SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly knew his offense would have to cover for a young defense this season. But he probably didn't expect his defense to struggle the way it has, especially in the season's final month.

 

Removing Everett Golson's two pick-sixes at Arizona State, Notre Dame's defense allowed 39, 41, 40, 31 and 49 points in its final five games — an average of 40 points per game in November. That put the Irish among the ranks of college football's worst defenses and bottom-feeder programs like Colorado (39.5 PPG), Kansas (40.6 PPG) and Iowa State (41 PPG).

 

Granted, Notre Dame spent nearly the entire month without its defensive MVP after Joe Schmidt suffered a season-ending ankle injury Nov. 1 against Navy. Defensive linemen Sheldon Day, Jarron Jones, Daniel Cage and Jay Hayes all missed time. So did cornerback Cody Riggs and safeties Austin Collinsworth, Drue Tranquill and Max Redfield. By the USC game, Notre Dame had to scrape near the bottom of its depth chart, and some of those guys — Greer Martini and Jacob Matuska — managed to get hurt, too.

 

The injuries are a convenient excuse for the point totals, but perhaps no team in college football dealt with losing players worse than Notre Dame.

 

Only three teams — Kansas, Oregon State and New Mexico — allowed more plays of 10 or more yards in November than Notre Dame (89 in five games). And this wasn't a bend-don't-break defense: Opponents in November reached the red zone 26 times (second most behind Kansas) and scored touchdowns on 77 percent of those possessions (eighth worst in FBS).

 

"We can't give up the big plays that we gave up," Kelly said. "They're absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances, whether we're playing a slew of freshmen or not.

 

"We're in position to make those plays with good fundamentals and good technique. So we have to eliminate the big plays we gave up."

 

While Bob Diaco's 3-4 defense was usually friendlier to veterans, it turns out Brian VanGorder's 4-3 scheme wasn't easy for underclassmen to pick up. Players struggled across the board — including Redfield, who was benched for two games prior to his injury at USC — with only a handful of bright spots (defensive lineman Isaac Rochell, linebacker Jaylon Smith, cornerback Cole Luke).

 

Kelly made it clear all positions are open for competition over the next eight practices, but it's not all on the players — there have to be coaching improvements, too.

 

"Everybody's on notice, coaches alike, our coaches are on notice," Kelly said. "Unacceptable. We have to, obviously, shore up that situation, and then we've got to do a better job on the offensive side of the ball."

Does that include himself?

His pass-happy play-calling has not helped the defense get off the field. See, e.g. First Half of USC Game. The result is a weak, undermanned unit (excuses, excuses) on the field for long stretches. You'd think all of this would inspire a little bit of clock-eating on offense, as opposed to putting it in the air and turning it over, but I digress . . . With that said, the offensive line play has not been all that inspiring either.

 

Sometimes, it seems like the only beam of hope on this team is the running backs we bench . . .

Well he said "everybody" and "we" multiple times so I'm guessing it does include himself.

Does that include himself?

 

I am going to go with no on that one. Unless the administration put him on notice, I suspect it is a big no.

Actually a little surprised to hear his words...a rare glimpse that he actually is interested in sticking around...

 

Label me shocked...

I for one wouldn't mind seeing bob elliot join diaco next season and whatever happen to that coach we had that go sick on the plane?

Actually a little surprised to hear his words...a rare glimpse that he actually is interested in sticking around...

 

Label me shocked...

 

I don't get sticking around from that.

 

I see this as BK showing his management skills regarding his assistants.

 

"I'm accountable but these guys have to do better"

Does that include himself?

 

you asking that question obviously means it does. but, if you expect him to quit, you're crazy. any coach that considers quitting being an option is a coach fit for a d2 school.

Does that include himself?

 

This is probably what Jalen's tweet was referencing.

Well he said "everybody" and "we" multiple times so I'm guessing it does include himself.

 

Unlike a certain other leader who says "I" a million times when something is successful, but throws everybody under the bus when things go bad....

Like what I hear but I'll believe it when I see it. Kelly seems pretty angry and unimpressed, he's been just as much at fault as everyone else but I hope to see more than just one coach let go. I'm talking to you Heistand and one or two defensive coaches (db and linebacker coaches need to do a better job).

 

I get we had such few guys but I don't think we should bring BVG back, he was with the Jets for a reason last year.

Two things from this stick out to me.

 

1. BK talks out his arse....always has and always will. I don't believe anything he says.

2. He really does lay blame on everyone and anyone.

 

Consider me not impressed.

Please fire Heistand and hire Jeff Quinn.

Two things from this stick out to me.

 

1. BK talks out his arse....always has and always will. I don't believe anything he says.

2. He really does lay blame on everyone and anyone.

 

Consider me not impressed.

 

He is a democrat you know? Lol.

Like what I hear but I'll believe it when I see it. Kelly seems pretty angry and unimpressed, he's been just as much at fault as everyone else but I hope to see more than just one coach let go. I'm talking to you Heistand and one or two defensive coaches (db and linebacker coaches need to do a better job).

 

I get we had such few guys but I don't think we should bring BVG back, he was with the Jets for a reason last year.

 

I agree. The defense was starting to falter before the injury waves hit. They got lit up by UNC. The FSU game was more than likely an anomaly, and from then on it's been a train wreck.

I agree. The defense was starting to falter before the injury waves hit. They got lit up by UNC. The FSU game was more than likely an anomaly, and from then on it's been a train wreck.

 

The funny thing is myself and others here were talking about our defense as one of the best in college football during the Stanford game. I knew their o was garbage but someone should bring that thread up for a laugh.

 

This bvg defense will always give up the big play the question is just how often? They might force some turnovers with pressure but if we don't get there which happened often descent qbs will pick apart the cover 0. I didn't like how he didn't adjust and play some cover 2 man or more zone especially with guys like butler who we knew can't cover.

Unlike a certain other leader who says "I" a million times when something is successful, but throws everybody under the bus when things go bad....

 

I don`t see Kelly throwing the players under the bus. Or Coaches either. Although he did say that he and the assistants were at fault for the losses this year.

He has said that "they had to do a better job taking care of the ball". I would say that he is talking mainly about Golson but he was stating a fact, a fact that we all knew.

 

There could be two new coaches next year and my guess is that Hiestand will be gone. He is well liked by the players but with the players that he has, we should be able to run against anyone but we can`t. Also, the pass protection sucks. Golson gets the blame for getting the ball stripped while trying to avoid a sack but a lot of that should be on the O line. Even when Golson steps up in the pocket, it collapse around him.

 

Some call him pass happy but when you can not run the ball on a consistent basis, you pass the ball.

 

Has anyone thought that Golsons playing ability changed after being checked for a concussion? I thought it did.

Edited December 11, 201410 yr by AlabamaDuck
word change

I was wondering who was still "On Notice" besides Flavor Crystals and the Journal of Paleontology....

 

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z152/UCLABruinKid/Huckabee-board.jpg

Tennessee fans hated Hiestand... He may be able to recruit, but O-Lines seem to regress under him.

I don`t see Kelly throwing the players under the bus. Or Coaches either. Although he did say that he and the assistants were at fault for the losses this year.

He has said that "they had to do a better job taking care of the ball". I would say that he is talking mainly about Golson but he was stating a fact, a fact that we all knew.

 

There could be two new coaches next year and my guess is that Hiestand will be gone. He is well liked by the players but with the players that he has, we should be able to run against anyone but we can`t. Also, the pass protection sucks. Golson gets the blame for getting the ball stripped while trying to avoid a sack but a lot of that should be on the O line. Even when Golson steps up in the pocket, it collapse around him.

 

Some call him pass happy but when you can not run the ball on a consistent basis, you pass the ball.

 

Has anyone thought that Golsons playing ability changed after being checked for a concussion? I thought it did.

 

I think you are a smart guy. However, to imply that Golson's fumbling problems has to do with the Oline protection is completely shortsighted. I would grant you that some of the OLine protection problems may cause the pocket to break down resulting in him having to scramble and increasing the likelihood of bad things to happen. But quite frankly, he does not protect the ball, holds it away from his body, and has a tendency to dance indecisively in the pocket instead of taking off or sliding up in the pocket while going through his reads. I have concluded that his vision of the field is poor. He plays nervously and it showed in his performance as the year progressed. I think you are looking for excuses.