I'm okay with Freeman as coach (for now) and it would be bad to not let Leonard start
As bad as Leonard has played in two games (and we can argue whether it's him, the scheme or both), you just can't bench him as the starter just yet. But if the offense is sputtering into the 2nd quarter, you can and have to bench him at that point.
As for Freeman, I don't know whether he hamstrings his O coordinators or gives them too much free reign. My best guess is the latter, but I could be wrong. I can't see Denbrock, with all his experience, not being the chief architect of what's going on.
I also don't buy that the team "wasn't prepared" or didn't play with heart. I always hate that line of thought. The struggles of the offense was the bottom line, period.
In any event, I believe the problems on offense are indeed fixable this year. But the coaches have to take honest inventory of what they are doing. Hopefully they are.
Replies to: I'm okay with Freeman as coach (for now) and it would be bad to not let Leonard start
I think Leonard has to be benched as starter.
There are too many talented guys waiting to play. And with the transfer rules these days, why wait for the team to go down the crapper before making a change. Elite qb’s are going to bolt for schools where they can play . . . And win.
I was never that impressed with Leonard at Duke so I don’t fully understand the thinking. He is a good runner but the arm, not so much.
I disagree, he needs to be sent back to Duke.
He was brought in to win a NC, that isn’t happening so he’s just taking reps needed for others
Did he come with a return label?
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You're a lone man on a sinking ship.
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I've brought up the Sandy Koufax and Tom Osborne analogies here several times
I'm not saying it's okay to have the offense crap the bed several times the past three years. I'm saying (and a few others also said) you can judge Freeman after three full years.
Say the coaches get it figured out, start Angeli/Carr the rest of the year and run the table. You still gonna say he was the wrong hire?
Harbaugh had the full hate of Michigan fans for three years, got a little bit back year 4
than took them to the top in year 5. Or was it year 5 and 6, not sure. Now it is nice to see them crying again. Sadly, right now we are too.
Then discovered cheating with Stallions and they became elite..
also keep in mind we had already seen Harbaugh make Stanford elite and take down Pete Carroll's mighty SC...also he had success in the NFL.
So he's a known commodity...waiting on a known is different than waiting on an unknown like Freeman.
Hah, good one, I love your wit. I did not think of that regarding Harbaugh's proven success I know
I thought he was a good coach all along and would eventually get them there and he did. His players are always tough and he knows how to win with any QB he has been dealt. He gets the most out of his QBs with the talent they have. He is also a master at play calling.
I just want to clarify one thing...I have no hate towards Freeman and I won't even if he's fired..
I have however lost belief in his ability to do the job. The development that should have occurred in him by now as a HC, just has not. That doesn't mean it can't, but I'm highly doubtful.
And those were both correctly shot down.
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at what point in time does this argument end?
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Only when MarkHarmen decides, which may be a while
since his born loser mentality needs the inexperienced guy to prevail so he can feel better about some job he thought he deserved, or whatever his sob story was.
I want Freeman to succeed for a multitude of reasons, none of which have do with some vicarious benefit I'll get. Right now it doesn't look like that is a reality, but I still hope he gets it turned around somehow.
If he doesn't, you pull the trigger and move on no matter how bad it hurts and then you stop taking fliers on inexperienced hires no matter how cool and likable they seem.
I respectfully think the opposite.
I'm no longer ok with MF as head coach (losing to a MAC team in his 3rd year is unacceptable). And his presser today was full of word salad. To your second point, I think it would be great for another QB to start. I never understood the hype about Leonard. He wasn't a decent passer at Duke and he isn't one at ND. Right Oldirish?
MF lost this game because he didn't have the gall to replace Leonard when he got dinged up and showed that he could neither run, nor throw. You have to replace a running QB that can't run. You could tell that after his first runs, he got dinged up. He ran for a total of 16 yards and that was at the beginning. A good coach (or even Kelly ha ha) would have replaced him.
ND has some good QBs on its roster, you know, the kind that can throw the football. It's time to use one, because it's obvious that Leonard can't throw (see Wimbush, Buchner, Jurko et al.). Saban started last year trying out a few QBs (including Buchner) during the first games before he settled on Milroe. It takes guts but he didn't hesitate. I'm tired of QBs at ND that can't pass. Coan was the last one but he was a statue. Hartman could pass but he was also good at throwing the ball to the other team. I have more faith in any of the other 3 QBs on the roster than I do in Leonard.
You risk losing the team if Leonard doesn't start against Purdue
But yes, he should have been replaced during the third quarter as Ryan Harris called for. But since they rode him till the end, benching him now sends the wrong message.
you’re joking right? You risked losing the team by bringing in a rag QB and handing him the job
Uncontested.
^ ^ ^ This.
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'You have to replace a running QB that can't run.'
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Oui.
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There is very little continuity on his teams from year to year. It’s like starting over each time.
I don’t know what it is he is building to other than get the best players you can and see what happens.
I also don’t see a discernible coaching philosophy or strategy. I believe that Kelly for a long time was more wedded to his system than using the talent you have. So that was one extreme. Freeman seems to be the other in the sense that he doesn’t seem to have a system.
Anyway, I think we’re stuck with both and if Freeman gets his poop in a group and wins out, he’ll convert a lot ofskeptics.