Mickens
has been an absolute beast of a position coach (recruiting, development). Freeman said he's ready to step up. So what's the probelm?
Replies to: Mickens
What I don't understand is ND took a chance on Marcus and I love the guy. Why doesn't he take a
chance on Mickens?
As someone who lived it first hand, he probably gets it better than anybody and has been echoing for
three years now "There is NO substitute for experience.".
Obviously he's glad he got the opportunity, but he also had a very rude awakening just how unprepared he was with his lack of experience. Fortunately he is a special kind of person who had the ability to go through the pressure and come out the other side stronger rather than broken..a diamond in the rough if you will.
Good leaders set their people up for success and he likely doesn't want to put someone else in the position he was in unless absolutely necessary.
We should trust the judgment of someone who has walked through the fire and lived to tell the tale.
He could be a Clark Lea-type hire
Lea learned how to call a great game and develop a great plan under Mike Elko, so it's quite possible Mickens learned similarly from Golden.
He might be best served by taking a DC job at "smaller" place
His college coaching experience is as follows:
2011 Cincinnati (DA)
2012 Indiana State (DA)
2013 Idaho (CB)
2014–2017 Bowling Green (CB)
2018–2019 Cincinnati (CB)
2020–present Notre Dame (DB)
He clearly is a wonderful CB coach. Freeman may feel he needs more experienced (than he is) Coordinators as he grows into being a better head coach. Having to look over Micken's shoulder as a "new" DC might be more than he wants to do. WE also have a pretty green group of defensive players and Freeman may feel he needs someone with more experience at running an entire defense than Mickens has.
A DC “step up” at ND is a bigger step, esp w what they have coming back
EVERYBODY has a learning curve . We have endured too many though.
It’s a tough call. He might be a great in game play caller. But he may not…
Do we really have to be put in a position to find out?
But if he isn’t the new or co DC, we lose him pretty quick. Maybe even now.
No right or wrong answer until it’s obvious AFTER the fact.
I like that Freeman is taking his time here. The Gerad Parker hire likely sticks in his memory.
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100%. The complication here is potentially losing Mickens.
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When an assistants group performed so well they’re going to go, part of the process. I trust Freeman
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Pottymouth!
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Fixed - darn these phones!
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Nahh, he just misspelled shit.
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