Dark horse DC candidate to replace Lea:
Chad Staggs of Coastal Carolina. His " Black Swarm " defense stopped the high-powered BYU offense, as CC has rolled to a surprising 10-0 season.
Replies to: Dark horse DC candidate to replace Lea:
Oops. Meant to post down here. Don Martindale.
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He hasn’t coached in college since 2003- why would he want to leave the pros now?
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He likes ND and he coached here under Holtz.
Why would any coach go from the NFL to college? But they do.
Probably not though, since his name is being mentioned for some NFL HC jobs (so I hear). Nothing to lose in calling his agent though.
He is reported to be the highest paid DC in the NFL at M$3.25 per year
How much of a pay cut do you think he would be willing to take to move down to the job of a college DC?
Link: https://www.si.com/nfl/ravens/nfl/ravens/news/ravens-martindale-highest-paid
Yep, that's a non-starter. I initially didn't realize that.
If he were around the average in DC salary it might have made sense. Moving on....
Derek Mason? It would make it an even trade with Vandy, and he did well at Stanford...
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for what its worth, i'll be shocked if its not Elston
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Maybe Elston prefers AHC...
If so, Freeman would be choice. If not, Elston could be DC and Freeman AHC/LB. Either way 4-2-5 (Rover) is way to go. It emphasizes smart, team-oriented players with opportunities for studs (Hamilton , JOK) to "play the field" and flourish. Although I don't completely understand why, it may also better allow in-game adjustments and allows better subbing given deeper rosters. Subbing keeps fresh legs and enhances "looks". Lea is suberb at his rotational use of players. Look at DL and LBs. Four man front applies enormous pressure on run and pass if DLs play disciplined.
While I am respectful about playing Clemson again (and again?) I am very excited we have this game Saturday, rather than stagnate for weeks as in years past. This is easily the game of the day and will pull in monster ratings.
This just in: Brian Vangorder IS available!
There is a Notre Dame opt-out clause in his contract with Bowling Green.
Pretty clear RICO Act violation...
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I would rather gouge out my eye
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It'll be Elston - Kelly's "Irish cronyism gene" will drive his decision
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Kelly did a lot of virtue signalling this summer taking part with his players in the Juneteenth ...
celebrations "in support of equality and unity." Now we see if it was anything more than virtue signaling. Cronyism perpetuates systemic discrimination. If Kelly was sincere this summer than either he hires a black DC or he signals that there are no black coaches who meet his criteria, an effectively very damaging accusation.
Since Willingham was fired, ND has not only not had a black HC, but no black coordinators. [Edit: informed by a friend who was there at the time that Corwin Brown was DC from 2007 until Weis was fired. It hardly mitigates my point.] So, Mr. Kelly, were you virtue signaling this summer or were you sincere?
Elston is likely 1/526 African so he qualifies. You know, like Warren.
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I heard Elston was arrested and jailed with Nelson Mandela once. That should count for something.
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Give me a break, get the best coach available no matter what color.
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but I think he had one or two black assistants? He also opposes sexism. Hire a woman, or else!
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The Vandy kicker may be available, she now has football experience
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Elston is reportedly a very popular coach. I really don't see promotion from within of Elston
. . . as a perceived racial slight to anyone. If ND looks outside of its program for a coach, I certainly hope qualified candidates of any racial makeup will get fair consideration. But not promoting Elston if he is believed to the be the best man for the job should not be a problem for anyone. And I predict it won't be. Who knows, though. Maybe ND was going to fire Lea after the season in favor of an African American coach. Maybe Rees's days are numbered.
OH BULL Thats one of the things wrong with this country, you pick a coach based on credentials,
qualifications. Its not about making a social statement, ND tried that ,after the O'leary embarrassment , and it blew up in their face Like any job, you advertise it, and pick the best man available , whether he's black or white...Selecting someone based the color of their skin, is not what this is about. Its about what is best for the program, and let the chips fall where they may be
How do you know there is a black coach who meets his criteria? I seriously
doubt you have a clue what his criteria is. Save your Willingham whining, he was one of, if not
the worst, and laziest coach ND ever had
Thank you for (inadvertently) supporting my position. I suspect all your posts would.
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It didn't drive the decision when he brought in Elko, . .
who brought Lea with him.
That's because Kelly was a goner if he didn't shake up the ....and I still say that it was Swarbrick
who "forced" Kelly to get some outside blood into the program; hence the Elko hire.
Sure. And they forced him to hire Joseph, and Alexander, and Taylor too?
Probably forced him to dump Long also. Right? It isn't unusual for coaches to hire people they have relations with, when they are perceived to be the right guy for the job.
I'd hate to see a DC bring a fundamentally different defense.
Isn't CCU a 3-4 based D to begin with? Don't know much about it, but I'd be afraid of a stark change from what ND has done the past few seasons. I really like what Lea has done here, . . I'd vote for continuity, if Elston is considered a candidate by Kelly.
If Elston was DC material, wouldn't Kelly have tabbed him by now?.
They've been together for years.
differing circumstances
At the time of the Elko hire, we needed a full on shake up the D from scheme to recruiting to coaching. Kelly might not have thought that was Elston's skill set. A few years down the line, the D is looking good on scheme, fit and athletes, so a full shake up isn't needed. Maybe Kelly sees Elston as very suitable to take the D, already in good shape, and keep the engine running smoothly, maybe even a few tweaks to improve it. Or it could be that he liked Elston all along, but was blown away by Elko and then Lea. Can't blame him for liking them, they did a great job. Or maybe he doesn't think Elston is best suited as a co-ordinator and we won't hear him announced as DC.
Couldn't say whether he'd be a great co-ordinator as there's no way to judge, but he's been pretty good as a positional coach and with recruiting.
Excellent points.
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Maybe. That's why I qualified my comment.
One possibility is that Kelly thought Elko and then Lea were just too good to pass on for Elston at relevant points. I certainly don't advocate for selecting someone Kelly doesn't think is up to the job just for the sake of continuity. But I like the idea of continuity at this point because I'm so impressed with what ND has been doing on defense recently.