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New DC is confirmed



Looks like a young colonel Klink...Jimmy Hogan should love him
 
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Honesty have no idea how to feel. Just seems
Like RU went typical with cheap hires. A 28 year old OC with no experience and a DC whose defense has just gotten curb stomped and has no proven record as a successful DC.

Anyhow. Hope they pan out and are great coaches who can develop and recruit.
 
lets hope it will be ash's defense and this guy will just make sure the scheme gets executed, the bowl game against boise state was a disaster for him
 
Honesty have no idea how to feel. Just seems
Like RU went typical with cheap hires. A 28 year old OC with no experience and a DC whose defense has just gotten curb stomped and has no proven record as a successful DC.

Anyhow. Hope they pan out and are great coaches who can develop and recruit.

So this man's entire body of work is invalid because of one poor game? I mean, he did lead a team to 3 conference titles in 5 years. He shut down tOSU. I guess these things count for nothing. I swear, I lose so many brain cells on this board.
 
So this man's entire body of work is invalid because of one poor game? I mean, he did lead a team to 3 conference titles in 5 years. He shut down tOSU. I guess these things count for nothing. I swear, I lose so many brain cells on this board.
okay look at the season, his defense gave up an average of 28 points per game, not exactly a "shut down defense", like I said lets hope its ash's scheme and he is here to make sure it gets executed
 
Sounds good - another Iowan - who also coached at Drake where Ash played. These guys know each other a long time. RU told Ash to "build it" and now they're coming. Salt of the earth types. Bet Coach N does LBs too. His son just made All State and is 3* LB committed to Iowa


"Veteran defensive coordinator Jay Niemann returns for his fifth season running the Northern Illinois University defense and coaching the safeties.

During Niemann’s time at NIU, the Huskies have won the MAC West title each season and claimed three Mid-American Conference championships while boasting one of the best defenses in the league.

The 2014 season saw the Huskie defensive unit force 24 turnovers and hold six opponents to 17 points or less. Six NIU defensive players earned All-MAC honors last season under Niemann’s guidance, including first-team selections Jason Meehan and Paris Logan.

Niemann’s top defensive pupil at NIU, safety Jimmie Ward, wrapped up a stellar collegiate career in 2013 and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. The 30th overall pick, Ward led the Huskies in tackles in each of his final two years, recording 95 tackles and a career-high seven interceptions in 2013 and 104 stops with three interceptions in 2012.

In 2012, the NIU defense held five opponents to nine points or less en route to a second straight MAC title and a historic berth in the 2013 Orange Bowl. The Huskie defensive unit totaled 40 sacks in 2012, second all-time at NIU.

In all, Niemann’s defense has produced seven players who signed with NFL teams in the last four years. In addition to Ward, Rashaan Melvin, Alan Baxter, Sean Progar, Ken Bishop, Joe Windsor and Pat Schiller have signed with NFL teams since 2011. Ward, Melvin and Bishop - another 2014 draftee - saw action with the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys, respectively, in 2014..."
 
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So this man's entire body of work is invalid because of one poor game? I mean, he did lead a team to 3 conference titles in 5 years. He shut down tOSU. I guess these things count for nothing. I swear, I lose so many brain cells on this board.

NIU defensive YPG ranks the last five years - 86th, 59th, 79th, 40th, 88th. Only once (in 2012) did they average allowing less than 25 PPG. Before NIU his only FBS experience was a year at Washington.

I've given Ash the benefit of the doubt - and actually liked - a lot of his hires, but this one is kind of underwhelming.
 
NIU looked 100% uninterested during that game, both sides, after losing MAC title game.

His D held OSU to 20.
you are referencing one game, look at the season, gave up an average of 28 points and as another post shows above, his defenses have been bad for many seasons, nothing here to like, only hope that it will be ash's defense and not this guy
 
NIU bowl appearances pre-Niemann: 5; NIU bowl appearances with Niemann: 4 (including an Orange Bowl). I'm not jumping for joy, but I think we could have done munch worse.
 
So this man's entire body of work is invalid because of one poor game? I mean, he did lead a team to 3 conference titles in 5 years. He shut down tOSU. I guess these things count for nothing. I swear, I lose so many brain cells on this board.
Yea great. You obviously haven't looked at his entire career. His defenses over his career have been average at best in a horrible conference. Take off your scarlet colored glasses and realize this is a cheap hire. If you don't realize this is a stretch then perhaps you need to get more brain cells installed.
 
you are referencing one game, look at the season, gave up an average of 28 points and as another post shows above, his defenses have been bad for many seasons, nothing here to like, only hope that it will be ash's defense and not this guy

Well OF COURSE it's going to be Ash's D, he's already said as much, several times, so this guy is essentially hired as a "manager" of the D which, IMHO, is fine. BTW a couple of his D's at NIU were actually pretty good.
 
Hrm.

I've been largely positive on Ash's hires, and still giving him the benefit of the doubt... but this hire is harder one for me rationalize.

The year before Niemann got to NIU, they were 14th nationally in scoring defense and 26th in total defense. They led the conference in scoring defense, and were 3rd in total defense. His first year, the scoring defense dropped to 85th nationally (9th in the MAC) and the total defense dropped to 88th (also 9th in the conference).

The following year it rebounded a bit (21st scoring def, 40th total def), but then it slid back the next two years... and slid further this past year.

This is what SBNation had to say in their 2015 preview:

NIU's philosophy under Jay Niemann, the Huskies' coordinator for the last four seasons, has been simple: give up the short stuff and swarm when the opponent makes a mistake. During their 2012 Orange Bowl run, they combined huge havoc numbers (102 tackles for loss, 84 passes defensed, 16 forced fumbles) with solid big-play prevention. At their best, they've been among the nation's best at taking advantage of miscues.

After falling from 59th to 101st in Def. S&P+ in 2013, NIU rebounded to 80th. Considering most of the growth took place in the second half of the season, that could be reason for excitement. NIU was much worse than normal in the red zone -- after allowing just 3.9 points per scoring opportuniy in 2013, the Huskies allowed 4.9 -- but began to figure out ways to get off the field thanks to a decent pass rush and aggressive corners.

Considering the overall level of experience, it isn't crazy to assume NIU's defense will improve again; the Huskies return seven of their top eight linemen, five of six linebackers, and eight of nine defensive backs.

It didn't improve in 2015, even though it returned ten starters on defense.

This has been the biggest head scratcher hire for me so far - still reserving judgement until I see what gets put on the field, and understanding that this will largely be Ash's defense and Niemann is just shepherding it, but I don't really understand this one.
 
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Our OC and our DC made 116K and 165k, respectively at their previous gigs. It's quite possible that our new guys will collectively make less than our previous OC/DC duo.
 
Our OC and our DC made 116K and 165k, respectively at their previous gigs. It's quite possible that our new guys will collectively make less than our previous OC/DC duo.

Which would make sense considering Ash is adding more positions and increasing staff.
 
2.75 million doesn't get you much these days.

This seems like a plan B or plan C hire at DC.

Yeah, this hire doesn't fit the profile of having a high level of achievement in a previous role and/or having played/coached in the BiG; which is what all the other hires have had.

This pick smells like Ash got a "no thanks" from other candidates first. I guess the biggest positive is that there "will be alignment" with Ash because Neimann is known to Ash and will probably run the D that Ash wants.

Other that that, Neimann's track record kinda sucks. This is a WTF hire.
 
okay look at the season, his defense gave up an average of 28 points per game, not exactly a "shut down defense", like I said lets hope its ash's scheme and he is here to make sure it gets executed

Stats are fun.

His team also averaged giving up 18 points a game the year prior. I wonder if lord Schiano has ever averaged 28 points a season.
 
you are referencing one game, look at the season, gave up an average of 28 points and as another post shows above, his defenses have been bad for many seasons, nothing here to like, only hope that it will be ash's defense and not this guy
Stop being obtuse. First of all using another negative poster as an ally does not make your negative comments any more real..

Second, let's just go with what we know. Schiano was a killer DC at Miami with a boatload of talent. He came here and got whupped repeatedly for a few years. When he did have enough talent he looked like a Defensive wizard again.

Third, of course this will be the Defense Ash wants to run but it can be Schiano, Ash, Neiman or god himself calling the Defense and it will only work when we have either veterans who have developed or young studs to execute it. A combination of both is always good..
 
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You can throw this guy's stats out the window - that's not why he was hired.

He's here because Ash trusts him to run the D that Ash wants. There are positives and negatives to this as well. But really, as long as Ash focuses on D and stays the hell away from the O, we should be OK.
 
While I understand the concern of some the real question is can he run the Ash defense - which gave up 14 point per game, 127.3 yards rushing per game, 176.2 yards passing per game, 303.5 total yards per game, and 4.4 yards per play. So I will take that defense as our new stat to work towards and not the new DC stats.
 
You can throw this guy's stats out the window - that's not why he was hired.

He's here because Ash trusts him to run the D that Ash wants. There are positives and negatives to this as well. But really, as long as Ash focuses on D and stays the hell away from the O, we should be OK.
Absolutely correct. If you question this hire then you have to wonder what kind of defensive coordinator Ashe was at tOSUI...For my money I have to believe in this hire because I think Ashe is on the right track..
 
He needed a guy who was already familiar with the scheme including terminology, proper alignment, techniques, and adjustments. The guy had to be a good teacher -- which obviously he is because he taught Ash. He also needed a guy he could trust. This guy fits the bill.

Xs & Os wise, Ash will probably be designing the game plan.

My bigger concern would be his ability to recruit.
 
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this guys defenses have a Rossi type numbers resume..and from MAC,,LOOKS like a cheap way out hire.
 
You can throw this guy's stats out the window - that's not why he was hired.

He's here because Ash trusts him to run the D that Ash wants. There are positives and negatives to this as well. But really, as long as Ash focuses on D and stays the hell away from the O, we should be OK.
Thank you. Reason prevails. Someone he trusts to execute his defense, allowing him to concentrate on being CEO/head coach.
 
Not sure what I think of this hire. Smells of settling for a second or third choice since this guy could have been announced earlier. Assume HCCA heard back from someone else that they would not be accepting an offer. Still thinking there has to be a local guy or two on the staff but the number of openings is dwindling quickly.
 
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