Brian Kelly 10 am Press Conference link here (updating as news comes in)

[IrishBlooded]

LINK

 

[IrishBlooded]

Will update information as it comes in.

 

[IrishBlooded]

Roster updates

Baratti: no restrictions
Boner: 3 to 5 months post op, full go for fall camp
Grace: Good to go 100%
J Jones: 8 months post op, will practice at camp no restrictions
J Onawalu: Jan surgery on wrist, has recovered, in splint will practice
J Schmidt: Good to go
Tranquil: 8 months post op no restrictions

Bad News:
The two Medical Hardships we have already talked about
M. Heueman gone
M. Deeb gone

Hill transfer - going back to the state of Texas per Kelly (all schools in Texas?)

G Bryant - refer to press release.

 

[IrishBlooded]

Talk about Special Teams, led the FBS last year in blocked kicks, still doesn't sound very comfortable in it.

'Worried about doing stuff live for the first time against Texas'
Dynamic ability with some of the guys coming back.

 

[IrishBlooded]

Frozen 5 questions

I. Williams

-Still ongoing, with the NCAA. Can't report anything specific, he will not practice with team until they get the ok for it.
-K. Russell will practice with team.

not sure on the time frame from the NCAA 'General understanding that this will not take long to be resolved'

 

[IrishBlooded]

No number 2 QB named yet. Which doesn't bode well for Kizer.

Middle LineBacker position:
Jarrett Grace, Morgan, and Schmidt all could be starters, plenty of reps for everyone to be on the field, specifically against option teams (Navy, GTech)

 

[IrishBlooded]

Better chance for freshman to play on defense than offense. 1 player mentioned that could play offense as a freshman is A. Jones. Size, skill, etc. Also said M. Boykin looks good as a freshman.

 

[IrishBlooded]

Talking about the Run Game:

Have a veteran line, and a QB that can even the numbers against a defense.

Still sounds like the Brian Kelly we know, he is going to play against the defense he is shown, not the offense he wants to run. I.e. if they stack the box, it is time to throw. However seems positive about the Run Game.

 

[IrishBlooded]

CJ on learning the new position-

needs to be patient and improve on running north and south
knows how to carry the ball as a RB
likes that he makes good decisions on the line and on the field
more reps for comfort on getting through the line and allowing everyone doing their job

 

[IrishBlooded]

About not having a 2 QB system -

Makes it easier on focusing to a particular QB, and how to filter that to work with that offense.

 

[scubastevefl]

No number 2 QB named yet. Which doesn't bode well for Kizer.

Middle LineBacker position:
Jarrett Grace, Morgan, and Schmidt all could be starters, plenty of reps for everyone to be on the field, specifically against option teams (Navy, GTech)

Might explain why they had to Book it recently.

 

[IrishBlooded]

Spoke highly of Tristen Hoge, needs to find some 2nd team reps to see where he stacks up.

 

[IrishBlooded]

RB comments

Greg Bryant-

They have to be councled, and they have to make good decisions. It doesn't make him a bad kid. He just has to learn from this situation. Would like to have Greg back, and has to commit to the University.

CJ will be full time at RB.

Justin Brent will audition at RB as well. Deep pool of talent at WR, might help get him on the field more often. Needs to take the ball and run down hill. And be physical. Will translate to carries, and special teams options. This is prompted because of depth in wake of Greg Bryant.

 

[IrishBlooded]

WR comments -

Kelly expects Will Fullers number on receptions to still be high, mainly because of his ability to be open deep or on quick passes.

C. Robinson is becoming more of exclusively a down field threat than screens.

 

[IrishBlooded]

Thoughts on reversing Stanley due to Zaire being left handed -

Doesn't need to, due to the style of offense, with a running QB, that scrambles, and moves the pocket.

 

[IrishBlooded]

N. Martin is now over 300# was 286 at start of camp last year.

Who is going in behind Mustupher, and solidifying the RG position.

 

[IrishBlooded]

Kickoff team will have 5 seniors on it (didn't give names)

Doesn't expect many true freshman on special teams.

 

[Pennick4]

This team is in good hands with Coach Kelly.

 

[IrishBlooded]

ND Insider run down about Press Conference:

LINK


Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly made his first official appearance of the 2015 preseason on Thursday, meeting with the media for a 10 a.m. press conference on campus a day before his team opens training camp at Culver Academy.

And as always, ND Insider was there.

Here's an initial rundown of Kelly's key points.

• Junior Malik Zaire, Kelly noted, is a dual threat quarterback who is "committed and established at that position." Kelly said that they like where Zaire is currently and praised his "thirst for the game." Zaire has a few technical things to clean up, Kelly said, and he worked with Trent Dilfer this summer to address them. The key message to Zaire in camp is consistency. "Do it this way...all the time," Kelly said with a grin, when relating the focus for Zaire. Behind him, Kelly said that the back up quarterback competition between DeShone Kizer and Brandon Wimbush will be a major focus in fall camp. The coach added that both quarterbacks have shown maturity beyond their years thus far.
• Kelly addressed the tumultuous status of senior defensive end Ishaq Williams, but had little to report. The sixth-year head coach said that Williams' situation with the NCAA is ongoing, and he won't practice until his eligibility is decided. He did say, however, that he expects the situation to be resolved somewhat soon. Cornerback KeiVarae Russell, on the other hand, is eligible to play right away.
• Kelly and junior running back Greg Bryant are still talking, Kelly said, about the possibility of Bryant coming back to the team after his season-long suspension for academic disqualification in 2015. "Every year that I've been a football coach, we have to counsel our players -- whether it's Greg Bryant or the best players on our team," Kelly said. "They have to make good decisions, and sometimes they don't. That doesn't make him a bad kid. He has to take this situation and learn from it."
• Justin Brent will receive an "audition" at running back, Kelly said. The 6-1, 220-pound sophomore has to run north and south, the coach added, to get playing time. The decision to move Brent to the position was "definitely" prompted by Bryant's suspension, Kelly confirmed.
• Kelly praised the returning leadership on the Notre Dame defense. "We probably have some of the best leaders we have ever had at Notre Dame, starting with (graduate student linebacker) Joe Schmidt," Kelly said. Kelly also listed Matthias Farley, Sheldon Day and KeiVarae Russell as team leaders on the defensive side of the ball.
• Another player who was highlighted, and for good reason, was junior linebacker Jaylon Smith, who led Notre Dame with 112 tackles in 2014. "Jaylon Smith is one of the versatile and athletic linebackers in the country," Kelly said.
• Kelly addressed the health of his team, and largely delivered positive news. Safeties Nicky Baratti and Drue Tranquill, defensive end Jonathan Bonner, nose tackle Jarron Jones and linebacker Jarrett Grace will all participated in fall camp. He also went into detail on the two players who were medically disqualified from competition, tight end Mike Heuerman and linebacker Michael Deeb. Heuerman underwent two hernia surgeries, Kelly said, which hampered his ability to train and play effectively. Deeb had elbow ligament reconstruction which included some nerve damage.
• With the season-long suspension of Greg Bryant, Kelly said that junior wide receiver Will Fuller may get some work with punt and kick returns this season. Fuller practiced some returns in the spring.
• One freshman who has "impressed everybody unanimously," Kelly said, is highly touted tight end Alize Jones. Jones will compete immediately with Durham Smythe for playing time at the tight end position. Kelly also singled out freshman cornerbacks Shaun Crawford and Nick Coleman and praised the physical intangibles of wide receiver Miles Boykin.
• Kelly made it clear that entering his sixth season at Notre Dame, he's a much different coach than the one that first accepted the position. "I could write several books on what I've learned," he said.
• Kelly said that this summer, for the most part, was a positive one for his players. "I probably would have liked them to do a little bit better in the classroom," Kelly said. "But they made good decisions. They were active in the community."
• The player who has made the most significant physical leap this summer, Kelly said, is sophomore cornerback Nick Watkins. He was also a rising player throughout spring practice.

 

[cgvr]

ND Insider run down about Press Conference:

LINK


Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly made his first official appearance of the 2015 preseason on Thursday, meeting with the media for a 10 a.m. press conference on campus a day before his team opens training camp at Culver Academy.

And as always, ND Insider was there.

Here's an initial rundown of Kelly's key points.

• Junior Malik Zaire, Kelly noted, is a dual threat quarterback who is "committed and established at that position." Kelly said that they like where Zaire is currently and praised his "thirst for the game." Zaire has a few technical things to clean up, Kelly said, and he worked with Trent Dilfer this summer to address them. The key message to Zaire in camp is consistency. "Do it this way...all the time," Kelly said with a grin, when relating the focus for Zaire. Behind him, Kelly said that the back up quarterback competition between DeShone Kizer and Brandon Wimbush will be a major focus in fall camp. The coach added that both quarterbacks have shown maturity beyond their years thus far.
• Kelly addressed the tumultuous status of senior defensive end Ishaq Williams, but had little to report. The sixth-year head coach said that Williams' situation with the NCAA is ongoing, and he won't practice until his eligibility is decided. He did say, however, that he expects the situation to be resolved somewhat soon. Cornerback KeiVarae Russell, on the other hand, is eligible to play right away.
• Kelly and junior running back Greg Bryant are still talking, Kelly said, about the possibility of Bryant coming back to the team after his season-long suspension for academic disqualification in 2015. "Every year that I've been a football coach, we have to counsel our players -- whether it's Greg Bryant or the best players on our team," Kelly said. "They have to make good decisions, and sometimes they don't. That doesn't make him a bad kid. He has to take this situation and learn from it."
• Justin Brent will receive an "audition" at running back, Kelly said. The 6-1, 220-pound sophomore has to run north and south, the coach added, to get playing time. The decision to move Brent to the position was "definitely" prompted by Bryant's suspension, Kelly confirmed.
• Kelly praised the returning leadership on the Notre Dame defense. "We probably have some of the best leaders we have ever had at Notre Dame, starting with (graduate student linebacker) Joe Schmidt," Kelly said. Kelly also listed Matthias Farley, Sheldon Day and KeiVarae Russell as team leaders on the defensive side of the ball.
• Another player who was highlighted, and for good reason, was junior linebacker Jaylon Smith, who led Notre Dame with 112 tackles in 2014. "Jaylon Smith is one of the versatile and athletic linebackers in the country," Kelly said.
• Kelly addressed the health of his team, and largely delivered positive news. Safeties Nicky Baratti and Drue Tranquill, defensive end Jonathan Bonner, nose tackle Jarron Jones and linebacker Jarrett Grace will all participated in fall camp. He also went into detail on the two players who were medically disqualified from competition, tight end Mike Heuerman and linebacker Michael Deeb. Heuerman underwent two hernia surgeries, Kelly said, which hampered his ability to train and play effectively. Deeb had elbow ligament reconstruction which included some nerve damage.
• With the season-long suspension of Greg Bryant, Kelly said that junior wide receiver Will Fuller may get some work with punt and kick returns this season. Fuller practiced some returns in the spring.
• One freshman who has "impressed everybody unanimously," Kelly said, is highly touted tight end Alize Jones. Jones will compete immediately with Durham Smythe for playing time at the tight end position. Kelly also singled out freshman cornerbacks Shaun Crawford and Nick Coleman and praised the physical intangibles of wide receiver Miles Boykin.
• Kelly made it clear that entering his sixth season at Notre Dame, he's a much different coach than the one that first accepted the position. "I could write several books on what I've learned," he said.
• Kelly said that this summer, for the most part, was a positive one for his players. "I probably would have liked them to do a little bit better in the classroom," Kelly said. "But they made good decisions. They were active in the community."
• The player who has made the most significant physical leap this summer, Kelly said, is sophomore cornerback Nick Watkins. He was also a rising player throughout spring practice.

Solid summary... Thank you. He said good things about Max Redfield's leadership emerging too. kelly also said that he was doing a better job of developing leadership and wants Luke to be more vocal. It sounds like Russell is seriously embracing a leadership role.

It's great to hear some DCE'ing with Justin Brent. That sounded very promising.

I missed what he said about Avery Sebastian. Did you catch it?

I wish someone would've asked about a jumbo package and perhaps using some D players in the back field to blow open short yardage holes. Right now we do some stuff with TE's, but I'd love to see some serious nasty beef in the backfield....

 

[Pennick4]

Solid summary... Thank you. He said good things about Max Redfield's leadership emerging too. kelly also said that he was doing a better job of developing leadership and wants Luke to be more vocal. It sounds like Russell is seriously embracing a leadership role.

It's great to hear some DCE'ing with Justin Brent. That sounded very promising.

I missed what he said about Avery Sebastian. Did you catch it?

I wish someone would've asked about a jumbo package and perhaps using some D players in the back field to blow open short yardage holes. Right now we do some stuff with TE's, but I'd love to see some serious nasty beef in the backfield....

All that was said about Sebastian was that he is excellent on special teams.

 

[IrishBlooded]

What Pen said. He talked about his experience, and that he was great on special teams. Not much else, other than the depth at the position when talking about the secondary. Think he is waiting to get some 'eye on' experience with him this week at Culver.

Still not sold on this 'special teams' investment he is making. As awful as they have been under the Kelly era. Anything is better than current. But really wish he could figure out the magic formula to make it elite.

 

[cgvr]

All that was said about Sebastian was that he is excellent on special teams.

Thanks guys. I also liked hearing that Tristan Hoge has physically transformed himself.
Nick Weishar and Nick Watkins have also filled out....
He pointed out that this is the deepest group of "components" in 6 years.... how this group comes together as a team and overcomes adversity will be key….

What I was a little perplexed at is when he said that if a team stacks 8 in the box we are going to throw it.....

Shhhhhh, no need to tell anyone your plans.

I'd rather hear him say, "If anyone lines up 8 we have the line to pound it or go over the top...." or something like that....

 

[IrishInOntario]

If only we could add Stephon Tuitt (2012 version), Manti Te'o, Harrison Smith, Michael Floyd, Zack Martin and Tyler Eifert to this team, we would be set... I had a strange dream that actually came to fruition the other night. This was our starting 22 in that dream hahaha

QB: Malik Zaire
RB: Tarean Folston
WR: Michael Floyd
WR: Will Fuller
TE: Tyler Eifert
TE: Aliz'e Jones
LT: Ronnie Stanley
LG: Zack Martin
C: Nick Martin
RG: Steve Elmer
RT: Mike McGlinchey

DE: Stephon Tuitt
DT: Sheldon Day
NG: Jarron Jones
DE: Isaac Rochell
SAM: Jaylon Smith
MIKE: Manti Te'o
WILL: Joe Schmidt
CB: Kei Russell
S: Harrison Smith
S: Max Redfield
CB: Cole Luke

Then, sadly, I woke up.