I think the biggest plus is that Kelly was able to win 10 games in 2008 using 5 different QB's because of injuries. That tells me the man knows how to adapt on the run. He'll find some way for Rees/Hendrix/Crist to all excel in his offense.
He as an interested reader and wanting to get you away from Gator Hating for a day or so how about giving us your perspective on the Spread.
There is much speculation on who Brian Kelly will keep from the current ND staff. I don't think it will be very many, and probably rightly so, it's not a staff that you can look and say look at what they accopmlished. But there are a couple of guys who maybe he should for several reasons. Alford, Brown and Pollian. Alford because he is a good RB coach and a good recruiter, Brown because he's the heart of the ND recruiting machine along with Pollian. It's hard to figure if Brown is a good DB coach or not, certainly his DB's didn't play well this year but with Tenuata as the Coord maybe that is more of the reason. Pollian has always been a lightweight as a coach, but he's developed into a heavy weight recruiter. Those 3 guys if they stay around will solidify the current class and help Kelly add to it and we could end up with a really good group. Kelly himself seems like a guy born to recruit. Those 4 guys should be able to do quite well with the time left in recruiting.
kELLY <r>Terry,<br/> <br/> I hope we at least keep Alford and Pollian. I've got mixed feelings about Brown. He's a great recruiter but we haven't seen very good results on the field from his coaching. Also, do you think he(Brown) is going to stay if he's not DC?<br/> <br/> I guess we'll know more by the end of the week on the new staff. I'm hoping Kelly does bring his OC with him. <E>8)</E></r>
I don't know about Brown's DB coach skills either. But as to whether he would stay as a DB coach and not the Coordianator that's a good question. I'm not sure he'll have all that many options. When he first came on board a lot of people were saying he was going to be a HC soon, based on nothing really. But it seems that right now he would be able to go back to the NFL or stay in college as a DB coach. I couldn't see him gettiing a job as a DCoord anyplace and certainly not a HC job. Might be his best oportunity.
One other thing about Brown, if he's going back to the NFL he wouldn't have to make that commitment till sometime after the Super Bowl when NFL teams who have new coaches are filling out staffs. So he could stay with ND through the recruiting season and then leave for the NFL. Mattison did that at UF a couple of years ago.
Well scratch Brown, he is cleaning out his office today. The guy is a great recruiter and if you read between the lines I think he would have liked to have stayed. But I'm sure that after Kelly got a good look at some Irish defensive film, he probably wants nothing to do with anybody on that staff.
Brown <t>Terry,<br/> <br/> Yep Brown is out. Like I said before, he was a great recruiter but coaching wise.....anyway, I think it's the right move for Kelly. I'm pretty sure he is not going to retain any of the Defensive coaches.</t>
I would posit that Brown's defenses were improving when he was the DC. They were converting from a 4-3 to a 3-4, which I was fine with. Then we brought in Tenuta and gave him full reign...switching back to a 4-3... after spending the past few classes recruiting for a 3-4 scheme. I believe the correct answer is.. We just don't know how good of a coach the guy is, but we know for a fact he is/was a helluva recruiter. I believe Brown may well wind up being one of those coaches that 4 or 5 years from now we're wondering 'how did that guy get so good after a change of scenery?' I was hoping to keep 3: Alford, Brown and Ianello. Polian... WTF do you let him coach? He couldn't teach you how to boil water if he were holding the damned pot over a volcano...but he recruits like a machine...
Kelly <r>Well it looks like Kelly will be keeping Tony Alford:<br/> <br/> <URL url="http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20091215/SPORTS13/912159949/1130"><LINK_TEXT text="http://www.southbendtribune.com/article ... 59949/1130">http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20091215/SPORTS13/912159949/1130</LINK_TEXT></URL></r>
Good move, a excellent recruiter who has some very important territory including the DFW area in Texas which used to be good to Notre Dame. Also he's only been on the staff a year so probably Kelly feels like he didn't pick up whatever disease the rest of the staff had from their years with Weis.
I think Tommy Rees is going to enroll early. I saw a post on NDNation that listed the EE's and he was one of them.
Rees <t>Terry,<br/> <br/> I saw the same thing you did on Ress but I don't think he has made his decision on that yet. it would help a lot though. Kid could get some serious playing time if Crist isn't ready to go or has any further problems with his knee. <br/> <br/> Supposedly Montana's son is coming back too ND too but I don't think he is DIV 1 material.</t>
ND <r>Terry,<br/> <br/> From the interview I heard on WSBT SB radio it sounds like BK is fairly confident Tommy Rees is coming in early. As a matter a fact he sounds like he could take 3 QBs in this class! He says maybe 5 early entries. Not quite sure why he wants 3 QBs but that's what it sounds like. Heres the link:<br/> <br/> <URL url="http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20091215/SPORTS13/912159914/0/Biz"><LINK_TEXT text="http://www.southbendtribune.com/article ... 9914/0/Biz">http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20091215/SPORTS13/912159914/0/Biz</LINK_TEXT></URL></r>
Speaking ... <t>Of recruiting Kelly has some recruits in this weekend and word is he offered Collinsworth's kid this week. Safety from Kentucky.<br/> Sure will be glad when he is able to announce the full staff.</t>
Oh God damn it.. is that Chris Collingsworth's kid? I hope he has a great career for us, but if that's his dad I sure as hell hope they don't do continual sideline interviews with him