I was in favor of the hire, but like everyone here - not so sure anymore. I'm not on the "Freeman is dead man walking", but not excited as before either. My biggiest concern, now looking at the whole picture is the "Players Coach". It's one thing to hang out with the guys, lift with the guys, run with the guys - when you are a coordinator. That's probably a pretty good thing, knowing there is a head coach that they "fear" a little. You can be the "good guy" D-Coordinator and he can be the hammer. Once you are the head coach, players need to "fear" you a little bit. I am not sure, once you are the "cool guy we hang out with", you can change stripes and become the guy we "fear" a bit. Time will tell.
(no message)
Maybe what we've already seen is the worst we'll ever see from him and he'll go on to be an all time great, or maybe this is as good as it will ever be with him. None of us know and pretending otherwise is pure foolishness.
What we can honestly and legitimately do right now, is talk about where he is right now, based on what we've seen so far. I don't think there's anything wrong with being honest and saying right now he's in over his head (it's just the truth) but giving him more time to see if the game slows down for him so to speak and things start to click.
One example I'll give of something I've observed is how he reacts when something goes wrong. When you watch other experienced high level coaches, the vast majority of the time when something goes wrong they are the first one to see it and already have a corrective action/method in mind before the dust of the play has even settled. They know immediately who missed what assignment, who loafed, who needs to be put in or pulled out, if it's a situation where they need to be in a players face and B-line straight for them, or know exactly what they want the assistant on the headset or in front of them to change, like right now. There is no hesitation in them thinking about what they should do, it's they see it and then react to it right now, based on their years of experience combined with level of coaching ability.
When something goes wrong for us and they show Coach Freeman, you can see the gears turning as he's still trying to figure out what even happened and then pondering or even asking assistants what they should do...recommendations I'm sure, with him making final call, but still. Not that it's never ok to get recommendations from assistants during a game (during timeouts or other lulls in action I would expect this) but in large recommendations from assistants should come during the week, during the game (most of the time) the HC (Field General) should be observing, knowing exactly what he's seeing on the spot and issuing timely, clear and concise orders, not standing there trying to find out what even happened and wondering what he should do about it.
I could be wrong, but that is a major problem I believe I see occuring.
(no message)
Why don't these guys play hard for Freeman? Get to the root cause of that and fix it and then progress can be made.
And then seeing the OL succeed against them all offseason, they thought they also had an elite OL.
Maybe now they know what they have and can make appropriate adjustments. That's my wishful thinking anyway.
He talks a bit about this. Mentions how MF has brought in a lot of love and the culture benefited. But, he also needs to be able to pick up holding the players accountable and not be afraid to get in some faces
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0B5PpX-sCk
(no message)
(no message)
think the biggest issue is offensive scheme. If talent were the issue, the guys that left wouldn't be starting in the NFL. I can remember years ago people talking about the lack of a great ground game when we had Martin, McGlinchey, Nelson, etc. Occasionally, an RB would bust one but I remember a lot of run plays going for 0 to 1 yard. Wtf?? They go to the NFL and these guys are studs. It has to be a combination of Kelly's offensive scheme/formations and probably technique which still has a big imprint to this day since Rees is running the show. Our O line hauls are always ranked very high. Can't imagine the recruiting services all missed on these guys. The talent is there and they are experienced.
I would agree the biggest deficiencies where ND isn't as talented or deep as some of the other big programs is QB, WR, MLB. QB is deficient period. WR has talent but just thin with the depth and experience. MLB's are slow.
Just based on watching two games. Alt has been good for two games; Patterson was OK in his one game; Correll has been a disappointment - I thought Hall dominated him in the OSU game and he wasn't much better vs. Marshall. The right side is bad. Lugg is lost. Fisher needs inside help a few times and Lugg has no idea. The two don't communicate. Fisher is coming off an inusry - so i get it, but Lugg - WTF. He's not good. Time will tell. It's a big move Left to Right - but I'd move Spindler to Right Guard and let him and Fisher start playing together for the next 3 years. Let Coogan play for Correll. Then you'd have 3 sophmores. They'd have issues, but they'd be together for 3 years. Can't be worse then this group with Lugg and Correll.
But supposedly - they have NFL draft potential in - Isaiah Foskey, Cam Hart, Brandon Joesph, Mike Mayer, Jarret Patterson, Jayson Ademilola, Rylie Mills, Marist Liufau. SUPPOSEDLY.
we lack an elite back, and our OL is as bad as last year despite their recruiting credentials. Our DL is somewhat small in the interior and susceptible to getting worn down if on the field all day, but we still have given up an average of only 20 points in the first two games.
Losing Tyler was the very worst thing that could happen. I've seen film breakdown and analysis by people a lot smarter than me pin pointing terrible technique, lazy play, poor tackling attempts, TE blocking issues, bad play calls etc etc etc.