Tag: Mike Denbrock

On3’s Nick Schultz places Notre Dame 10th in preseason rankings

This would be acceptable.

Most college football experts agree that Notre Dame will have a good 2024 season. There’s some debate though about whether it will be good enough for a College Football Playoff berth. If someone ranks the Irish in the top 12 of their preseason rankings though, chances are they think the Irish are good enough.

On3’s Nick Schultz has released his top 25 teams entering 2024. He opted to rank the Irish 10th and explained his reasoning this way:

“Year 3 for [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] is looking like an important one at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have CFP hopes this year with some talent injected into the offense, and it’s leading to some top-10 buzz.

[autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] will likely lead the offense, and [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag] is back on defense after leading the team in interceptions a season ago. Add in new offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] – who’s back in South Bend – Notre Dame will take on a new look with a CFP run in its sights.”

There’s at least one standard for the Irish to clear. Can they do it? We’ll see very soon.

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LSU’s tight end room continues to trend up with 2025 recruiting class

LSU’s 2025 recruiting class ensures LSU’s tight end room remains one of the nation’s best.

LSU’s tight end room saw immediate improvement when [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] arrived at LSU. Kelly programs have a history of producing tight ends and it helped that former LSU OC [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] oversaw the position directly.

[autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] made an immediate impact as a true freshman in 2022. That December, LSU beefed the room up more, signing two blue-chip tight ends, including [autotag]Ka’Morreun Pimpton[/autotag]. In the 2024 cycle, LSU signed [autotag]Trey’Dez Green[/autotag], the top tight end in the class.

Now with the 2025 class taking form, LSU is continuing the trend. Last week, three-star tight end [autotag]Mike Tyler[/autotag] committed to LSU, giving LSU its second tight end of the class. He joins four-star [autotag]JD LaFleur[/autotag], who committed over a year ago.

LSU positioned itself to have one of the top tight end cores in the country this year with Taylor, Pimpton and Green,

Pimpton and Green are sill underclassmen but reports indicate they’re ready to make an impact this fall. Even if Taylor declares for the draft after a good year, LSU’s 2025 class ensures this group will remain one of most talented in the FBS next year.

Tight end play wasn’t always a highlight at LSU. The Tigers have had plenty of tight ends that get it done in the run game, but it’s hard to remember a time when the tight end group posed this big of a threat in the receiving game.

The personnel led LSU to roll with some 12 personnel and even experiment with 13 personnel in this camp.

Kelly used those looks a lot at Notre Dame and with the future looking bright, multiple tight end sets could be a staple at LSU these next few years.

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Notre Dame OC Mike Denbrock knows just how ‘chaotic’ Kyle Field can be

Kyle Field will be rocking on August 31

Unlike recent Texas A&M seasons, especially under former head coach Jimbo Fisher, the 2024 season opener vs. Notre Dame is extremely significant. It will place the Aggies on the main stage in prime time to usher in head coach Mike Elko’s inaugural campaign.

Elko, who spent the last two seasons as Duke’s head coach, is familiar with the Fighting Irish and HC Marcus Freeman, facing most of the current Notre Dame defense that will head to Kyle Field in less than two weeks, falling to the Irish 21-14 last season.

One of the new members of the Notre Dame staff, current offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, is very familiar with the challenges playing at Kyle Field presents after serving as LSU’s OC for the last two seasons.

Last week, Denbrock spoke with the local media and asked how the team is preparing for the road trip, his first trip back since LSU’s 38-23 loss in 2022.

“It’s a hornets net. It is loud. Chaotic… It is a very, very hard place for the visiting team to function, especially on the offensive side of the ball.”

With Notre Dame’s offensive line issues already posing a potential issue for the Irish offense, Texas A&M’s pass rush duo, led by defensive ends Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart, could wreak havoc in front of a potentially sold-out Kyle Field.

No. 20-ranked Texas A&M will host No. 7-ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC.

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Notre Dame’s Mitchell Evans explains the biggest difference in Mike Denbrock’s offense

More plays equals more opportunities for points right?

As we all know, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman brought in offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] to rejuvenate the offense.

During his short time at LSU, he helped the Tigers lead the nation in total yards, third in passing and first in points-per-game with 45.5. Not only that, he guided quarterback Jayden Daniels to a Heisman Trophy, which is a big-time feather in his cap.

With different personnel in South Bend, many have wondered what the Irish offense will look like this fall. In speaking with Tyler Horka, tight end Mitchell Evans gave a succinct answer, Notre Dame is going to play fast.

If all goes well, we should see the Irish operating at a much faster pace than we have seen, trying to wear out the opposing defense. There obviously will be times when Notre Dame will slow it down, but we have faith that Denbrock will bring his LSU success to South Bend.

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Mike Denbrock is college football’s second-best offensive coordinator

No pressure, Mike.

As dominant as Notre Dame’s defense is expected to be in 2024, the offense has almost equally high expectations. Much of that has to do with the return of [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] as offensive coordinator after seven years of holding the same position at Cincinnati and then LSU. But the pressure he faces might have just gotten greater.

Big Game Boomer, social media’s college football list aficionado, has released his list of the sport’s 50 best offensive coordinators for the upcoming season. Denbrock was extremely high on the list. In fact, he was ranked second:

So now, there’s really no excuse for the Irish not to have the best offense they’ve had under [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag]. If this group doesn’t make significant strides this season, a lot of questions will surface about how the Irish go after offensive talent both on the recruiting and coaching side. We’ll see how well everybody responds to these expectations.

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Will LSU take a step back on third down without Jayden Daniels?

Will LSU’s offense take a step back on third down after losing a dual threat QB?

Expectations remain high for LSU’s offense, but the pieces will be different in 2024. The Tigers have a new quarterback in [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag]. There’s a change at offensive coordinator too with [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] out and [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] stepping in.

The offense was the best in the sport last year, leading the country in yards per game and yards per play. The unit was so good that LSU rarely faced third down. But when the Tigers got there, they remained elite. LSU converted third downs at a clip of 51.72%, which was second in the country.

[autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] was responsible for most of those third downs, whether he did it through the air or on the ground. A quarterback who can do it all like that is an advantage for teams on third down. In third and short, defenses have to account for the QB in the run game. On third and long, Daniels could scramble if the defense dropped deep into zone.

Daniels’ legs gave LSU more ways of getting where it needed to go. Now, with Daniels gone, will LSU take a step back on third down?

LSU faced 129 third downs in 2023. Just 10.8% of those were Daniels’ runs. When you look at conversions, it wasn’t a huge chunk either. Just 11.8% of LSU’s third-down conversions came on a Daniels run.

LSU didn’t rely on Daniels’ legs at a high volume on third down, but when you look at the ones he did get, it’s evident how important they were. Nine of the 13 drives where Daniels scrambled or ran resulted in a touchdown.

The Missouri game was the best example of this. That’s a contest LSU likely doesn’t win without Daniels’ third-down playmaking. In the fourth quarter, Daniels converted a first down with his legs three times. The biggest highlight was a 35-yard touchdown run that added 30% to LSU’s win probability.

With LSU down four later in the quarter, Daniels picked up a third and five with just over three minutes left. LSU eventually took the lead on that drive.

But LSU’s third-down success in 2023 was largely due to how good the offense was on first and second down. An offense that led the country in yards per pass and yards per rush was rarely in third and long.

LSU’s offense will be good in 2024, but it likely won’t be as prolific as 2023’s. Denbrock and Daniels were a veteran OC and QB combo. Sloan and Nussmeier might take a second to warm up, which could lead to some third-down trouble early in the season. Nussmeier has been around, though, and I don’t expect it to be too much of a factor.

There will be times when this offense misses a QB that can run for 20 yards on third and six. Nussmeier won’t give you that, which could make LSU’s offense more predictable at times. But outside of a few big plays, LSU didn’t rely on Daniels for that much last year anyway.

It’s something to keep an eye on, but if you’re an LSU fan, I wouldn’t stress too much about the third-down offense, even with a pocket passer stepping in at quarterback.

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Garrett Nussmeier offers high praise for new LSU co-OC Joe Sloan

“I wouldn’t want to play for anyone else other than coach (Joe) Sloan,” Garrett Nussmeier said.

LSU has new coordinators on both sides of the ball entering the 2024 season.

With [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] leaving to join Notre Dame, the Tigers promoted quarterbacks coach [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] and receivers coach/passing game coordinator [autotag]Cortez Hankton[/autotag] to the roles of co-offensive coordinator.

That could prove to be a major benefit for new starting quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], who has spent the last two seasons working with Sloan directly. At the Manning Passing Academy, Nussmeier had quite a bit of praise to offer his new playcaller.

“It’s been huge just getting to work with coach Sloan and our relationship has grown over the past three years,” Nussmeier said. “He knows me better than anyone at this point outside of probably I’d say my own father who worked with my since I was a kid. But like I said, I wouldn’t want to play for anyone else other than coach Sloan.

“Our relationship means the world to me. His ability to make me have the right mental state and get me to the right playing state is what I think sets him apart. I think he does an unreal job, I don’t know that there’s anybody better in the entire country right now than him at what he’s doing and his system and what he teaches.”

Sloan’s track record is certainly impressive given his work with [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who won the Heisman Trophy under his tutelage in 2023. Nussmeier will hope he can achieve similar success while playing under Sloan.

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Brady Quinn weighs in on Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard

From one quarterback to another…

When you talk about the greatest quarterbacks Notre Dame has ever seen it doesn’t take long to get to [autotag]Brady Quinn[/autotag].  The two-time Heisman Trophy finalist now works as a college football analyst on Fox Sports and recently met projected Notre Dame starting quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] for the first time.

“He’s a big kid,” Quinn said of the 6-foot-4, 216-pound senior. “He fits the bill for that. He’s a good athlete. He’s got a strong arm. I think he’s very capable of stepping into that role and being the guy. Obviously, an experienced quarterback. He brings all those intangibles to Notre Dame.”

As for Leonard’s recovery from injury that has left Notre Dame fans a bit concerned this off-season:

“I mean, look, injuries are always a concern,” said Quinn, now 39 and a decade removed from a pro career with seven NFL teams. “Especially when you’ve got a history. I dealt with foot issues. It’s just something you have to stay on top of and keep trying to do rehab, do different drills and things to help put yourself in the right position.”

Quinn also stressed the importance of others aiding in Leonard’s ultimate success at Notre Dame as the offensive line and new offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] will be key in the offense’s overall success in 2024.

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How explosive will LSU’s offense be in 2024?

With Jayden Daniels and Mike Denbrock gone, how explosive will LSU be in 2024?

LSU was college football’s most explosive offense in 2023. It wasn’t that close either with 17% of the Tigers’ plays accounting for 20+ yards or a touchdown. The next best was USC at 13.5%.

LSU’s level of explosiveness came somewhat as a surprise. The unit was expected to be good returning players like [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag], but LSU made its money in 2022 by being efficient, even when it wasn’t explosive.

2023 was a different story. LSU came out firing and Daniels’ became the best downfield passer in the sport on his way to winning the Heisman trophy.

But a lot of the elements that made last fall’s offense dangerous are gone. Daniels, Nabers and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] are playing professional football while offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] returned to Notre Dame. All that means LSU will have a new playcaller, a new quarterback, and new go-to receivers this fall.

Explosive plays are variable from year to year. There’s some correlation, but the metric isn’t as stable than success rate and EPA. Some of that has to do with sample size. With explosive plays, you’re only looking at a select few plays across the entirety of a season.

That can make explosiveness tough to predict, especially in LSU’s case with all the turnover on offense.

However, this offense appears capable of keeping the big-play trend going in Baton Rouge. Quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], despite trying to shake the label at times, is a gunslinger. He’s not afraid to let it fly.

Receiver is perhaps a bigger question. Nabers led the country in 20+ yard catches while Thomas led the nation in touchdowns. That level of big play creation from a receiving duo is rare and nearly impossible to repeat. In all likelihood, LSU won’t get that level of production in 2024, but [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] are no strangers to the long ball.

Lacy averaged 18.6 yards per catch, which ranked third in the SEC. Daniels was even better at 19.3 yards per catch, putting him top 20 nationally.

The last time [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] was a full-time play-caller in 2020 and 2021, he didn’t show a propensity to take downfield shots. But that could be more related to the system and personnel at Louisiana Tech than anything else.

When he called plays in the bowl game against Wisconsin, Nussmeier threw 10 passes with 20+ air yards. Sloan has a QB he trusts to dial them up.

The most significant drop in explosiveness could be the run game. Last year, Daniels ripped off big runs from the QB position, ranking second nationally with 20 runs of 20+ yards. Nussmeier doesn’t have the same ability with his legs and LSU lost RB [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag], who was second on the team in 10+ yard runs.

This offense is going to score points, there’s no question about that. But the way LSU goes about doing it might be a little different. I still expect this to be one of the SEC’s top units when it comes to creating big plays, but there will be games when LSU needs to rely on the ruthless efficiency of the offensive line.

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Notre Dame OC Mike Denbrock has an interesting comp for QB commit Deuce Knight

I don’t think anyone would mind if Knight turned out to be like this player

Although coaches aren’t allowed to speak about players until they sign with their schools, that doesn’t mean that they won’t talk directly to recruits about how they feel about them.

It seems like Notre Dame football offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] really loves what he sees from 2025 quarterback commit [autotag]Deuce Knight[/autotag]. The future Irish quarterback is currently participating at On3’s Elite Series camp and got a chance to sit down with J.D. Pickell for an interview.

During their chat, Knight admitted that Denbrock has compared him to LSU quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who is just coming off winning a Heisman Trophy and being drafted No. 2 by the Washington Commanders.

It’s an extremely lofty comp, especially considering that Knight is still just a senior in high school. Either way, the expectations for him are sky high.

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