Replies to: Golden gone to Cincinatti
Golden, Chip Kelly, others content to make $2M as coordinators without the headaches of being a HC
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Golden is the reason Anthony Sacca is coming to ND. Dad Tony Sacca and Golden were roomies at
Penn State back in the day. Hope that Anthony stays! The kid is a linebacker that can also play safety. His St Joe Prep team sailed through the PA state playoffs. They handed a very good Pittsburgh Central Catholic a 4 touchdown loss in the championship game...
Happy for him
Al Golden has been a great blessing for us.
He upheld and improved the standard that Clark Lea had set earlier.
As impressed as I was with the defense this year (they bailed us out a lot of times), I was even more impressed with the fact that Golden did all of that with less than a full deck of cards.
We lost a surefire 1st round talent at CB (Morrison) and his replacement, a somewhat higher 3 star true freshman player (Moore), does just as well, that's a hell of a job of coaching, especially playing the difficult position of boundary cornerback.
We lost most of the 2-deep talent at the defensive end position, and the replacements do just as well, if not better, then that's another accomplishment in and of itself.
The defensive tackle / nose tackle positions have been thin in numbers, and injured.
We were playing a lot of true freshmen and sophomores and getting these results, that are normally reserved for veteran defenses loaded with senior and 5th year talent.
Here, Here. Wish he left on a higher note, but absolutely delivered for ND
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He was never a fan of recruiting
But he can coach. The Bengals will be better with him, and if does well he could easily become a HC.
Mickens could potentially be the perfect hire
Same as Clark Lea following Mike Elko, because both certainly would have learned how and why Elko and Golden called what they called.
Yes. He can crush recruiting also.
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Here's a better link.
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Link: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43523787/sources-notre-dame-al-golden-returns-bengals-dc
Anyone leaves for a better job, more power to them. Great Coach - thank you!
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Gr8 job, but I thought he'd stay until the rumors
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He did a great job - but since MF is a DC - maybe not as big a loss as it could be.
Good Luck Al !!!!!!!!!
I think that Freeman played a big part in the design of the ND defense
He did not just give Golden a blank slate and say go design me a defense. I believe that Freeman told him what he wanted the defensive structure and scheme to look like. Then Freeman and Golden got together and put the defensive playbook together.
Where Golden excelled was in the game day play calling. That is the artist part of being a DC. I think Mickens clearly understands the scheme. I am concerned that he does not have the experience as a play caller.
If freeman picks Mickens he will be taking a chance and need to be more
Involved considering Mickens lack of playcallijg experience.
If he doesn’t pick him he will lose him sooner.
Interesting choice. I bet freeman picks him but big experience drop off. I think the loss of experience is a big deal. Freeman knows Mickens so he must know if he is ready.
Don't agree. When Mickens had just the CBs they were elite and Safeties were decent.
When he took over whole secondary they all became elite..I'd expect that if he takes over whole defense, they'll be elite.
I'm optimistic if Mickens is the guy. As critical as Al Golden was, this was always MF's defense
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Not suggesting he won’t be good.
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Golden always seemed to make great half time adjustments also.
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Thank you Al Golden. We'll always be grateful for your great contributions to ND! Draft Irish!
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We won a lot of games this year because of the stout D. Thank you!
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Amen!!!
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So, who's on the short list or is it next man in from current staff?
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MF has shown, when he hasn't been handcuffed, that he can identify and hire
the right guys. Whomever he hires will be the right guy that fits the culture he has created.
Mike Mickens.
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^^^^^^^
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