The other one is leaving Clarence Lewis in the game after he got continuously torched. Everyone in the world saw it, but Freeman did...nothing. Elston was the DC but Freeman had been for a long time previously and he should have done something about it, for at least a series or two. He didn't. I think that not inserting Buchner in the third quarter and not replacing Lewis at around the same time cost ND the bowl game.
Freeman and his staff have been a breath of fresh air on the recruiting trail but their in game coaching acumen has yet to be determined so I agree with the "pump the brakes" thing.