to Notre Dame, where Hiestand flourished from 2012-17." Hmm. On the one hand, Hiestand is not coming back. Hallelujah. On the other hand, "flourished"? In HH's first 3 seasons, ND averaged 166.5 yards per game and 4.6 yards per att. Given that the FBS average is about 5 yards per att (this year it was 4.96), I would hardly call that "flourishing." ND averaged 4.5 yard in 2016. Only twice during HH's "flourishing" at ND was the team above the FBS average, in 2015 (208.3 5.6) and 2017 (269.5 6.3). However, as we know, HH is only to be judged by his successes, so I guess those 2 seasons count as "flourishing" for 6 seasons.
I originally posted that "Denbrock should be the top candidate for OC." Hansen's article only adds support to this. Below is the relevant portion of Hansen's article. Below that is my original post.
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Watching Cincinnati clobber Boston College, 38-6, in the Birmingham Bowl on Thursday, I couldn’t help but wonder if a reunion with former Irish offensive coordinator/play-caller Mike Denbrock might make some sense for both sides.
Here’s why: Denbrock remains Notre Dame’s best play-caller over the past 15 seasons when measured by both the frequency of his offenses exceeding the opposing defenses’ averages in scoring (89 percent) and yards allowed (77 percent).
Chip Long, by comparison, was at 74/71 percent. Brian Kelly was 61/67. Charlie Weis was 72/70. And Denbrock did it against the toughest defenses comparatively. He faced top 43 (top third of the FBS) defenses in 65 percent of the games in which he called offensive plays, and top 10 defenses 19 percent of the time.
Long faced top 43 defenses 29 percent of his games at ND and top 10 in 16 percent.
That doesn’t mean Denbrock would call plays at ND, as he’s doing now at UC. But his value as a veteran presence to help groom Rees in that role, contribute offensive expertise in meetings and on game day, coach tight ends and perhaps help upgrade the offensive line play could be attractive for both parties.
The Irish would also be adding an elite recruiter and one that is especially effective in California, a talent-rich state where top prospects are increasingly open to turning their backs on UCLA and USC.
The Bearcats went 4-8 in Denbrock’s first season there (2017), under head coach Luke Fickell. The past two seasons, though, they’re a combined 22-5.
His biggest battle in returning is perception, or misperception. Denbrock gets unfairly and incorrectly lumped into part of the staff that was purged after ND’s 2016 season that ended with a 4-8 record. He would have kept his title as associate head coach had he stayed on, but he would not have been calling the plays in 2017.
There are a number of other veteran offensive coaches (Mark Helfrich, Joe Moorhead among them) who would make sense in pairing with Rees — if that’s the direction momentum continues to take Kelly. But as was the case at LSU, the ability to put ego aside is a dynamic that shouldn’t be overlooked. And that’s where Denbrock might make the best choice — if he were interested.
• There may be no better time in the last 15 years to be ND’s offensive coordinator, in part because of the talent that’s already on and/or on its way to joining the roster, and in part because who the defensive coordinator is.
Denbrock’s proficiency as offensive play-caller was somewhat obscured because Brian VanGorder’s defenses put so much pressure on the Irish offenses in the 2015 season and in 2016 until he was ousted four games into that season.
VanGorder’s defenses held opposing offenses below their scoring average 53.3 percent of the time during his 30-game run at ND and below their yardage averages 43.3 percent of the time. Compare that to second-year defensive coordinator Clark Lea’s marks of 92.3 and 76.9 percent, respectively.
When paired with a top 25 defense, an offense doesn’t need to take as many chances, especially on third and long or fourth down. You can punt the ball away, knowing there’s a good chance the defense will get you the ball back.
Notre Dame will finish this season tied for 18th in total defense nationally and 12th in scoring defense. The team immediately behind them in both categories? Alabama.
And if the Irish can find some answers at cornerback this offseason, the defense may be even better next season.
• Recently fired Harry Hiestand won’t have trouble finding a new job after two years as the offensive line coach in his second tour of duty with the Chicago Bears.
But a source told the Tribune there’s zero chance that landing spot will be a return to Notre Dame, where Hiestand flourished from 2012-17.
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*He is obviously a fit personality wise as he coached with ND from 2002-2004 and from 2010-2016.
*He is an excellent recruiter.
*He is completely experienced and qualified for a job of this magnitude. I don't think giving it to Rees is appropriate and could possibly hurt his development as a coach.
*He has experience as an offensive line and TE coach as well as various other roles, and I think that is important given the style of offense we'd like to play going forward and the play of the offensive line the past two years.
*His coaching stint as OC at Cincinnati will serve us very, very well. The last two years as OC for Cincinnati, the Bearcats finished 11-2 and 10-3 and have finished ranked in the Top 25.
*Most important is the style of play he utilized at Cincinnati. In each of these past two years, the Bearcats ran the ball 62% of the time and passed the ball 38% of the time. That ratio is almost identical to the ratio utilized by Urban Meyer and Ryan Day at Ohio State. As Fickell coached extensively at Ohio State, including his last 4 years under Meyer, he is well versed in the offense that Meyer used and now Denbrock has multiple years of experience running that same offense to great effect. The same offense that suits our greatest recruiting strength which is up front along the offensive line and tight ends. Urban Meyer and Ryan Day use that offense because they are great coaches and know it works. That offense needs to be brought to Notre Dame. And Denbrock is the absolute best person to bring it to Notre Dame.
He is an experienced expert in OC'ing the offense we need, a great recruiter and a personality fit. I would give Denbrock whatever he needs to get him here, let all the other offensive coaches know that Denbrock is in charge, and hand over the reigns.
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