or good fortune to stay healthy. I say good fortune b/c last year’s infection was a result of surgery that usually doesn’t occur. This year’s injury isn’t exactly commonplace vs other injuries incurred by RB either.

 

[Irishize]

Yeah, that's a lie. They literally won OL of the year in '17 and powered an otherwise mediocre team (UDFA RB, inconsistent QB/passing game, undertalented pass catchers) towards a successful season. They also dominated in '15, ranking exceptionally well in many categories with a 1st year QB and 1st year RB. They were the safety blanket for a team that could've otherwise imploded after Zaire went down, and that team ended up having one of the most potent offenses in the last 30 years at Notre Dame. By advanced stats, they still rank as by far the best of the Kelly era and it was primarily because of the OL + Will Fuller.

To your last paragraph of half-truth, Olin Kreutz and many other elite linemen say he is the best in the business. So no, his success is not "limited" to "a couple years at Notre Dame" and even if it was that would be an incredibly myopic way of evaluating him as a coach.

Kreutz is a huge HH fan and made a good point about play calling being a big factor in OL failure. Harry doesn’t get to call the plays. He will land on another NFL staff.