Comments on: “You can’t W.I.N. unless you run”

By: DentiteUSN

DentiteUSN — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 15:43:09 +0000

BK is a good coach at the smaller level. What everyone forgets is that at Cincy he had Dantonio’s kids running his plays. Kelly is not a stone to which you build a program, unless it’s a FCS or small time FBS, he’s just not ready for the bigtime. He wanted the Minny job for goodness sake!! We need a bigtime coach who has shown an ability to build something from nothing. MSU had a great hire in Dantonio, we need someone who has built something from nothing. With the talent & resources of ND it should work.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 19:23:14 +0000

Last year Ian Williams after the Navy loss said, “We were outcoached.” The team subsequently quit losing the rest of their games. Did Notre Dame get outcoached today against Navy?

I believe Brian Kelly is a system coach and NOT a game day college coach. I’ll give you a few glaring examples. The first was that decision to go for it from the 2 yard line after Montana completed the play in the last few seconds of the 1st half against Michigan. Kick the field goal! Not because of later events, but because you want momentum going into halftime. Today (against Navy) forcing a late drive from inside the 5-yard line and ultimately leading to an interception and a subsequently leading to a 21-10 halftime deficit and a huge change of momentum. I won’t even discuss the wisdom of going for a 4th and 1 on your own 42 yard (or so) line with 6 minutes to go in the 4th quarter of a tie game against Michigan State.

A head football coach has to make sure he manages situations in the best interests of his football team putting them into the best possible position to win games. This is not about not having your type of guys here yet; this is about giving the guys you got a chance to win.

By: Joe Schulz

Joe Schulz — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:07:01 +0000

THE PAST IS PAST
The spread, the pass, is the NOW of football. You see it in high school, college and the pros. The reasons are obvious:
1. Aggressive defenses, defenses that stop you for a loss, sometimes a big loss, mean that “3 yards and a cloud of dust” won’t get you a first down and certainly won’t lead to long drives that regularly leads to touchdowns. The standard for success has changed from 3 1/3 yards a play to 5 or more yards a play. Most offenses won’t get you that running. The game has become touch football where quick receivers and a quick release get you scores and wins.
2. The rules have changed to allow blockers to use their hands. This “new” technique works because it can stop the pass rush. But blocking with your hands doesn’t drive linebackers out of the hole. The spread has a running attack because it requires more pass defenders (fewer run defenders) and it spreads out those defenders. Like in a punt return the quick, strong runner can pick his way to big gains.
3. Recruiting has changed. Commitment to the run requires that you have both better, bigger, stronger and tougher, linemen than your opponents and virtually no passing attack. Recruiting to meet those requirements, in today’s world, is an impossibility. Notre Dame and Michigan no longer have dominance over the recruiting process. When the NFL went pass happy, to appease its new, less knowledgable fans, it doomed colleges that did not change with them. The top athletes, those that see the NFL in their future, are NOT looking for a pound it out team. The only teams that still have big run stats are the triple option ones.
Personally, I love the running game. I love pound it out football. But, unfortunately, it is long past our time. The single wing is gone. The power sweep is gone. If you don’t like touch/flag football in helmets and shoulder pads, you are out of luck. Kelly is clearly one of the very best of the new breed. Let the memory of the crunch of a blocker’s shoulder pads fade. You will hear it only on the defensive side of the game. Kelly’s methods will make Notre Dame into a winner again. It won’t be the the thrill of total dominance that an unstoppable running attack provides. But, it will lead to wins and wins and wins. Nothing succeeds like success.

By: e murphy

e murphy — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 06:47:57 +0000

KEEP RUNNING ROBERT HUGHES

By: RockMcD

RockMcD — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:02:29 +0000

What I don’t comprehend from this article is the premise that weighting the playcalling in favor of the passing game means he’s not trying to win now. Really? I feel that trying to win now is exactly what he’s doing. Kelly inherited arguably the best pass catching WR in Michael Floyd. He inherited arguably the best pass catching TE in Kyle Rudolph. He inherited a 5-star quarterback in his 3rd year in the program. He inherited an offensive line that apparently has been trained to be more proficient in pass blocking than run blocking – or at least that’s where they’ve had more success the previous 2 years.

I can see someone making the argument that he’s trying too hard to win now – trying to max out the first year results a la Ty or Weis at the expense of putting together the building blocks for longer term success. I don’t think that’s what he’s doing, but I could take that argument seriously. No disrespect intended, but I just can’t take seriously an argument that a pass-heavy offense indicates he’s not trying to win now. Or maybe it just needs to be explained to me more clearly.

By: Gary

Gary — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:29:03 +0000

In reply to Cardinal John Newman. See my earlier post about how Wisconsin's power rushing offense performed against MSU. The grass is always greener...

By: RockMcD

RockMcD — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:27:59 +0000

In reply to Foxy. The answer is Julius Jones, 2003. He had one of the top rushing seasons ever by an ND running back that season. And look where that got us.

By: Cardinal John Newman

Cardinal John Newman — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:41:06 +0000

Good article. I woould love to see us establish a system that is centered upon the run. Im not a big fan of the spread. That said, I know the current staff has a very opposite approach, which is fine. I believe in Coach Kelly, and we definitely have to give the guy some time to establish his system with his players before drawing any up/down conclusions. That all said, personally I love to watch a grind it out, beat the crap out of you with power running and long sustained drives (like Holtz did). Most may say the concept is outdated in today’s game, but look at a team like Wisconsin…or Stanford. I have no love for either program but I find myself saying, “I wish that’s how we would do it.”

By: TC

TC — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:36:12 +0000

Before they can run, they have to have some good backs. Allen and Gray are banged up – Wood was fumbling the ball and tentative – up to the W. Michigan game. The coach knows they need to run, but they need to have healthy backs to do it. They get healthy, things will change !!

By: Foxy

Foxy — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:52:50 +0000

Let’s talk about that running game. Seriously, when was the last time you saw a ND running back take a hand off or a pitch and run 60-90 yards for a TD. I ‘m really curious as to who/when it was. On another note, I think ND is better than their record shows. I know they didn’t but they could’ve easily won against Michigan and MSU. Stanford was clearly better, at least on that game day. I wish they would’ve had 4-6 weeks to prepare for Denard Robinson like some of these other teams. He was the difference in that game. They have the ability to be a GOOD, not GREAT team. The pieces aren’t all there yet. More team speed is needed particularly on defense. It never hurts to have a “gamebreaker” on the offense either.