Kelly & Floyd Press Conference

[Ironman8]

ISD is giving updates as the press conference goes on. I will post the most relevant updates here as they come. I don't believe it is being shown live.

 

[Ironman8]

Kelly confirms Ruffer's scholarship.

You'll see year 2 be more about the players now that we have the offense and defense in place.

Kelly on 4 game win streak impacting recruits?
- "Absolutely"
- "When they can see it happening, it's an easier connection in the recruiting process"


Kelly on Dan Wenger
- "It's in the hands of the NCAA right now"
- "Timeline, it's hard to say for us"
- "Expect by end of February"

Kelly on assistants interviewing for other assistant jobs:
- "If they interview, they better make sure they get the job"

Kelly on recruiting:

When you're going nationally, you're going into someone's home base. You're taking their kid. It takes tenacity. A great deal of resources on Notre Dame's part.

 

[Ironman8]

Kelly on meeting with Michael Floyd:

Clearly, there are key elements here. 1 Mike wants his degree. That's not holding him back though. But when I think you really cut to it. He believes he's the best WR in the country. And he wasn't perceived or evaluated as much. There's a lot of things out there. Last year there were 26 players graded at Floyd's grade. Only 9 left. 8 went in the round they were graded. 1 was later. None moved up.

Kelly on Kyle:

He's rated as the No. 1 TE in the country. You can only be that or less next year.

Kelly on Floyd:
He's a Six Star

Kelly on Riddick's move:

We're evaluating right now. What our identity became, you could argue Theo should be a RB.

Kelly on position group surprises:

Miami led the country in TFL. We did not have a minus play.

 

[95NDAlumNM]

Kelly also mentioned that Utopo and Schwenke will not be taking their Mormon mission next year, that he is thinking about moving Riddick back to Running back (no Huggins?) and that Michael Floyd deserves a 6 star.

 

[Riddickulous]

Riddick back to running back?

 

[Rhode Irish]

Kelly on assistants interviewing for other assistant jobs:

"If they interview, they better make sure they get the job"

Awesome.

Kelly on recruiting:

When you're going nationally, you're going into someone's home base. You're taking their kid. It takes tenacity. A great deal of resources on Notre Dame's part.

Awesome x2.

 

[Ironman8]

On QB battle:

You can't work with 6 QBs. We'll work with 4 quarterbacks. They'll understand that if they aren't top 4, they aren't getting reps.

On Longo:

It's the first time I've seen him smile in a while. The guys know what to do and how to do it. it's night and day from last year.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Riddick back to running back?

I love it!! Get your best players the ball as much as possible...Gray and Roberson can't be liking it however. Does open things up for a slot position

 

[Ironman8]

Kelly:

All 5th year guys have applied for a 5th year

Kelly on BCS Title:

You don't ge there unless you play great defense.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Thanks for the updates IM8!!

Question: Is Te'o still a possibility for a mormon mission, gosh I hope not!!

 

[Ironman8]

^No, he won't take his mission while at ND

 

[IrishLax]

Riddick back to RB would be epic fail on so many levels.

 

[JeremyND07]

I am not liking Riddick at running back at all! I do not think he makes it through 2-3 games without injury with his size! If our offensive line was pushing people around it would be a different story! Riddick gets moved to RB he will not make it through the year without a major injury in my opinion. I like him at the slot. He is explosive in the open field and has great hands!

 

[rtrn2glory]

^No, he won't take his mission while at ND

thanks!! Good news

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Riddick back to RB would be epic fail on so many levels.

how?

 

[Shamrocks and Shenanigans]

Riddick back to RB would be epic fail on so many levels.

Why do you feel that way? I like him in the slot, but Kelly must see something.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Theo at slot 5-8 touches a game

Theo at RB 10-15 sound argument for the possible switch, kid needs the ball in his hands.

 

[Ironman8]

Theo at slot 5-8 touches a game

Theo at RB 10-15 sound argument for the possible switch, kid needs the ball in his hands.

Could also be used much in the way Reggie Bush is used by the Saints. Line up in the backfield and run several plays, motion out to a slot position in others, and catch plenty of passes and screens out of the backfield.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

To the naysayers for Theo at RB, I think Kelly knows what he is doing given what he has to work with. I wouldn't mind seeing TJ and Theo on the field together more often. I think that could be something that could set that up.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Wow!! the Reggie Bush comparison, is that name permitted?? lol

I see it though for sure, plus maybe 3-5 more touches in the return game.

Agreed, I think TJ is a natural slot receiver just from the few games a saw him play and he would have little trouble filling in there.

 

[JeremyND07]

Floyd sees a lot more double teams with Theo at RB. We need two dynamic receivers to win big games. We do NOT have that with Theo at RB! Please do not say Walker or Goodman! I like our TE but none are Rudolph. We need Theo at WR to open up our passing game!

 

[rtrn2glory]

If you double floyd there's one less guy in the box to run the ball!!!

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Chances are Mike is going to see multiple defenders no matter who is out there.

 

[JeremyND07]

Chances are Mike is going to see multiple defenders no matter who is out there.

He is the best WR in the country in my opinion so I agree but with Theo in the slot teams cannot double Floyd as much! If moving Theo to RB gets him more touches but makes it harder to get Floyd the ball...how is that good for our offense? What does this say about our stable of RB's? Yikes!

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

He is the best WR in the country in my opinion so I agree but with Theo in the slot teams cannot double Floyd as much! If moving Theo to RB gets him more touches but makes it harder to get Floyd the ball...how is that good for our offense? What does this say about our stable of RB's? Yikes!

You act like we won't have a slot anymore. lol.

GAIII or even TJ could make a run for slot. Along with Toma.

Truth of the matter (Which Kelly recognizes) is....

We have amazing and depth at the WR position.

RBs fewer and far between.

Theo should go back to RB. That helps us have more talent and depth at more positions.

 

[rtrn2glory]

It's also going to seriously push Cierre to get better. Honestly, with Gray and Roberson as his only competition he knows he starts and gets carries even with a bad spring, however, with theo in the backfield mix to push him, you're definitely going to need to bring your A game every practice.

 

[IrishLax]

how?

Because our offense was exceedingly better with him in the slot then when he was out with injury plus Cierre Wood does just fine at RB so I don't see much value added in a switch back. And we do not have the depth at WR that many people imagine that we have. The truth is the next man in for the slot position (unless a frosh comes in and plays awesome) is Toma and Toma is a noticeable notch below Riddick.

 

[JeremyND07]

Because our offense was exceedingly better with him in the slot then when he was out with injury plus Cierre Wood does just fine at RB so I don't see much value added in a switch back. And we do not have the depth at WR that many people imagine that we have. The truth is the next man in for the slot position (unless a frosh comes in and plays awesome) is Toma and Toma is a noticeable notch below Riddick.

EXACTLY!!! Moving Theo to RB does not mean we have a GREAT stable of WR but horrible depth at RB. Jones and Toma are not even in the same league as Theo in the slot!

 

[Rhode Irish]

I trust Kelly to do the right thing re: Riddick. I think having him get some reps at RB in the spring may not be a bad thing - it gives you more options in the fall. You can add some packages where Riddick motions into/out of the backfield from/to the slot to create mismatches based on the defensive personnel. It also gives you some insurance in case Wood gets banged up so you aren't left with two slow, powerful backs and no speed threat.

 

[rtrn2glory]

correct!! slow rbs will have a heavier impact on us than double teams in the secondary