Common Sense

[NDMontana]

Montana what I'm trying to say is this:

Yes Cincinnati is in BCS contention. However they have a weak schedule. The Big East is weak. He hasn't beaten a team I would consider good in his three years as head coach there.

I want a head coach who will get this program competing at the level of Texas and Florida.

Kelly has not coached at a level anywhere near that yet. ND needs an experienced coach who has been there. We can't afford another change in 3-4 years.

I just don't think he is ready for the job. He hasn't faced nearly the pressure nor competition he will at ND.

Look at Rich Rod at Michigan, a Big East coach that went a step up and is in way over his head.

He beats the teams on his schedule, who have comparable, some slightly worse or better, talent levels than his team. That's the mark of a good coach. Give him ND's recruits and watch him work. Hell, Utah used a system offense to beat Alabama's ass last year. Do you think the Utes have the talent that Alabama does?

Maybe the Big East is weak but Kelly has proven that he will beat the teams he should. Notre Dame is 0-6 against the Big East the last two years.

 

[WaveDomer]

Yes D wins championships, but you don't need a complete shut down D to win it all.

Baltimore Ravens with Trent Dilfer. Dan Marino doesn't have a ring, but Trent Dilfer does. Give me a shut down D any day of the week over a super offense. Florida this year is a shut down D, they are number one. If you have an average D, that means you need points to win. Look at our offense, it has amazing talent and struggles to put up points versus teams like Navy and CT. With a shut down D we are undefeated.

 

[NDMontana]

How about when we scored two TDs with it against MSU? Or the 3 other TDs we've scored with it?

I think the point Jason is trying to make is that you don't see teams running the spread exclusively, and being in the Top 10. Sure, Cincy is this year with the weak schedule and Florida is when they have a QB/FB who can run for 4 yards every play and they have more speed than anyone else in the country, but who else? There's nothing wrong with running the Wildcat a few times a game or the read option once in a while, but you can't expect to be in the Shotgun all game and field a Top 10 team.

The Wild Cat worked against who? Michigan State, Washington State and Nevada? Consider the competition.

Aside from Florida, Cincinnati is in the Top 10 and they run the spread. How about Utah last year? How about Oregon (#8)? TCU (#4) runs the spread, too.

So by my count that's four of the Top 10. Georgia Tech runs the option, too, though not the spread. I think Texas runs the spread, too, but they use short passes instead of runs. If you'll remember they were a true spread option team with Vince Young but Colt McCoy has a different skill set than V. Young. But, Texas is another team that proves how you can plug people into that system. Ohio State is also running some type of spread (at least occassionally).


So really, six of the Top 10 are running some form of the spread. And seven of the Top 10 use it some form or another.