Brian Kelly Revisited (RIP BOZO)

Brian Kelly Revisited


  • Total voters
    382

Irishize

Well-known member
Messages
4,531
Reaction score
461
That had to be one of the shortest passing of the hat exercises ever.

LOL! No doubt. Don’t forget, they also knew they had to act fast to secure Meyer. Alas, Willingham had failed to build the program to a point where it was even attractive to Meyer, so Urban smartly went to the least path of resistance and consequently, a CFB HOF career.
 

MNIrishman

Well-known member
Messages
2,532
Reaction score
481
Don’t understand those saying we need a new OC. Rees went undefeated in the regular season considering we were without our two best WR’s majority of the year

I wouldn't say we need one. I'm saying if a great one wanted the job, Rees could learn something from someone who isn't Brian Kelly.
 

Redbar

Well-known member
Messages
3,531
Reaction score
806
I think Rees did a great job considering the limitations at WR and in many respects QB
 

ulukinatme

Carr for QB 2026!
Messages
31,525
Reaction score
17,410
Rees torched a very good ISU team in the previous bowl game for his first outing. He beat an incredibly good Clemson team in the regular season, even if they were missing a couple excellent players, in addition to a perfect regular season. That was all without what I would call a true playmaker at WR as it took about half the season before our final starters found their footing. Next year should be an interesting year given we're almost completely reloading on offense. If he can create a decent offense with a bunch of first time starters that will be a good sign.
 

Rogue219

Well-known member
Messages
5,430
Reaction score
1,080
Kelly post game attitude after the Alabama loss had me soured on him all over again. I thought it was a douchey way to act toward the media and it made me feel a "here we go again" sensation when it comes to my mixed feelings about the guy over the years.

To land Freeman to replace Lea is something that should not be understated at this point. For all the fan base that leans more toward complaining and negativity, you have to look at this hire and call it the biggest he's made thus far. Freeman is a sought after coach by both the NFL and Power Five College Football communities. I certainly didn't expect ND to be a realistic landing spot for him, but they got it done.

Credit to Kelly for going out and landing THE dude on the market.
 

NDFAN420

Well-known member
Messages
789
Reaction score
356
DeVonta Smith is beating tOSU, the other guys are good too. Clemson has two NCs in the Saban era while simply being ND on steroids (per recruiting stats), the difference in the two teams essentially being the skill positions. Switch Watson and Kizer, maybe ND wins the NC and more than one good WR/year.
 

IrishLax

Something Witty
Staff member
Messages
37,546
Reaction score
29,009
I think Rees did a great job considering the limitations at WR and in many respects QB

The old adage about a chef “only being as good as his ingredients” seems to apply. For a first year OC, I thought Rees did a good job working with he had. I also think there is room for improvement. Next year could be rough for him though.
 
Last edited:

yankeeND

!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Messages
4,607
Reaction score
255
I would love to see Kelly and Rees implement that fun and fun hurry up that he ran at Cincinnati. I know it will never happen, but I would love it.
 

ThePiombino

The OG "TP"
Messages
16,476
Reaction score
6,245
Love the Freeman hire. More important than Tommy doing this or Tommy not doing that now? Bring in a boat load of analysts and expand the recruiting staff, substantially. Let's start playing fire with fire instead of waving a tissue at the flame.
 

ulukinatme

Carr for QB 2026!
Messages
31,525
Reaction score
17,410
I would love to see Kelly and Rees implement that fun and fun hurry up that he ran at Cincinnati. I know it will never happen, but I would love it.

If Venables is stealing signs it would certainly benefit us to run more hurry up to limit their adjustments prior to the snap. Seems like we got away from running the occasional tempo series after Long came in.
 

IrishLion

I am Beyonce, always.
Staff member
Messages
19,128
Reaction score
11,077
The old adage about a chef “only being as good as his ingredients” seems to apply. For a first year OC, I thought Rees did a good job working with he had. I also think there is room for improvement. Inextricably year could be rough for him though.

Rees did a really good job of building an identity and leaning on his playmakers. He also had a few games where he got into a really nice playcalling groove and put his guys in positions to make big plays with scheme, rather than just letting them be better than the guys across from them (though he did that when appropriate, too).

His next step is to get away from the BK "stubborn in our intent to do something specific" thing. He needs to be a bit more flexible, and figure out how to incorporate more play-action and misdirection stuff. The screen to Tyree early against Bama was good, and something they had used and built towards throughout the season.

But the way they were using crossers all year, as well as their elaborate jet motion packages, should have lent themselves to more shots down the seam, or even a throwback or two, but they didn't really try to get overly creative... and that was a problem, because having a 5th year QB that can bail you out with his legs is the EXACT time to get weird.

My other gripe is over-reliance on running all-curls on 3rd-and-medium. There were a lot of plays late in the year where Book is scrambling around trying to make something work, but he's got three receivers sitting down on curl routes and no outlet. Hopefully their deployment of Kyren in the passing game against Bama is a building block to solve some of those things.
 

Rack Em

Community Bod
Messages
7,089
Reaction score
2,727
Rees did a really good job of building an identity and leaning on his playmakers. He also had a few games where he got into a really nice playcalling groove and put his guys in positions to make big plays with scheme, rather than just letting them be better than the guys across from them (though he did that when appropriate, too).

His next step is to get away from the BK "stubborn in our intent to do something specific" thing. He needs to be a bit more flexible, and figure out how to incorporate more play-action and misdirection stuff. The screen to Tyree early against Bama was good, and something they had used and built towards throughout the season.

But the way they were using crossers all year, as well as their elaborate jet motion packages, should have lent themselves to more shots down the seam, or even a throwback or two, but they didn't really try to get overly creative... and that was a problem, because having a 5th year QB that can bail you out with his legs is the EXACT time to get weird.

My other gripe is over-reliance on running all-curls on 3rd-and-medium. There were a lot of plays late in the year where Book is scrambling around trying to make something work, but he's got three receivers sitting down on curl routes and no outlet. Hopefully their deployment of Kyren in the passing game against Bama is a building block to solve some of those things.

I hope Tommy pulls out the ‘ol 3rd down pooch punt. Really catch the D off guard...
 
Messages
89
Reaction score
43
Could Kelly be looking to upgrade the WR coaching position? Alexander was a Long guy, and I can’t say I’ve been impressed by the development of the receivers in recent years.

In addition to the position coaching, you can maybe get some fresh ideas in there to add to the passing attack.
 

rtrn2glory

Well-known member
Messages
16,180
Reaction score
6,473
Could Kelly be looking to upgrade the WR coaching position? Alexander was a Long guy, and I can’t say I’ve been impressed by the development of the receivers in recent years.

In addition to the position coaching, you can maybe get some fresh ideas in there to add to the passing attack.

Interesting take and good possibility, plus haven't heard too much of him on the recruiting front. Ohio St. is killing it on the trail with Hartline.
 

ulukinatme

Carr for QB 2026!
Messages
31,525
Reaction score
17,410
Could Kelly be looking to upgrade the WR coaching position? Alexander was a Long guy, and I can’t say I’ve been impressed by the development of the receivers in recent years.

In addition to the position coaching, you can maybe get some fresh ideas in there to add to the passing attack.

Are you saying "We are slow, Alexander must go?"

Yeah, I might be in favor of that. Gotta do a better job getting our talent on the field at that position.
 

NDFAN420

Well-known member
Messages
789
Reaction score
356
Man, what a move. A college football team, Alabama, just signed a former NFL General Manager and Head Coach to be its offensive coordinator. Recent history hasn't been as kind to him as a couple of years ago but that's still a big, swinging dick move on Saban's part.

I like Freeman and we carved out a bigger presence for ourselves because of that, so I'm not complaining at all. What I'm saying is that combine that with tOSU having four assistant coaches making over $1million/yr and you see what it takes to be consistently good at this level unless things change considerably.

We have got to absolutely nail every hire just to stay as far behind these teams as we are. If Jeff Lurie calls this year, what's Kelly going to do?
 

IrishLion

I am Beyonce, always.
Staff member
Messages
19,128
Reaction score
11,077
I hope Tommy pulls out the ‘ol 3rd down pooch punt. Really catch the D off guard...

There was actually one game where I was begging for Ian Book to punt the football when they were lined up on a 4th down... but now I can't remember, and maybe I'm conflating it with another team I was frustrated at.
 

Irishize

Well-known member
Messages
4,531
Reaction score
461
Could Kelly be looking to upgrade the WR coaching position? Alexander was a Long guy, and I can’t say I’ve been impressed by the development of the receivers in recent years.

In addition to the position coaching, you can maybe get some fresh ideas in there to add to the passing attack.

Who knows? I haven’t really looked into this. Couldn’t you make the case that he had a lot to do w/ developing Boykin, Claypool & McKinley? All three of these guys had fallen short of their expectations until Alexander got here. When Finke (whom he inherited as a walk-on) was healthy, he was reliable. I can’t blame Alexander for Austin’s suspension & two years of injuries. Same goes for Lenzy & Keys. If Devonta Smith can be durable enough at 170 lbs (allegedly), then why is Lenzy & Keys always hurt and been criticized as not durable enough? Doesn’t that reflect more on S&C?
 

NDdomer2

Local Sports vBookie
Messages
17,050
Reaction score
3,875
Interesting take and good possibility, plus haven't heard too much of him on the recruiting front. Ohio St. is killing it on the trail with Hartline.

He was rated the 39th best recruiter in the nation in 2021 as well as our second highest rated behind only Quinn. I cant remember which thread it was but I went back and looked at every one of BK's recruiting classes and this is easily the highest rated bunch of WR brought in. So Del deserves some kudos as far as recruiting goes (this year at least).
 
Last edited:
Messages
89
Reaction score
43
Who knows? I haven’t really looked into this. Couldn’t you make the case that he had a lot to do w/ developing Boykin, Claypool & McKinley? All three of these guys had fallen short of their expectations until Alexander got here. When Finke (whom he inherited as a walk-on) was healthy, he was reliable. I can’t blame Alexander for Austin’s suspension & two years of injuries. Same goes for Lenzy & Keys. If Devonta Smith can be durable enough at 170 lbs (allegedly), then why is Lenzy & Keys always hurt and been criticized as not durable enough? Doesn’t that reflect more on S&C?

He’s been here 4 years. So, he had Claypool for 3 years and Boykin 2. It’s hard to say they “underachieved” before him. And those two examples actually support my cause. They both entered the NFL as unpolished receivers who shocked NFL personnel men by how well they performed at the combine.

You can point to another guy like Jaelen Strong he coached at Arizona State who was drafted on his traits, but categorized as a below-average route runner with inconsistent hands.
 

317Irish

Grits are a$$
Messages
1,209
Reaction score
1,053
He’s been here 4 years. So, he had Claypool for 3 years and Boykin 2. It’s hard to say they “underachieved” before him. And those two examples actually support my cause. They both entered the NFL as unpolished receivers who shocked NFL personnel men by how well they performed at the combine.

You can point to another guy like Jaelen Strong he coached at Arizona State who was drafted on his traits, but categorized as a below-average route runner with inconsistent hands.
I don’t have strong feelings one way or the other on Del, but I can’t really agree with your perspective here. I care more about getting production out of our WR’s than I do about building them into polished NFL ready players. Production is what we got out of Miles and Chase. As for 2020, I was surprised we got as much as we did out of Javon and Ben. They simply didn’t have the speed or separation ability to beat the top defenses we played, and against Clemson pt 2 and Bama we didn’t even utilize their best assets- being able to win 50/50 battles with their size. I blame Book and possibly Tommy for that more than I blame Del. If he is here and has a healthy WR core in 2021, we should be able to see what he’s bringing to the table a little more clearly. Also, the WR recruiting looks like it has been trending up in recent years although we are yet to see that talent on display.
 

rtrn2glory

Well-known member
Messages
16,180
Reaction score
6,473
He was rated the 39th best recruiter in the nation in 2021 as well as our second highest rated behind only Quinn. I cant remember which thread it was but I went back and looked at every one of BK's recruiting classes and this is easily the highest rated bunch of WR brought in. So Del deserves some kudos as far as recruiting goes (this year at least).

Guess that's a good point. Don't hear much on him from the recruits take I suppose.
 

IrishRazor82

Banned
Messages
861
Reaction score
356
In time I think we'll look back and see how bad the WR group was this year, and be satisfied with going 11-2 with an elite win against Clemson. I don't think we'll ever field a team of WRs like this in the next decade. Couple that with Book's limitations and inability in the pocket, and it will sit well with us.

But man, those last 2 games in real time felt like the offensive play calling wasn't even trying.
 

Some Irish Bloke

Five foot nothin', a hundred and nothin'
Messages
6,346
Reaction score
5,922

BK and Rees already said it will be a wide open competition for the starting QB job; Coan is not the assumed starter everyone believes he is. I would argue he is the betting favorite, but it's not a foregone conclusion.

The '22 schedule is far more daunting than the '21 slate, and I think it is silly to ask them to do anything that would jeopardize a post-season birth this year with a trip to Columbus and another date with Clemson on the same schedule in 2022.

I understand what he is trying to say, but if we aren't trying to "win now" what are we even doing here.... Coan will start if he earns it, IMO, and hopefully Buchner gets more opportunities late in games than Pyne and Clark have in years past.
 

Irishbounty28

Beastmode
Messages
1,122
Reaction score
280

I don't see how taking a transfer at quarterback, or any position for that matter, is a bad thing. It is especially important when the players have little to no experience at the position. I am absolutely sure the coaches want any one of Buchner, Pyne or Clark to be the starter after earning it in practice, because that could bode well for the teams future success.

On the other hand, if they aren't able to take over the starting role, the coaches have put themselves in position to have an experienced quarterback on the roster they can fall back on.

Just because someone transfers in doesn't automatically mean they will be starting. Pryor is an example of this just from the 2020 season.
 
Top