Chris Ash thread...

[TexanMark]

The scary thing is Ash has several eerily close parallels to GRob's hiring.

 

[timkay99]

He was the DC at Arkansas and Wisconsin.

2011 at Wisconsin - 8th in total defense pre bowl game
2012 at Wisconsin - 13th in total defense pre bowl game

2013 at Wisconsin (new DC and 3-4 scheme) - 6th in total defense pre bowl game

2013 at Arkansas - 74th in total defense

2014 at Arkansas (new DC) - 10th in total defense

What on that resume says that he is more then an elite secondary coach? Both teams got better with new DC's that he was previously at.

 

[MikeSU02]

Ash is also the DC at OSU, regardless of what his title says.

I would prefer a guy that runs a great offensive system but am open to taking a great defensive coach provided he plans to hire the right OC. That would be my first question to Ash in the interview. If he wants to hire a conservative, run based offense with a TEs and a FB, he goes in the reject bin immediately.

His rep is that he is excellent at stopping spread offenses. One would think he would therefore recognize how hard it is to defend and install it as his base offense.

My problem with Ash, or any DC, is that the team takes on the personality of the HC. The strategy is aligned to his vision.

I am sure he is a talented DC or else Urban Meyer wouldn't have him on staff.

But it has been 15 years since Freeney was here. We play in a controlled environment. We need to excite the fan base that is leaving and not being replenished.

 

[SWC75]

Ahem

Great minds...

If you think like me, you slowly read every post in an 18 page thread and respond without seeing if somebody else had the same idea first.

 

[nzm136]

People really searching for the silver linings in this poo-poo platter cloud.

1)You can;t assume anything about his recruiting when he is doing it at a school the caliber of OSU. Especially when he was never known as a fantastic recruitert prior to his tenure at OSU.
2)No one can definitively say who the "real" DC is at OSU. I am seeing people twist definitions of what a DC does just to make it seem like LF is the arm candy to Ash. For all we know, it is the other way around.
3)Whoopdee damn do, he is a great secondary coach. That will be small consolation as we are putting up 17 points per game.

This is why I like Eddie O. At the very least, the guy can flat out recruit. Worst case scenario, we are looking for a new coach 3 years from now and we have a talented team, low expectations, a newly remodeled stadium, decent practice facilities, and a membership in the ACC. I have a hard time believing that we wouldn't be a desirable target for very good coaches under those conditions.

...and that's the WORST case.

 

[N.Y. Orangeman]

2011 at Wisconsin - 8th in total defense pre bowl game
2012 at Wisconsin - 13th in total defense pre bowl game

2013 at Wisconsin (new DC and 3-4 scheme) - 6th in total defense pre bowl game

2013 at Arkansas - 74th in total defense

2014 at Arkansas (new DC) - 10th in total defense

What on that resume says that he is more then an elite secondary coach? Both teams got better with new DC's that he was previously at.

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/chris_ash_882919.html

"“We’ve competed against a Chris Ash defense before and I have respect for him as a coach,” Meyer said when announcing the hiring of Ash. “I like the fact he has experience in the Big Ten Conference and that he is a great recruiter. He was highly recommended by everyone I spoke to.”

A Midwesterner who grew up in Iowa, Ash has coached collegiately for 19 years, including 14 years in the defensive secondary and with five years as a coordinator.

Ash spent 15 years coaching in his home state and in the state of Wisconsin. The defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Arkansas in 2013 and with the same responsibilities in 2011 and 2012 at Wisconsin, Ash viewed the Ohio State opportunity as a once-in-a career move.

“I was attracted to this position because it is Ohio State,” Ash said, “and I had to wonder if I ever would have this opportunity again. This is one of the top five college football programs in the country. It has tremendous history and tradition, and it is a great academic institution.

“The opportunity to work for Coach Meyer and to learn as a part of his staff will absolutely enhance my knowledge of the game and my coaching experiences.”

Ash, who is 41, helped improve Arkansas’ pass defense by more than 50 yards in his one season in Fayetteville, with the Razorbacks’ defense finishing 72nd nationally in passing yards allowed this year after ranking 113th in 2012.

The two Wisconsin defenses Ash served as defensive coordinator for were solid. The 2011 unit led the Big Ten (conference games only) in total defense and pass defense efficiency, and it ranked fourth nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (163.6), 13th in scoring (19.0) and 15th in total defense (316.4).

Ash’s 2012 defense ranked 15th nationally in total defense (322.5), 17th in scoring (19.1), 18th in fewest passing yards allowed (193.6), 22nd in pass efficiency and 24th against the run (128.9)."

 

[SWC75]

2011 at Wisconsin - 8th in total defense pre bowl game
2012 at Wisconsin - 13th in total defense pre bowl game

2013 at Wisconsin (new DC and 3-4 scheme) - 6th in total defense pre bowl game

2013 at Arkansas - 74th in total defense

2014 at Arkansas (new DC) - 10th in total defense

What on that resume says that he is more then an elite secondary coach? Both teams got better with new DC's that he was previously at.

Last year Ohio State won the national title with a defense that wasn't much better than SU's:
http://www.cfbstats.com/2014/leader/national/team/defense/split01/category10/sort01.html
...and got far less help form their offense. Is Ash even better than Bullough, much less Shafer?

 

[Oswego93]

Last year Ohio State won the anitonal title with a defesne that wasn't much better than SU's:
http://www.cfbstats.com/2014/leader/national/team/defense/split01/category10/sort01.html
...and got far less help form their offense. Is Ash even better than Bullough, much less Shafer?

With the talent that OSU gets, the defensive rankings don't impress me.

 

[timkay99]

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/chris_ash_882919.html

"“We’ve competed against a Chris Ash defense before and I have respect for him as a coach,” Meyer said when announcing the hiring of Ash. “I like the fact he has experience in the Big Ten Conference and that he is a great recruiter. He was highly recommended by everyone I spoke to.”

A Midwesterner who grew up in Iowa, Ash has coached collegiately for 19 years, including 14 years in the defensive secondary and with five years as a coordinator.

Ash spent 15 years coaching in his home state and in the state of Wisconsin. The defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Arkansas in 2013 and with the same responsibilities in 2011 and 2012 at Wisconsin, Ash viewed the Ohio State opportunity as a once-in-a career move.

“I was attracted to this position because it is Ohio State,” Ash said, “and I had to wonder if I ever would have this opportunity again. This is one of the top five college football programs in the country. It has tremendous history and tradition, and it is a great academic institution.

“The opportunity to work for Coach Meyer and to learn as a part of his staff will absolutely enhance my knowledge of the game and my coaching experiences.”

Ash, who is 41, helped improve Arkansas’ pass defense by more than 50 yards in his one season in Fayetteville, with the Razorbacks’ defense finishing 72nd nationally in passing yards allowed this year after ranking 113th in 2012.

The two Wisconsin defenses Ash served as defensive coordinator for were solid. The 2011 unit led the Big Ten (conference games only) in total defense and pass defense efficiency, and it ranked fourth nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (163.6), 13th in scoring (19.0) and 15th in total defense (316.4).

Ash’s 2012 defense ranked 15th nationally in total defense (322.5), 17th in scoring (19.1), 18th in fewest passing yards allowed (193.6), 22nd in pass efficiency and 24th against the run (128.9)."

And the Wisconsin defense was better after he left. And there is a reason they don't dive into what Arkansas rank was in total defense.

I gave you pure stats. I have already agreed he is an elite secondary coach (which is why the pass defense improved so much at Arkansas).

He hasn't shown he is an elite DC (which is the type of coordinator you need to hire) or that he is a P5 candidate w/o previous HC experience elsewhere.

Fickel is the playcaller according to my Ohio State buddies (I went to school in Ohio, so I sadly know too many of them). They like him a lot as a secondary coach, but they have no idea if he would be a good head coach.

 

[OrangeJohn]

[QUOTE="orangenirvana, post: 1574708, member: 156"
"Tackling!"

I say "Meat!" You say "Head!" Meat! Head! Meat! Head!

Fat guys with mustaches are gonna loooooove this guy!

 

[N.Y. Orangeman]

And the Wisconsin defense was better after he left. And there is a reason they don't dive into what Arkansas rank was in total defense.

I gave you pure stats. I have already agreed he is an elite secondary coach (which is why the pass defense improved so much at Arkansas).

He hasn't shown he is an elite DC (which is the type of coordinator you need to hire) or that he is a P5 candidate w/o previous HC experience elsewhere.

Fickel is the playcaller according to my Ohio State buddies (I went to school in Ohio, so I sadly know too many of them). They like him a lot as a secondary coach, but they have no idea if he would be a good head coach.

I went to OSU as well and can tell you that this is the best defensive mind on the staff that I've seen in Columbus in quite awhile. He was a huge part of the championship last, moreso that Fickell. His coverage schemes made all of the difference last year. I'll respectfully disagree on the elite DC piece; I think he has that covered. Also, your argument on being better after he left isn't as linear as you'd claim; there are way too many variables (talent, improvement in Y2 of a coaching regime, etc.).

No one knows whether he will be a good head coach, but he has been a great coordinator and one of the top secondary coaches in the country.

 

[retro44]

Fickell is still the one calling plays though even with Ash currently there.

Ash is an elite secondary coach, no one denies that. Doesn't have much else on the resume to show he is anything beyond that.

wuuuuut?

 

[NineOneSeven]

8 hours

If we hire Ash, we hire a key, high level assistant (some say co-DC, some say de facto DC) picked by the best coach in football today, who coaches at a university 6 hrs from Syracuse (a school with recruiting relationship pipelines among the top 5 in the nation). In addition to that experience, also has worked at other football powerhouses, and is known to recruit well.
Our defense was the problem this year. He would likely improve that immediately.

Dantonio built a powerhouse at MSU. I do agree that Ash must hire someone creative to complement him as an OC. But, he comes from the coaching tree of a man that almost ran the table in the last 2 consecutive years, and won national championship with 3rd string QB. I'm confident he knows a couple great offensive minds open to take a role designing offense that can excel in the great indoors.

Get the right guy. If Urb likes him, that gives me a good feeling. Not s e xy, but I'd rather hire a winner than a splashy guy

 

[timkay99]

I went to OSU as well and can tell you that this is the best defensive mind on the staff that I've seen in Columbus in quite awhile. He was a huge part of the championship last, moreso that Fickell. His coverage schemes made all of the difference last year. I'll respectfully disagree on the elite DC piece; I think he has that covered. Also, your argument on being better after he left isn't as linear as you'd claim; there are way too many variables (talent, improvement in Y2 of a coaching regime, etc.).

No one knows whether he will be a good head coach, but he has been a great coordinator and one of the top secondary coaches in the country.

I agree he is a better defensive mind then Fickell based on everything OSU fans say and I have heard, but Fickell is the guy calling plays during the game. Ash would fix the secondary extremely quickly, but the move to tOSU was a demotion from a purely responsibility perspective, as he went from calling defensive plays at Arkansas to not calling them at Ohio State.

There are holes in every argument. Every coach has their problems. I could overlook no prior HC experience and the fact he continued a system for Frost and be okay with it b/c I desperately want an offense first HC. Hiring a Co-DC w/ no prior HC experience and the fact he isn't the one calling plays at his university would scare me.

I just don't see how Ash is an upgrade over Shafer to be completely honest.

 

[orangenirvana]

I went to OSU as well and can tell you that this is the best defensive mind on the staff that I've seen in Columbus in quite awhile. He was a huge part of the championship last, moreso that Fickell. His coverage schemes made all of the difference last year. I'll respectfully disagree on the elite DC piece; I think he has that covered. Also, your argument on being better after he left isn't as linear as you'd claim; there are way too many variables (talent, improvement in Y2 of a coaching regime, etc.).

No one knows whether he will be a good head coach, but he has been a great coordinator and one of the top secondary coaches in the country.

Are there no variables that may be responsible for Ohio State's improvement? Or are there only variables that make Ash look bad?

 

[TheCusian]

We have a soccer team in the final four, 2 NCs, 2 ranked bball teams, and both lax teams have shots at title runs. It's hard to say that non-football sports aren't doing well. We've also updated all our football practice facilities (including putting turf in Manley), we updated the Dome (to an extent), and we built the Melo Center under DG's watch. It's hard to say that DG didn't improve our facilities and raise money. Other than hire better football coaches (one was a disaster, one was pretty good, and one was a question mark) and get less unlucky with Bernie Fine accusers attracting the NCAA's attention (and the accompanying media witch hunt), I don't know what he could have done better.

Other than football, $ budget issues, NCAA sanctions, he did a good job.

Re-read that.

 

[Qbobby]

wuuuuut?

He said

"Fickell is still the one calling plays though even with Ash currently there.

Ash is an elite secondary coach, no one denies that. Doesn't have much else on the resume to show he is anything beyond that."

 

[TheCusian]

Hire Fickell and Ash as co-HC's so we double down on the horribleness.

 

[OrangeAgent]

Other than football, $ budget issues, NCAA sanctions, he did a good job.

Re-read that.

Totally agree. I always wondered why so many people complained so much. He had vision and knew how to generate the funds to make SU attractive. Although we lost I think the games at MetLife were good exposure games. If Coyle whiff’s on this hire I’m sure he’ll get the same treatment as Gross.

 

[GoCuse14]

2011 at Wisconsin - 8th in total defense pre bowl game
2012 at Wisconsin - 13th in total defense pre bowl game

2013 at Wisconsin (new DC and 3-4 scheme) - 6th in total defense pre bowl game

2013 at Arkansas - 74th in total defense

2014 at Arkansas (new DC) - 10th in total defense

What on that resume says that he is more then an elite secondary coach? Both teams got better with new DC's that he was previously at.

playing with his players?

 

[Louie and Bouie]

Come on down Mr. Ash. Young, energetic, great football mind, championship pedigree. Look forward to seeing your tenure at Syracuse University. Good luck to you if you're our man.

 

[CIL]

Ash was hired for his recruiting acumen. He is known as a great recruiter.

 

[CuseMan4]

Likely an announcement later today or tomorrow regarding football. Ash is most likely our new coach.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[phil77]

Having never coached farther East than OSU, Ash's ability to recruit the Northeast is a logical question. A quick check of his commits on 247Sports.comindicates as much. His defensive background could also rub the fanbase the wrong way given the lack of success recent similarly minded coaches have had at SU.