I caught Kelly's Radio Show last night. Now I didn't comment after the press conference on purpose. I wanted to sit with it. But it seems to me there has been a big change with Kelly. I really agree with those that think he is evolving as a coach.
The timing all makes sense with his relative youth for having been a head coach for 25 years. He established some successful habits that moved him from D3 success to D1 success; but, many of those habits ended up hurting him at the top of the D1 stack, and in his quest for an NC.
Start with micro-management. Necessary in D3, an impossible roadblock to reaching your goals in D1. (And I don't think he sees himself as doing this for much more than 30 years, so the time is now.)
But as others have said, "We will see!"
Also, Kelly kept making the point that all you needed was one great season at ND . . .
My desires and humorous or hyperbolic fantasies :
- Mathias Farley has a patented momentum shifting big play; he is getting a lot more well deserved love these days from the fan base. Starting Texas off with a bang would put him on the way to having a great season, making him prominent in ND lore.
- I would love to see Elijah Shumate bring the hammer, and start the season fast. I think that would help him a lot, and would do more to helping move the entire defensive backfield's development forward.
- I want to see Daniel Cage dominate! I have a gut feeling that Day stays healthy and will dominate this year, (think Donald), and I think Tillery will end up a legend, (with freshmen plays along the way.) But if Cage starts to brutalize, whether or not Jones makes it back this year), we will have the best interior defensive line in a while.
- Future week fantasy - Jones comes back fresh and on top of his game for FUSC!
- Kelly was right when he spoke of mass, massive improvements out of guys we barely knew, to those that have all taken their game to a new, higher level! Especially Torii Hunter, Cole Luke, and Durham Smythe.
- ND does use the H-back often as Kelly promised last night; and with two tight ends to boot! (Would be a great way to get five tight ends on the field.) Can you imagine a two tight end set where Malik locks the lb's in with a run fake, and sends the ball (maybe down the seam) long to Jones?