Kelly on Special Teams

[TerryTate]

Kelly 'blisters' Irish special teams - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN

Kelly 'blisters' Irish special teams

By Brian Bennett

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly had harsh words for his special teams on Tuesday, and not because of the fake field goal that Michigan State pulled off for the overtime win.

Instead, Kelly is upset with the Irish return game. Notre Dame averaged just 17.8 yards per return on five kickoffs against the Spartans and is currently 76th nationally in that category.

"Those guys got blistered [Monday]," Kelly said. "It was awful. Our kickoff return, we've got to run better.

"Cierre Wood has been put on notice that he'd better hit that thing with some enthusiasm, and we have some guys that quite frankly have got to do a better job if they're not going to find themselves on the bus. It's an effort thing, it's attention to focus and detail from our guys on special teams that we're going to demand from our guys."

Some other hits from Kelly's weekly press conference:

* Defensive line coach/special teams coordinator Mike Elston has returned from the viral illness that kept him out of the last two games.

* Safety Jamoris Slaughter, who's missed the last two starts with an ankle injury, should return against Stanford. Kelly said Slaughter, who ran in for Zeke Motta during the Michigan State game when Motta had an equipment issue, is moving around a lot better.

* Receiver Theo Riddick had a breakout game against Michigan State, just as Kelly predicted. "He did all the right things, similar to this football team," Kelly said. "They're doing the right things. We've got to make a few more plays here and there. We've got to play cleaner in certainly situations. But I think in a large degree, I feel Riddick is what our football team is about, working hard every single day, and you're going to see success."

* Kelly said quarterback Dayne Crist is getting better but has one area he needs to improve. "He had 13 incomplete passes that were all ball-control throws. When we clean that up, he will possess the things necessary to lead our football team as far as we can go, and that's the area in his maturation. He is making the big throws. He is making the big field throws, the vertical throws, the dig routes. He's doing a great job on his progression reads now. It's the ball-control throws that we have to make, and those are the ones that consequently can end up winning the game for you."

 

[mgriff]

Cierre has looked tentative ever since that fumble in the first game. Just my observation.

 

[DirtySecret]

Cierre has looked tentative ever since that fumble in the first game. Just my observation.

Wasn't Cierre supposed to be taking over Allen job mid season? That's what all the kool-aid drinking Wood fans out here were saying.

 

[mgriff]

Wasn't Cierre supposed to be taking over Allen job mid season? That's what all the kool-aid drinking Wood fans out here were saying.

Haha. He looked explosive in the first game, and then that fumble really unnerved him; at least that's how it appears to me. I have to wonder if Kelly calling him out in the PC after the first week contributed to that or not. BK definitely said he better hold onto the ball or he won't see the field in the post-Purdue presser.

 

[phgreek]

Haha. He looked explosive in the first game, and then that fumble really unnerved him; at least that's how it appears to me. I have to wonder if Kelly calling him out in the PC after the first week contributed to that or not. BK definitely said he better hold onto the ball or he won't see the field in the post-Purdue presser.

I'm old, fat, and slow, had two knee surgeries and an achilles laced back together...and I'd hit the hole harder than Cierre did against Sparty.

He's scared...and he's missed the message. He's trying to hang on to a spot (ie not I won't fumble and I'll stay on the 2 deep) instead of being the impact player he can be...I suspect what BK is saying is he expects him not to fumble, and to be a difference maker...can't do the latter without going balls out...he's afraid he can't do the former unless he tones it down...

what happens now is, the kid will be conscious of taking care of the ball, but he'll get pissed off at all the BS from BK, and go balls out...I suspect we'll see a different Cwood this week.

BK didn't get this far w/o knowing how to play the Carrot and the stick game...lets hope Cwood isn't all fragile and what not

 

[DirtySecret]

Haha. He looked explosive in the first game, and then that fumble really unnerved him; at least that's how it appears to me. I have to wonder if Kelly calling him out in the PC after the first week contributed to that or not. BK definitely said he better hold onto the ball or he won't see the field in the post-Purdue presser.

He look scare to hit the holes in the MSU game and instead hitting the hole he tried to bounce it outside.

 

[BearGB]

He look scare to hit the holes in the MSU game and instead hitting the hole he tried to bounce it outside.

See to me, having been at all three games so far, I think it is certainly not a scared thing. The issue with Cierre is that he believes he can take it to the house. While the confidence in that belief is terrific, it doesn't translate totally to reality. Cierre isn't "scared" of hitting the hole, he is waiting too long for the BIG hole to open up. In time, hopefully sooner rather than later, he will find that often he has to makethose plays instead of letting them develop. This happens with a lot of backs, and I'm sure we will see Coach Hinton telling Cierre he has to always take what he can get and to run hard, but smart.

 

[tko]

love BK not afraid to challenge kids. i truly fell in love with BK last year during the Cincy/Pitt game when he lit up Pike on the sidelines. Pike was playing like a complete vagina, and Kelly challenged his manhood right then and there and Pike came back and rallied. For some kids, that doesn't always work, but it appears Kelly has the ability to motivate. i look forward to watching how Cierre responds.

 

[jonesman]

I had said to my fellow ND buds that I thought Cierre was really looking slow the last two weeks. I thought he looked to be jogging at the UM game when running the ball. I am glad Kelly is willing to call out these guys.

This past summer I had a long chat with a guy who's son played for kelly at Grand Valley. He said that Kelly is an SOB as a coach, but his son really believed in Kelly. This guys was a huge UM fan and was saying that he wanted RichRod to get fired and have Kelly go to UM. Just some background on people who have dealt with Kelly previously.

 

[kmoose]

See to me, having been at all three games so far, I think it is certainly not a scared thing. The issue with Cierre is that he believes he can take it to the house. While the confidence in that belief is terrific, it doesn't translate totally to reality. Cierre isn't "scared" of hitting the hole, he is waiting too long for the BIG hole to open up. In time, hopefully sooner rather than later, he will find that often he has to makethose plays instead of letting them develop. This happens with a lot of backs, and I'm sure we will see Coach Hinton telling Cierre he has to always take what he can get and to run hard, but smart.

I agree, and this is pretty typical of young running backs. They tend to revert to what worked for them, in High School. In High School, they often were the fastest guy on the field, and were able to bounce outside and make big plays. This is big boy college football, and he is going to have to learn how to run like it.

 

[Jerry]

I was actually going to start a thread on this yesterday. The return game has been pathetic the last 2 weeks. Goodman returning punts is a joke too. Look up his stats from the MSU game. I'm pretty sure you could put anybody back there and do what he's done.

There are a lot of factors in the last 2 losses. But I definitely think a lack of spark in the return game can certainly be considered a factor.

 

[hrc08]

1. Wood made horrible reads on Saturday as he had holes opened for him. I still expect that we will see him make great strides. He just has too much natural talent.

2. Goodman did an exception job at PR on Saturday. Sure...his runs were average but his decision making was superb, i.e. fair catching versus not fair catching. He will get more shots going forward according to Kelly.

 

[Jerry]

1. Wood made horrible reads on Saturday as he had holes opened for him. I still expect that we will see him make great strides. He just has too much natural talent.

2. Goodman did an exception job at PR on Saturday. Sure...his runs were average but his decision making was superb, i.e. fair catching versus not fair catching. He will get more shots going forward according to Kelly.

He had 4 returns for 25 yds?? I mean yeah he can catch the ball and he didn't make any mistakes but there were some really returnable kicks that he got nothing but the yds it took him to run to the first tackler. I would just think there has to be somebody better on the team at punt returns, with all the athletes on this team.

 

[JeremyND07]

I am all for the coach trying to motivate kids but BK seems to like to do this in the media too much! How would he like his players calling out his coaching ability in the media or his horrible play calling? Special teams minus the return game has actually looked good this year! Goodman is a horrible punt return and Allen does not have the break away speed.

 

[TerryTate]

I am all for the coach trying to motivate kids but BK seems to like to do this in the media too much! How would he like his players calling out his coaching ability in the media or his horrible play calling? Special teams minus the return game has actually looked good this year! Goodman is a horrible punt return and Allen does not have the break away speed.

"Mr. Patient" huh? Kelly has proven he is able to motivate his players during his coaching tenure. That's why we hired him. Horrible play calling? I'll trust the opinions of this board when you show me some coaching certifications or something. Special teams has not looked too good. Our punting has been weak. Our returns were something like 17 yards per return last game. That needs improvement

 

[tko]

He had 4 returns for 25 yds?? I mean yeah he can catch the ball and he didn't make any mistakes but there were some really returnable kicks that he got nothing but the yds it took him to run to the first tackler. I would just think there has to be somebody better on the team at punt returns, with all the athletes on this team.

wait a minute, ESPN says we don't have any athletes

 

[RDU Irish]

Terry Tate = Mod

That's new isn't it?

BRING THE PAIN TRAIN, WHOOO, WHOOO. Kill the Joe, you make some moe! Now go slap around some sloppy posters, B!TCH!!

 

[Irish Man3]

I am all for the coach trying to motivate kids but BK seems to like to do this in the media too much! How would he like his players calling out his coaching ability in the media or his horrible play calling? Special teams minus the return game has actually looked good this year! Goodman is a horrible punt return and Allen does not have the break away speed.

I dont think that Goodman is a horrible punt returner by any means. Had Lo Wood not been called for that phantom block in the back penalty, Goodman had us set up pretty nicely for a game winning drive on a shortened field. Since when do you have to return every kick to be considered a decent return specialist. How many returns does Goodman have? Two maybe 3? How can you come out and say that he is "horrible" at returning punts Mr. Patient.
As far as Armando Allen's ability to return punts, maybe you missed the Purdue game. Break away speed is not the only skill needed to be a solid kick or punt return man. It helps, but it all boils down to decision making and blocking. I dont care how fast you are, if you run down the wrong lane or dont wait for your blocks to set up, your not returning anything. You have to use your speed when necessary but also read your blocks and let your wall set up. It takes PATIENCE Mr. Patient!

 

[IrishinSyria]

I do agree that I'm not sure I love it when Kelly calls out his players in the media...sometimes, sure, but its happened a few times now and we're at game 3. It starts to sound like a coach making excuses for himself.

But yea, it would be nice to take one back for 6 every now and then but Goodman and Armando both seem like very capable return men. And Cierre could definitely start hitting the holes a little (a lot) harder.

 

[TDHeysus]

I do agree that I'm not sure I love it when Kelly calls out his players in the media...sometimes, sure, but its happened a few times now and we're at game 3. It starts to sound like a coach making excuses for himself.

I dont see a problem this at all. I think its part of playing football. If you dont want to get chewed out by the coaches, step your game up. Dont keep making the same mistakes. Do whatever you need to do to not be the one the coaches single out.

I guess I'm old skool because every football coach I ever experienced was quick to chew you out when you were not performing up to expectation. As a dlineman, if I jumped offsides, I expected to get chewed out; out of 4 years of HS football, I had 2 offsides, and got chewed out both times! "The ball is right in front of you!! out of everyone on the field, you better be the LAST person to jump offsides!" It made me be proud of the fact that offenses couldn't make me jump offsides; I always respected the coaches for instilling that in me - being accountable.

I dont see this as BK making excuses, I see it as BK holding these kids accountable. Some kids will respond to being challenged, some will fold and pack it in.


ADDED: every FB coach I have ever known was closer to the 'Rex Ryan Type' (minus the f-bombs) rather than the "Tony Dungy Type".

 

[IrishinSyria]

Of course a coach should get in a guy's face when he screws up...but that's a different issue. It's just that I'm a big advocate of not sharing that sort of thing with the media.

Maybe it comes from my background as a goalie...the rule of thumb was always accept responsibility for a goal. If you had a problem with something a defenseman was doing, talk about it with him. If it persisted, talk about it with him and the coach. But NEVER let it leave the locker room.

If you're a coach and you don't think a player is hitting a hole hard enough, for example, you have three steps you can take: 1) talk, 2) yell 3)bench/punish. But don't let it go outside the team...I think that destroys trust over time.

This is just one guy's opinion, take it for what it's worth.