Coach Kelly and BVG'S sideline demeaners at Virginia

[Bodizephax]

I am a big supporter of our Coach Brian Kelly from day one but I was a little disappointed in him and BVG on Saturday.
I think Coach Kelly game planned well and I loved the aggressive fake field goal. The going for two was a head scratcher, though. Never give up a sure point early in the game.
The thing that got me worried a little about Coach Kelly was how he got real quiet and depressed looking after Maliks injury. It seemed to take him out of the game a little. I believe this is one of the reasons Virginia made a good run at us. I know Malik Z is a very important player but there are 84 other players on the team to look after and motivate.
Also BVG was not his fist pumping self and looked depressed.
I usually sit down and throw things at the tv when things aren't going well.
Saturday I was standing in front of the tv yelling at all the players to get them pumped up since Kelly wasn't doing it. I was taking the middle linebacker stance and barking orders, Sack the quarterback ! Get pressure !
I also did some helacious fist pumps after K. Russell sacked the qb and caused a fumble.
I got on my knees and prayed to God a few times.
I knew the Irish were going to score on that last drive. It was just like the Stanford game !!
Kizer hit Fuller with a strike ! Right on the money !

*** The players may have made mistakes and blew assignments but they didn't panic and turn the football over and they played hard the whole game. They never quit.

*** I love Coach Kelly but I was worried about him Saturday.

*** I take Notre Dame football way too seriously.

*** I like Vice Lombardis quote. Winning is everything.

Go Irish !!
Beat Georgia Tech !!

 

[nwregionite]

in fairness, every time Kelly has what is regarded as a great team early in the season (last years in cinci, and this year) he has lost his starting quarterback early in the season. the guy might be a little shell shocked.

on the bright side his cinci teams recovered nicely with the inexperienced back up. As did the Irish on Saturday. Im sure he was focused more on trying to figure out what he needed to do with the offense to both protect the lead at the time and win the game than he was on putting on a happy face

As for BVG i think you have a point. he wasn't his usual hyper self all day. even after the sack fumble (before the injury) I noticed he wasn't his fist pumping excitable self. not sure what was going on there...may have just been concerned the coverages weren't working at all most of the day.

 

[floridairish]

It's never the coverage it's the players failure to execute the coverage. BVG was a DC at Georgia, Auburn and the Atlanta Falcons.

He knows covers 1,2,3,4,5,8 plus Nickel and Dime Sub Packages. The players look lost when they are dropping in zones. They are covering grass and not people. And when the ball is in the air in man to man situations they did not react with confidence.

I don't know what the problem is, but something was not right.

 

[Toby Smart]

Momentum was already starting to shift before the injury.

 

[ch_seahawkfan]

I can't blame HCBK for looking sick. The whole team was built around that QB's skill set and leadership. It's back to the drawing board and he was genuinely upset that his main guy was gone.
BVG, no doubt, made a conscious decision to tone it down since he had been the focus of highlight film and even mimicked by insurance commercials - instead he would rather see ND defensive highlights. btw ,,,,,Bodi,,, you may or may not agree but I find you commenting on how the coaches act,,, priceless! Go Boy !!

I was standing in front of the tv yelling at all the players to get them pumped up since Kelly wasn't doing it. I was taking the middle linebacker stance and barking orders, Sack the quarterback ! Get pressure !

GO IRISH !!

 

[Irish Grandeur]

BK seemed off (IMO) in his pressers leading up to the UVA game. Just seemed to be distracted like his mind was on something else.

 

[Toby Smart]

BK seemed off (IMO) in his pressers leading up to the UVA game. Just seemed to be distracted like his mind was on something else.

I hope it wasn't about an offer that came in earlier in the week from the NY Football Giants.

 

[IrishBlooded]

He did say in his Tuesday press conference last week that he was fighting a chest cold, so might have still been fighting that.

Also, look at his situation. He is on the road, hasn't won a 'true' road game since Air Force in 2013, playing what is a very feisty Virginia team. He was 0-7 or 0-8 on 3rd down at that point. After absolutely abusing them in the first quarter.

Of his starters he is now missing
5th year player Golson, transfer to FSU
1 year starter, 3rd year in system Zaire (whom the offense was built around for this season)
3 year starter Folston at RB that was good for almost 900 yards last year
3 year back up Bryant that walked away from the program without even a phone call to Kelly and was a 5* out of high school
The number 1 NT on the team in Jones
5th year transfer Sebastian Avery from Cal with a broken foot at a position you are thin at in Safety
true freshmen sensation Crawford whom you wanted for subpackages to help with a pass rush you don't really have.

And it's only game 2. And this is supposed to be the 'gimmie' game.

 

[SALittleGiant513]

Being 0-10 on third downs seems like the team may not have been definitely been ready to play.

 

[cgvr]

Being 0-10 on third downs seems like the team may not have been definitely been ready to play.

We were playing a desperate Va team. They were hellbent on not starting 0-2. They had the refs in their pockets along with four leaf clovers, horseshoes, rabbits feet, amulets, voodoo and lord knows what else was going on.

All of a sudden our D was running like it was knee deep in mud. I'm pretty sure that was the voodoo.

Then you have a QB that sold his soul to satan throwing lollipops and they were finding their marks like our JDAM's in operation Anaconda.

Good teams pull out wins when everything is against them. We did that.

It wasn't pretty, but it got done.

We have a ton of stuff to clean up and if we go toe to toe with Ga Teach we'll nail them.

I'm hoping we clothesline a few of them when they stretch it out.

Jaylon Smith should have a field day hunting the ball.

I'm looking forward to carnage.

PS I remember how we weren't going to stop Earl Campbell blah blah f'ing blah.... Belt these guys in the mouth on both sides of the ball all day and see how they like it.

 

[Telx1]

I had a different take. Thought Kelly kept emotions in check and presented a calm business as usual persona to keep Kizer from being too emotional, etc... Frankly, the game felt like it was our fate to lose. Their QB made so many off the back foot throws under pressure that went for big gains that it just felt like our loss was preordained. Much more concerned about Van Gorder and our defense than our offense without Malik, and expect Kelly has the same concern. This week looms larger than ever.

 

[BGI User 1596]

What exactly did BVG have to pump hi

Being 0-10 on third downs seems like the team may not have been definitely been ready to play.

Is this another Record in futility for ND - has it ever been done before?

 

[AceUpMySleeve21]

I don't think we can really blame them to be honest...this team has been plauged by injuries to key players over the past couple years and I am sure it is very disheartening to both the coaches and players. Is that an excuse to get down during the middle of a game? No, but I can certainly see why.

I expect the team to bounce back this week and play with some of the fire and energy we saw in the first game.

 

[Irishjohn68]

I am a big supporter of our Coach Brian Kelly from day one but I was a little disappointed in him and BVG on Saturday.
I think Coach Kelly game planned well and I loved the aggressive fake field goal. The going for two was a head scratcher, though. Never give up a sure point early in the game.
The thing that got me worried a little about Coach Kelly was how he got real quiet and depressed looking after Maliks injury. It seemed to take him out of the game a little. I believe this is one of the reasons Virginia made a good run at us. I know Malik Z is a very important player but there are 84 other players on the team to look after and motivate.
Also BVG was not his fist pumping self and looked depressed.
I usually sit down and throw things at the tv when things aren't going well.
Saturday I was standing in front of the tv yelling at all the players to get them pumped up since Kelly wasn't doing it. I was taking the middle linebacker stance and barking orders, Sack the quarterback ! Get pressure !
I also did some helacious fist pumps after K. Russell sacked the qb and caused a fumble.
I got on my knees and prayed to God a few times.
I knew the Irish were going to score on that last drive. It was just like the Stanford game !!
Kizer hit Fuller with a strike ! Right on the money !

*** The players may have made mistakes and blew assignments but they didn't panic and turn the football over and they played hard the whole game. They never quit.

*** I love Coach Kelly but I was worried about him Saturday.

*** I take Notre Dame football way too seriously.

*** I like Vice Lombardis quote. Winning is everything.

Go Irish !!
Beat Georgia Tech !!

I really like and agree with your post. I thought the same thing with BK's arm folded and look a little out of it.

 

[continually35forever]

I had a different take. Thought Kelly kept emotions in check and presented a calm business as usual persona to keep Kizer from being too emotional, etc... Frankly, the game felt like it was our fate to lose. Their QB made so many off the back foot throws under pressure that went for big gains that it just felt like our loss was preordained. Much more concerned about Van Gorder and our defense than our offense without Malik, and expect Kelly has the same concern. This week looms larger than ever.

Tex I wrote a couple weeks ago that given the talent level of this defense at least two first rd NFL picks if VG doesn't get it done this yr will be his last @ ND . For my money there has been WAAAAYYYY too much chatter about communication and system implementation . I have been following the game my whole life and I don't remember there being this much of a learning curve from one coach to another ESP on defense .

As Fl Irish alluded to earlier I don't know what the hell was going on on Saturday with our secondary but they were simply putrid --putrid .
Kelly mentioned in his presser yesterday that the problems w the secondary are fixable - I hope so .

BTW Johnson is the Pete Carril of college football - I hope Sat does not turn into a triple option clinic - if so I hope we can score enough points and eat enough clock in order to escape the ordeal that faces ND on Sat w a W

 

[Telx1]

Continually, I recall the post you refer to and I think I added that Van Gorder will be back in the NFL next year if this team doesn't improve dramatically on defense this year. The Virginia game was discouraging to say the least, and putrid is a good adjective to describe our lack of effectiveness. Even the announcers harp on how creative Van Gorder is with his defensive scheme and that last year was simply too steep of a learning curve. I think we are all sick of the communication and complexity explanation, and we have the talent to play much better, especially in the backfield. It will be interesting to see if Morgan sees some playing against the option this weekend.

 

[Toby Smart]

I am concerned about BVG's defense. He has a chock full of experience. NFL ability. Two games = one sack. Two games = one turnover against two very mediocre offenses. No hurries. Flea Flicker TD = ND safety out of position. Another floater sails merrily through the air , thanks to Mr Rochelle, and the damn thing turns out to be a completion with no resistance from the Secondary. Sometimes BVG was out schemed, sometimes the defense itself did not perform. This defense will have to bail out this season and buy Kiz some time to learn the position. I was absolutely disgusted at our defense in the last three Quarters. They looked like they were ready to check out towards the end. No excuse for this with all this supposed talent. This was supposed to be the best "D" since I don't know when.

 

[Bodizephax]

I am concerned about BVG's defense. He has a chock full of experience. NFL ability. Two games = one sack. Two games = one turnover against two very mediocre offenses. No hurries. Flea Flicker TD = ND safety out of position. Another floater sails merrily through the air , thanks to Mr Rochelle, and the damn thing turns out to be a completion with no resistance from the Secondary. Sometimes BVG was out schemed, sometimes the defense itself did not perform. This defense will have to bail out this season and buy Kiz some time to learn the position. I was absolutely disgusted at our defense in the last three Quarters. They looked like they were ready to check out towards the end. No excuse for this with all this supposed talent. This was supposed to be the best "D" since I don't know when.

^^^ Misinformation .. The Irish have five sacks so far not one.(Please get your facts straight) Jaylon Smith has been a beast.
The defense hasn't been that bad. A big improvement over last year.

 

[57Patrick]

My concern about VG is not his knowledge or his scheme. Auburn's defense, if memory serves me correctly, was horrible under VG. My question/concern is can our players execute VG's defense. Kelly knows football. He is aware of the defensive issues. It will be interesting Saturday to see how the defense performs.

 

[SDS123]

I get that a coach may be bumfuzzled when his star goes out. Not to be unsympathetic, but he is an adult with a job to do. For all the pressures and strains, he is compensated to overcome them espevially during a game. I am less worried and more perturbed IF he went into silent mode. I don't know that he did, though. Appearances can be deceiving.
If you cannot count on your coaching staff to rally the troops then we are in far worse situation with injuries. But again, I'm not convinced that that is what happened.

 

[Toby Smart]

Yes, exactly, five sacks for the year, not one. Don't get your blood pressure sky high because your facts aka predictions have been known to be off kilter every so often. None of this will take the focus away from the disappointing defensive effort against a mediocre at best offense last Saturday. ONE sack against the Cavs with the BVG diverse bltiz packages he has going on is not good. You can't rah rah away those less the inspiring numbers from last Saturday. Two games in and our NFL talented defense is 62nd in passing allowed and passing efficiency. Did I mention that this is against mediocre at best opposing QBs? Now, it's early and the defensive unit can turn things around quickly. They have no choice but to change things around quickly. The rise or fall of this season depends on the defense.....not Kiz.

 

[Irish437]

BVG was running that same stupid cover 0 defense that plagued the team last year. It would seem that the Irish would have the DBs to play straight up man. When they drop into zone there are way too many open pockets in the secondary.

 

[Bodizephax]

I am concerned about BVG's defense. He has a chock full of experience. NFL ability. Two games = one sack. Two games = one turnover against two very mediocre offenses. No hurries. Flea Flicker TD = ND safety out of position. Another floater sails merrily through the air , thanks to Mr Rochelle, and the damn thing turns out to be a completion with no resistance from the Secondary. Sometimes BVG was out schemed, sometimes the defense itself did not perform. This defense will have to bail out this season and buy Kiz some time to learn the position. I was absolutely disgusted at our defense in the last three Quarters. They looked like they were ready to check out towards the end. No excuse for this with all this supposed talent. This was supposed to be the best "D" since I don't know when.

Yes, exactly, five sacks for the year, not one. Don't get your blood pressure sky high because your facts aka predictions have been known to be off kilter every so often. None of this will take the focus away from the disappointing defensive effort against a mediocre at best offense last Saturday. ONE sack against the Cavs with the BVG diverse bltiz packages he has going on is not good. You can't rah rah away those less the inspiring numbers from last Saturday. Two games in and our NFL talented defense is 62nd in passing allowed and passing efficiency. Did I mention that this is against mediocre at best opposing QBs? Now, it's early and the defensive unit can turn things around quickly. They have no choice but to change things around quickly. The rise or fall of this season depends on the defense.....not Kiz.

IrishJack, my blood pressure is fine. Your the one flipping out over one game. And 5 is a lot bigger than 1 when in comes to sacks in two games.
It was ONE game IrishJack. You need to chill. It is a long season.
Sorry Irish Jack I like to rah rah a little too much. Just Like you like to wah wah a little too much.
And also you said the irish d has had no hurries on defense. That is wrong also. Sorry to correct you.

 

[Toby Smart]

Perpetual temper tantrums is no way to go through life Bodi. You can stomp your feet, hold your breath until you turn blue but that won't change the performance of the defense against Virginia. If I was the only one saying it, you might have a point, but there are radio / TV Irish football insiders who have been saying it all week. These insiders have no agenda and can be regarded as ND homers. Put on your big boy pants and shed the thin skin. The game against Virginia was disappointing to say the least. Everybody knows it but you. Hopefully, the guys can bounce back against GT because the season depends on our "D" and so does Kizer. We all want the same thing for this season.