.....and conditioning are now important and we are concentrating on them.Where the hell were they in previous years of the BK reign. How is it that he gets a pass and is allowed to reboot after his self admitted failure in all or these areas and more (how about development of a short yardage running game instead of consistently having to pass on third and short which has been a weakness in BK's offensive scheme for years). How many of you have bosses that would allow that kind of performance without consequences.
As I see things:
BK based on all reports is accepting his role as Head Football Coach of Notre Dame - NOT CEO of Football Operations. The coaching changes by all accounts has improved recruiting efforts and seem to focus on connection with players and demand excellence.
The S&C changes will take another year or 2 to really change the culture of the team and the physical make up of the team but in 7 to 9 months 18 to 22 year old's can do wonders.
,
I have faith in Elko making ND respectable on D, at times suffocating, but we will see lapses and big plays and some poor tackles along the way. Trust the process.
I pray that Chris Long goes 2 and 3 TE and 2 RB's ALOT all season. I really see great scheme mismatches with ESQ, Alize, Jones out of back field and one of the other TE's stepping up. With Wimbush at 228 lbs and Jones and Adams also 225+ and Williams at 218 isnt exactly small, along with 2 and 3 TE sets with an experienced and physical OL we need to pound the ball and use bootlegs and roll outs and throw high percentages stuff and go for the deep ball. Also with Boykins, ESQ, and Chase we have big WR who need to block to get a dynamic outside run game.
Laslty Brian Polian needs to upgrade the special teams where is a dynamic part of the team that can and will change MO of games with returns. coverage's, blocks, fakes...
Asking a lot I know and with all this said we need good health a few lucky bounces and players like D. Hayes, N. Morgan, Adams, Wimbush, Jones, ESQ, Tillery to play to the 5 star athletes they are. Do we have enough talent that is ready to play against the top 5 teams I am not so sure, can we get better as the year goes along and manage the schedule to a 2012 type season - we shall see. Temple we need to set the ton, Georgia we need to make noise, MSU & BC we need to step on throat. USC upset and enjoy the ride
Shoot my alarm clock just went off I think I was dreaming....
Saban, Meyer, Fisher, etc all have had this type post and preseason speeches. Different degrees and different focuses, but all the same BS.
BK screwed up brining back an unprecedentedly terrible DC and he butchered the QB situation last year. That's the reason ND was 4-8.
The guy spews the same rhetoric every year. "Gotta run the ball", "gotta be disciplined", blah, blah, blah. All anyone needs to know about BK: watch the product on the field (which rarely resembles what he preaches in fall camp) and what BK has done when things go wrong. Pointing fingers when things are bad, pointing thumbs at himself when things go right.
He's a politician and a system coach, nothing more.
All that matters this year is if 1) Elko and Long know what they are doing (this fan believes they do). and 2) BK stays out of their way and focuses on overseeing the program and recruiting. Which he does very well.
Those things happen ND can win 9 games, maybe more. BK sticks his nose in and tries to run "his offense" (which he will do if the O starts getting props from the media and Wimbush or Adams get some Heisman talk), 8 wins max. Probably less.
Otherwise, it's Groundhog Day.
(no message)
drawing any conclusions.
All spring and summer I have read countless articles about how bad things became within the confines of the program. While I am content the modifications were/are being made, I keep asking myself "why did it come to this in the first place?"
...couldn't get someone better to replace you. In my experience, that is not unusual at all.
(no message)
But, as to your question... No.
Usually if somebody fucks up bad enough to deserve being fired once, they will do it again. That's been my professional experience.
Hopefully Kelly is the exception.
I can be a cynic from January through July, but enthusiasm somehow or another overrides my skepticism starting in early August. Until this year. This year, it simply hasn't happened.
I will watch. I will root. But I don't think I'll be disappointed.
(no message)
Attention to detail, player development, leadership, strength, etc, coming from a coach starting his eighth year on the job is pathetic. The guy loves to spout off that he has been a head coach for over a quarter of a century - shouldn't attention to detail, player development, leadership, strength, etc been part of his coaching DNA by this time. It should not have been the end of his 7th season before Kelly had his blinding epiphany that these are traits that any winning football program should have. No wonder ND has under performed under Kelly the past 7 years.
You don't have an undefeated regular season without those things, but the reality is after 2015, Kelly and his staff got complacent. I would actually say the complacency kicked in towards the end of 2015 when ND squeaked by BC and Wake before losing to Stanford and OSU in the title game.
I agree that Kelly deserved to be fired after 2016. That said, it does appear he has made the right changes. We'll find out soon enough.
I can't think of a coach who would have interviewed that I'd be excited about getting a five year contract.
But, in a vacuum, what Kelly turned in last season should cost someone their job.
Due to the changes, I think Kelly's 2017 staff is likely better than any a replacement could get. I also am skeptical that ND could have gotten a quality replacement at the top.
(no message)
(no message)
(no message)
even more into focus. The key is to always aim for improvement in anything you do, last year was an aberration and so many are looking for reasons that jump out but don't realize it is a slight drop off in everything and was compounded by our leaders of last year unable to come through when needed. Blame everywhere but things are in place for a rebound hopefully.
If Kelly was fired on account of 4-8, Id have been fine with that decision, maybe even gone that route myself, but he wasn't..With season approaching, its time to get behind the team and Kelly, not bury them as that other site is doing..He was 55-23 at ND prior to last yr, a national title game appearance, and a last second FG away form a possible playoff appearance..He isn't Lou or Ara, or Devine for that matter, but he was a good coach prior to last yr..He didn't go stupid just last yr..
I have no idea what happened last yr, but it shouldn't have happened..But as you mentioned, it wasn't all Kelly, the QB and others had plenty of chances to pull out games..Kelly's indecision at QB certainly hurt and dug a hole they never climbed from,but that team had no fire in the belly..
I hope fans get supportive and let it play out..Im confident of a big bounceback yr; if another aberration occurs, he'll be gone..
I actually like Notre Dame's prospects this year, but he should have been fired. What happened can't happen. There were numerous deficiencies, from all over the program.
Yes 4-8 was an aberration but he has been mediocre since day one.......