Haywood Moving Up
posted by Mike Coffey
EsPN is reporting Fighting Irish offensive coordinator (and alumnus) Mike Haywood is going to get his first head coaching job at that long-time Cradle of Coaches, Miami University in Oxford, OH.
Congratulations to Mike, who hoed a long row to get his shot. We'll be keeping an eye on the RedHawks next season, and wish him all the best.
Congratulations to Mike, who hoed a long row to get his shot. We'll be keeping an eye on the RedHawks next season, and wish him all the best.
Labels: notre dame football alumni, notre dame football coaches
11 Comments:
Let's face it, this could be a good thing. It's always easier (and looks better) to say goodbye on pleasant terms than it is to have to fire someone. Not saying Haywood was definitely getting axed, but given the lack of significant offensive improvement this year, and Weis' reclaiming of the play calling role, you have to believe that the now former OC was on thin ice at best.
I wish him the best of luck in his new job as a HC. Here's hoping we can get a top notch replacement.
Enjoy tomorrow's game, everyone!
Speaking as a Redhawk alumnus and fan living in Seattle (and long time Notre Dame football fan since I was about 8 years old) I wish Mike Haywood all the best! Classy man and coach, who is in a good spot at Miami U. Go Redhawks, Go Irish.
Clue train for ND fans focused on the negative . . .
"lack of significant offensive improvement this year"?
I just shake my head when I see that false hyperbole.
Here's some data highlighting ND's offensive for 2008 compared to 2007 for you:
Good:
+ Jimmy Clausen improved his average Passing Efficency Rating 35 points/game (from 83.5 in 2007 to 120.6 in 2008)
+ JC had 1500 more in total passing yards than in 2007
+ 124 additional passing yards PER GAME compared to 2007
+ 1.5 yards per attempt
+ 2.25 yards per completion
+ 13 passing TDs
+ 1 passing TD per game
+ 460 yards total rushing compared to 2007
+ 35 yards per game rushing
+ from 2.1 yards/rush to 3.4 yards/rush (over 50% improvement)
+ from 16.4 points/game in 2007 to 22.7 points/game in 2008 (33+% improvement)
+ increased rushing 1rst downs from 73 to 84
+ increased total 1rst downs from 187 to 227 (+20%)
+ decreased sacks from 58 to 18 (70% reduction)
-----------------------
Bad:
+ 1 Interception per game
Now tell me again, where do you see a lack of significant offensive improvement in ND's 2008 offense? I think you forgot to look at the actual numbers (ie reality).
ND was atrociously terrible in 2007. ND improved across the board in 2008. JC just needs to fix his turnover habit.
I seriously doubt Weis would have fired Haywood. Weis has been working with Haywood to support his ambition to be a head coach for the last two seasons.
Has Weis had a lot of Assistant Coach turnover? No. Not even close.
Congrats to Coach Haywood for earning this opportunity. He's earned the opportunity. Don't soil the moment Coach Haywood has earned by insinuating something not based on reality.
The offensive improvement was evident if you look at the stats in totality. The real concern was the inability of the offense to get a first down against USC until the final play of the 3rd quarter. A well coached D1 team does not have have such an alarming lack of offensive execution. USC lost to Oregon State so their defense is beatable.
atepesm-
"ND was atrociously terrible in 2007"
And who was the offensive coordinator in 2007? The fact is, he had no where to go but up after 2007, and 2007 remains inexcusable. Good luck, Mike. Here's hoping we get someone better.
thanks to atespm for the stats. they confirm our improvement. we are still a young team and suffer as young teams often do with inconsistency.
A couple of points I think we forget when we look at our team.
1.Pete Carroll saw '07 coming back in '05 when CW was hired.
2. Urban Meyer says ND is his dream job but when he got offered it he turned it down. The real reason was probably that he also saw '07 coming and didn't take on the challenge.
3. If those two saw it coming CW also did yet he took on the challenge.
4. CW has excelled in recruiting when his predecessors complained they couldn't compete in that arena. CW has recruited the right way using the right message to the players.
5.CW has shown class over and over again. e.g. congratulating USC in their locker room after the "Bush push" and lining the team up behind Navy to honor them during their alma mater. It is these actions which speak to why ND has the fan base it does.
6.We are not there yet but we are showing improvement. As important we are doing business the "right" way. "What does it gain a university to win the whole BCS but lose its own soul."
7. Of course CW is far from perfect (so am I at least according to my kids and wife) and I haven't been drinking Blue and Gold Kool Aid. However when all is said and done CW is the best representative this team has had since Lou. We need to remember that and also remember that he was willing to take on this rebuilding task when others quailed.
ND has national appeal not just because of its win/loss record but for the way it conducted itself while winning or losing.
Thanks for letting me rant.
Happy Holidays to all.
Go ND.
With all due respect, “atepesm,” I’m actually one of the more positive people in the group. I don’t post often, but when I have, I’ve defended Charlie and the team, and implored others to look at the bigger picture and set realistic expectations as the team attempts to return itself to national prominence. I think the key word in my initial post was “significant.” You are absolutely correct in stating that the offense has shown improvement from 2007 to 2008, but as “Martin” pointed out, they really had nowhere to go but up, and I think it’s safe to say that most people were hoping for larger strides to be made this season, especially with regard to offensive line play. While it’s true that we gave up fewer sacks this season, the running game was still close to non-existent, to the point that it had to be completely abandoned in several games.
If you re-read my post, the overall tone is actually quite positive. I simply observed that Haywood’s departure opens the door for Weis to hire a new OC without the unpleasantness that inevitably comes with firing someone. I didn’t say Haywood stinks, or make any harsh criticisms, and in fact wished him well in his new position. I don’t see that as overly negative, or “soiling” Coach Haywood’s moment as you suggest.
Personally, I believe that Charlie is doing a better job than most are giving him credit, but we’re clearly not there yet. Unlike many, I was pleased that he was retained, because I think he has things headed in the right general direction. However, I agree with those who feel that some changes need to happen, especially on offense. You seem to like statistics, so before you condemn me further for being overly negative, consider the magnitude of our offensive improvement in light of these national rankings, which can be found at http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2008&div=IA&site=org:
Total Offense: #75
Scoring Offense: #86
3rd Down Conversion Percentage: #97
Rushing Offense: #99
Turnovers Lost: #101
Red Zone Offense: #116
I think Weis is doing a great job of bringing in the talent, and I still believe in the decision to give him more time to prove that he can win with that talent. I flatly refuse, however, to call the improvement that our offense showed this year “significant” in light of the numbers I just laid out for you. Maybe you feel differently, and that’s your prerogative, but I’ll stand by the statement that there was a “lack of significant offensive improvement this year.” If you honestly think that’s too negative, then frankly I’m amazed that you’ve continued to visit this site, as there are literally hundreds of other posts that are downright venomous in tone, and often laced with gratuitous personal insults and name calling.
I guess I can now sympathize with Mike Coffey, who was recently lambasted by a poster for simply trying to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. All I did was wish Haywood well, and optimistically suggest that perhaps this could turn out to be a positive thing for our team in the long run, and suddenly I’m “focused on the negative”, guilty of “false hyperbole” and “soil(ing) the moment.” There’s a difference between being “negative” and being “objective,” and I sincerely think you’ve grown so averse to even the slightest criticisms of the team that you’re reading negativity into places where there is none.
Enjoy the game tonight, and have a Merry Christmas!
The point of the original post was not that the offense improved from last year, but that a young offense improved from the beginning to the middle of the season, then got worse at the end and ended up where it started. The offense improved when it started spreading the ball in the 2nd half of the MSU game, which carried over to the UNC game. Then the problem became the 2nd half, and moving the ball down the length of the field, rather than getting a turnover and starting from the other team's 12 yard line. Clausen has not proven himself, and the ND offense still does not have the offensive line or QB leader to move the ball when they need to. The offense has been keeping this team down, and the weak schedule does not allow for a worse than 9-3 record to be a respectable program.
The point of the other post, it's definitely a good thing that Haywood left. He had the opportunity to take the reigns and make the offense effective after Weis stopped heading the offense, but he showed know clear signs of a new and improved offense with a true identity. Hopefully Weis gets somebody with a successful track record, like a guy from a smaller program that turned its offense into a machine.
I think we go after either Tiller or Fulmer and see if they'd be interested in a co-head coach/OC
it's worth a shot?
Fulmer brings us instant recruiting in the south...which is tough for us...
Tiller could come in as qb mentor for Jimmy and Dayne...
umm..Tiller only helped a couple of guys playing for the bears and saints..not too bad...
let's go for it
As a classmate of Haywood's at ND, I'm happy to see him get this opportunity, and sincerely wish him the best.
As for the rest, I think it's best to leave the hair-pulling alone. That's precisely what EsPN wants us to do among our own.
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