no more and is no more reputable than the posters on this site imo (and some of the posters here are pretty well informed and knowledgeable). Not that I wouldn't want his job of putting my views and opinions out there on Notre Dame and getting to think and research and obsess all day about it...sounds like fun.
I think ND has done pretty well in terms of playing people when they are ready. Are there times they were off? Perhaps. Were there times Kelly's ego got in the way? Maybe. But what this really comes down to is the lack of explosiveness last year on offense and not utilizing Jordan Johnson. Absent that, we would not be having this conversation. I am not sure if he would have made a difference. And academics may have played a role. And as a coach, when you are undefeated and knocked off the #1 team in the country, it is sometimes difficult to start messing with things.
I do think they should have found a way to get Williams and Tyree on the field at the same time. Tyree was too good an athlete absent Lenzy and Austin to not find a way to get on the field. His redshirt was already gone. Probably a little undersized for RB as a freshman anyway. Great coaches would have found a way to use that weapon in a dynamic way.
But I can't find a whole lot of examples of ridiculously talented freshman difference makers that they haven't played. However, what they do with this incoming freshman class will be informative on the issue.
The redshirt frosh year may seem a waste to many. I get that. Especially with the transfer portal and guys leaving early for the NFL.
But I think ND has done a decent job with the balancing act.
Kelly tends not to play younger QBs. The portal seems to be the answer for any player who eventually get passed over
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The nonsensical drool the author of the article was trying to make is that high talent players who should play are being purposely held back their freshman year to save a year of eligibility. That doesn't even remotely apply to Book. He was not purposely "held back" from playing to save a year. It would have taken a event of biblical proportions for him to play. Book's qb room his freshman year was Kizer, Zaire and Wimbush.
Book was an afterthought to the team in terms of "every year you take a qb." He flipped to ND from Washington State late in the process after ND lost it's big qb target ( I forget the name) and because of the relationship he built with Mike Sanford when he was coaching on the west coast. Nobody ever thought Book would ever be a starter. In current terms, think Powlus III.
because other than 2020, Kelly hasn't played freshman all that much in his time at ND. And, he's let more than enough talent squander trying to get cute with the 5th year crap. I think the redshirt game he tries to play is a bit stupid. Especially considering in more recent years players leave as Jr's and most by 5th year aren't worth the spot. I don't hear a lot of other teams constantly talking about trying to get 5th years out of kids. That's a thing of the past because of the money on the table. ND needs to change badly in this department.
Play them early. Let them use their talent and drop this nonsense he likes to say in the whole "they don't know how to play the game the right way". That's BS. Kids come ready these days and if you don't have freshman that are pushing for legit PT then you are probably recruiting the wrong kids. Kelly has had plenty of talent sit because he's waiting on the "5th year" and talent doesn't aim to stay in college 5 YEARS!!!! They shot for 3 years and out. Use it or lose it.
While it is normal for you or I to chat here about this, this is allegedly a professional sports journalist employed by what used to be the best sports magazine who presenting his pet theory as Kelly's "philosophy."
Where is the evidence that Kelly is purposely holding back players who would normally have played to save a 5th year? The guy calls it a "philosophy" yet he provides not one single example of a 1st year player who was purposely held back when he clearly should have played. For example, is there any evidence that Johnson (or any other player for that matter) was "held back" when he was clearly ready to play? There isn't any. In fact, Kelly has played 1st year skill guys when warranted. The guy cites "quarterbacks" yet he doesn't name any specific quarterback when it would have been very easy to pick one, for example, Jurkovec, and say he should have played as freshman.
This guy is a hack!
And dont give me this crap about he was getting it done in the classroom as to a reason not to get him touches on the football field. Great coaches understand that a lot of athletes are motivated in different ways. Maybe getting him involved on Saturday would put him in a better mental state M-F...but no...BK is dogged about his stance and doesn't get that. And dont give me...welll he wasn't picking up the offense...that's on the coach! Dude was smart enough to get accepted to ND on a scholie, you making an offense that tough to understand?? Plenty of lesser rated WRs were making plays for top teams but JJ couldn't get a few simple touches a game?? It's inexcusable really not to have allll your best, most explosive, athletes getting touches. If you have some stupid policy that does that...don't look anywhere else for your dismay.
Great coaches (adults) figure it out...not look at the 18,19yr old and then discipline or punish him by NOT letting him play the game he's here for. Never will agree with that....
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It is an inane scree based on an assumption without any evidence.
The assumption that the author makes is that Kelly consciously holds back players in their 1st year to save their 5th. Yet he doesn't produce the name of any player that would fit into that category.
Kelly has shown a willingness to play guys in their 1st year if they demonstrate the ability to be effective in their roles. Any notion that guys like Mayer, Tyree or Lewis wouldn't have played this year had it not been for the "free year" is wacko.
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He might rub some people the wrong way but he is knowledgeable and quite informative.
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and know his schtick
It has do do with their offensive scheme and lack of trusting Freshmen. Red shirting really has little if anything to do with it.
This is a non-issue. If freshmen are ready, they will play. End of story.