For years the academies and schools like Georgia Tech knew they needed something different to win and hence the triple option. By keeping the other offense off the field they controlled the clock. They are not going to win a championship but they do upset numerous better teams over the years including ND.
So what type of Head Coach and assistants does ND need if they are a level below in recruiting for all the reasons we know already.
I say a young gunslinger as coach that is constantly evolving based on his players. Not a good coach that struggles to find the best players to fit his system. They do well against most teams but up against elite teams with depth they lose.
I like the model of Paul Westhead of Loyola Marymount that ran teams off the court in basketball scoring 140 points some nights. No one wanted to play them. Did they win a NC no but they where fun to watch and always had a punchers chance. ND doesn’t have that opportunity anymore.
So I’m actually pleased with Kelly staying onboard knowing he will never win a NC but let’s throw the dice. With a young hire next time.
Thoughts?
with 3 other teams. there is a fine line between winning and losing where a few plays make a difference even in a so called blowout. You can consult the "experts" on this and they will confirm this. If you start going for a Paul Westhead or gunslinger type you will never get there with consistency or very probably never get the opportunity at all. You said it best with Westhead never winning the championship. The idea is to get there with consistency and you are much more likely to break through.
Playing to your strength is always a good idea. ND has a good history of recruiting and developing OL, so using an offense that takes advantage of that should be a no brainer. Probably the biggest issue with Kelly is he doesn't play to the strengths of his talent. That or QB development. I wouldn't go with the triple option offense, but I could certainly see us going with the Wisconsin or Stanford model. Maybe the running game your bread and butter and then develop a complimentary passing game. The only real issue is, it gets you to where we are now where we can win most of our regular season games, but don't have the passing chops to win against the Clemson/Alabama's of the world. I think to win it all, we won't be able to be too focused on the running game. So the current system isn't terrible, but there are a few things I would change. I'd incorporate more quick hitter packages in the running game. Our current package is more slow developing plays, which often work very well, but when we face an opponent with a lot of team speed, it fails us. Some quick hitters would allow us to negate that team speed. Similarly, have more packages with the QB under center would help with short yardage/goaline situations and also works better for quick hitters. Also, we need more speed creativity in the WR's. Currently, our WR's are good, but teams can move up the safeties to clamp down on the short passing and running games because they aren't too afraid of our receivers beating them long. Maybe Lenzy, Young or Keys can be those kind of guys. Also, Finke types of agile, quick guys in the slot can cause issues with safeties, so if the true burners aren't there, they can be used to loosen up the D. Ideally, you'd like one good sized guy on the outside who has at least decent speed, one burner, but hopefully not too small and then a mismatch guy in the slot. TE can also make a difference - Mack seemed ideal as a fast, mobile TE who is okay as a blocker, but more used in the receiving game, but that never seemed to work out that way. He wasn't bad, but never seemed like a difference maker and his athleticism rarely seemed evident on the field.
performances from key skill players at the right time. QB was only weak in the last game, breakaway receivers like Will Fuller are more important. And he was a 3 star who developed at ND.
Like others here have written, Notre Dame can recruit great Offensive Linemen. The result is that we should have a very run-centric offense.
Our biggest major issue is that Kelly’s offense is very QB based. So if the QB is not having a good game, we’re stuck. By having a great running game, it removes pressure from the 20yr old QB.
With such average QBs?
ND recruits the OL better than anyone. They also can recruit QB very well. Those two pieces, IMHO, make your skill players significantly better.
If/when ND starts to take the OL and a culture of physical football serious, they will ascend. That doesn't mean, 3 yards and a cloud of dust. You can still run spread offenses and be physical. You can still run a spread and like Bama, mix in a lot of I formations or Jumbo sets.
If they do that, they will have explosive offenses and offenses that can control the ball.
Currently, I love our defensive philosophy. Simple. Let the kids play fast instead of think. Try to eliminate big plays. Make teams go 80 yards without a mistake or you making a play.
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I mean, I won't go through the entire list and waste my time, but ND brings in a 4 star QB every year.
Clausen was the #1 player.
Quinn if we are calling that 15 years.
Kizer was a 4 star who was drafted.
Crist i believe was a 5 star on some services.
Zaire was a very highly recruited dual.threat. ditto Winbush.
Now, QB development and production, that's a different story. That hasn't been where it needs to be.
Funny you didn’t mention Golson or Book not among the QB’s, your star recruits mentioned, that had the only 12-0 seasons. Why did you forget them?
You started a legitimate football philosophy post, but you were really just looking to complain about recruiting and coaching. Right?
You pretended ND doesn't recruit QB well, so I answered the question with 4 star or better guys I knew off the top of my head. I honestly thought you were being sarcastic.
His mismanagement of the QBs since day one has been awful.
If so, ND is fucked, right?
I would think they do their homework.
We don’t get very good QBs to come
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Book (underrated 3*), PJ, BW....The list goes on
They just don't develop them.
but NO ONE was talking this shit about Book over the regular season. He had a bad day during the playoffs. Does that mean he's a shitty QB all of the sudden?
I still feel the shitty O-line play is as much to blame for the poor QB play. They didn't do him any favors. 6 sacks.
So ND is getting second tier or coaching sucks? Again only Golson and Book made it to the playoffs undefeated and they both layed an egg. Why when ND had better recruits.
This is comical.
Incoming freshmen winning the starting job over more experienced QBs is very rare. Tua got the job midway through the NC game, last year. By your standards, he was a "2nd tier" QB the entire 2017 season. TL won the job after 3 games this year.
Where in each year's QB class do our QBs fall?
I never hear a single announcer raving about what a highly rated QB we have
Never.
If we want to consistently be 11-1 or 12-0 we need a Top 5 QB every year.
It's either the quality of the QBs or the quality of the coaching.
How does UGA do it? Clemson, OSU, Alabama?
He wasn't an early enrollee, so it is tough to compare him to someone like Fromm who took over as a true freshman, but had an entire spring under his belt.
I will give you that all three Frohm, Tua, and Lawrence started early after injury to a starter or at the half of the National Championship game. You have to admit Saban has balls Kelly doesn’t. Book looked like shit and Kelly wouldn’t even give give Wimbush a series. Kelly doesn’t get the best and even if he does he manages to make them mediocre.
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What wet nosed young coach will put together a staff, roster, and offensive & defensive rosters and game plans that will beat the following “Young gun” coaches in Natty Championship playoff games:
Saban
Swinney
Meyer
Fisher
Carroll
???
They have all the advantages in recruiting that ND doesn’t have. Kelly or any other traditional coach will not beat them, they are too structured, they try to get players to fit their system. Don’t you understand. So take a chance on your list of so-called young coaches you mentioned (by the way how old are you if you think Saban is young). The ones out there now but today that are actually young like your list when no one knew what they would become. Get it.
Not one of your theoretical young gunslinging coaches has nor ever will defeat the experienced proven big game winners I listed for a National Championship.
Could anyone imagine at that time Saban would win 5 NC’s, Meyer 3 Dabo 1? That’s my point. Where are your future winners now?
Maybe you will win the lottery. I wish they had spent M$450 on the best coaching staff money could buy instead of hiding ND stadium behind more unnecessary classroom buildings. I guess neither of us will get what we want.
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