Replacing Diaco

Emcee77

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I can see that given that we've been using both.

Lol exactly. I don't know how clear Kelly can make it ... we won't be moving to a 4-3 exclusively, but we will continue to play a lot of 4-down in addition to our 3-down base. I get tired of rehashing the 4-3/3-4 debate (not saying anyone in this thread was doing this; just speaking generally). We are going to do both, as we've been doing.
 
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dad4aa

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I'd take him for sure. Do we actually have enough money, etc. to entice him to leave USC?

Great question but I thought he was going to be out at USC anyway. Isn't Sark bringing his own DC from Washington?
 

GoldenIsThyFame

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Wait seriously? I heard that there was a buyout holdup with Wilcox...


Yeah but they have been saying Haden will pay it... Another wrinkle though is that supposedly Pendergast really wants to get back to the NFL, so maybe all of this trying to replace him with Wilcox is because he had already said he wants to go back to the pros.
 

stlnd01

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Yeah but they have been saying Haden will pay it... Another wrinkle though is that supposedly Pendergast really wants to get back to the NFL, so maybe all of this trying to replace him with Wilcox is because he had already said he wants to go back to the pros.

I guess we're trying to make a hire before NFL jobs open up?
Would we risk losing any assistants (and key recruiters) if we brought in an outside guy? Would he want to bring in his own?
 

dwshade

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Wouldn't be surprised if his 1st choice is to return to the NFL. He's known to hate recruiting.
 

ohara831

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Pendergast would be such a good hire. Hope we get some positive news on this front soon.
 

Irish#1

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Pendergast would be such a good hire. Hope we get some positive news on this front soon.

If the reports of him hating recruiting are true, then I'm not sold as a good hire. The coaches need to bring enthusiasm and love for the job when they visit recruits. If he doesn't like it, it may show in his demeanor and presentations.

I would hope that BK would discuss the NFL desires when he talks to him.
 

NDinL.A.

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Personally, I'm not a fan. He definitely turned USC around and deserves much credit, but he is a HIGH risk, high reward type of play-caller. He puts his corners on islands, and when was the last time ND had 2 competent, shut-down corners? Rees was tearing them apart before he got hurt, and AZ and UCLA had their way with USC as well. Plus, this is the 2nd coach in a row that has come in and looked at Clancy's defense and decided to pass on him (assuming Sark does pass on him).

And as was mentioned, he doesn't recruit (anyone getting Tenuta flashbacks?). And what do you do with Elliot or Cooks, considering Clancy coaches DB's? But again, he does deserve credit for taking a severely thin defense and making them a very good unit. I can see why people are very interested, but having seem all year, I personally am not.
 

stlnd01

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I would hope that BK would discuss the NFL desires when he talks to him.

I can see it now: "Clancy, buddy, I've got this Lions job in the bag. Come be my DC, we'll hang out in South Bend for a couple weeks, and then we'll go to the NFL.

Seriously, on the recruiting thing: They did have Orgeron to be the living room guy, and to some degree USC sells itself. How much did he need to do?
By most accounts Diaco wasn't wild about/great at recruiting, but he does obviously connect with and loves coaching and developing college football players. Any sense on whether Pendergast is that kind of guy? Or his he more of an NFL-style x's and o's coach?

As for Mattison: Is there any reason we couldn't go after him?
 

tko

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I can see it now: "Clancy, buddy, I've got this Lions job in the bag. Come be my DC, we'll hang out in South Bend for a couple weeks, and then we'll go to the NFL.

Seriously, on the recruiting thing: They did have Orgeron to be the living room guy, and to some degree USC sells itself. How much did he need to do?
By most accounts Diaco wasn't wild about/great at recruiting, but he does obviously connect with and loves coaching and developing college football players. Any sense on whether Pendergast is that kind of guy? Or his he more of an NFL-style x's and o's coach?

As for Mattison: Is there any reason we couldn't go after him?

Didn't Mattison fail at ND once already?
 
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Bogtrotter07

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Clancy Pendergast would be a great hire.

USC went from the bottom of the PAC12 on defense to the top passing defense and the number 2 overall defense in one season with most of the same players.

His risk reward is that he hides where his blitzes are coming from and balances them out. This year is risk was knocking Tommy the fuck out of the game.

And his defensive backs and linebackers which were mostly subpar previously, kept them in the game against us.

Oh, yeah. And he is tough, and not a blowhard. He demands toughness and tackling out of his defenders.

I don't think he would be that hard to keep. We will see. I am hoping for another crazy Irishman on the staff!
 

Irish#1

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Didn't Mattison fail at ND once already?

He's been at ND before, but there are many things that go into the success or perceived success of an asst. coach. Charlie's staff didn't get along and had no continuity. I wouldn't mind having Mattison back if everyone is on the same page.
 

ScooterIrish

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Charlie Weis failed. Mattison was a holdover from the Davie regime and his defenses under Davie were really solid.

You mean Ty Willie failed. Mattison wasn't a part of the Charlie Weis staff. Instead he ate Charlie's lunch on the recruiting front with Meyer.
 

TheChosen1

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Adam Schefter‏@AdamSchefter
Former Cardinals and current USC DC Clancy Pendergast not expected to return to school; with 2 years left on contract, already on NFL radar.
 

IrishLax

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On Pendergast... I like how plays an aggressive 3-4ish defense. I think he is a good DC.

I don't think he is a "home run" and I do think he has a lot of downside. I want a DC like Mattison that will bust his tail recruiting. Pendergast is not that guy. And while Diaco's D is dependent on a dominant DL (and generally front 7)... Pendergast's is dependent on dominant DBs. All the issues we bitch about now (e.g. being way too conservative/soft) we will just be bitching about the flipside of (e.g. getting burned for big plays because of aggression).

I'd take Pendergast but I'd rather have Cooks be promoted and bring in a true LB coach (or DL coach and move Elston to LB). Either that or there are a lot NFL defensive coordinators (or Stanford's DC) that I'd like more/just as much as Pendergast.
 

GoldenIsThyFame

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“@footballscoop: Do not believe this is happening “@GoIrishGlory: @footballscoop Any truth to rumor of Clancy Pendergast having received an offer from ND?””
 
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