I'm as critical as hell about Kelly, I highly doubt that he's ever going to win a title at ND but these are excellent and unbiased points. In every big game they look lost offensively despite having plenty enough talent to score points, and that's been a serious issue all the way back to when Weis was here. I'll give my personal list of things which have to happen in order to make a serious run again at a title in 2020.
1. Notre Dame has to win BECAUSE of plays Ian Book makes, not doesn't. Book takes over and makes big plays when they count against teams that matter like Wisconsin, USC, and Clemson. Just throwing for yards and not turning it over isn't good enough.
2. The OL HAS to be one of the best in the country because Notre Dame can't win a title without a dominant OL in both pass and run blocking, again against top competition.
3. The interior of the DL stuffs the run better, so that JOK, Drew White, Jack Lamb and Shayne Simon are able to clean things up and fill the gaps in run defense.
4. Jafar Armstrong doesn't have to be JK Dobbins, but if he's healthy for a whole season and at minimum an improved version of what he was in 2018.
Didn't list the CB's because Mickens has a proven track record, and the WR's have too many bodies so someone will emerge there and my hope is that by Wisconsin the starting group is Austin, Lenzy and Keys. I'll put that defense up against anyone in the country including Alabama, Clemson, LSU and Ohio State.
Thoughts?
Link: National Championship.
Leaving Dexter Williams on the bench for three years is a perfect example. He was one of the most dynamic runners in the country, but because he apparently couldn't pass block to Kelly's satisfaction, he rarely played. We've also seen game plans against top opponents that are too conservative. Giving USC's receivers far too much respect last year is another perfect example.
The poker player Sam Farha said it best: "In order to live, you must be willing to die." Kelly needs to adopt this philosophy if he wants to win big games.
Off the top of my head: the defensive line, running backs, and quarterback.
They simply don't have the horses, let alone coaching talent, to compete on the highest level.
with the current roster.
through 8, but they have a shot if Book makes plays with both his feet and arm. We definitely can compete if playing to our potential but to win two games in the playoffs we have to be lucky and everyone has to play a little better than their normal, especially Book.
Dabo or Saban here...program any better. Yep...
Top 10 program already has only a few adjustments to be Top 5 and a NC winner. Kelly is not making them.
Fastest player in a generation is on his way here...and still we here ND doesn't have enough horses.
Clemson's Travis Etienne Rivals 3* recruit.
Clemson's Defensive beast Isaiah Simmon Rivals 3* Recruit out of lowly Olathe, Kansas.
If ND signs anyone of them back then folks would've been like....ho hum...2 more 3-star recruits.
Clemson makes studs of em and it's...why can't ND get guys like that.
Anyone seen Shayne Simon who's recruiting profile looks a lotttt like Isaiah Simmons. But 2 years and 7 appearances later...nothing.
Just another kid that just didn't pan out I guess.
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But I think we have to play "Significantly better" than the normal.....not just a "little" better
There will be 2-3 games in the regular season where we need to step up our game.....lack of a talented RB is going to put serious pressure on Book this year
That lack of a solid 1000 yd RB and depth behind him is on our coaching staff and recruiting deficiencies
If we get pass happy again it could be a less than satisfying season
IF we even get to play
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