I watched the interview a second time.
I think he was praising all staff members, present and past.
I think he was trying to distinguish this staff's difference on a whole other level. To me, this means that all his coaches were great coaches. He is trying to make 'teamwork' and 'desire' the difference with this iteration of the staff.
And he is right.
The only shot he took was to the a$$wipes that act like they know what they are talking about when they manifest their negativism in clichés based on truisms of the past. A lot of people are still beating their chest and crying about low pay for ND coaches.
The reason that you all should realize this wasn't a cut to anyone at ND or who had left, even recently, is that all these comments centered around BK's main press conference theme of how much Jack Swarbrick had done, and how many tools he had made available for this process.
When I saw Jack at the ND luncheon before the UM game in '12 all I said was, "Thank you!" He waited for more, including the expected advice, and I finally said. "You are [singlehandedly] making this program great again." (His selection process for Kelly, etc.) He is so much smarter than any of us, any other words were a waste of time.
And by the way, the assistant coach selection process this time smacks of Swarbrick. I think the other thing you saw from Kelly and his body language was just that!
Pretty disappointed in how Kelly and denbrock are basically running the O still. Why did the Sanford dude even take job, not even guaranteed to be play caller.
I don't think anything was evidenced in any statement that decisions like that are more than our own early assumptions.
Seems to me (granted these are my assumptions) that Kelly is :
Turning his day to day offensive duties over to others (which he stated), including coaching quarterbacks.
Putting a young genius, best in the business in charge of run and pass coordination and integration (which he also stated), with that young guy having an emphasis on rejuvinating the running game.
Putting all the experience in its best position to help the program; Denbrock to oversee the offense, and Sanford for that matter; Elliot to over see him, (Kelly) which is a brilliant move; and an experience "coach consultant for every phase of the game.
In addition Lyght and Denson, have showed on little bits of film striking abilities with their position coaching. When you see guys like Folston, Farley, Bryant, and Redfield, shaking their heads (positively) and the "light bulb going off," already, you have to feel good.
Finally bringing Powlus in for the players, as well as the other guys whose names are being thrown around, really bodes well.
Others have seen a stronger attempt to get recruiting prospects on campus, earlier. All these guys can make a difference on campus. What a boost for recruiting on a big weekend or with a big event, having twice the staff involved!