I think the fact nobody loses a year adds to these guys leaving. I doubt you would see as many. However, it makes sense because these guys see the writing on the wall with the larger class and fact many have already been passed up. I honestly like the potential Elston hire. We got better the year he took over last part of season. I also like our def staff. Slap Joseph/Mickens as your pass game coordinator or whatever title. However, Freeman/Elko would be ideal.
He knows his window of playoffs rests on how close he cam get to Bama and there's less stress if you can get equal money.
True, but I do think there’s a bit more to it given most of them are on the defensive side of the ball. Losing Lea wasn’t helpful this year, in particular. In other news, freshman 5 star TE Arik Gilbert just entered the portal from LSU. Played well in his first year.
Looking through the portal and I'm sure there will be some more but WR Rambo-cedar hill connection with Avery Davis Ricky Smalling-Illinois semi productive. Chicago native. Samori Toure-87 receptions 1500 yards and 15tds at Montana in 2019.
DC update Spoiler With the 2020 football season coming to a close, Notre Dame is now focused on finding a new defensive coordinator. Clark Lea left the program to become the head coach at Vanderbilt, so Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly is in search of his replacement. As we previously reported, Kelly had a call with Cincinnati defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman on Monday and the expectation is that he could be on campus for an in-person interview on Thursday in South Bend. However, despite being the top candidate, he’s not the only candidate for that position at this time. Here’s the latest. Irish Illustrated has learned through sources that a similar Zoom call is expected to take place very soon with Mississippi State defensive coordinator Zach Arnett. Depending on how things shake out with Freeman, that call could also lead to an in-person interview as well. It should be noted that like Freeman, Arnett has received interest from LSU and Texas as well. Upon being hired in Starkville ahead of this season, Arnett received a glowing review from Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach. "Zach is one of the brightest defensive coaches in all of college football," said Leach. “Having been mentored by Rocky Long during his successful time at San Diego State, Zach understands what it takes to build and run an elite defense…” Following his time at the University of New Mexico as both a football and baseball player, Arnett started his coaching career as a graduate assistant with San Diego State from 2011-13. He clearly made quite the impression, as he became the Aztecs’ linebackers coach from 2014-17. He was promoted to San Diego State’s defensive coordinator and was there from 2018-19 before accepting the job as linebackers coach and defensive coordinator with the Bulldogs at Mississippi State in 2020. In the SEC this year, Mississippi State’s defense under Arnett ranked No. 6 in total defense at 389 yards per game. It was No. 5 overall in turnovers per game at nearly two per game. Before arriving at Mississippi State, Arnett’s defensive at San Diego State was terrific. It ranked No. 6 nationally in total defense in 2019 and No. 21 overall in 2018. The Aztecs were ranked No. 3 overall in scoring defense as well in 2019, with it being slotted at No. 32 in 2018. Ahead of the 2020 football season, Arnett was asked about his philosophy as a football coach and coordinator. One thing Notre Dame fans will love to hear is that he takes a simple approach — get the best players on the field. “My philosophy is to get the best players on the field and get them to play as hard, as physical, as intense as possible,” said Arnett. “Typically, a good indicator of physical defense is how they hold up against the run… SEC is as good of football as there is in the country, all the guys on the roster know that, that’s why they came to school here. I don’t think there’s anyone shying away from the challenge. They are excited to get this thing going and see how good we can be. “We hope it’s unique and difficult to prepare for,” added Arnett. “I do think you’re seeing more multiplicity, variation in schemes that teams are running, you are seeing more 3-3-5 looks, a lot more of it on third down than on first or second, but with the purification of the spread and teams going sideline to sideline, there’s been an effort by defenses to get more athletes on the field and guys that can run and cover space.” interesting name and i like that he's coached in the SEC
i get he lacks experience but he's been a DC for a few years and he's coached against elite teams in the SEC so he knows what that looks like Have to remember that Clark was never a DC before he got the job
I appreciate Murtaugh's writing, especially when he looks into big picture questions with the program. This is a pretty good one (also has post on Coan). https://www.18stripes.com/the-notre-dame-off-season-project-part-1-the-program-assessment/
Wonderfully written. Awesome article overall It’s Kelly’s lack of enthusiasm on the recruiting trail that always gets me. I understand the limitations that the ND job creates on the recruiting operation, but I do wonder what the ceiling actually is with these expectations vs the ceiling Kelly has created with the coaching staffs he’s put in place, as well as his own shortcomings. I know this will become a point of contention, but I truly think there’s plenty of room between those two ceilings.
The grind of recruiting has to wear on you and make you jaded to the process. Sucking up to indecisive 17 year olds about a 40 year decision while other schools offer bags of cash, women, and warm weather? I don't blame him...
honestly in his recruiting prime he was mainly clearing up on guys ND should be in on, not that many guys who werent typical ND guys as far as i remember
If that’s the case, he should have went to the NFL. Part of why Nick Saban loves college football is that he knows he can gain an advantage on everyone else via recruiting. In the NFL, everyone gets a 1st round pick and you’re actually guaranteed a worse one the better you do. In college football, you can be the best team in the country and then go sign 10 future first round picks. You need a coach with that mentality to win a National Title.
A big part of the ceiling right now is Ohio State. For ND to have a top 3 class they are going to have to be able to pull kids away from OSU. Unfortunately I think we are beyond the point of no return for BK's effort and assistant coaches being the solution to that problem. Its going to require a new face of the program.
That’s what happens when you don’t even give the guys a shot to play, Jordan Johnson next. They all see the shitty players playing in front of them.
It's too bad there were very strict redshirt rules this season and no games with extended garbage time to let this kid catch a pass or two.
What's really too bad is ND can't figure out WR recruiting which looking around college football shouldn't be this hard
I'll believe the Watts stuff when it happens, Bailing for Nebraska seems like a major backwards move.