Assessing Brian Kelly

[Zwidmanio]

Same thing Whiskey said except a B- or C+ for team performance. Unlucky yes, but I feel the TOs are huge, and the QB situation (all around) could have been handled better. I'm not a huge DC fan, but didn't care for the way it came down, nor did I like what I saw the rest of the year. The QB issue IMO will define him over the next two years.

I was about to post something along the same lines. In regards to on-field performance, there are some things that Kelly has done that I love: glimpses of a good running game, strong o-line play, solid defense (aside from a few notable collapses). These are things that have been regrettably absent from ND football in the near past.

However, along with the issues mentioned by YJ above, I have serious issues with the punt return game, some of the late game collapses (Michigan and FSU come to mind), and with some of the games where we either came out flat or weren't able to maintain momentum. I think Kelly has the ability to turn these things around, and I do realize that some of these things don't change overnight, but because of the aforementioned, I share YJ's assessment of the on-field performance grade.

 

[BobD]

I'm not going to rate Coach Kelly, but I will say this, I not only think he's the right guy for the job, I don't think you could find a better coach for the job. Seriously, if he were gone, who do you think could do as well or better? If you decide to throw a name out there, please dont throw out one of those bungholes we're constantly berating for being slime buckets.

I think we're lucky to have Coach Kelly and I hope he's here a long time.


Boy oh boy, this might be funny to read come December.

 

[connor_in]

On field performance - C minus. 8 wins a year isn't bad by any means, and I agree with others that we need to build consistency. However... 0-2 v Michigan, 1-1 v Michigan St., 1-1 v USC, 0-2 v Stanford. 1-1 v. Navy. Not impressed.
Recruiting - B+ if this recruiting class stays together.
Maintaining image of the program (players not getting into trouble) - C minus. Sorry, but he's had some arrests. Made himself look like an @ss during the USF game. Also, there was the tragedy that occurred during a practice. (not saying it was his fault, but sh*t rolls uphill sometimes)
Keeping school spirit up- A. I'm going to take this as how the program is perceived around the country. ND is seen as being on the rise, and we had two first round draft picks. Kelly also shows remarkable timing with his recruiting and wins. It seems as though we always get good news with the bad.
Potential to improve- A. Start a different QB you dummy.

Job security is solid for now. He's successfully prepared the fan base for a challenging year. It would take a pretty nasty year to really disgruntle the fans. He needs to realize how important it is that he beats Michigan this year. Going 0-3 to the skunkbears is not acceptable.

I think he's a good coach but I have yet to see the brilliance that I witnessed while he was at Cincy. We're a better, more physical team under Kelly so far... but I want to see his offensive guru come out this year. His play calling for the Bearcats was amazing, ND's has been fairly average with some occasional inspired moments.

Just FYI but MSU and the tree are coming off some of their best seasons ever (that was by far MSU's worst performance of 2011 with a lot of help from our D)...and I hate saying this but USC has been a better TEAM this last couple years and we were lucky to take the Noah's Ark bowl

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[woolybug25]

I'm not going to rate Coach Kelly, but I will say this, I not only think he's the right guy for the job, I don't think you could find a better coach for the job. Seriously, if he were gone, who do you think could do as well or better? If you decide to throw a name out there, please dont throw out one of those bungholes we're constantly berating for being slime buckets.

I think we're lucky to have Coach Kelly and I hope he's here a long time.


Boy oh boy, this might be funny to read come December.

I too think that Kelly is the guy, that being said.... Bob Stoops.

People may say that he isn't realistic, but the guy has heard ND administration out more than once when we were looking. Shefter even reported we were getting him before we got Kelly too, if y'all remember.

 

[Redbar]

I give him all A's with the exception of on field performance. Turnovers, underwhelming quarterback development and a few poorly timed decisions= a B- in my opinion. BUT I definitely think he is building our program the right way and because of that I pause in being too critical of Coach. No one, not Stoopes, not Saban, not even Holtz is perfect. ( Well maybe Parseghian, but anyway, you get the point.)

 

[NDinL.A.]

I too think that Kelly is the guy, that being said.... Bob Stoops.

People may say that he isn't realistic, but the guy has heard ND administration out more than once when we were looking. Shefter even reported we were getting him before we got Kelly too, if y'all remember.

He had his shot and he didn't take it. That makes him completely unrealistic at this point, unless people want to start dreaming of him like they foolishly dreamed of Urban Liar both times (and he turned us down, his 'dream job', both times.)

 

[Irish YJ]

I'll add that I do think he is the right guy for the job, and glad we got him. Things are going the right way IMO. The few things I don't like, I think Kelly is smart enough to figure out. I think the QB/TO issue is somewhat the same, so get the right QB, the TO issue goes away, or most anyway. Adding the others that Z mentioned, late game collapse and flat play. The return game mostly, but ST in general left a lot to be desired. We've got speed now, so thinking ST will improve all around. IMO we have the personnel in every position except DB to be a BCS team this year. It's up to BK to figure it out, get the best team on the field, and execute. I have high hopes.

 

[stlnd01]

On field performance: B- It's hard to be happy with 8-win seasons, all the turnovers, the QB situation and coming out flat in big games (USC, Stanford). But these teams are more fundamentally sound than their predecessors, in terms of blocking and tackling. I think that'll pay off in the long run.

Recruiting: A-. He's hauling in Top 10 classes without sniffing the Top 10. Must be doing something right. Gotta keep the 2013 class together, though.

Maintaining image of the program (players not getting into trouble): B. It's been a tough couple of years, though for reasons mostly not of Kelly's doing. And while individual players have "gotten in trouble," the program hasn't. Which is something these days.

Keeping school spirit up: I don't know how to measure this. Winning helps. That said, the pep rallies suck, especially for later/lesser games. Maybe just go back to standing in Stepan. But, obviously, pep rallies are for alums at this point, not students. And Kelly's got more important things to worry about

Potential to improve: A- Most of the pieces are in place for this team to be very good in a year or two. I really like how he's clearly building up his O-Line and defensive front seven. That's what wins big games.

Do you think BK is the man for the job: I sure hope so.

Will ND be brought back to prominence by BK? If he doesn't, I'm not sure how it can be, or where they'd go next.

Will the next coach do something with BK's players? Yes. Talent's not the problem at this point.

Assess his job security: B+ He's got at least two years, though 2013 is going to be a big one. Probably three. Needs to make at least one BCS bowl (or whatever the equivalent is in 2014) in that time, and beating USC and/or Michigan a couple of times would sure help.

 

[BobD]

I too think that Kelly is the guy, that being said.... Bob Stoops.

People may say that he isn't realistic, but the guy has heard ND administration out more than once when we were looking. Shefter even reported we were getting him before we got Kelly too, if y'all remember.

Isn't he pretty well tied down thru 2017 or so? He's dang good, but still I don't think he's as good of a fit for the Notre Dame job as BK.

 

[NDBoiler]

I'm not going to rate Coach Kelly, but I will say this, I not only think he's the right guy for the job, I don't think you could find a better coach for the job. Seriously, if he were gone, who do you think could do as well or better? If you decide to throw a name out there, please dont throw out one of those bungholes we're constantly berating for being slime buckets.

I think we're lucky to have Coach Kelly and I hope he's here a long time.


Boy oh boy, this might be funny to read come December.

Bump - It's almost December Bob...