Sept. 21-- SOUTH BEND, Ind.-The numbers don't lie, even if Brian Kelly doesn't want to face the truth publicly, ugly as it is.
Let's start with the number four. That's how many games, out of its last five, Notre Dame has lost.
The cumulative score of those five games: 178-178.
The Irish's lone victory during that stretch, against Nevada, was sandwiched between defeats to Stanford, Ohio State, Texas and Michigan State.
No wonder Kelly answered thusly-and wryly-when asked how's he has dealt with defensive deficiencies in the past.
"Scored more points," he said.
Here's another number: $1.1 million. That was the sum of Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder's paychecks. Two years ago.
Who knows what the next tax documents released by the school will reveal. Either way, VanGorder is one the highest paid assistant coaches in the country.
His defense doesn't exactly reflect the investment the program has made in VanGorder, who spent some time in the NFL and has a history with Kelly dating to their days together at Grand Valley State.
Cameras caught Kelly in a heated exchange with VanGorder on Saturday during a 36-28 loss to Michigan State. And Kelly seemed on the verge of expressing his frustration afterward.
"Colleagues," Kelly said when asked to describe their relationship. "Colleagues in it together to get the most out of our players."
He doubled down over the next few days and endorsed VanGorder publically. Blamed missed tackles and poor fundamentals and youth and, well, everything but VanGorder.
I'm guessing, though, Kelly has shared his dissatisfaction with him privately. Fair enough.
"Yeah, without question," Kelly said of whether VanGorder is the right man for the job. "That's not even part of the conversation. It's really about the fundamentals of defense. This is not rocket science. ... There's not a question about scheme. There's not a question about who's leading it with Brian."
The question is, how long will he continue to lead it?
Kelly said Tuesday that VanGorder "is coaching his butt off."
VanGorder's defense, oft-criticized for being too complicated to learn in the limited time college players have to learn it, better get off its behind, though.
It's not like there hasn't been or isn't talent. Last year the unit had two All-Americans-Jaylon Smith and Sheldon Day-and KeiVarae Russell. All were NFL draft picks.
Then there was a social-media snafu that was just as embarrassing as his defense, the one in which Kelly's Twitter account "liked" a tweet suggesting it was time to fire VanGorder. Kelly said he has several people running the account and called it an "unfortunate mistake."
But back to the numbers. Or, in the case of sacks, the absence of them.
The Irish (1-2) are one of two FBS teams-the other is Nevada-with nary a sack to its name. Out of 128 teams.
Kelly downplayed the importance of that stat a few days ago but conceded Tuesday that Notre Dame must be better at that too.
Truth is, the Irish need to be better at a lot of things. After last weekend's games they ranked 103rd in pass-efficiency defense, 99th in rushing defense, 102nd in total defense, T-94th in scoring defense, T-101st in tackles for loss and T-89th in turnovers gained.
Their red-zone defense has left them red-faced. The Irish's previous five games against Power 5 teams have resulted in 23 trips there. And 19 touchdowns. And four field goals.
Big plays have left them embarrassed.
This year is no anomaly. In VanGorder's first two seasons, the Irish finished 31st (2014) and 71st (2015) in total defense.
"If you don't do well, you're gonna hear those different things that come out. But within our room we know the truth, (what) we gotta do," VanGorder said before the Fiesta Bowl last season. "Our stuff is likable and learnable. It's fun to play in our system."
Kelly brushed off worry earlier this season, said to talk to him if Notre Dame's defense isn't up to snuff after seven or eight games.
Tick is meeting tock, and quickly.
Facts are undefeated against opinions.
And if the facts don't change, we could find out soon whether Kelly's opinion does.
http://wowway.net/news/read/categor..._defenses_not_living_up_to_notre_dames_in-tca
Let's start with the number four. That's how many games, out of its last five, Notre Dame has lost.
The cumulative score of those five games: 178-178.
The Irish's lone victory during that stretch, against Nevada, was sandwiched between defeats to Stanford, Ohio State, Texas and Michigan State.
No wonder Kelly answered thusly-and wryly-when asked how's he has dealt with defensive deficiencies in the past.
"Scored more points," he said.
Here's another number: $1.1 million. That was the sum of Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder's paychecks. Two years ago.
Who knows what the next tax documents released by the school will reveal. Either way, VanGorder is one the highest paid assistant coaches in the country.
His defense doesn't exactly reflect the investment the program has made in VanGorder, who spent some time in the NFL and has a history with Kelly dating to their days together at Grand Valley State.
Cameras caught Kelly in a heated exchange with VanGorder on Saturday during a 36-28 loss to Michigan State. And Kelly seemed on the verge of expressing his frustration afterward.
"Colleagues," Kelly said when asked to describe their relationship. "Colleagues in it together to get the most out of our players."
He doubled down over the next few days and endorsed VanGorder publically. Blamed missed tackles and poor fundamentals and youth and, well, everything but VanGorder.
I'm guessing, though, Kelly has shared his dissatisfaction with him privately. Fair enough.
"Yeah, without question," Kelly said of whether VanGorder is the right man for the job. "That's not even part of the conversation. It's really about the fundamentals of defense. This is not rocket science. ... There's not a question about scheme. There's not a question about who's leading it with Brian."
The question is, how long will he continue to lead it?
Kelly said Tuesday that VanGorder "is coaching his butt off."
VanGorder's defense, oft-criticized for being too complicated to learn in the limited time college players have to learn it, better get off its behind, though.
It's not like there hasn't been or isn't talent. Last year the unit had two All-Americans-Jaylon Smith and Sheldon Day-and KeiVarae Russell. All were NFL draft picks.
Then there was a social-media snafu that was just as embarrassing as his defense, the one in which Kelly's Twitter account "liked" a tweet suggesting it was time to fire VanGorder. Kelly said he has several people running the account and called it an "unfortunate mistake."
But back to the numbers. Or, in the case of sacks, the absence of them.
The Irish (1-2) are one of two FBS teams-the other is Nevada-with nary a sack to its name. Out of 128 teams.
Kelly downplayed the importance of that stat a few days ago but conceded Tuesday that Notre Dame must be better at that too.
Truth is, the Irish need to be better at a lot of things. After last weekend's games they ranked 103rd in pass-efficiency defense, 99th in rushing defense, 102nd in total defense, T-94th in scoring defense, T-101st in tackles for loss and T-89th in turnovers gained.
Their red-zone defense has left them red-faced. The Irish's previous five games against Power 5 teams have resulted in 23 trips there. And 19 touchdowns. And four field goals.
Big plays have left them embarrassed.
This year is no anomaly. In VanGorder's first two seasons, the Irish finished 31st (2014) and 71st (2015) in total defense.
"If you don't do well, you're gonna hear those different things that come out. But within our room we know the truth, (what) we gotta do," VanGorder said before the Fiesta Bowl last season. "Our stuff is likable and learnable. It's fun to play in our system."
Kelly brushed off worry earlier this season, said to talk to him if Notre Dame's defense isn't up to snuff after seven or eight games.
Tick is meeting tock, and quickly.
Facts are undefeated against opinions.
And if the facts don't change, we could find out soon whether Kelly's opinion does.
http://wowway.net/news/read/categor..._defenses_not_living_up_to_notre_dames_in-tca
