Surprised by the supposed remarks about Hinton and Warinner. O line play was drastically improved (although not perfect) and Hinton did well with Jonas and Cierre.
I thought both were recruiting well for ND, too. Hinton especially stood out to me as a guy who loved being at ND and loved selling ND to hs recruits.
Urban is putting together one hell of a staff in Columbus. I hope Kelly gets himself two solid replacements and quick.
Lots of things happen behind the scenes on a football team, in a business organization, or in a marriage that only the prinicpals see. When there's a parting there's usually the company line canned response and what actually happened. We don't know the behind the hidden issues we can only guess.
The running attack was improved but without Jonas left much to be desired. People comment appropriately on Rees performance against top defenses. Check the rushing game against those same defenses. Wood had a high rate of lost yardage plays. How many times did people comment throughout the season about his dancing at the hole instead of hitting it? It may have been the player's indecision, but did the RB Coach work through that problem? On the other hand Hinton had been with Kelly for half a dozen years. Chemistry issues shouldn't be an issue by then.
Was Molnar enevitable to move on or was he held accountable for the lack of improvement by the QBs - across the board. Fans like to pin Kelly to Rees's tail but it's the position coach who tells the OC or DC who's ready to play. The coordinator than picks his personnel groupings. HC always has the oppostiont to override but you pay your coordinators to make the basic decisions. Did Kelly override Molnar with Rees or did QB Coach Molnar say, Tommy was the only one "ready"? Did OC Molnar pick Rees or did Kelly force Tommy on him? Actually I'm skipping the first guy, Crist. After a Spring and Fall camp Kelly claimed Dayne and Tommy were in a dead heat to the amazement of many? Did Molnar as QB coach have Dayne ready. With his arm, size, experience, he should have been head and shoulders above the others. He was but only standing up. On the field he still struggled with indecision, errant throws, etc. The same shortcomings he had a year earlier. Perhaps it was all between his ears but his position coach is supposed to work through those things are get the next guy ready. We can argue specifics about Crist or Rees ad nauseum but neither's shortcomings were overcome under this QB Coach. Hendrix wasn't ready. Again, his fault or the position coach's? Molnar gets a pass on Golson due to size, academics, and true freshman.
I thought the only vastly improved. Best since Rosenthal and Company, still not up to the Aaron Taylor era. Cave was sorely missed when he went down - inijuries aren't the Position Coaches responsibility. Golic got abused in the last two games of the season but I thought he did pretty well against FSU. I haven't rewatched the game to confirm that but don't recall ND getting abused up the middle like the Stanford game. I liked Warinner from what I saw from my TV but as the Running Game OC was Wood's shortcomings helped or hindered by Warinner's Rushing Game Plan. Did Warinner and Molnar conflict or mesh? Regardless I suspect when Molnar left, Warinner started packing up his stuff to move into Molnar's office. When Chuck Martin got the OC nod, I expected Warinner took his pack things home and started dialing. He had already been a successful OC. Getting passed over I suspect didn't sit well with him. Probably an unfortunate consequence but something Kelly would have to very foolish not to have considered. For reasons not obvious to me Kelly chose Martin. My only assumption is he wants a clone of the Grand Valley attack.
The '12 team needs a solid secondary coach to get the current players ready and the new talent integrated into a cohesive unit. Was Martin to OC the real goal or a move to get him out of the Secondary? I don't know.
As for the comments about Booker "working with offensive coaches" as qualifying him I was going to post Beau that riding on a school bus for 4 years wouldn't qualify you to drive one. Neither can you teach chemistry or algebra to a class of 30 high school students just because you had the class. NDinL.A. and the other teachers on this board had to learn more than just their subject matter to become effective teachers. ND needs effective teachers from Day 1 not just an energetic young guy that stays up nights reading the next chapter before the class does. SoCalDomer gave a solid example with Charlie Jr., I'll go on the professional level and compare Polian as a Special Teams Discordinator under Weis to where he is today at Stanford - several years later. Meyer wasn't ready for Florida or Utah when he went to Bowling Green. On The Job Training has no place at ND at the head coach level or assistant coach level. The schedule ND's plays is too tough to accomodate training coaches to coach while winning games.
One thing I can say in Booker's behave is he has coached as an assistant at Kent and WKU although I'm not ispired by either stint.
ND has a major need for superior coaching at QB, WR, LB, and DB. And if we want to keep those OLs,WRs, and DBs in this class and add someone LIKE a Garnett, a Agholor, or anyone else (insert your 4 or 5 Star of choice) who can play on Sunday there better be a coach able to coach them up to the next level not learning along with them.
As for schedule of hires, some relevant dates:
January 8-11, American Football Coaches Association Convention (THE Meat Market for hiring)
Feb 2 National Signing Day
Feb 5 Super Bowl (probably more the playoff losers more significant than the SB contenders)
The AFCA Convention is the more likely the source and window of opportunity. It allows the current recruits to eyeball an hire made there. Kelly could hire from the pros but as his OC and DC are filled I don't think it's as likely to hire a pro to become a position coach.
