What coach will carry the program this year?
Denbrock. LSU was loaded when he was there but ND wasn't. Before the season started he said it would be a good offense but it would take time. He was spot on. When damn near everyone wanted a change at QB Denbrock knew what he had in Leonard. It was a big play rushing offense that took what Riley did best (run) and made it work. Whoever starts at QB is going to have some rough patches but a two loss Notre Dame team should make the playoffs. Like the NFL that's when the season really begins. Get in it to win it!
Replies to: What coach will carry the program this year?
I'll be closely watching Denbrock's use of Love, which I think has been less than stellar.
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Al Golden will be sorely missed... He was the difference in a couple of close calls last year!
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I'm optimistic. Ash a great college DC/poor HC. Better D Talent. Mickens still here.
Chris Ash was a very highly regarded DC at Wisconsin, OSU, and Texas. He was a terrible HC at Rutgers, but Rutgers sucks. Al Golden did have a better HC track record at Temple and Miami. I like the Ash hire, and think he has a similar record as DC to Knowles, who I think would have been one of the only others higher on the list.
My big concern is the interior line, but I am less concerned than I normally would be because they got a lot of reps last year.
No knock on Golden, but I've always felt Golden ran his own version of Freeman's defense. Marcus Freeman was a big pickup as DC when we got him against some pretty stiff competition, including Ohio State and LSU. Golden was a perfect hire as a steady hand at D while he learned the ropes as HC. Ash continues this trend.
Excellent points. Freeman is a great D coach. Ash has support IF he needs it.
I don’t see freeman reaching for a hire and getting stuck with a bad coach. And our d position coaches are very good too. Mickens is all world.