Memo to Brian Kelly: Coaching had everything to do with loss to NC State

[G_a_r_y]

After Notre Dame lost to Duke in Week 4, Kelly made a perplexing statement about how coaching had nothing to do with being beat by an inferior team. Instead, he blamed the players (more on that here).

Of course, the next day Kelly fired defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder — totally unrelated, we’re sure.

Fast forward to Saturday’s game in Raleigh, N. C. against North Carolina State. Playing in conditions generated by Hurricane Michael on a field that produced the most excellent slip-and-slide moments imaginable (watch here), the Fighting Irish went with a game plan that defies logic.

Kelly had quarterback DeShone Kizer throw the ball 26 times.

TWENTY SIX TIMES!!!

Shockingly, or not so much, the poor kid completed just nine of those attempts, throwing nary a touchdown and one interception, which thankfully did not turn into points for the Wolfpack.

Notre Dame ended up running the ball 36 times, though 15 of those attempts are credited to Kizer, who gained 15 yards.

On the other side, North Carolina’s coaching staff appeared to have a better grip on reality. The Wolfpack attempted just 14 passes while rushing the ball 51 times.

After the game, Kelly laid into center Sam Mustipher for his mistakes playing in the slop.

http://sportsnaut.com/2016/10/takeaways-college-football-week-6/

 

[Telx1]

The inexplicable play calling was much worse than the stats suggest when you consider that most of Kizer credited runs were scrambles from broken pass plays. He may have thrown 26 passes, but they called over 36 pass plays in a friggin hurricane!

 

[ND1989]

Only handing the ball off to your backs 20 out of 58 plays in a hurricane is insanity.