Where is the sanity?

[SoCalDomer]

In college football, there's a huge gap between the top 3-4 and everyone else.You guys want to see a championships level defense? Tune in next Monday. A championship level defense isn't just about numbers; it's about making a play when it matters most. I can't really say that ND's defense was there this season.

Making plays when it matters most? Like before the other team puts the ball in the endzone? If you have a defense that is 26th in scoring, aren't you doing that [making plays before the other team puts the ball in the endzone]?

I'm kidding. I know what you're saying. I just think with sports, sometimes things get boiled down to one-liners that are too simplistic or do not convey much meaning. Like he really "gets after it", or he has "a high motor."

I agree, ND does not have a top-5 defense. It was very good. Much, much better than in years past. It could have been better with an offense to compliment it. But a championship level defense still doesn't lapse like it did in the 4th quarter @ Michigan, or 4th quarter @ Florida State, regardless of what your offense is doing or not doing.

 

[ACamp1900]

I'm with Dillion Hall and SoCal... this team was not one unit away from undefeated... the linebacking core and secondary were not championship caliber... good, but not THAT good... I sense a lot of homerism, but feel free...

 

[returnofthemack]

In college football, there's a huge gap between the top 3-4 and everyone else. I didn't realize 26th was considered elite...You guys want to see a championships level defense? Tune in next Monday. A championship level defense isn't just about numbers; it's about making a play when it matters most. I can't really say that ND's defense was there this season.

AMEN.

Also, Buster, the gif in your signature is hilarious.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

That double standard is so thick a Ginsu could not cut through.

Where is the double standard? I am telling you not to draw conclusions because you don't have any facts about why some players played, and other didn't.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I'm with Dillion Hall and SoCal... this team was not one unit away from undefeated... the linebacking core and secondary were not championship caliber... good, but not THAT good... I sense a lot of homerism, but feel free...

I just said "pretty darn close." He thought that the statement was laughable. I think that's a bit far.

Agreed...the LB corps was not great. But, Oregon's defense allowed more points than we did this year...because of an elite offense, they'll end the year ranked 4th or so.

 

[tankjeep]

i understand the criticism for bk, but let's get real. imo, which doesn't mean much.....a coach needs to be given more than two years to show his worth for a program (for me, i say 4 to 5 years).

that way he can get his recruits (or as bk puts, his rkgs) in and develop the starters and depth needed to be a championship caliber squad.

to be honest, i think many people here are being a bit overboard in their expectations of a coach. i'm not saying bk's not at fault, but i just feel he needs to be given more time before we can truly assess the program.

 

[DillonHall]

i understand the criticism for bk, but let's get real. imo, which doesn't mean much.....a coach needs to be given more than two years to show his worth for a program (for me, i say 4 to 5 years).

that way he can get his recruits (or as bk puts, his rkgs) in and develop the starters and depth needed to be a championship caliber squad.

to be honest, i think many people here are being a bit overboard in their expectations of a coach. i'm not saying bk's not at fault, but i just feel he needs to be given more time before we can truly assess the program.

I know what you're saying. However, I don't think anyone's calling for Kelly to get fired. Just as it's ok to praise the improvements, I think it's fine to criticize what we think needs to improve. Criticism isn't a condemnation of the regime. Every coach, no matter how great, makes mistakes and has weaknesses. It's the offseason, and I don't think it's a bad idea to have a discussion on what they are. We are fans, not the AD and President of the University; we have the right to make assessments after two years because in reality, they don't mean anything.

 

[stlnd01]

If Kelly didn't have a 20-year track record of having done nothing but win, I'd be a little more concerned about him.

But he does. And considering that, and considering the shape of the program he inherited and the way he's gone about rebuilding it, I'm certainly willing to give him at least two more years before we start talking about a warm seat.

Doesn't mean he couldn't improve things, QB play chief among them. The flat starts against USC and Stanford. The occasional defensive collapse. The inconsistent special teams. All that is troubling and needs to be addressed if Kelly's going to get much farther.

But this team was a decent QB away from 11-2. They had our best defense in a decade and our best running game in even longer. The makeup of the roster would suggest we're going to get more talented, not less. And Kelly continues to recruit his *** off, relentlessly and creatively going after the guys he wants, and building a team from the inside out.

I realize the record hasn't gotten much better, but everything else about our football team has. I've got to think the wins will follow, and I'm willing to be a little patient.

 

[irish1958]

It's all QB. The offense cannot dominate without a dynamic QB who can run a bit to keep drives alive and make defenses account for him.
Picking up a few first downs a game, and therefore punting a few times less in college FB is essential. I know some successful teams have lead footed QBs, but they have often a couple of studs for running backs, a great defense, grey shirt, fire unsuccessful recruits, fill unexpected holes in offense and defense from morons from their farm JC systems.
We cannot do this. Therefore we need an offense that can put up 45 points a game or more; and that means far better QB play than we have had up to this time.
There are 365 days in a year and this year had an extra day. I don't know how many plays Kelly has in his Playbook, but our QBs, in 700 to 1000 days should be able to learn most of them.
How come 1st and2nd QBs can learn the system in other schools, but ours can't?

 

[oddz313]

Remember when I said Dantonio was better than Kelly

Remember when I said Dantonio was better than Kelly

Remember when I said Dantonio was better than Kelly and I was called a troll. Kelly is nowhere near the coach Dantonio is and that has became clear. Kelly undresses his players in front of the media, his teams make too many mistakes and he lost his team this season. Next year has got to be put up or shut up on this regime.