I mean physically. For the past who knows how long, there has always seemed to be a pretty dramatic difference when you watched Notre Dame, then turned on an SEC game, or Ohio St game or USC, etc. ND just always looked different and not in a good way.

 

Even in 2012, it was pretty clear it was men vs. teenagers against Alabama. ND just hasn't looked the part since the 90's.

 

All reports suggest Balis and Ballou have made huge strides. I'm not sure if 9 months is enough time, it might take another full year, but I'm hoping to see a football team that at least looks like a top tier team and is physically imposing on the field.

I agree, and I also want to see if the look in their eyes are hungry. I want to see a chip on their shoulder and for them to be determined. I am certain they will be in better shape and better conditioned. I just want them to come out like they want to kick someone's behind and take no prisoners. That is all.

To me, one of the biggest issues in the past has been attitude and reaction to adversity. I am curious to see how this team and the head coach react when the first catastrophe strikes (i.e. turnover, injury, coverage breakdown, or first loss on the season).

 

I hope to see a team that has the ability to learn from mistakes and has the grit to keep punching even when things aren't going as planned.

 

I'd love to see a team that starts and finishes a game with intensity.

 

I'd love to see a team with a bit of swagger and confidence that is backed by solid, physical play.

 

I'm more hopeful than confident that we'll see those things... we will see shortly.

Just once I want the team to come in and own the line of scrimmage. Kinda goes with what cory was saying. I want to see guys blown off the ball. I want to see our guys in the backfield on their runs. If we call a double reverse it's going to work because we have been that dominant.

I've been reading a number of articles about Balis and Ballou the last few days.

 

But what really stuck out, and I can't remember which article to link it, so I will try to summarize.

 

Essentially, Kelly admitted that they were too easy on the players last season. At the end of the year, the biggest response from the exit interviews was that the players wanted to be pushed harder.

 

Further, Kelly said that since the players have such packed schedules between football and school, that they were given the ability to lift when it fit into their schedule. I'm serious. A D1 program had a lifting program where the players fit it into their schedules when they could and at their discretion. If there is any wonder why ND lost basically every close game last year, that is it.

 

Simply stunning that could happen at a school like Notre Dame. At least it seems to have been fixed, here's hoping.

 

EDIT: Found the quotes from that article:

 

The problems with the strength and conditioning were the most baffling. How could he have not noticed the malaise? Kelly said the roots began with too much concession.

 

“We changed the lenses, and the lenses we were looking through were faulty in the sense that we were trying to make things easier for our players because their day is so long and stressful,” he said.

 

“We tried to make it easier for them in the weight room, where in fact what we needed to do was make it harder. Our players want to be challenged in the weight room. They want that structure, and they want to see themselves getting better every single day. They don’t want to be in a situation where they can work out as their schedule sees it. That was part and parcel my mistake and trying to accommodate our players’ very difficult schedules.”

 

Full article: https://notredame.rivals.com/news/interview-with-notre-dame-head-coach-brian-kelly

 

Also, this quote from a former player in another article:

 

Just why an impending shift was necessary becomes apparent when talking with former and outgoing Irish players and their parents. There appeared to be too much of a do-it-yourself philosophy, to the point one departing player said, “It was clear that we were at a competitive disadvantage in games.”

Edited August 30, 20177 yr by corysold

I've been reading a number of articles about Balis and Ballou the last few days.

 

But what really stuck out, and I can't remember which article to link it, so I will try to summarize.

 

Essentially, Kelly admitted that they were too easy on the players last season. At the end of the year, the biggest response from the exit interviews was that the players wanted to be pushed harder.

 

Further, Kelly said that since the players have such packed schedules between football and school, that they were given the ability to lift when it fit into their schedule. I'm serious. A D1 program had a lifting program where the players fit it into their schedules when they could and at their discretion. If there is any wonder why ND lost basically every close game last year, that is it.

 

Simply stunning that could happen at a school like Notre Dame. At least it seems to have been fixed, here's hoping.

 

EDIT: Found the quotes from that article:

 

The problems with the strength and conditioning were the most baffling. How could he have not noticed the malaise? Kelly said the roots began with too much concession.

 

“We changed the lenses, and the lenses we were looking through were faulty in the sense that we were trying to make things easier for our players because their day is so long and stressful,” he said.

 

“We tried to make it easier for them in the weight room, where in fact what we needed to do was make it harder. Our players want to be challenged in the weight room. They want that structure, and they want to see themselves getting better every single day. They don’t want to be in a situation where they can work out as their schedule sees it. That was part and parcel my mistake and trying to accommodate our players’ very difficult schedules.”

 

Full article: https://notredame.rivals.com/news/interview-with-notre-dame-head-coach-brian-kelly

 

Also, this quote from a former player in another article:

 

Just why an impending shift was necessary becomes apparent when talking with former and outgoing Irish players and their parents. There appeared to be too much of a do-it-yourself philosophy, to the point one departing player said, “It was clear that we were at a competitive disadvantage in games.”

 

 

Absolutely terrible. You're here to coach. Coach them up!

Edited August 30, 20177 yr by coltssb
Grammar

Absolutely terrible. You're here to coach. Coach them up!

I agree. However, Kelly can admit when he can improve so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt going forward on this with a fairly short leash. A buddy of ours is living in South Bend temporarily at this time. He went to the final open practice and said the entire team is big. Real big. Not going to get too excited but this area but, minimally, it has improved.

I went to The Boneyard to see what UCONN fans thought of Balis.

 

What About Balis?

I went to The Boneyard to see what UCONN fans thought of Balis.

 

What About Balis?

Have you see the before/after pics of Coney, Morgan, Tranquil, etc? Much bigger. My friend went as far to say the team looked "Alabama" big. Balis has done his job friends. It's time for the players to do theirs.

I went to The Boneyard to see what UCONN fans thought of Balis.

 

What About Balis?

 

The players seemed to like him, as did the ones at Miss. St. Who cares what the fans think. Balis never had a 4* player to work with and most of their classes were in the 70-100 range and mid tier in their conference.

 

He's a strength coach, not a miracle worker.

Who cares what the fans think.

 

The irony.....

The irony.....

 

Nothing ironic about it.

 

The ND S&C program was in shambles. Kelly and players have said as much. But if ND doesn't perform on the field the next few years, it won't be because Balis forgot how to train players.

 

I don't expect him to turn every 3* into a 5* as it appeared the UConn fans did. I want him to help the 4 and 5* kids ND gets to reach their potential. Nothing more, nothing less. That wasn't happening before.

 

Some 3* might blossom, some won't. But some will at every school. He doesn't have some magic formula to make average players in elite ones. But hopefully ND is on an even playing field now.

I'm looking forward to what I call the "Eye Test" too. Also I like to count good blocks on a play. Will probably be hard at tempo and no replays. You can tell by how quick your return man has to make a guy miss. Last year, even on a lot of kick-offs, he had to dodge one by about the 20- 25(normal touchback range) hence we had a lot of issues because we could not block.

We did beat LSU in Music City Bowl. Not LSU best squad but man did it leave me with some high hopes.

 

I think execution and talented depth plays a big role in development. And we also never get in games where younger players can get in and play.

All speculation. The proof will be seen on the field. Has been for 5 of the past 7 years. Even when with the 2012 and 2015 teams.. I felt they were soft. Let's see what 2017 team shows. Watch with one eye closed.

All speculation. The proof will be seen on the field. Has been for 5 of the past 7 years. Even when with the 2012 and 2015 teams.. I felt they were soft. Let's see what 2017 team shows. Watch with one eye closed.

 

Here's hoping we find out for the better. Multiple Temple players are quoted as suggesting they are "going to kick ND's ***" and "win in a blowout".

 

When a 17 point underdog is talking like that, the 17 point favorite better come out and punch them in the mouth.

 

I'd go as far as suggesting you can predict the season based on the 1st quarter of this game and the attitude ND comes out with.

I'd go as far as suggesting you can predict the season based on the 1st quarter of this game and the attitude ND comes out with.

 

If we get through the first game without Kelly losing his marbles and benching Wimbush and throwing coach Tommy in the game in someone elses uniform it is a good omen, IMO.

Have you see the before/after pics of Coney, Morgan, Tranquil, etc? Much bigger. My friend went as far to say the team looked "Alabama" big. Balis has done his job friends. It's time for the players to do theirs.

 

Size is all fine and dandy but if the players can't run then it's to no use. Those guys are asked to do alot of running so I just hope they didn't add too much weight and ended up losing speed in the process.

Size is all fine and dandy but if the players can't run then it's to no use. Those guys are asked to do alot of running so I just hope they didn't add too much weight and ended up losing speed in the process.

 

From what I gathered, most guys didn't gain too much weight, other than some of the linemen. They either stayed the same or lost a bit, but they gained muscle and lost fat.

 

I also saw a few photos of data they keep on explosiveness. They've all been working on maximizing their peak power, but also getting to that max more quickly, ie, becoming explosive, powerful players.

 

Saturday will tell us if it's working.

Looking more forward to week two.

 

Last year was awesome. I like opening with a big game.

Getting big in one year kinda scares me... It's hard to put on that much muscle and weight without blowing up.. I hope these kids who made good strides are still going strong in November.