Throughout the season I was often very pleased that Kelly brought the team into several games with good to high energy, and that on several occasions throughout the season he went for it on 4th down where in the past he would have punted or tried a field goal. He was playing to win, and he even went for it on 4th down tonight.
But tonight he also allowed a coach left for dead to have USC take the field better prepared emotionally and tactically than ND when ND had its whole season on the line. The soft coverage during most of the 1st half was tailor made to allow the previously inconsistent Daniels to relax and build confidence with easy, uncontested throws. And after the D finally began to bury Daniels in the 4th qt prior to ND going up by 14 with 3 minutes to play, Kelly either ordered or permitted Lea to go to the same prevent defense that lost the 2015 Stanford game, apparently banking that ND would recover the inevitable on side kick. If USC had recovered, he likely wold have gone back to the prevent and waited to attempt to stop the 2 point conversion try.
If OSU and OU blow out their opponents next weekend, I would not be surprised if ND is dropped to #5 in the final rankings. The committee could easily justify it based on ND barely holding on against a 5-6 team whose coach was about to be fired. Then Kelly can take his business like approach to a Jan 1 game that he is less likely to get blown out in.
2012 was a 9 point margin over USC with a ton of FGs by ND, but the feeling after that game was so much different . ND was pounding USC at the end of the game and was the demonstrably better team. This was bare survival at the end against a more inspired opponent.
But tonight he also allowed a coach left for dead to have USC take the field better prepared emotionally and tactically than ND when ND had its whole season on the line. The soft coverage during most of the 1st half was tailor made to allow the previously inconsistent Daniels to relax and build confidence with easy, uncontested throws. And after the D finally began to bury Daniels in the 4th qt prior to ND going up by 14 with 3 minutes to play, Kelly either ordered or permitted Lea to go to the same prevent defense that lost the 2015 Stanford game, apparently banking that ND would recover the inevitable on side kick. If USC had recovered, he likely wold have gone back to the prevent and waited to attempt to stop the 2 point conversion try.
If OSU and OU blow out their opponents next weekend, I would not be surprised if ND is dropped to #5 in the final rankings. The committee could easily justify it based on ND barely holding on against a 5-6 team whose coach was about to be fired. Then Kelly can take his business like approach to a Jan 1 game that he is less likely to get blown out in.
2012 was a 9 point margin over USC with a ton of FGs by ND, but the feeling after that game was so much different . ND was pounding USC at the end of the game and was the demonstrably better team. This was bare survival at the end against a more inspired opponent.
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