- Messages
- 44,608
- Reaction score
- 20,086
ND Coaching Changes 2016
- Thread starter PANDFAN
- Start date
- Messages
- 33,950
- Reaction score
- 9,294
Now that ND's coaching situation has shaken out, I have to admit... I never thought it would be this good.
LOVE the recruiting reach Del Alexander, Chip Long and Brian Polian bring to the program. I think they will be a plus gain over Denbrock and Sanford (not a knock, I liked them both) out west while not losing Denbrock's touch with the WR's as Alexander is widely hailed as a top tier talent developer.
On the other side of the ball, I think the news is even better. The more I look at film and study WF's recruiting targets the more I think this is going to be a home run. I think Elko and Lea come into a situation with the shelves already stocked with their kinda guys. It's like someone knew to sign DJ Morgan and Spencer Perry a year early. I mean they took a low 3 star kid from Ft Wayne that most here never heard about, Jesse Bates, and made him a 100 tkl / 5 INT All ACC player in his first year on the field and he finished 2nd to Dexter frickin Lawrence for the league ROTY. These guys are going to absolutely rake.
All that said, I originally wanted Jimmy Lake from Washington as the DC. There is no doubt in my mind he is going to be a star and he coached up UDub's DB's as well as anyone. I thought his star power could close the future Thomas Graham's that the current guys couldn't. Now I have the confidence ND didn't miss out. I think this is going to work out perfectly.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/UW_Football">@UW_Football</a> DB coach/Co-DC Jimmy Lake rejects offer to join Justin Wilcox at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cal?src=hash">#Cal</a>, per source. Remaining at UW <a href="https://t.co/F3qjzzQIkm">https://t.co/F3qjzzQIkm</a> <a href="https://t.co/VwKAtfc05x">pic.twitter.com/VwKAtfc05x</a></p>— Lars Hanson (@LarsHanson) <a href="https://twitter.com/LarsHanson/status/822639329289846785">January 21, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
LOVE the recruiting reach Del Alexander, Chip Long and Brian Polian bring to the program. I think they will be a plus gain over Denbrock and Sanford (not a knock, I liked them both) out west while not losing Denbrock's touch with the WR's as Alexander is widely hailed as a top tier talent developer.
On the other side of the ball, I think the news is even better. The more I look at film and study WF's recruiting targets the more I think this is going to be a home run. I think Elko and Lea come into a situation with the shelves already stocked with their kinda guys. It's like someone knew to sign DJ Morgan and Spencer Perry a year early. I mean they took a low 3 star kid from Ft Wayne that most here never heard about, Jesse Bates, and made him a 100 tkl / 5 INT All ACC player in his first year on the field and he finished 2nd to Dexter frickin Lawrence for the league ROTY. These guys are going to absolutely rake.
All that said, I originally wanted Jimmy Lake from Washington as the DC. There is no doubt in my mind he is going to be a star and he coached up UDub's DB's as well as anyone. I thought his star power could close the future Thomas Graham's that the current guys couldn't. Now I have the confidence ND didn't miss out. I think this is going to work out perfectly.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/UW_Football">@UW_Football</a> DB coach/Co-DC Jimmy Lake rejects offer to join Justin Wilcox at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cal?src=hash">#Cal</a>, per source. Remaining at UW <a href="https://t.co/F3qjzzQIkm">https://t.co/F3qjzzQIkm</a> <a href="https://t.co/VwKAtfc05x">pic.twitter.com/VwKAtfc05x</a></p>— Lars Hanson (@LarsHanson) <a href="https://twitter.com/LarsHanson/status/822639329289846785">January 21, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Last edited:
OCIrish
Fukk Michigan
- Messages
- 3,280
- Reaction score
- 218
Played at Snider for my buddy, whom I spoke of in the Coach Elko thread.
B
Bogtrotter07
Guest
I know we really are geared to focus on the '17 recruiting class, now, but I will tell you, specifically, I have heard that Lea and Elko are going to light it up with the '18 class.
First of all, I loved the Elko hire from the second I heard about it, and couldn't believe ND was talking to him. I knew that guy from the time he was at BG was going to own the big time. By the way, maybe he wants to be a HC some day, but with what I know of him, and other people have said, I think he is going to take his time. I think he likes being a DC, and really is intent at becoming THE best.
Back to it. Mike Elko made real friends and connections, every step of the way I am sure. But here in NWO he made some that will really pay off while he is at ND, I believe. I've heard strong rumors that they are going to hit it out of the park with two or three kids in the '18 class.
So, with Mike, when he first became a rumored candidate for ND DC, it hit me in the gut, like, my first reaction was he is perfect! Like I mean chocolate smooth orgasmic perfect. Like Nirvana. Then I heard about Kelly and what was happening with the staff, and I thought, man is it great that ND got Elko, see, because he is so strong, and has such great character. He is a defensive genius, and an innovator, but he is nice and slow and careful too. He makes things easy for his players.
But here is the deal about that. I suppose I couldn't put my finger on it, but when you have a rising star like Elko, you kind of have one of two things strong ego driving it, or genius, and vision driving strong character. He is the latter.
- Messages
- 33,950
- Reaction score
- 9,294
Well I hope that he has a good relationship with Gant because that's the only player in NWO on the radar at the moment.
phgreek
New member
- Messages
- 6,956
- Reaction score
- 433
...was really thinking accomplishments and credibility...maybe a bad choice to compare to Jordan of today.
B
Bogtrotter07
Guest
Part II
Sorry, I was drawn away yesterday.
So, Elko is a genius, driven with a pretty well formed healthy ego, from everything I see. My contrast is Bob Diaco. Every where BobD went he was able to alienate people. And though his defenses worked, they really weren't stellar. The year he won the Broyles Award, he had the most incredible mix of talent and character he would ever see, and that was the outlier in his career. Once, his great talent and leadership advantages dissipated, other teams figured him out, and even Navy beat him over his head with his scheme!
None of either has been reported with Mike Elko. People love him, find him straightforward, and nobody figures out his defenses. Not only that, he finds the right players and develops them at a phenomenal rate.
My yardstick for the Kelly years, offensive and defensive is Ezekiel Elliot. He was ND's to lose, but some rocket scientist figured he had to be a defensive back! Can you imagine?
On the other had, Elko takes kids like the youngster from FT WAYNE, IN, last year, and as a freshman turns him into a Second-Team All-ACC performer! Did the kid have a star? See the difference.
I really tried to find a way to add BVG (who I admit, I thought would do well at ND) into this example, to compare and contrast, and no, I just couldn't. I don't have a clue . . .
But the point is, he was hired based upon Brian Kelly's recommendation. The second under-performing defensive coordinator. You were looking for proof BK wasn't behind the hire of Mike Elko?
Well here is another one for you. Those that were marveling at how ND just happened to hire a guy like Elko a year after picking up a couple of tweeners that could fit well into his scheme; what about turning it around and looking at it from the other side? Swarbrick, and the steering committee evaluated the talent on the roster, and used that as a consideration when looking for the right DC! More proof as to who is in charge, by the way.
So the temperament, the recruiting ability, insistence on the right assistants, it all lines up. There is another reason Elko is just right for ND now. He could run the program, get it done, win, not need the ego credit, and turn the reigns over to anyone when required, get up and continue to do his job as the DC the next day.
Sorry, I was drawn away yesterday.
So, Elko is a genius, driven with a pretty well formed healthy ego, from everything I see. My contrast is Bob Diaco. Every where BobD went he was able to alienate people. And though his defenses worked, they really weren't stellar. The year he won the Broyles Award, he had the most incredible mix of talent and character he would ever see, and that was the outlier in his career. Once, his great talent and leadership advantages dissipated, other teams figured him out, and even Navy beat him over his head with his scheme!
None of either has been reported with Mike Elko. People love him, find him straightforward, and nobody figures out his defenses. Not only that, he finds the right players and develops them at a phenomenal rate.
My yardstick for the Kelly years, offensive and defensive is Ezekiel Elliot. He was ND's to lose, but some rocket scientist figured he had to be a defensive back! Can you imagine?
On the other had, Elko takes kids like the youngster from FT WAYNE, IN, last year, and as a freshman turns him into a Second-Team All-ACC performer! Did the kid have a star? See the difference.
I really tried to find a way to add BVG (who I admit, I thought would do well at ND) into this example, to compare and contrast, and no, I just couldn't. I don't have a clue . . .
But the point is, he was hired based upon Brian Kelly's recommendation. The second under-performing defensive coordinator. You were looking for proof BK wasn't behind the hire of Mike Elko?
Well here is another one for you. Those that were marveling at how ND just happened to hire a guy like Elko a year after picking up a couple of tweeners that could fit well into his scheme; what about turning it around and looking at it from the other side? Swarbrick, and the steering committee evaluated the talent on the roster, and used that as a consideration when looking for the right DC! More proof as to who is in charge, by the way.
So the temperament, the recruiting ability, insistence on the right assistants, it all lines up. There is another reason Elko is just right for ND now. He could run the program, get it done, win, not need the ego credit, and turn the reigns over to anyone when required, get up and continue to do his job as the DC the next day.
Last edited:
B
Bogtrotter07
Guest
See if you can find out more about Clark Lea. He is at least a demi-god in my book as far as leadership, coaching, and recruiting. It isn't just because they were buddies that Elko worked so hard to get Lea to come to ND. There is an amazing story behind what transpired, including Lea's real commitment to WF, and his players, and his continued recruitment (On-off-on) for WF's DC position.
Beyond all of that, he talks linebacker. He talks linebacker at a binary level. He is pretty incredible.
B
Bogtrotter07
Guest
Is this 'fact' I read today true?
C
Cackalacky
Guest
NDinBoston
Active member
- Messages
- 939
- Reaction score
- 55
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Analysis: Gauging winds of change inside <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> football. With staff nearly assembled, is program better off? <a href="https://t.co/fDLEjiXRK9">https://t.co/fDLEjiXRK9</a> <a href="https://t.co/n4x8CO7vJv">pic.twitter.com/n4x8CO7vJv</a></p>— Eric Hansen (@EHansenNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/EHansenNDI/status/823317754711310336">January 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
*********************************************
SOUTH BEND — Even with the last and most contorted piece still stuck in the land of unconfirmed and uncompleted, the barrage of new faces in Brian Kelly’s seismic offseason staff makeover implores a simple question:
Is the Notre Dame football program better off for it?
In the coming days, a blur of professed vision, sincere rhetoric and crafted spin from the six new faces — seven when presumably former QB Tommy Rees jumps aboard — will provide some hints.
But the layered answer won’t fully reveal itself for some time now.
It’s not so straightforward as deciphering whether DelVaughn Alexander will exact more production out of the wide receivers than Mike Denbrock did; or Mike Elston’s return to coaching the defensive line turns out to be a revelation.
The deeper significance lies in how the pieces fit together and harmonize — or not.
On game day. In meetings. In recruiting. In recreating a culture that won’t allow for detours in the classroom or the weight room — the former of which has marred earlier seasons, the latter of which bled conspicuously into the 4-8 bottom line in 2016.
The more pertinent litmus tests, the ones that address synergy, look like these: Does new defensive coordinator Mike Elko’s expertise in coaching safeties help accelerate retained defensive backs coach Todd Lyght’s growth curve?
Does new director of football performance (strength coach for the old-schoolers) Matt Balis’ methods and standards give offensive line coach Harry Hiestand better material with which to reboot a rare underachieving unit?
And how challenged will eighth-year head coach Kelly be in an offensive meeting room from 33-year-old offensive coordinator Chip Long and 24-year-old Rees, the latter of whom would morph into a full-time assistant in mid-April if the NCAA legislation allowing for a 10th assistant passes the final vote, as expected?
And does Kelly even want to be challenged?
Kelly has professed, in a recent press release, that Long will call offensive plays. But will he be doing so out of Kelly’s playbook, Long’s version, or some sort of collaborative hybrid model? And will Long be sporting the coaching equivalent of training wheels?
The goal with all the newness around Kelly — Alexander, Long, special teams coach Brian Polian, linebackers coach Clark Lea, Elko, Balis, and likely Rees — is reinvention.
But change, in and of itself, doesn’t necessarily spark improvement any more than continuity automatically ferments into stagnation.
Notre Dame coaching icon Lou Holtz swapped out 26 assistants in the 10 offseasons after his first, 5-6, season in 1986 and up to his departure after an 8-3 run in ‘96. Never more than five assistant coaching changes in a given offseason and always at least one.
Some jumped. Some were pushed, with or without parachutes. Some climbed the coaching ladder.
His very last hire, an up-and-comer Holtz plucked from Colorado State named Urban Meyer in the 1995-96 offseason, couldn’t save Holtz from a quasi-divorce months later with an unbending ND administration that deemed Bob Davie as an upgrade.
Long after the end came, when Holtz’s emotions abated enough where he could truly be introspective, he realized the change that he didn’t make, that could have prolonged his run at ND, was himself.
"You get on top, it feels pretty good and you say, 'Let's not change anything,' ” Holtz said in an interview with the Tribune in 2012. “Well, you don't change anything, you don't have anything you're trying to aspire to.
“You have no reason to celebrate and you have no reason to get excited. When I left Notre Dame, I thought I was tired of coaching. I was not tired of coaching. I was tired of maintaining. That’s the dumbest thing I did.
"We should have set standards that nobody thought were possible. You get pulled and tugged in so many different directions, and that's the thing I regret. Don't maintain. We maintained it well, but that was a mistake."
In that light, the changes Kelly makes in himself this offseason and the months to follow will likely be the most catalyzing of all. And the one that most signifies his seriousness about reinvention was his recent parting ways with confidante and long-time director of strength and conditioning Paul Longo.
The two had worked together since Kelly took the Central Michigan head coaching job in 2004.
The recent press release confirming Balis as Longo’s successor explains the latter’s departure as a leave of absence, which caused some confusion among the ND fan base.
If Longo does return — and it’s more likely he won’t, per a source — he won’t be connected to strength and conditioning anymore, but in a reassigned role in the football/athletic department.
That leaves recruiting coordinator/defensive line coach Mike Elston as the lone remaining coach or coordinator Kelly imported with him to Notre Dame when he came from Cincinnati to replaced ousted Charlie Weis in December of 2009.
Fourteen coaches and Longo have moved on, including the only holdover from the Weis regime, Tony Alford. And Kelly’s two best seasons at ND — 12-1 in 2012 and 10-3 in 2015 — followed the two offseasons with the most change, at least when it came to staff members.
Kelly has always prided himself as a coach who didn’t wait for something to break to fix it, which is why the degree of dilapidation that surfaced during and after last season was so off-putting.
Defense can cover up a lot of flaws, and not just the cosmetic kind. And Kelly’s swapping out of Brian VanGorder for Elko is the change outside the ones Kelly makes within himself that most impacts his future.
An aside regarding VanGorder, deposed four games into last season: His gig with Georgia as a consultant, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was designed to last just one game — the Georgia Tech game last November, which the Bulldogs dropped, 28-27. He is no longer working with the Georgia staff.
VanGorder’s hopes and expectations at that time were that he’d be back working in the NFL in 2017 and not working as an analyst for Georgia, as had been speculated, when the Bulldogs visit the Irish Sept. 9.
Elko, hired away from Wake Forest, certainly will and with a gigantic, sizzling spotlight on him.
"I think everything starts with defense," Holtz said. "Your offense isn't always going to be there — the wind, the rain, competition. But defense is always the basis. The best teams we ever had started with defense.”
So did Kelly’s best team at ND, in 2012.
The markers to look for that there is progress in that area start with the ability to stop the run and generate a pass rush.
So if Daelin Hayes and Julian Okwara begin to emerge as front-line options in the spring, if there are answers at nose guard beyond Daniel Cage, that’s a start. But there’s many more boxes to check.
Going against yourself in practice, though, and informal workouts over the next several months can have a mirage effect. True reinvention isn’t an event. It’s a process.
The clues that emerge in spring practice will be fascinating, sometimes revealing. But don’t become intoxicated by occasional whiffs of new car smell.
The reinvention won’t truly be tested until September, when the games and the pressure become real. And so too the blueprint of Kelly’s fate at Notre Dame.
*********************************************
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
*********************************************
SOUTH BEND — Even with the last and most contorted piece still stuck in the land of unconfirmed and uncompleted, the barrage of new faces in Brian Kelly’s seismic offseason staff makeover implores a simple question:
Is the Notre Dame football program better off for it?
In the coming days, a blur of professed vision, sincere rhetoric and crafted spin from the six new faces — seven when presumably former QB Tommy Rees jumps aboard — will provide some hints.
But the layered answer won’t fully reveal itself for some time now.
It’s not so straightforward as deciphering whether DelVaughn Alexander will exact more production out of the wide receivers than Mike Denbrock did; or Mike Elston’s return to coaching the defensive line turns out to be a revelation.
The deeper significance lies in how the pieces fit together and harmonize — or not.
On game day. In meetings. In recruiting. In recreating a culture that won’t allow for detours in the classroom or the weight room — the former of which has marred earlier seasons, the latter of which bled conspicuously into the 4-8 bottom line in 2016.
The more pertinent litmus tests, the ones that address synergy, look like these: Does new defensive coordinator Mike Elko’s expertise in coaching safeties help accelerate retained defensive backs coach Todd Lyght’s growth curve?
Does new director of football performance (strength coach for the old-schoolers) Matt Balis’ methods and standards give offensive line coach Harry Hiestand better material with which to reboot a rare underachieving unit?
And how challenged will eighth-year head coach Kelly be in an offensive meeting room from 33-year-old offensive coordinator Chip Long and 24-year-old Rees, the latter of whom would morph into a full-time assistant in mid-April if the NCAA legislation allowing for a 10th assistant passes the final vote, as expected?
And does Kelly even want to be challenged?
Kelly has professed, in a recent press release, that Long will call offensive plays. But will he be doing so out of Kelly’s playbook, Long’s version, or some sort of collaborative hybrid model? And will Long be sporting the coaching equivalent of training wheels?
The goal with all the newness around Kelly — Alexander, Long, special teams coach Brian Polian, linebackers coach Clark Lea, Elko, Balis, and likely Rees — is reinvention.
But change, in and of itself, doesn’t necessarily spark improvement any more than continuity automatically ferments into stagnation.
Notre Dame coaching icon Lou Holtz swapped out 26 assistants in the 10 offseasons after his first, 5-6, season in 1986 and up to his departure after an 8-3 run in ‘96. Never more than five assistant coaching changes in a given offseason and always at least one.
Some jumped. Some were pushed, with or without parachutes. Some climbed the coaching ladder.
His very last hire, an up-and-comer Holtz plucked from Colorado State named Urban Meyer in the 1995-96 offseason, couldn’t save Holtz from a quasi-divorce months later with an unbending ND administration that deemed Bob Davie as an upgrade.
Long after the end came, when Holtz’s emotions abated enough where he could truly be introspective, he realized the change that he didn’t make, that could have prolonged his run at ND, was himself.
"You get on top, it feels pretty good and you say, 'Let's not change anything,' ” Holtz said in an interview with the Tribune in 2012. “Well, you don't change anything, you don't have anything you're trying to aspire to.
“You have no reason to celebrate and you have no reason to get excited. When I left Notre Dame, I thought I was tired of coaching. I was not tired of coaching. I was tired of maintaining. That’s the dumbest thing I did.
"We should have set standards that nobody thought were possible. You get pulled and tugged in so many different directions, and that's the thing I regret. Don't maintain. We maintained it well, but that was a mistake."
In that light, the changes Kelly makes in himself this offseason and the months to follow will likely be the most catalyzing of all. And the one that most signifies his seriousness about reinvention was his recent parting ways with confidante and long-time director of strength and conditioning Paul Longo.
The two had worked together since Kelly took the Central Michigan head coaching job in 2004.
The recent press release confirming Balis as Longo’s successor explains the latter’s departure as a leave of absence, which caused some confusion among the ND fan base.
If Longo does return — and it’s more likely he won’t, per a source — he won’t be connected to strength and conditioning anymore, but in a reassigned role in the football/athletic department.
That leaves recruiting coordinator/defensive line coach Mike Elston as the lone remaining coach or coordinator Kelly imported with him to Notre Dame when he came from Cincinnati to replaced ousted Charlie Weis in December of 2009.
Fourteen coaches and Longo have moved on, including the only holdover from the Weis regime, Tony Alford. And Kelly’s two best seasons at ND — 12-1 in 2012 and 10-3 in 2015 — followed the two offseasons with the most change, at least when it came to staff members.
Kelly has always prided himself as a coach who didn’t wait for something to break to fix it, which is why the degree of dilapidation that surfaced during and after last season was so off-putting.
Defense can cover up a lot of flaws, and not just the cosmetic kind. And Kelly’s swapping out of Brian VanGorder for Elko is the change outside the ones Kelly makes within himself that most impacts his future.
An aside regarding VanGorder, deposed four games into last season: His gig with Georgia as a consultant, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, was designed to last just one game — the Georgia Tech game last November, which the Bulldogs dropped, 28-27. He is no longer working with the Georgia staff.
VanGorder’s hopes and expectations at that time were that he’d be back working in the NFL in 2017 and not working as an analyst for Georgia, as had been speculated, when the Bulldogs visit the Irish Sept. 9.
Elko, hired away from Wake Forest, certainly will and with a gigantic, sizzling spotlight on him.
"I think everything starts with defense," Holtz said. "Your offense isn't always going to be there — the wind, the rain, competition. But defense is always the basis. The best teams we ever had started with defense.”
So did Kelly’s best team at ND, in 2012.
The markers to look for that there is progress in that area start with the ability to stop the run and generate a pass rush.
So if Daelin Hayes and Julian Okwara begin to emerge as front-line options in the spring, if there are answers at nose guard beyond Daniel Cage, that’s a start. But there’s many more boxes to check.
Going against yourself in practice, though, and informal workouts over the next several months can have a mirage effect. True reinvention isn’t an event. It’s a process.
The clues that emerge in spring practice will be fascinating, sometimes revealing. But don’t become intoxicated by occasional whiffs of new car smell.
The reinvention won’t truly be tested until September, when the games and the pressure become real. And so too the blueprint of Kelly’s fate at Notre Dame.
*********************************************
NDRock
Well-known member
- Messages
- 7,489
- Reaction score
- 5,448
When he has the call sheet in front of his face and all the red hats are around him, he's calling plays. Seems obvious to me he hasn't been calling them the last two seasons.
NDinBoston
Active member
- Messages
- 939
- Reaction score
- 55
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Scoop: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Clemson?src=hash">#Clemson</a> set to hire Todd Bates from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JacksonvilleState?src=hash">#JacksonvilleState</a> as new defensive line coach. <a href="https://t.co/NHuprXx3aU">https://t.co/NHuprXx3aU</a> <a href="https://t.co/eItoETAZJ8">pic.twitter.com/eItoETAZJ8</a></p>— Ryan Bartow (@RyanBartow) <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanBartow/status/823334013695827968">January 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
INTERESTING - Clemson just hired a new DL coach. I knew one of their two DL coaches retired but I hadn't realized the other went to the NFL (Jax). Wonder if they'll get back to two DL coaches?
This guy was recruited by Dabo and played for Alabama.
WAIT - Let that sink in. The Clemson DL coach went to the NFL in the same role.
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
INTERESTING - Clemson just hired a new DL coach. I knew one of their two DL coaches retired but I hadn't realized the other went to the NFL (Jax). Wonder if they'll get back to two DL coaches?
This guy was recruited by Dabo and played for Alabama.
WAIT - Let that sink in. The Clemson DL coach went to the NFL in the same role.
Last edited:
B
Bogtrotter07
Guest
If they throw the ball across the field into the wind, or in the driving rain, BK is the play caller.
If they pass or run a jet sweep on third and short, BK is the play caller.
Should I go on?
The big thing is if they install Chip Long's flavor of spread offense. It has completely different blocking, relying on leverage instead of finesse, or lack thereof.
My understanding is both coordinators were selected because of their fit at ND, including their fit with the roster (strengths), player personnel, and retained assistant coaches.
So with our big physical o-line, and our new strength and conditioning program, (Thanks Dr. French!), I would have to believe it will be CLong's spread, and therefore he will be the play caller. Probably open to suggestion, but the play caller never the less.
By the way, you are going to never see any sports writer suggest anyone had a hand in the new hires other than Kelly, because that is the whole point. Everyone wants him to get the credit this year.
Downinthebend
New member
- Messages
- 1,035
- Reaction score
- 77
What do you mean by this?
In my mind, Long will bring his RPO's and qb-risk-free running game married to BK's traditional passing concepts.
It doesn't make too much sense to me to throw away 3 years of progression reading comfortable routes.
Last edited:
NDinBoston
Active member
- Messages
- 939
- Reaction score
- 55
Quote:
Teams will not overlook that Brian Kelly has produced just one NFL quarterback (2010 sixth-round pick Tony Pike, Carolina) in 26 seasons as a head coach.
Interesting post Bogs. I've seen this topic before and this is not a challenge but a question. What coach does have a number of quality QBs in the NFL? I really don't know but I don't associate that with Saban or Meyer (Tebow, Braxton Miller converted to WR). Anyone do consistently well with getting QBs into the NFL (that is attributed to their player development)? Who should BK have gotten there? Kizer will likely be drafted in the 1st/early 2nd round. Zaire/Golson/Rees not NFL potential. Seriously, I am curious if anyone thinks this is a real justifiable issue for BK.
BTW - Bogs, thanks for all the recent insight on behind the scenes stuff. It's really interesting and appreciated.
Downinthebend
New member
- Messages
- 1,035
- Reaction score
- 77
I don't think many coaches have consistent "quality" qbs but air raid tree guys churn out QBs that at least get drafted/signed to a team more than others (anecdotally, but i'll try to look up some stats)
Doesn't look to be true from what I'm seeing.
Last edited:
kmoose
Banned
- Messages
- 10,298
- Reaction score
- 1,181
It probably is. But consider that 15 of Kelly's 26 seasons have been at GVSU and Central Michigan. I bet there aren't 3 people on this board that can name ONE QB in the NFL EVER, from either of those schools, going on just their memory. So it's kind of hard to blame those 15 years on Kelly being a bad QB coach.
B
Bogtrotter07
Guest
Who was that one kid from Central Mi? Lefarve, or something?
NDinBoston
Active member
- Messages
- 939
- Reaction score
- 55
Wow, impressive...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_LeFevour
*************************************************************
Daniel Terrence LeFevour (born March 19, 1987) is a Canadian football and American football quarterback for Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Central Michigan University. Known as a dual-threat quarterback, LeFevour had the most total touchdowns in NCAA history until being surpassed by Case Keenum in 2011.[1][2]
He has also been a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Montreal Alouettes, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
*************************************************************
Blaise
Well-known member
- Messages
- 2,233
- Reaction score
- 88
I am amused that Hamilton and Montreal got billing over the Bucs...
NewBrunswickIrish
Active member
- Messages
- 552
- Reaction score
- 91
Mark Dantonio probably has the most right now although most are backups.
- Messages
- 19,128
- Reaction score
- 11,077
Dan "THE HOT FEVER" LeFevour
He was BK's first star QB, and probably the kid that got BK the UC job. He was the only QB besides Tebow to throw for 25+ and rush for 15+ TD's in the same season (until Cam Newton obliterated those records a year later).
He was with the Bengals for a minute after having been drafted by Chicago.
NDinBoston
Active member
- Messages
- 939
- Reaction score
- 55
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Ademilola twins, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a>'s 2018 DL commits, are expecting <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBrianKelly">@CoachBrianKelly</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMikeElston">@CoachMikeElston</a> to visit St. Peter's Prep today.</p>— Tyler James (@TJamesNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJamesNDI/status/823537241138102272">January 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That's pretty big-time if you're a 2018 recruit and Brian Kelly is visiting your school nine days before the 2017 signing day.</p>— Tyler James (@TJamesNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJamesNDI/status/823539006151524353">January 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
BK "putting in the work"?
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That's pretty big-time if you're a 2018 recruit and Brian Kelly is visiting your school nine days before the 2017 signing day.</p>— Tyler James (@TJamesNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJamesNDI/status/823539006151524353">January 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
BK "putting in the work"?
beryirish
Dry Land Is Not A Myth!
- Messages
- 5,949
- Reaction score
- 539
I think the wake-up call has been answered.
Irish Insanity
Well-known member
- Messages
- 9,885
- Reaction score
- 584
If it only was for a recruit this cycle....
NDinBoston
Active member
- Messages
- 939
- Reaction score
- 55
Hope so... Hearing that Elko is already doing well with 2018 recruiting.
NDinBoston
Active member
- Messages
- 939
- Reaction score
- 55
https://twitter.com/petesampson_/status/823543049477296128
Pete Sampson pointing out merits of visiting that school as well. Anyone know what other top players they have there? NDC?