“A number of defensive linemen have got to play. More linebackers have to play,” he said. “I think they are playing way too many plays. We've got guys on the field that have eaten up way too many reps, and we just have not put those guys in the game and they are going to play. You'll see them this weekend.”
Junior defensive end Jay Hayes is both a symbolic and pragmatic example of a player held back in the VanGorder system and whom Kelly promised would get an opportunity to show his talent moving forward.
Hayes excelled during the spring and again in August training camp, and was clearly ND’s best option at rush end. But VanGorder tended to get into a comfort zone with certain players — think Joe Schmidt at middle linebacker last year — and refused to venture out of it, to the detriment of the team.
To be fair to Schmidt, he played much of the 2015 season physically compromised by injuries. But VanGorder continually rolled him out there and left able-bodied Nyles Morgan to dilapidate, which to Morgan’s credit he did not.
Knowing this why didn't Kelly do something sooner?
Junior defensive end Jay Hayes is both a symbolic and pragmatic example of a player held back in the VanGorder system and whom Kelly promised would get an opportunity to show his talent moving forward.
Hayes excelled during the spring and again in August training camp, and was clearly ND’s best option at rush end. But VanGorder tended to get into a comfort zone with certain players — think Joe Schmidt at middle linebacker last year — and refused to venture out of it, to the detriment of the team.
To be fair to Schmidt, he played much of the 2015 season physically compromised by injuries. But VanGorder continually rolled him out there and left able-bodied Nyles Morgan to dilapidate, which to Morgan’s credit he did not.
Knowing this why didn't Kelly do something sooner?
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