Anyone see Chris Ash?
Would Al Golden have met with the media by now? It's going to be awkward when Ash finally does make an appearance. Players had to face the media after both losses (Bowen may have done so voluntarily after A&M). Other coaches faced that fire as well. They had to answer the tough questions. They also showed up after blowout wins. That comes with the territory. It's fair game.
It is not a good look that Ash has not been held to the same standard. It somewhat tarnishes what Freeman preaches regarding team glory. Ash's absence doesn't encompass "team". I'm unsure if you can accomplish team glory or reach your full potential by sitting out during the tough times.
Replies to: Anyone see Chris Ash?
It's simple. Lack of exposure tells the story. If no one knew Chris Ash had been hired, no one would
know he's currently with the team. That says a lot about the situation. To me, it says all you need to know.
Maybe he has a lisp. Guys with lisps don't succeed at ND. Yeah, right. :-)
(no message)
Not sure we find out what’s going on until the season is over. At a minimum
The defense does look better and trending in the up direction. I would think it was an all out effort by he staff at the order of freeman to figure this out.
What role ash has right now is anyone’s guess
There's also evidence. That's a thing. Freeman was quite emphatic Monday as to who was ...
responsible for the defensive improvement.
Question: So you're a few games in with Chris Ash. Where do you think [the defense] has improved the most on defense and what still needs some work?
Freeman: There's a lot of things that … we're greedy people like, I think I said it after the game, your standard’s perfection. And it has to be that. It's never going to be that. But you can't be okay with that, right? Like, if you're not okay with it, now you have the capacity, understanding that let's find the answers to get closer to that. But, you know, I know who created this. I think the best thing for me in these five weeks was being with Coach Ash through good times, but now for a while was tough times and saying, all right, I know, I think I know the type of competitor and person he is and leader he is, but let's see. And I wasn't surprised one bit and the ability for him to stay steady as the leader, to rally the troops, to make decisions defensive personnel wise, schematically to help us play with more velocity. That's what I've been most impressed with. And they'll continue to get better.
that does have a little Gerard Parker sound to it
(no message)
Probably on a shorter leash
The playcalling has been significantly altered, that we're not dropping 7 or 8 back into a loose zone almost every time.
If my guess is correct, Chris Ash is now in a similar situation as what Tommy Rees was in back when Brian Kelly was the HC. He can still call the play, but it has to go through Marcus Freeman.
Rees had a certain degree of freedom to make a play call, but it would have to stick to Brian Kelly's script, and at any time, Kelly would overrule.
Just as a comparison, the playcalling in 2021 was good, that we modeled the entire offense around Jack Coan's ability to make the quick read and throw, and especially since the offensive line was a mess until Joe Alt seized the LT position. Coan was a very smart QB, and a polished veteran who could make almost all of the throws.
You would think that after having had two+ years as a full time OC, Rees would know the in's and out's.
Instead, he playcalling wasn't very good at all in 2022. Rees didn't have his safety net there to help him.
Yes, the QB situation wasn't good at all (Steve Angeli as a true freshman could very well have been the best choice by default), but looking at the boneheaded calls Rees made throughout the years made everyone's hair turn a few more shades of grey.
After all, when your offensive line is blasting back the opposing front seven by several feet, and opening up gaping holes for what was one of the best 1-2 running back punch combos in the land (Estime and Diggs), it would only make sense to either run the ball straight ahead, or even use a quarterback sneak to get a 4th and inches. Even the diminutive Drew Pyne would easily have picked up those inches.
Instead, he calls a delayed handoff run to the unblocked side of the field, and as good as Diggs was, he got stuffed as he ran right into 3 defenders.
Like it or not, Brian Kelly's decades of experience covered up a lot of flaws.
If he's no longer the DC, then no reason to put him in front of the media.
(no message)
THIS^^^^^^^^^^
(no message)
The correct Answer.
(no message)
Tells you something about Ash or Freeman's confidence in Ash in a number of regards
(no message)
Good points. Freeman in charge. I am sure he decides when Ash gets to talk
(no message)
Coach Ash looked pretty active on the sideline for the Boise game.
(no message)
Maybe that's his job now.
(no message)
"Diet Coke, Coffee and clip board runner?"
(no message)