Our running game this year was well-designed and well-executed by all involved on a consistent basis. Lance Taylor is the RB coach and run game coordinator.
Our passing game was NOT well-designed nor particularly well-executed nor creative nor particularly productive. Our QB did a nice job making chicken soup out of chicken soup, often enough, but he didn't run the passing offense as it was designed, often enough. The QB coach and passing game coordinator is Tommy Rees. He needs to do much better as QB coach and as passing game coordinator. Could it be that the passing game is/was better designed than it appeared? Sure, but our third year starting QB didn't execute it well and that's coaching. If we're talking about a first year QB, then Book had a great year with room to grow. And, our WRs were open enough often enough. The QB didn't pull the trigger often enough. That's what I mean by making chicken soup out of chicken soup.
Finally, get a new WR coach. Kelly needs to show that he'll make necessary changes in the face of success and not just in the face of failure. BTW, how about him saying, "We weren't going to go at Sertain." How inspiring for the receiver group.

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Opening transcript... Watch the full show above.

Instant Takeaways

“This game, as a fan watching on the couch, was like watching the worst movie ever. You go into it knowing the outcome, and you know it was going to be terrible because you have seen it before. I don’t think Notre Dame embarrassed themselves today, and it didn’t seem like Bama was that juiced up. It didn’t look like they tried that hard, really. They took a professional approach to the game, but it didn’t look like they were ‘up’ for this game. Notre Dame had its opportunities to capitalize at times and it did not. From Alabama, it could have been a slight lack of motivation with some confidence they were going to win or something like that.

“We did not see Notre Dame match the level of competition or exceed the level of competition this year. We only saw Notre Dame exceed its opponent’s level of competition once and that was in the first go around with Clemson. Yes, there is a talent gap and we all knew that and it became evident today. I’m sure there are some takeaways after you look at the film, and yes, the defense played well in terms of limiting the amount of points Alabama scored, but we still did not do anything outside of ourselves in order to pull off the upset and we did not do that today. Great season, but overall, there is still a lot left to be desired.”

Closing the Book

“We should all be grateful for Ian Book. He is a guy that I hope young kids look up to. He is a scrapper, he is a competitor, and we knew he had his shortcomings, but he won a lot of games through his up-and-down career. There will always be questions about how Notre Dame would have fared if it had a prototypical five-star quarterback back there, but I have been pretty adamant about my fandom and support of Ian Book. Today is a snapshot of Ian Book’s Notre Dame career. He was battling until the end, got injured, came back, and his will to win is so strong. The ability to pull the trigger is not, but his best throw of the game was a shot over the middle where he got drilled by the Alabama defender. It is frustrating to watch him sometimes, but then he makes great plays like that. The half a dozen opportunities he has in other games where he does not pull the trigger makes it frustrating. We should all be grateful for Ian Book; he did a lot of great things in his Notre Dame career and won a lot of games. He helped us win a lot of games and he made the most of his ability. I am very proud of him for that.”

ND lost to No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation... The Talent Gap?

“I have tried to delve into this in our most recent podcast, but there is a weird culture thing right now. You know Alabama is not taking in the highest academic kids, but you hardly ever hear of any of them getting into any trouble off the field. As much of a hard ass as Saban is, he has stuck up for his kids and has been great about giving kids second chances. When it comes to closing the talent gap, Notre Dame has built a tremendous culture with young kids on and off the field, but sometimes I feel like the focus is more on developing kids off the field rather than on. I think the focus may need to shift towards taking in kids that may not be the best students, but guys that are in the middle of the road that could be taken into the culture and succeed within it. A big part of the culture that Saban has built at Alabama is that those guys go there to get into the league. If you sign to Alabama, Saban asks you to give everything you’ve got for three years then you go into the league and make millions. I don’t know how ‘up’ Alabama was for this game because Saban started to rotate in his backups in the third quarter and they could have blown this game out of the water and kept their foot on the gas.

Did Notre Dame look better in this game compared to other recent “big” games?

“Yes, Notre Dame did look better because we did not embarrass ourselves. The average fan watching looks at the final score and sees that Notre Dame hung in there and did not get embarrassed. Our national championship game against Alabama in 2012, we got boat raced and it was hard to watch, we looked better today. It was pretty apparent early on though, that Alabama could do just about whatever it wanted. Notre Dame’s first touchdown drive slowed down the game which was great, but I think Alabama still could have done whatever it wanted offensively.

“Alabama’s culture they have created over there and the expectations they have created is amazing. They have created a culture and an atmosphere where you go in and win or you are sat and replaced. You are getting buy-in from five-star kids that know they only need to be a one-year starter and do what they're supposed to do, then they go to the league and get paid. It is all centered around expectations. To be honest with you, I don’t know what Notre Dame’s expectations are when it comes to on the field, football stuff. I know Notre Dame has high expectations academically and character expectations, then is it just ‘hope for the best’ from there? I think some expectations are too high sometimes where guys in high school are written off as a guy that is not a ‘Notre Dame fit’ because they don’t have the 3.8 GPA, they are 15 year-olds in high school! That has to change. When you take certain types of kids, whether it is their background or socioeconomic background or whatever it may be, they are hungrier to succeed and they are willing to do things on the field to make that happen. They do things that guys from different circumstances are not willing to do. Like, after the game, did our kids look upset? It comes down to needing football and the desire and effort and hunger and that all comes out on the football field.

QB Buchner
RB Williams
WR Austin
WR Johnson
WR Styles
TE Mayer
LT Kristofic
LG Patterson
C Correll
RG Lugg
RT Carrol

it may be a rough year due to inexperience but lookout in year 2. I know it’s a stretch with Buchner starting but he’s an EE and are Pyne and Clark much further along really?

The proverbial "gap" has been closed in the trenches, but what continues to separate The Big Three of Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State from everyone else is the skill positions and explosiveness on the edge: quarterback, receiver, cornerback and, to a lesser degree, running back.
https://notredame.rivals.com/news/notre-dame-alabama-on-paper-revisited

The last time Kelly was forced to go outside for coordinator hires we got ELKO/Lea and Long. Both the offense and the defense took huge steps up and ND became one of the top 5 teams in football.

Kelly needs to go outside again for the DC. Last night proved on defense we are good (held them to 31) but we have more improvement that is needed at LB and in the secondary both recruiting-wise and schematically. FRESH IDEAS from the outside will help to accomplish the growth we need.

the insular aftereffects of staying inside will minimize ND’s chances of taking the next step.

interesting that Saban always brings in people from the outside to get FRESH ideas either as coaches or as advisors... how many times have we seen Saban hire fired head coaches as advisors or coordinators to bring NEW THINKING into his championship program....

Kelly needs to go outside for the DC hire if ND IS TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP.

Notre Dame CB target Ceyair Wright will announce his commitment during a live special on NBC that begins at 3pm ET. It's expected to be USC.

He was supposed to announce his commitment Saturday, but he may be announcing now around 6-6:30 pm ET... My guess is still USC here. That's what I've been hearing but there could be some smoke screens so we'll just have to see I guess.

EDIT: False alarm. He had a video that said it was his official commitment but of course it wasn’t

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Everyone clamored for Johnson and Lenzy but would it have killed either of these 2 to step up?!

Also, Pyne looks like he’s 5 ft 6in out there

NM

Just for shits and giggles,, could you guys maybe go through the last 3 or 4 top R250 lists and give your top 10 misses each year. Specifically focusing on QB, WDE, WR and CB. I really feel that ND is on par with Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and Georgia at just about every other position.

Maybe also give your top 3-5 hindsight misses - ie. guys we never offered or slow-played who ended up being CFB difference makers.

Not one ball thrown to a wr. I don’t understand bk offensive ideas any longer. He has done the opposite of what the entire college football world has done. As all other schools have progressed to spread, high scoring offense, he has reverted back to the offensive mind of 30 years ago.

First off, Happy New Year to everyone.... her's hoping 2021 proves better than the abomination that was 2020. And congrats to The Irish on a very good season (can't call it great when you get blown out in last two games).

I thought @MikeGoolsby had some good points, but instead of the movie Sharknado, it seems like more like Groundhog Day to me, both the results of the game and the board reaction. Regarding the board, it's pretty much always the same.... after a big game loss, a lot of posters who you never hear from, get on clamoring for Kelly to be fired, that ND is a farce, etc. About 24-48 hours late, you have the guardians of all things ND, who claim all is well, we are a rch away from being National Champions, everyone who disagrees is a "bedwetter" etc. IMHO, like most things in life, it falls somewhere in the middle.

Notre Dame is most definitely improved.... Stevie Wonder can see that. At the same time the gap between the Irish and the true elite is as wide as ever. So, the million dollar question is how do you narrow that gap?

1. Speed kills. I agreed with some others that we looked slow today, as we did against Clemson part deux.
Especially our db's and wr's. I think it is painfully evident when matched up against the Bamas, Clemsons, Buckeyes, etc. The funny thing is this is probably the fastest/quickest team ND has had in a while, from top to bottom.
In some ways we are more like a Big 10 team- Mich St., Wisconsin, etc, than an SEC team.
How does this change? Kelly and co. seem more enamored with db's who possess length and big receivers than with burners.
Will this work in today's game? A game that is vastly different than even ten years ago?

2. Recruiting. I loathe the "X's and O's , Jimmy's and Joe's quote, as it's always a combo.
You take the exact same team with various head coaches, and you will get various results.
But it still seem we miss on too many of the kids who are the "ND" type. Too many late offers.
I am not close to the program, just a fan, but I have a few friends that are close, and for years they have hinted about, to put it nicely, the inconsistency in the work ethic of Kelly and Co. (especially Kelly) regarding recruiting. I don't want to put anyone on the spot, but would love to hear opinions, especially from staff.
Is there any truth to this, or is it Bullsh$t?

3. Goolsby also brought up something that needs to be at least considered in taking some kids that normally would not be admitted. If they are good kids, and are willing to work if given an opportunity, I think the risk is worth the reward . Tony Rice and John Foley were prop 48 athletes that were given an opportunity and ran with it, including the latter helping the Irish to a natty, and both graduating and being great, classy ambassadors for The University. To me that's not only not lowering your standards, but practicing what a lot may say is the true mission of a Catholic university.
To add to that, how many football players (and all other athletes) get accepted to ND if they don't participate in athletics)? No Bullsh&t here. Under 1%? If that? I, for one am extremely proud of ND doing things the right way, but it could just be possible, that over time, some become more concerned with graduation rate numbers, than attempting to take a chance and possibly change someone's life while becoming better as a football team?
I don't think at least giving this a try is equivalent to the lowering of standards. Thoughts?

4. The biggest elephant in the room is the QB situation. I have never ripped a player, and am not about to start,
but when Ian Book is the most accomplished QB in your tenure as HC, questions need to be raised.
I love Book. He is a gamer and a winner. He is also extremely limited, and has almost a weird variant of the yips, where he is seemingly afraid to throe the ball downfield. With ND's line and running attack, you can win even with the large disadvantage, but can you do it against the elite?
The funny thing is, he seemed to have overcame that this year, that is until the last two games.
Speaking of regression, hasn't that been the story of QB's under BK?
Every single QB has seemed to transfer, move to another position or regress, have they not?
Is it that Kelly can't recruit elite QB's or can't develop them? It has to be one of the two, if not both.
It is fair to say that Kelly's success with QB's at ND has been a tremendous disappointment. How are you ever going to narrow the gap with such a disadvantage in the most important position in the game?
You simply cannot win at the highest level of college football, without at least the threat of a vertical passing game. Al Davis is rolling over in his grave.

5. Kelly. What a divisive figure he has become to ND fans.
Personally, I'm up and down with him. He has built an extremely good, and pretty damn consistent program, and deserves credit for that. He also can't seem to win the big game, or address some glaring limitations.
Serious question, name five wins against elite teams under BK? OK, name three? Two? I would love to hear the answers.
What concerned me about his press conference, was not that he was salty. You should be upset after an L, or find another profession. He certainly tore Sampson a new as$hole. It was that in listening to him, it appears he genuinely believes there is not a genuine gap between ND and the elite. I'm paraphrasing, but to say the ND was in it the whole time, and that we are virtually even with Bama has me wondering..... How can you address and rectify the deficiencies in a program if you can't see them? We have all heard coach speak, I don't think BK was doing that today.
I am definitely not saying get rid of him. BK, I believe, will be at ND as long as he wishes, and has earned the right to be.
I just think he has hit his zenith, and as good as a program that ND is currently, will never seriously have a chance at a title.

Sorry for the long post, met up with an old friend tonight named Johnny Walker Gold, and we are doing some catching up.

The game plan was never designed to win, it was designed to not to get blown out. Even though, outside of Book for most of the game and the secondary, the players executed admirably. I thought the line, backs, and TEs played especially well.

What is absolutely unconscionable to me is that Kelly didn’t go for 2 to make it a 2 possession game after the last score. If you’re not going to go for 2, why even onside kick? And this is after he tried to punt with 3 min left down 31-7.

What a joke. The players and fan base deserve better. If only Swarbrick would have the guts to go get Urban. This program is not far off. Here’s hoping Texas or an NFL team makes the decision easy and takes Kelly off our hands. Losing by double digits in the semifinal is as good as it can get under Kelly. He deserves credit for what he’s done, but he’s reached the plateau.

We backed into covering the spread

Needs to tell Jack just let me get a couple guys on offense that couldn’t get through admissions in. Just two skill players on offense. Then he will win a title. Defense is fine we held Bama to 31. If you would of told me that, I would of thought we had a chance to win.

Anybody look at the Box Score? Wow team stats very similar. Just had two more playmakers then ND.

Here are my thoughts...

I honestly don’t know who is to blame for this piss poor offensive play calling/game plan. Is it book not seeing the recievers open? Is it Rees calling an absolute shit game(my thought) or is it Kelly holding this team back with his “traits”or his blind loyalty to Rees and not actually hiring a big name offensive coordinator who is established and can call an elite game against elite teams consistently? Absolutely freaking frustrating year in an year out not showing up offensively in big games.

Even if you don't complete the passes its opens up the running game and underneath routes. I'd love to be a DC vs. ND. The main thing the "Big 3" have in common is big plays on offense. Until next year....

I'll be on OSU

We looked absolutely slow against Bama. Book reverted to his former self and held on to the ball forever. Throughout the game, we clearly saw wide outs open or coming open and he never pulled the trigger. Play calling was horrid. Only one screen was called? Why?
And our defense couldn’t stop a high school team. Bama ran and pass rough shod on us. Ugly ugly ugly game...

gonna go watch the second semifinal game between better qualified teams....

If Nick Saban ,Dabo Swinney, and Ryan Day had to abide by Notre Dames admission standards they would not be nearly as successful.
They would still have more success than Kelly at Notre Dame because Kelly coaches not to lose and they coach to win. But they wouldn't be in the CFP as often.

Notre Dames average recruiting rating of 13th best ranked class annually has made Notre Dame competitive, but left them short of being competitive against greater talent. For instance, this season the wide receiver and cornerback position lacked talent to compete against the elite. Recruiting at the skill positions has to improve If Notre Dame want's to be competitive with the "Powers that be" in NCAA football. Notre Dame has done a much better job recruiting top offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers and Tight ends. However, Notre Dame has come up short at the quarterback, cornerback, wide receiver, and running back position for way too long. Notre Dame unlike Bama, Clemson and OSU can go to a backup who is just as talented as the starter. Depth and development remains a problem with this team.

Without talent to stretch the field the Notre Dame Offense is just way to predictable. Rees still has a lot to prove as a recruiter and coach. No excuse for the coaching staff not developing and playing some of yourger higher rated less experienced players this season instead of less talented seasoned veterans.

Three Areas of Concern:
1.) Need to recruit and develop a quarterback who can throw the ball deep with some degree of accuracy. (3-Star Ian Book exceeded expectations, but had limitations to his game).
2.) Need to start recruiting and developing top rated wide receivers. (The coaching staff failed this season by not being able to develop Jordan Johnson 5-Star and Xaiver Watts 3-Star).
3.) Need to recruit and develop true cover cornerbacks that have speed. (Notre Dame has no one who can keep up with Bama or Clemsons wide receivers and our defense was exposed).

Hope all the bed wetters will read this as this is spot on IMO

throwing to TEs, running misdirections, setting up the screen then throwing the ball down the field, what a crazy concept to winning...

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