EXCLUSIVE: Brandon Joseph opens up about his transfer
We went one-on-one with former NU All-America safety Brandon Joseph about the reasons he transferred to Notre Dame.
EXCLUSIVE: Brandon Joseph opens up about his transfer
- Thread starter lou v
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Thanks for the article, Lou. Difficult to read, to be honest. Clearly a great guy and great player who will be sorely missed. I really wish he were more of a heel who trashed the players and coaches so it'd be easier to watch him leave, but alas.
"His dream is to be a first-round NFL draft pick, and the feedback he was getting said his draft stock was falling. He believed he would have a better chance at achieving his dream at another school, so he decided to enter the portal."
Well there we have it: evidence, in black and white, that our players are receiving feedback that our current defense is harming their NFL prospects. We now have a player on the record explicitly stating this, so any further defensive transfers or recruiting misses will now have this cloud over them. If this is now part of our reputation, then it's going to make recruiting that much more difficult.
Well there we have it: evidence, in black and white, that our players are receiving feedback that our current defense is harming their NFL prospects. We now have a player on the record explicitly stating this, so any further defensive transfers or recruiting misses will now have this cloud over them. If this is now part of our reputation, then it's going to make recruiting that much more difficult.
Thanks for the article, Lou.
He’s saying all the right things, and he made the right decision.
Bummer.
(One year and one month ago, NU was ranked in basketball and football.)
He’s saying all the right things, and he made the right decision.
Bummer.
(One year and one month ago, NU was ranked in basketball and football.)
Yeah as stated by others, difficult to read but he comes across as honest and thoughtful and made the decision that he felt he had to make.
I can't find any fault in the decision he made here given the way he talks about how it came about:
Hard to understate though that it's a blistering indictment of the current state of the program just 1 year removed from a Citrus Bowl win and West division title that we're in this state of affairs.
Fitz has got to get this turned around fast, and it's going to be a lot harder to pull off in 2022 than it was in 2020.
I don't like to pile onto a bad season like 2021 was, but the next few years are extremely important given we're opening the rebuilt stadium in 2024 probably and need to have a decent product on the field.
JON and Bajakian need to show results in the next year or we have to look at overhauling the staff.
I can't find any fault in the decision he made here given the way he talks about how it came about:
Hard to understate though that it's a blistering indictment of the current state of the program just 1 year removed from a Citrus Bowl win and West division title that we're in this state of affairs.
Fitz has got to get this turned around fast, and it's going to be a lot harder to pull off in 2022 than it was in 2020.
I don't like to pile onto a bad season like 2021 was, but the next few years are extremely important given we're opening the rebuilt stadium in 2024 probably and need to have a decent product on the field.
JON and Bajakian need to show results in the next year or we have to look at overhauling the staff.
Wish BJ all the individual success.
What hurts is that he didn't get his NU degree so won't be an alum and that when he does make it to the NFL, he'll be listed as a Domer (Skow being listed as a Domer doesn't bother me nearly as much).
Says something about his talents when Freeman was the 1st one to give him a call.
One of the few NU AAs and he will be seen more as a Domer going forward...
What hurts is that he didn't get his NU degree so won't be an alum and that when he does make it to the NFL, he'll be listed as a Domer (Skow being listed as a Domer doesn't bother me nearly as much).
Says something about his talents when Freeman was the 1st one to give him a call.
One of the few NU AAs and he will be seen more as a Domer going forward...
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Thanks, Lou. Well written, and he was obviously thoughtful with his answers. I like how he was very direct - it's all about the NFL. He takes responsibility and doesn't blame teammates/coaches/etc. If he were my son and wanted my advice, I'd say he did the right thing. No way I'd let JON get in the way of a possible NFL career.
Nothing but love for this kid.
Nothing but love for this kid.
Wow. We must have read a different article. He received no such feedback. That was his conclusion.
The worst part about this is knowing without question that he did the right thing.
And? Where does it say that his draft stock fell because of the defensive scheme he was playing in as you claimed in your post? He was told by the NFL scouts that in order to improve his draft stock HE had to become a more physical player and reliable tackler. He basically acknowledged as much to Lou in his interview.
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If that's all it is, why couldn't he do that at NU? Why does it help his draft status to go to Notre Dame?
Exactly. The truth hurts. Sometimes it’s easier to blame others than to look in the mirror.
He did look in the mirror. Lou mentions specifically in the article that he saved the most pointed criticism for himself and then listed the things he could’ve been better at. Probably figures he has a better chance at fixing those things playing for a coach that helped develop last years Thorpe award winner instead of a DC who has failed every stop in his career as a DC.
Also found it interesting that the Raiders went from 26th in Passing Yards allowed in 2020 to 13th in 2021. I wonder what changes happened in their secondary room?
I realize you’ve adopted an “Eff Brandon Joseph” persona since the one-time NU All-American chose to leave for what he believes to be a better situation, but I sure hope you can read that interview and recognize that Joseph *is* acknowledging he didn’t play as well as he should have this season (“saved the most pointed criticism for himself”).
Meanwhile, he correctly draws a comparison to the defense NU had in ‘20 and the one he’ll step into in ‘22 - lots of experience, and lots of opportunity to shine.
Anyway, we get your point — you think Joseph is a Gen Z wuss who doesn’t know what hard work means.
By making the move, however, he is choosing to work both harder and smarter. I promise you, it wasn’t personal, not even against you.
Several times doing the season, I cringed watching Joseph miss a tackle. Sometimes I thought, "he has the speed, size and talent; but doesn't seem to have the want to." There's no doubt that he should have made at least 20 more tackles last season.
If only Joseph would have averaged the kind of solo tackles as did the top graded safeties in the NFL. Let's see, 21-22 season ...Justin Simmons: 60 Solo + 20 assist in 17 games and Tyrann Mathieu: 60 solo + 16 assist. Brandon Joseph, 21' season: 54 solo + 25 assist. So one might season that the NFL doesn't run defenses, in scheme and personnel, that requires a safety to make much more than 3.5 solo tackles per game. Joseph averaged 4.5 per game and could have been 6.5.
Oh yeah, remember that 2020 All-American Brandon Joseph. The one that was being speculated to be a sure first rounder? He recorded 28 solo and 24 assist tackles that year. Although the season was only 9 games, he only had to average 2.7 solo tackles. The Wildcats led the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing just 15.9 points per game — a mark that ranked 5th in the nation.
But something changed in 2021!
If only Joseph would have averaged the kind of solo tackles as did the top graded safeties in the NFL. Let's see, 21-22 season ...Justin Simmons: 60 Solo + 20 assist in 17 games and Tyrann Mathieu: 60 solo + 16 assist. Brandon Joseph, 21' season: 54 solo + 25 assist. So one might season that the NFL doesn't run defenses, in scheme and personnel, that requires a safety to make much more than 3.5 solo tackles per game. Joseph averaged 4.5 per game and could have been 6.5.
Oh yeah, remember that 2020 All-American Brandon Joseph. The one that was being speculated to be a sure first rounder? He recorded 28 solo and 24 assist tackles that year. Although the season was only 9 games, he only had to average 2.7 solo tackles. The Wildcats led the Big Ten in scoring defense, allowing just 15.9 points per game — a mark that ranked 5th in the nation.
But something changed in 2021!
I think corbi is saying that our defense is expected to leak like a sieve again this next season and thus would have provided plenty of opportunity for Joseph to demonstrate his tackling technique. JON = giver of opportunities.
The greatest abuse of college athletes is fielding teams coached by individuals that have no chance of success.
Where did I say that he isn’t blaming his coaches and teammates? That is exactly what he implied with his release announcing the transfer. I am paraphrasing but his statement said something to the effect of I look forward to playing at ND with great teammates and great coaches who can help take my game to the next level. His words, not mine. The clear implication being that he didn’t have great teammates and coaches at NU that could help take his game to the next level.
News flash Brandon, you are the guy who needs to put in the work to take your game to the next level. Point thumbs, not fingers.
What do you make of the “saved the most pointed criticism for himself” part. It sounds like he’s pointing thumbs.
It was the right move for him. I am sad he couldn't accomplish his goals at Northwestern.
Save your breath. Joseph could be the next Ronnie Lott after improving during his ND year and Corbi will never admit he was wrong
