VanGorder - New DC!

[RuntheBall]

Talked to a Jets fan about their defense this year and he said this hire makes sense for BK. On more than one occasion BK has mentioned the desire to have the base 3-4 but to be able to change as needed, that is pretty much what the Jets have done all year. My buddy thinks the Jets only played the base 3-4 around 40% of the time, they played a lot of multiple fronts and even played at times with one down lineman and a bunch of LB's and DBs on obvious passing downs do really confuse the OL and QB and break down protections. He thinks this versatility is exactly what BK wanted in a hire and it will be a good fit schematically. The big question is why has this guy bounced around so much lately, but he thinks South Bend could be a good fit for him, he has quite a few kids and maybe the NJ/NY life wasn't a good fit for them and that a smaller town could be more appealing. Just speculation at this point.......anyway, sounds like from a pure X-O perspective, sounds like a good hire, from all the other intangibles, we shall find out.

Is that the CAT attack?

 

[dwshade]

I wouldn't disagree with that. The main point that I thought was relevant was the supposed issue with the spread. Particularly because it fits with my memory of the Falcons -- the Saints run the closest thing to the spread as you'll find in the NFL and Brees pretty much shredded that defense from 2008-2011.

Again, though, we're talking about one data point. I think the bigger picture is much more positive.

During his time as Falcons DC the Saints topped 30 points only twice. The other 6 games the defense did a good job against a great offense. As to his one year at Auburn the defensive talent was so bad they couldn't stop any offense. After losing Cam Newton and Gus Malzahn Auburn fell apart under Chizik. Their defense was only average the year they won the NC, it was due to Newton and Malzahn.

 

[Irish YJ]

Is that the CAT attack?

 

[dshans]

Is that Ricky Nelson singing Travelin' Man in the background? One and done eight times in his coaching career.

How the hell old are you???

Hell, even I had to scroll through many years of many memories to pull that one up to the main screen!

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/itKz7wjc7ys" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

No mention of South Bend, though.

 

[Irish YJ]

another bio from the Auburn site.

Brian VanGorder Bio - AuburnTigers.com - Official Athletics Site of the Auburn Tigers

 

[NOLAIrish]

During his time as Falcons DC the Saints topped 30 points only twice. The other 6 games the defense did a good job against a great offense. As to his one year at Auburn the defensive talent was so bad they couldn't stop any offense. After losing Cam Newton and Gus Malzahn Auburn fell apart under Chizik. Their defense was only average the year they won the NC, it was due to Newton and Malzahn.

Topping 30 points is a tall order, even for a historically great offense. It's an even higher bar when you add in intra-divisional familiarity. The Saints only topped it twice against the Bucs and three times against the Panthers over the same span, and both fielded average-to-poor defenses over that stretch. The Bucs allowed an average of 4 fewer points per game (~15%) to the Saints than did the Falcons. The Panthers 2.5 fewer (~9%).

That also comes at the question sideways, though. If we're interested in whether he struggles against the spread, the question isn't how his defense performed relative to other defenses, which includes our answer + noise from talent and other coaches. The real inquiry is how his defense performed against the spread relative to how his defense performed against non-spread offenses (i.e. the change in Saints score/yards when playing the Falcons versus the change in non-Saints score/yards when playing the Falcons).

 

[dwshade]

Every NFL incorporates the spread offense. I don't even know why this is even a question, BVG's ability to play against spread offenses. It really is nonsense. He was an outstanding DC with Georgia and the Falcons. That's the bottom line.

 

[Luckylucci]

This is a TERRIBLE and DESPERATE hire!

I love it when people make bold statements with nothing to back it up. It cracks me up. The only thing terrible is this post. If you'd like to elaborate I'll listen bit until then this is garbage.

 

[irishff1014]

I don't remember watching him coach in college. So i can't say anything about him. Kelly likes him fine by me he did good with Harry. Kelly isn't going to hire a coach that he doesn't trust.

 

[koonja]

I love it when people make bold statements with nothing to back it up. It cracks me up. The only thing terrible is this post. If you'd like to elaborate I'll listen bit until then this is garbage.

Any idea how he will be as a recruiter?

 

[Luckylucci]

Any idea how he will be as a recruiter?

He was a DC at two pretty good SEC schools so I would assume he had a part in bringing some of those studs in. He's been said to be a good recruiter so until I see otherwise ill trust what People are saying. I really like that he's an energy guy. He gets after it and I bet that does well recruiting.

 

[koonja]

He was a DC at two pretty good SEC schools so I would assume he had a part in bringing some of those studs in. He's been said to be a good recruiter so until I see otherwise ill trust what People are saying. I really like that he's an energy guy. He gets after it and I bet that does well recruiting.

So what you're saying is there's a 98% chance he's a stronger recruiter than Diaco? Nice.

 

[stlnd01]

Re: Ability to defend a spread.
I know these things can change, but we don't play a lot of real spread teams. We're not in the Big 12 or Pac 10. USC and Stanford and Michigan State are more traditional. Navy's gonna be Navy. Most of our ACC opponents won't roll that way, either. I guess it could occasionally be an issue, but I'm not going to not hire a good DC just because I'm worried about the Arizona State game.
I'm curious about all his jumping around, too, but this seems like a really good hire. Especially if he keeps the current assistants in place.

 

[IrishBlood81]

I love it when people make bold statements with nothing to back it up. It cracks me up. The only thing terrible is this post. If you'd like to elaborate I'll listen bit until then this is garbage.

I'm betting he was being sarcastic, forgot to use italics.
I think is NFL experience will be big in recruiting. He's been at the Falcons, Jaguars and Jets. Kids like the idea that their going to play for someone who has been to where their going to be.

 

[stlnd01]

I think is NFL experience will be big in recruiting. He's been at the Falcons, Jaguars and Jets. Kids like the idea that their going to play for someone who has been to where their going to be.

As long as he doesn't also take the NFL approach to player development, a la Weis.

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

Huge Jets fan. This is a very good hire. He developed our LBs. He turned our weakness into a strength. I am very happy as a ND fan but very sad as a Jets fan. Any questions I'll be glad to answer them

 

[koonja]

Huge Jets fan. This is a very good hire. He developed our LBs. He turned our weakness into a strength. I am very happy as a ND fan but very sad as a Jets fan. Any questions I'll be glad to answer them

Is he taller than Diaco?

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

He ran a 4-3 at UGA and at Auburn (as mentioned). This will be interesting

Learned Multi fronts with the Jets

 

[Irish To The Core]

Kelly hired Uncle Rico.

 

[irishff1014]

It can't hurt he learned some defense from Rex Ryan as well.

 

[Irish YJ]

It can't hurt he learned some defense from Rex Ryan as well.

That's my thought. Can't be a slouch if he's coaching for Ryan on the D side of things. Add in his contacts in SEC land and the NFL... I'll take it. Seems like a passionate guy and his time at UGA and ATL speaks for itself. BK has to like this guy a lot if he's bypassing internal guys. Really curious to see what happens at OC, and hoping for something on the ST side as well.

 

[IrishBlood81]

As long as he doesn't also take the NFL approach to player development, a la Weis.

Agreed. If he was a head coach I'd be worried but with Kelly to keep him in check I think it will be a great balance. And as I said, for recruiting, that these kids will like his NFL experience.

 

[dshans]

I'm betting he was being sarcastic, forgot to use italics.

Ya think? YA THINK?? YA THINK???

Italics are so overrated ...

 

[MJ12666]

First I like this hire, but just in case you did not know, he was the Jets LB coach and not their DC. Also I wouldn't count on him having the same type of players that he had in Georgia as it is likely a lot of them would not be recruited by ND from an academic point of view.

 

[IrishBlood81]

Ya think? YA THINK?? YA THINK???

Italics are so overrated ...

Did you notice I got a new avatar DID YA?!


But as for if I think… I try my best not to...

 

[dshans]

Did you notice I got a new avatar DID YA?!

No, I didn't. Should I be red-faced? I am not Sherman. I don't know Mr. Peabody and have no access to a Wayback Machine. What did I miss?

I'm known to be a reasonably deft punster, though.

But as for if I think… I try my best not to...

As to thinking: "I yam what I yam and you arrrr what you arrrr," Matey.

Don't go all Brutusk on me. I'll sic Swee Pea on yer ass and get Olive to Oyl yer front steps.

 

[PLACforever]

Nice Irish name, I like it.

 

[ScooterIrish]

First I like this hire, but just in case you did not know, he was the Jets LB coach and not their DC. Also I wouldn't count on him having the same type of players that he had in Georgia as it is likely a lot of them would not be recruited by ND from an academic point of view.

Yawn.

 

[ThePiombino]

First I like this hire, but just in case you did not know, he was the Jets LB coach and not their DC. Also I wouldn't count on him having the same type of players that he had in Georgia as it is likely a lot of them would not be recruited by ND from an academic point of view.

I'm pretty sure there are more than enough horses in the linebacker stable between current roster and incoming frosh. Not too concerned about that.

 

[chicago51]

Initially I was lukewarm on this hire but the more I research the guy the more I am cautiously optimistic about it.