LordGrantham

January 12th, 2014 at 7:50 PM ^

I predict that Borges will be hired by another team quickly, do reasonably well there but not great, and as soon as he has even minor success, people here will shit their pants and claim that we made a mistake firing him.

Also, if Brian Kelly decides to hire Al Borges, I will eat my shoe, tape it, and post it on here.  There is no way that ever happens.

Joined: 01/01/2014

MGoPoints: 15404

SF Wolverine

January 12th, 2014 at 8:04 PM ^

But this does not strike me as a Kelly-type hire.  He seems to go for younger coordinators; Domers think this demonstrates his insecurity.  Also, FWIW, I think next year is going to be a bit of a challenge offensively for the Domers.  Breaking in Golson (who likely has higher upside than Rees), and  losing some skill players to the draft (Atkinson/Daniels/Niklas).

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 24866

phork

January 12th, 2014 at 10:26 PM ^

Atkinson was buried on the depth chart, no loss there.  Daniels isn't gone to the draft, he will be back for the fall.  The killer is Niklas.  Great blocking TE and was just coming into his own as a pass catching threat.

Next years offense will finally get some of the roadblocks removed (Rees etc) and Kelly can start using the full playbook.

Joined: 11/01/2009

MGoPoints: 4486

tmzenn

January 12th, 2014 at 9:22 PM ^

We can't change the past. I believe, whether Al was a good coordinator or not, he was not the right person to lead our offense. One point I really did not care for with Al was when things started to go bad, he would always blame it on our players not executing the plays correctly. I think that kind of talk just pushes our players down more when what they really needed was motivation and proper coaching. 

Joined: 10/11/2008

MGoPoints: 311

Cold War

January 12th, 2014 at 9:25 PM ^

Those most anxious to fire Borges will find a way to be furious with Brandon or Hoke if he has success elsewhere. 

Joined: 01/15/2012

MGoPoints: -3144

gord

January 13th, 2014 at 1:05 AM ^

It's actually stupid for ND not to interview Borges (even if they have no intention of hiring him).  Get his ideas about what he would do with the offense, how he would attack Michigan's defense, etc.  He might give them a few good ideas.

Joined: 11/02/2013

MGoPoints: 8104

gord

January 13th, 2014 at 11:21 PM ^

Borges game planned against Michigan's D every day in practice.  Bring him in for an interview, ask him what he would do with the offense, how he would attack Michigan's defense or any other common opponent.  He can refuse to answer or he can lay it all out.  Borges gives a bunch of good tips for a couple of hours and ND says that he was in their top 4 but they decided to hire someone else and all of a sudden Borges doesn't look so bad when another school hires him.  An interview would be mutually beneficial to both parties even if they both know he won't get the job.

Joined: 11/02/2013

MGoPoints: 8104

ca_prophet

January 12th, 2014 at 11:13 PM ^

That said, Borges knows the WCO and its passing tree in his sleep, and blending a spread offense with those pass routes should be straightforward and effective.

Joined: 09/07/2010

MGoPoints: 7004

Danwillhor

January 13th, 2014 at 7:02 AM ^

but I've always wondered how SC gathered this following of people who think he is some football genius. I know he has openly said he has never claimed to be so it's not on him, in my mind. No offense to him but SC has never said anything remotely special (neither have I, btw) but somehow posters act as if his words and opinions are the end all. It's fascinating,really. While I appreciate the thoughts of SC, I have to admit I feel the same about Magnus. Again, no offense! On this blog I am a mere worm to their Eagle reputations (no joking or sarcasm as I am at best tolerated if not ignored). That said, his evaluations are always obvious and (from this football mind opinion) often glaringly wrong. Others coach football on here (I hope) or have and I'm surprised fewer notice or speak up. I think Magnus coaches or did, right? Well, others do or have and in my case alone I tend to agree with him about half the time with the others leaving me thinking "wtf is he seeing here?". I LIKE THEM BOTH! I truly do! I have no ill will toward either. I just don't get the following and fawning over their every word. In a way, it's unfair to them outside of Magnus due to his blog/lining to it here. I wouldn't want it, to be honest (the fawning and sometimes genuine hate, not the blog). I like both, just don't get the following.Regarding SC and Borges, I don't think a man's job was a game to be won by factioned fans so I note his backing of Borges even against all obvious logic/facts/events but I won't brag like I won when Borges was fired. Nuss could have his head on the block in a year for all we know. I just think it's a monster upgrade in almost every facet.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

Dontfakeitfunk

January 13th, 2014 at 11:58 AM ^

The MGoBlog community (rightfully) values in-depth analysis that digs much deeper than the MSM allows for. Brian is almost 100% to credit for this and it's a breath of fresh air compared to the majority of other sports coverage/forums/blogs you will find. Given the unique climate on MGoBlog, much respect is given to posters who spend significant time articulating their thoughts on various topics. While it is healthy to have counter opinions and discourse there are certain posters who manipulate the MGOatmosphere. It's to a point where if a poster authors long essays stating the same thing over and over in slightly different wording they obtain respect. People start to gloss over these diatribes, because obviously, and then a herd mentality starts to take over. The way SC has learned to survive is to make everything so cluttered and extravagant that people just give up. Random posters then scan through threads and figure "well this dude just wrote a novel and his detractors wrote two sentences so ill side w/SC. Plus I have to get back to my desk before I read all of this and my coworkers think I've got major bowel issues." No disrespect. I just don't buy a lot of the BS thrown around here way too often. /rant over

Joined: 11/10/2013

MGoPoints: 123

Danwillhor

January 13th, 2014 at 6:30 AM ^

If nd mostly has an offense of upperclassmen/players not learning as they play, etc. It would work out ok if Al also stops coaching QBs. As a play caller, with pieces that have no abhorrent deficiencies, he is good! Just don't ask him to work around extreme youth, coach up your QB or much else but call plays he designed with players that are at least average and comfortable on the field knowing what they're doing. haha. Basically, he had a certain set of skills. Building a bitchin' offense around players that are young or need a bit of coaching or game planning around are not on that list.

Joined: 12/02/2008

MGoPoints: 8609

MgoRayO3313

January 13th, 2014 at 9:34 AM ^

The problem with ND and their offense is they have been all over the place as far as play callers and play calling scenarios the past few seasons.

Kelly called plays. Then someone else did briefly, only to have Kelly do it again. Then Kelly gave it up but still wants to call plays in the redzone. Supposedly their O-line coach calls run plays and their OC calls the passes. As of now I think Kelly still has the final say in the redzone.

This all comes across to me as extremely confusing. Personally I would not really want to be an OC in a system like this unless I had more say over what plays are actually called.

Joined: 11/05/2011

MGoPoints: 1558

GoBlueGladstone

January 13th, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^

I'll say it 'til the day I die, Brandon should have breached right after UTL2. We can handle the economic blowback. I mean, we charge for school visits to the Big House now. Dolla, dolla billz!

Joined: 02/02/2011

MGoPoints: 599

Blue in Yarmouth

January 13th, 2014 at 1:06 PM ^

I would love this, but since I'm not and wish Al nothing but the best I hope this is false. 

Good luck to Al, but hopefully it isn't in South Bend. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Imagine coaching with that purple faced leprechaun. what a nightmare that would be. You can do better Al.

Joined: 02/18/2009

MGoPoints: 6522

GoBlueGladstone

January 13th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^

No personal bitterness towards Gorgeous - it just didn't work for any number of reasons. Figuring out what works is the coach's main responsibility and it didn't pan out in A2 for him. Good luck and no animus. But...if couldn't correct course with the guys we had, it wouldn't bode well for a qb that will have to be re-coached up just to continue on the curve he had in his previous offense before suspension.

Also, I want everything, I mean everything, to fail at Notre Dame.

Joined: 02/02/2011

MGoPoints: 599