25 Most Intriguing CFB Coaches of 2015

[connor_in]

College football's 25 Most Intriguing Coaches of 2015

10. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame. That 12-1 run to the BCS championship game in 2012 has turned out to be a spike, not the start of something big for Kelly. In five tumultuous seasons in South Bend, he’s lost four or more games in four of them. But some insiders are saying this is his best team yet, with a stacked defense and plenty of offensive playmakers. If Malik Zaire comes through at quarterback, Kelly’s Notre Dame tenure should be reinvigorated.

 

[woolybug25]

College football's 25 Most Intriguing Coaches of 2015

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10. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame. That 12-1 run to the BCS championship game in 2012 has turned out to be a spike, not the start of something big for Kelly. In five tumultuous seasons in South Bend, he’s lost four or more games in four of them. But some insiders are saying this is his best team yet, with a stacked defense and plenty of offensive playmakers. If Malik Zaire comes through at quarterback, Kelly’s Notre Dame tenure should be reinvigorated.

 

[Cackalacky]

College football's 25 Most Intriguing Coaches of 2015

10. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame. That 12-1 run to the BCS championship game in 2012 has turned out to be a spike, not the start of something big for Kelly. In five tumultuous seasons in South Bend, he’s lost four or more games in four of them. But some insiders are saying this is his best team yet, with a stacked defense and plenty of offensive playmakers. If Malik Zaire comes through at quarterback, Kelly’s Notre Dame tenure should be reinvigorated.

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Good news comes in 3's

 

[ACamp1900]

I am intrigued by how many times I have heard that the defense is stacked this preseason. Compared to what exactly??... Where ND has been in recent years, compared to other top 25 teams, or are there really people out there who expect to see ND’s defense among the top defenses in the country?? What are we really saying here?

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

I am intrigued by how many times I have heard that the defense is stacked this preseason. Compared to what exactly??... Where ND has been in recent years, compared to other top 25 teams, or are there really people out there who expect to see ND’s defense among the top defenses in the country?? What are we really saying here?

Same page.

I'm not a pessimist by nature but a realist. I just don't see it either. I hope we're stacked, but I just don't see it. I also am not sold on BVG. But, prove me wrong boys. I'll gladly eat crow.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Our year-end defensive rankings during Kelly's tenure:

FEI - 27, 18, 16, 30, 54

S&P - 10, 11, 8, 48, 57

There are reasons to be genuinely optimistic about the defense, but we have question marks everywhere. "Stacked" is not a word I would use to describe BvG's unit.

 

[JD Irish]

ND basketball was horrible 2013-2014. Returned all their players and were a top 10 team the entire year 2014-2015. I hope it's just as simple as that for the football team this year.

 

[nsisk157]

ND basketball was horrible 2013-2014. Returned all their players and were a top 10 team the entire year 2014-2015. I hope it's just as simple as that for the football team this year.

What I am hoping ...

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I'm really hoping everyone else knows something we don't by calling our defense, "stacked".

We are returning a large number of defensive starts and we may have two lockdown corners and a wildly athletic OLB but we need to see some major leaps by others.

 

[ACamp1900]

I'm really hoping everyone else knows something we don't by calling our defense, "stacked".

We are returning a large number of defensive starts and we may have two lockdown corners and a wildly athletic OLB but we need to see some major leaps by others.

kind of where I am at... also when I hear 'stacked' I think two things...
1.) Very good depth
2.) Loads of elite talent

Surely we all remember the depth from last season, I don't know what supposedly changed there, but I could be missing something. On talent, I don't know if there is enough elite talent to warrant that label either... although there are a few standouts that will certainly have good careers on Sundays.

 

[woolybug25]

Name me a position where our #2 at his position on defense wouldn't start for most college teams?

 

[IrishLion]

Name me a position where our #2 at his position on defense wouldn't start for most college teams?

James Onwualu/backup.

I love James and the athleticism he brings to the table, and he could blow up this year if the flashes he showed last year were a true preview... but idk if he's starting at OLB for most teams in the country, and whoever backs him up definitely isn't a shoe-in.

 

[woolybug25]

James Onwualu/backup.

I love James and the athleticism he brings to the table, and he could blow up this year if the flashes he showed last year were a true preview... but idk if he's starting at OLB for most teams in the country, and whoever backs him up definitely isn't a shoe-in.

I would argue that he would be a starter on most teams. He's an athletic dude and a former 4*. His backups are Martini and Bilal, who also both are super athletic.

I feel ya though, when I looked at the depth chart, that was the only position I saw any weakness with. That being said, we have a freshman STUD at the position, and we sometimes provide LB help with an extra safety... like Avery Sabastien or Tranquill.

Past that one position, we are pretty good two deep, across the board.

 

[IrishLion]

I would argue that he would be a starter on most teams. He's an athletic dude and a former 4*. His backups are Martini and Bilal, who also both are super athletic.

I feel ya though, when I looked at the depth chart, that was the only position I saw any weakness with. That being said, we have a freshman STUD at the position, and we sometimes provide LB help with an extra safety... like Avery Sabastien or Tranquill.

Past that one position, we are pretty good two deep, across the board.

That was the only truly questionable one I could think of.

I still also think that James should be a safety, and perhaps he'll get that chance next year once Shumate/Sebastian are gone.

 

[woolybug25]

That was the only truly questionable one I could think of.

I still also think that James should be a safety, and perhaps he'll get that chance next year once Shumate/Sebastian are gone.

I could see Bilal taking his spot and James moving back to safety.

 

[WestCoast]

kind of where I am at... also when I hear 'stacked' I think two things...

when I hear stacked, i think of Young MC's "Bust A Move."

 

[Old Man Mike]

A. Our defensive line is stacked by any reasonable definition of the word. We have at least six playable defensive tackles when most teams are still looking for their third one. We have six playable defensive ends as well --- objecting that we don't have an elite pass rusher does not damage the concept of "stacked" in my dictionary. All these guys are good football players any team would take.

B. We are stacked at linebacker if Jarrett Grace is ready. Smith, Grace, Schmidt are a threesome that anybody would like to have, and behind them [or in various packages] are Morgan, Onwualu, Martini, the rookies, and one should count Matthais Farley as a LB replacement when we go nickel. That is quite stacked in my view.

C. That leaves defensive backfield, where in my opinion our starters will be among the nation's elite. I believe that Sebastian will ultimately start, and Shumate will relieve, that plus Tranquil equals stacked at safety. Corner is where I would concern myself. Our starters will be VERY close to the nation's best, but I believe that there's a major drop=off on the back-ups. Hope I'm wrong. But my defensive "prayers" are for a season-long healthy year for Luke-Island and Russell-Island.

Notre Dame fans always see the worst case scenarios but I believe that outsiders see a team loaded with experience on the starting sides of the ball, and bristling with talent three deep nearly everywhere. Whether that sort of being stacked gets you through a Notre Dame schedule, who knows? But when I look at the ND defense, I see 8 to 9 guys minimum playing on Sundays, and a slew more of the back-ups.

 

[Cackalacky]

I can't help but attempt to factor in on the field production when assigning the moniker of "stacked" to a position group. Especially with the defense that was injury prone and gave up a ridiculous amount of points last year. I mean look at what happened last year to our LBs and DL. Significant drop off in production and leadership. If the guys behind the starters are inexperienced and unable to produce at similar levels then I can't really call a group stacked. I will need to see a good rotation and generally healthy season. Anything else for me is wishing in one hand....

 

[Crazy Balki]

I can't help but attempt to factor in on the field production when assigning the moniker of "stacked" to a position group. Especially with the defense that was injury prone and gave up a ridiculous amount of points last year. I mean look at what happened last year to our LBs and DL. Significant drop off in production and leadership. If the guys behind the starters are inexperienced and unable to produce at similar levels then I can't really call a group stacked. I will need to see a good rotation and generally healthy season. Anything else for me is wishing in one hand....

I'm the opposite. What happened in 2014 should be seen as an anomaly, not the norm. I can't see an Ohio State fan thinking "We won the title last year, but I'm not banking on any success until I go a year without seeing Bosa, Washington, Schutt and Hamilton get hurt". Injuries will happen, but you can't go into a season assuming that a injury breakout is gonna happen, because then you're never going to have any form of optimism about the start of the season.

As for what changed since last season? Development. Players don't stay the same, they get better and physically/mentally develop. Sure, guys like Joey Bosa will probably stay the same because they're already at their college peak in terms of elite, but guys like Day, Jones, Trumbetti, Rochell haven't reached their peak. A lot of guys got in last year and got legitimate playing/starting experience. It wasn't pretty, but it pays dividends. There's also the factor that it was year 1 in BVG's new scheme, and his was almost the polar opposite to Diaco's scheme. That's not a quick transition. So, there was a lot of things contributing to the struggles last season, that won't be a factor in 2015. More physically developed, mentally sharper players and a more familiarized scheme will make the defense leagues better.

 

[Cackalacky]

I'm the opposite. What happened in 2014 should be seen as an anomaly, not the norm. I can't see an Ohio State fan thinking "We won the title last year, but I'm not banking on any success until I go a year without seeing Bosa, Washington, Schutt and Hamilton get hurt". Injuries will happen, but you can't go into a season assuming that a injury breakout is gonna happen, because then you're never going to have any form of optimism about the start of the season.

As for what changed since last season? Development. Players don't stay the same, they get better and physically/mentally develop. Sure, guys like Joey Bosa will probably stay the same because they're already at their college peak in terms of elite, but guys like Day, Jones, Trumbetti, Rochell haven't reached their peak. A lot of guys got in last year and got legitimate playing/starting experience. It wasn't pretty, but it pays dividends. There's also the factor that it was year 1 in BVG's new scheme, and his was almost the polar opposite to Diaco's scheme. That's not a quick transition. So, there was a lot of things contributing to the struggles last season, that won't be a factor in 2015. More physically developed, mentally sharper players and a more familiarized scheme will make the defense leagues better.

To be clear this entire post is wishing in one hand..... The anomaly under BK, unfortunately, was 2012. As far as position groups, particularly on the defensive side, you have one data point. I have one data point. Last year under BVG. ND took the figurative cliff dive after losing just a couple of key starters. Until I see the the backups can play at a similar level across the board then I cant honestly say we are stacked. It ABSOLUTELY has to translate to on the field production and I dont think a moniker like that can justifiably be tossed out there pre season no matter the supposed talent level in waiting is. Otherwise its just handwaving for attention.

 

[Wild Bill]

To be clear this entire post is wishing in one hand..... The anomaly under BK, unfortunately, was 2012. As far as position groups, particularly on the defensive side, you have one data point. I have one data point. Last year under BVG. ND took the figurative cliff dive after losing just a couple of key starters. Until I see the the backups can play at a similar level across the board then I cant honestly say we are stacked. It ABSOLUTELY has to translate to on the field production and I dont think a moniker like that can justifiably be tossed out there pre season no matter the supposed talent level in waiting is. Otherwise its just handwaving for attention.

Exactly. I'm confident Day, Jones and Rochelle will play elite ball (or close to elite). The back-ups, at the moment, are nothing more than young, unproven talent and situational players.

The pass rush from the edges is concerning as well. I don't know how you describe a defensive line as stacked when there is nobody that can apply consistent pressure from the edges. Rochelle is a stud but it's just not his game to consistently get after the passer. Opposite of him, I think Trumbetti is the only hope and he may be a year away.