What grade would you give BK thus far.

[TouchdownStevus]

C-

BK is overrated in my opinion. Ill eat it if im starving and there is nothing else around.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Interesting question:

Who has done a better job: Kelly or Jumbo Fisher?

 

[HoosierMP33]

Interesting question:

Who has done a better job: Kelly or Jumbo Fisher?

BK, by far....Fisher looked like he had FSU turning a corner, but the 'Noles fell flat once they had the attention of the college football world....Not to say Fisher won't get the 'Noles back to greatness, but I think BK has his team in a better position and his program healthier overall (as well as a better pedigree/background) than Fisher does.

 

[NDMontana]

I think this is a very cool thread and I have enjoyed reading all the posts. With 20 games under Kelly's belt, grading him thus far is reasonable I think. I want to go back to the option play on ND's second possession. For what it is worth, I want to share my opinion. That was a very bad play call that encapsulated what I thought was a very, very bad game plan. Everyone knows SC is fast and you can't spread it on them very well. Their weakness was supposed to be in the trenches. I was very shocked that we did not work harder to run it vertically "down their throats" as the saying goes. ND has been riding high on one of the better run games in recent memory coming into this game. So to me, there is no exuse for the lack of an established run game this past Saturday (nor the lack of effort to run). One more thing, is it me or is Steve Filer biting on a pump fake on the edge a coaching thing? I mean isn't that assignment football - don't leave your feet and take the guy down? That happend twice on third down! Oh well. I give Kelly a C+ and I do like the guy a lot.

The spread is designed to utilize your opponents speed against them. Watch what happens when Oregon plays SC. I respectfully disagree that it was a poor game plan, it was poorly executed. Again, that is on the players.
I feel better about the direction of this team with every game that passes under this staff. Win or lose, Brian Kelly is an excellent coach, you can see it. I was hard on him after the sideline screamfest in the USF game. Well, here I am, hat in hand, saying that I give hime credit for only yelling. If I had to talk to those guys on the sideline I'd probably choke most of them at this point. If I were him I'd have pinched Calabrese after that idiotic personal foul.

 

[Aerosmith777]

If I had to talk to those guys on the sideline I'd probably choke most of them at this point. If I were him I'd have pinched Calabrese after that idiotic personal foul.

You know, I was having an argument with someone on another board who's always trying to argue that BK is always going nuts on the sideline, yelling at his players, etc etc. And honestly, other than that first game this year, I don't see it. Yeah he gets animated, but I don't think it's unreasonably so. And that play w/ Calabrese was actually what made me think of it. B/c there are a lot of coaches out there who wouldn't have been able to restrain the urge to completely chew him out on the field, but all I saw during the game was BK telling him to "Go sit down," and pretty calmly at that.

I think he gets a bad rep w/ that stuff just b/c of the USF game. And honestly, how many coaches wouldn't have lost it during that game?

 

[BGIF]

You know, I was having an argument with someone on another board who's always trying to argue that BK is always going nuts on the sideline, yelling at his players, etc etc. And honestly, other than that first game this year, I don't see it. Yeah he gets animated, but I don't think it's unreasonably so. And that play w/ Calabrese was actually what made me think of it. B/c there are a lot of coaches out there who wouldn't have been able to restrain the urge to completely chew him out on the field, but all I saw during the game was BK telling him to "Go sit down," and pretty calmly at that.

I think he gets a bad rep w/ that stuff just b/c of the USF game. And honestly, how many coaches wouldn't have lost it during that game?

There was a still photo on Sunday which showed Kelly several steps onto the field, face to face with Carlo as he walked off. Kelly's mouth was open wide and face was bright red. Now he may have simply been asking Carlo about his post game party plans but it sure didn't look cordial.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I agree with BGIF on the real interaction, AND I agree with Coach that it was appropriate.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

not to hijack the thread or anything, but I still have trouble figuring out what was so wrong about him shouting at players. Err, thats what some coaches do, and players a big boys and can handle it. This liberal don't yell at my kid crap has to stop. I WANT Kelly red faced yelling a players for being dumb on the field.

 

[irishfaith]

This is my second reply to this thread. Someone answered my first post about the game plan and trying to spread the ball on USC. I think it is fair to give BK a few years to get his system clicking before I judge him on his game plan. On another note, will someone who has knowledge about football explain to me one thing: can you coach a LB (we will call him Steve) to NOT bite on a pump fake when he is isolated with the qb. I feel like a well-coached LB smashes the qb in that one-on-one situation. Is that coaching or just poor talent? Thanks

 

[BGIF]

This is my second reply to this thread. Someone answered my first post about the game plan and trying to spread the ball on USC. I think it is fair to give BK a few years to get his system clicking before I judge him on his game plan. On another note, will someone who has knowledge about football explain to me one thing: can you coach a LB (we will call him Steve) to NOT bite on a pump fake when he is isolated with the qb. I feel like a well-coached LB smashes the qb in that one-on-one situation. Is that coaching or just poor talent? Thanks

When a theoretical player doesn't see much PT under two different head coaches and 3 DCs maybe, just maybe, it's not the coaches.

He made a read that it was going to be a pass. Everybody knows Barkley's not a runner. Fakes work best when they're not expected.

If he blocks the pass he's a hero. Instead he got juked. Maybe Barkley got some inspiration from watching the ND v UM game film for the past two years.

 

[Jerry]

I'm giving Kelly a C right now. I don't really blame him for the crazy, error filled losses this year (although 3 of them is a lot), the players need to step up and make routine plays ie; handling the snap. He was delt a bad QB situation when he arrived in South Bend and unfortunately it hasn't gotten better. He probably should have given Dayne more than a half to prove himself and shouldn't abandone the run with a weak armed QB, blah, blah, this year has sort of turned into the nightmare scenario, with all the insane turnoers. If BK can beat Stanford and win a bowl game again it will be productive season.

 

[23145tp]

I would give BK at solid C and a poss weak B......can't wait to see this team with all of his recruits in place........I believe in 2013.....

 

[irishfan]

Recruiting: B+

On-Field: C+

 

[NDfan12]

Recruiting: B+

On-Field: C+

Agreed.

 

[NDPhilly]

B+ for Recruitimg?

 

[The Gold Helmets]

B... I can see where the program will be as it continues to develop.

 

[NDMontana]

You know, I was having an argument with someone on another board who's always trying to argue that BK is always going nuts on the sideline, yelling at his players, etc etc. And honestly, other than that first game this year, I don't see it. Yeah he gets animated, but I don't think it's unreasonably so. And that play w/ Calabrese was actually what made me think of it. B/c there are a lot of coaches out there who wouldn't have been able to restrain the urge to completely chew him out on the field, but all I saw during the game was BK telling him to "Go sit down," and pretty calmly at that.

I think he gets a bad rep w/ that stuff just b/c of the USF game. And honestly, how many coaches wouldn't have lost it during that game?

I agree. And, for the record, I meant to say that I would have pUnched-not pInched-Calabrese. Though a good titty twister can hurt more than punch.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

B+

I think the quarterback situation is holding the team back.

The defensive improvements have been fantastic. They aren't where we want to be (still too conservative) but it's a very significant improvement in a short window of time.

Count me as one of those who believe the team's improvement isn't accurately reflected in the win/loss column... yet.

 

[goog man]

I'll give him a B. Granted you can say all you want about the turnovers but this wasn't much of a problem in any of K's offenses in the past, so its obviously on the players. I really like the way we finished the year last year when it didn't look like that would be the case. Give him time, ND will still finish this year strong. Kelly is just what the doctor ordered.

 

[koonja]

Managing the rigors of being the ND coach: A-. The only 'flaw' if you even call it that is the USF flip out.

Recruiting: B+. Solid, top-10 kind of guy, but missed on some elite talent on offense last year and will again this year. Also loading up on defense, which is huge.

On the field results: C. I tribute the first two losses to poor player execution, but we just got beat by perhaps the worst USC team in the last 6-7 years, at home, following a bye. Also, see last year (Tulsa, Navy). We have a very talented team and many of our starters have at least a year's worth of starting experience. We should not be 4-3.

Changing the culture: A. See night game, jumbotron and potentially field turf.

If you calculate that out, that's a 3.25 gpa, so I give him a B.

 

[Mr. Larson]

Just checked with the Oracle (Magic 8 Ball) and it said: "Results Unclear. Ask Again Later."

That being said, despite some tough-to-stomach losses the last two years, I am happy with the direction of the program.

 

[Green Goblin]

B+

I think the quarterback situation is holding the team back.

Exactly, if we had a confident QB that could just maintain control of the ball and not turn it over 5 times a game (literally), we'd be undefeated right now or maybe have 1 loss at worse.

If we had a truly dangerous QB, we'd EASILY be undefeated right now.

Instead, I have to listen to the less intelligent of us already saying Brian Kelly should be fired. L O L

 

[PigtownIrish]

The problem is, that BK should also realize that we don't have a truly dangerous QB, and lean on the run game more. Free Jonas!

 

[PANDFAN]

Managing the rigors of being the ND coach: A-. The only 'flaw' if you even call it that is the USF flip out.

Recruiting: B+. Solid, top-10 kind of guy, but missed on some elite talent on offense last year and will again this year. Also loading up on defense, which is huge.

On the field results: C. I tribute the first two losses to poor player execution, but we just got beat by perhaps the worst USC team in the last 6-7 years, at home, following a bye. Also, see last year (Tulsa, Navy). We have a very talented team and many of our starters have at least a year's worth of starting experience. We should not be 4-3.

Changing the culture: A. See night game, jumbotron and potentially field turf.

If you calculate that out, that's a 3.25 gpa, so I give him a B.

excellent breakdown!!! completely agree

 

[goog man]

Managing the rigors of being the ND coach: A-. The only 'flaw' if you even call it that is the USF flip out.

Recruiting: B+. Solid, top-10 kind of guy, but missed on some elite talent on offense last year and will again this year. Also loading up on defense, which is huge.

On the field results: C. I tribute the first two losses to poor player execution, but we just got beat by perhaps the worst USC team in the last 6-7 years, at home, following a bye. Also, see last year (Tulsa, Navy). We have a very talented team and many of our starters have at least a year's worth of starting experience. We should not be 4-3.

Changing the culture: A. See night game, jumbotron and potentially field turf.

If you calculate that out, that's a 3.25 gpa, so I give him a B.

I think the flip out against USF is a good thing and it's BS that he was accused for it. If you watch a lot of the great coaches like Nick Saban, I can guarantee they flip out at times too. BK is trying to change the culture at ND from a bunch of softies to a hard nosed football team. Look at the track record ppl, he knows what he's doing, let the man coach for god's sake.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Recruiting = A-, based on his abaility to bring elite defensive talent along the defensive line, which was said to be next to impossible at ND.

On the Field Results = C+. So close to being an A-, but some of the losses have been killer. I expected it to be rougher than most, so I'm not overly concerned...yet.

Handling Being the ND Coach = A. I think he represents himself and ND incredibly well in the media, and having him heard him speak live, the guy knows how to handle an audience and knows how to make our Lady look good. I have no problems with his confidence, and I have absolutely no problems with him yelling at players.

I still fully believe in Kelly. I truly think he'll get it done here, once he has everything he needs in place (hello, elite QB). I never believed in Davie nor Golfingham, but I was dead wrong on Weis until it was too late (Navy '09 - yikes, did I miss the boat on that one). Let's hope I'm not way off on this one too...

 

[goog man]

Recruiting = A-, based on his abaility to bring elite defensive talent along the defensive line, which was said to be next to impossible at ND.

On the Field Results = C+. So close to being an A-, but some of the losses have been killer. I expected it to be rougher than most, so I'm not overly concerned...yet.

Handling Being the ND Coach = A. I think he represents himself and ND incredibly well in the media, and having him heard him speak live, the guy knows how to handle an audience and knows how to make our Lady look good. I have no problems with his confidence, and I have absolutely no problems with him yelling at players.

I still fully believe in Kelly. I truly think he'll get it done here, once he has everything he needs in place (hello, elite QB). I never believed in Davie nor Golfingham, but I was dead wrong on Weis until it was too late (Navy '09 - yikes, did I miss the boat on that one). Let's hope I'm not way off on this one too...

Well put

 

[pkt77242]

Exactly, if we had a confident QB that could just maintain control of the ball and not turn it over 5 times a game (literally), we'd be undefeated right now or maybe have 1 loss at worse.

If we had a truly dangerous QB, we'd EASILY be undefeated right now.

Instead, I have to listen to the less intelligent of us already saying Brian Kelly should be fired. L O L

Really? Please learn the definition of literally. Thanks

 

[IlovethehireofCoachKelly]

I would give him an A for everything in every area except last years navy game. I really dont know any coach out there that is better...Notre Dame just needs to pick it up. the players are not excuting. The players I would give a C-.

 

[IlovethehireofCoachKelly]

Managing the rigors of being the ND coach: A-. The only 'flaw' if you even call it that is the USF flip out.

Recruiting: B+. Solid, top-10 kind of guy, but missed on some elite talent on offense last year and will again this year. Also loading up on defense, which is huge.

On the field results: C. I tribute the first two losses to poor player execution, but we just got beat by perhaps the worst USC team in the last 6-7 years, at home, following a bye. Also, see last year (Tulsa, Navy). We have a very talented team and many of our starters have at least a year's worth of starting experience. We should not be 4-3.

Changing the culture: A. See night game, jumbotron and potentially field turf.

If you calculate that out, that's a 3.25 gpa, so I give him a B.

I am so happy he flipped out at the USF game...If we had a coach that was not spassionate, I would go crazy. He has every reason to be the way he is and even worse.