Yesterdays game pissed me off much more than the Georgia loss or the Miami debacle. Stanford looked like they wanted the game more than we did, and nowhere was this more apparent than their DL play against our vaunted OL. The fact we were outplayed badly on the road by two teams with inferior overall talent, and the fact we looked timid and unmotivated in both losses, should be cause to look for a new HC. Unfortunately, ND is not going to fire Kelly after a 9-3 season with a really tough schedule, and the level of improvement following last year’s 4-8 disaster. Given this, thinking about what we need to see to feel good about next season.
First, we need to keep this really good recruiting class together and add several high targets in positions of need.
Second, stay the course with our defense coaches and Ballis. A second full year of the improved S&C program, and the emergence of our young players will produce a really good defensive unit, with the line and backs being positions of strength for a nice change, and linebackers being the one area of concern.
Third, open competition for QB is a must. Everyone says Wimbush can and does make all the throws with accuracy and consistency in practice, but this doesn’t translate to games. We now have a full season in the books, and Wimbush never developed into a reliable dual threat QB, despite his practice performance and considerable upside. Kelly has to open up competition and give Book and Davis and true freshman PJ the opportunities to compete and win the job. Wimbush didn’t earn the right to be the presumed starter.
Fourth, ST play continues to be unacceptable. Polian was given free rein to pick his ST players with no hands off limitations for starters, etc... and we only saw marginal improvement over a pathetic level of ST play of the prior season. Polian needs to be retained as Director of Recruitment, but we need to go get an accomplished ST coach that can elevate our play.
Fifth, Kelly needs to evaluate Long and Alexander and Rees, and either make changes in personnel, or how they’re doing their jobs. Overall, I felt our offense became damn predictable (AGAIN), lacked creativity, lacked adjustments as teams figured us out, etc... and every receiver with the exception of Stepherson underperformed all season.
Most of us would have been satisfied with 9-3 before the season start, but our expectations were raised by our early success and the way we played. Then to finish the way we did with the second half against WF, the Miami debacle, the narrow win over Navy, and the Stanford giveaway drained all the enthusiasm out of the fan base. That said, we do have a talented roster coming back, we do have some really talented young recruits committed, and we did see marked improvement in many facets with the new coaching staff. I’m still pissed and disgusted with the way we finished the season, and I’m resigned to the fact we have Kelly as HC For yet another year, but I see reasons to be excited with next year’s Team if Kelly does the above. I say this knowing full well that the vast majority here have to get beyond their anger over this season’s end before there is interest in talking next year.
First, we need to keep this really good recruiting class together and add several high targets in positions of need.
Second, stay the course with our defense coaches and Ballis. A second full year of the improved S&C program, and the emergence of our young players will produce a really good defensive unit, with the line and backs being positions of strength for a nice change, and linebackers being the one area of concern.
Third, open competition for QB is a must. Everyone says Wimbush can and does make all the throws with accuracy and consistency in practice, but this doesn’t translate to games. We now have a full season in the books, and Wimbush never developed into a reliable dual threat QB, despite his practice performance and considerable upside. Kelly has to open up competition and give Book and Davis and true freshman PJ the opportunities to compete and win the job. Wimbush didn’t earn the right to be the presumed starter.
Fourth, ST play continues to be unacceptable. Polian was given free rein to pick his ST players with no hands off limitations for starters, etc... and we only saw marginal improvement over a pathetic level of ST play of the prior season. Polian needs to be retained as Director of Recruitment, but we need to go get an accomplished ST coach that can elevate our play.
Fifth, Kelly needs to evaluate Long and Alexander and Rees, and either make changes in personnel, or how they’re doing their jobs. Overall, I felt our offense became damn predictable (AGAIN), lacked creativity, lacked adjustments as teams figured us out, etc... and every receiver with the exception of Stepherson underperformed all season.
Most of us would have been satisfied with 9-3 before the season start, but our expectations were raised by our early success and the way we played. Then to finish the way we did with the second half against WF, the Miami debacle, the narrow win over Navy, and the Stanford giveaway drained all the enthusiasm out of the fan base. That said, we do have a talented roster coming back, we do have some really talented young recruits committed, and we did see marked improvement in many facets with the new coaching staff. I’m still pissed and disgusted with the way we finished the season, and I’m resigned to the fact we have Kelly as HC For yet another year, but I see reasons to be excited with next year’s Team if Kelly does the above. I say this knowing full well that the vast majority here have to get beyond their anger over this season’s end before there is interest in talking next year.
