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Link: Reasons For Optimism For Notre Dame in 2017 Are In The Numbers
and probably CB ever. Cost us three games and at least turned around 2 others. Botched punt/snap at NSState, 12 men on field in 4th quarter vs. Navy, kicking directly to one of the best KRs in nation twice at USC while actually outscoring them offensively.
Shutting out MSU late in 2d quarter only to have their punt bounce off of one of our downfield guys and avalanche begins. Repeat Stanford . Kizer's pick 6s didn't help in Stanford and USC games but STs the death knell. I am still at a loss as to how this could happen. But watching Polian over the years gives me some encouragement.
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8 of the games were a toss-up and ND lost 7 of those 8 (Miami being the one close win). As indicated by the data, the team (although bad) should have won 3 more games, meaning they would have finished 7-5 and got to a shitty bowl. It was one of those everything that can go wrong did kind of years...from the no-call on the targeting of Tori Hunter... to the fluke bounce of the punt off Miles Boykin against MSU...to the too many men on the field penalty (that shouldn't have been called) against Navy. Those 3 events likely result in 3 wins if they go ND's way.
Any improvement should mean at least 8 wins in 2017. If Kelly doesn't get there, he's done.
Would take a major off field issue for him to be gone before the end of 2018
Kelly doesn't have many defenders even now. If they lose five games next year, Swarbrick would have no constituency to keep him, and it's likely the recruiting class is falling apart. If Swarbrick kept him under those conditions it'd take some real stones, because his job would be on the line as well.
I think you are right to an extent, and people calling for his head after an 8 win season will be disappointed, but 7 or less wins and its obvious that the changes he made didn't work.
in game time decisions and planning
Lost any confidence in Kelly...and he would have to do a helluva lot to gain that back.
Frankly, I'm not expecting it...but perfectly willing to be pleasantly surprised. Ever hopeful for Irish success...
Like you, its hard for me to believe Kelly can have this renaissance.
But, if last year was a confluence of crap and they've identified the problems and have taken the steps, and it seems they have, there is evidence this team was actually ok.
Anyway, thanks for reading.
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