Notre Dame’s early season bye week really could not have come at a better time for the Fighting Irish. Â With some mounting injuries and plenty of areas to address despite a 3-0 record, Brian Kelly and his coaching staff have an extra week of practice to address those areas and allow their team to heal.
Without a game to prepare for this week, here’s a list of 10 things Notre Dame, Brian Kelly, and the Irish coaching staff need to address before preparations for Syracuse and that tough October stretch start next week.
1. Get Healthy
Notre Dame had a couple of injuries heading into the Purdue game and the Shamrock Series game only added to their injury woes. Â Notre Dame was without starting guard Christian Lombard, defensive end Andrew Trumbetti, and safety Austin Collinsworth in addition to reserve wide receiver Torii Hunter and linebacker Jarrett Grace. Â By the end of Saturday’s contest Notre Dame was also without wide receiver Amir Carlisle, safety Nicky Baratti, and cornerback Cole Luke. Â That’s a lot of two deep talent and that doesn’t even account for the academic five.
With an extra week to heal, Notre Dame has a chance to come out of the bye close to full strength. Â Brian Kelly said on Sunday that Lombard and Trumbetti should be back for ‘Cuse. Â Torii Hunter should make his collegiate debut against the Orange. Â Amir Carlisle could potentially be back although given that he has a MCL injury a return vs. Stanford could be in the cards to ensure the Irish have all weapons ready for that slugfest. Â Kelly hasn’t said when C0llinsworth will be back yet although the rumored original timeframe would make Syracuse a realistic option.
We know Baratti is out for the year and Grace’s return is becoming more and more questionable, but for the most part Notre Dame can be close to full strength.
2. Reevaluate the Offensive Line
Notre Dame’s offense line has been a major strength the last two seasons. Â So far this year though the Irish have struggled a bit up front as they attempt to replace NFL talents Zack Martin and Chris Watt. Â Kelly admitted on Sunday that he and Harry Hiestand needed to sit down and figure things out along the offensive line hinting that some changes could be coming.
Does Notre Dame move Steve Elmer back inside where he showed so much promise as a freshman and insert sophomore Mike McGlinchey at right tackle if he’s ready for extended action? Â Do they try Christian Lombard back at right tackle where he played in 2012? Â Do they stick with the line as is and give everyone another week to step into their roles? Â Those are all questions Kelly and Hiestand likely discussed on Sunday. Â We’ll find out next week if they found the right answers.
3. Find the Tight End in the Passing Game
The tight end position has been a staple in the Notre Dame passing game for the better part of a decade with Anthony Fasano, John Carlson, Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Eifert, and Troy Niklas. Â Ben Koyack figured to be the next in line but through three games he hasn’t been a major focus of the Irish passing game. Â It looked like Kelly was trying to get Koyack involved early last weekend until the senior coughed up a crucial fumble that allowed Purdue to get back into the game. Â Notre Dame hasn’t worked the middle of the field in general much this year and they need to find a way to make the tight end a feared weapon in the Irish offensive arsenal again.
4. Get the younger players making an impact more reps in practice
Notre Dame has gotten some key contributions from some true freshman on the defensive side of the ball this year like Andrew Trumbetti, Drue Tranquill, Kolin Hill, Daniel Cage, and Grant Blankenship. Â Nyles Morgan, Greer Martini and Nick Watkins have seen the field already as well. Â That’s eight true freshmen who’ve seen action already on the defensive side of the ball alone. Â Notre Dame is going to have to continue to rely on these frosh for more meaningful minutes throughout the season making every additional rep they can get during the bye week vital.
5. Find more ways to get Greg Bryant the ball
Solving the problems facing the offensive line should help get the Irish running game going, but so would finding more ways to get Greg Bryant the ball. Â Maybe Bryant isn’t as good of an all around back as Cam McDaniel, but Bryant simply makes plays. Â He’s averaging 5.4 yards a carry while McDaniel is at 3.9 yards a carry and Folston is at 3.7. Â Bryant also showed that he can be a weapon in the passing game as well with a pair of 17 yard receptions on some broken plays last weekend. Â Get the kid the ball.
6. Film work with Everett Golson
The development of Everett Golson has been incredible so far this year. Â Golson is a much better quarterback now than he was two years ago, but there is still a lot of room for improvement for the Irish signal caller. Â Golson’s second quarter touchdown run against Purdue was a prime example. Â He scored because of his athleticism, but he had a wide open touchdown pass that he didn’t pull the trigger on. Â Don’t get me wrong, Golson’s been fantastic through three games, but if he keeps putting in the time in the film room with Matt LaFleur that Brian Kelly has said Golson relishes, the sky could be the limit for him and the Irish offense this year.
7. Get more disciplined
Through two games Notre Dame was tackling better than we’ve seen in a while and were one of the least penalized teams in the country. Â Against Purdue, however, the Irish were uncharacteristically undisciplined. Â Max Redfield was ejected for targetting, Elijah Shumate was penalized for taunting, and the Irish committed way too many alignment and procedure penalties for the third game of the year. Â With an extra week in between games this week something tells me there will be a few more sprints or up/downs or some other equally undesirable drills going on this week.
8. Hands drills for the wide receivers
For as good as the Notre Dame wide receivers have been, they could have been even better had it not been for some critical drops. Â CJ Prosise for instance has shown signs of being a big, strong physical wide receiver for the Irish offense but his hands have been suspect as he continues to grow into the position. Â Chris Brown has had some drops as well through the first three games. Â The Notre Dame passing game has shown signs of being prolific through three games, but the receivers will need to be more consistent for the passing game to become truly elite.
9. Find the punt return unit from week one
After showing off a dynamic punt return unit in week one against Rice, Notre Dame’s return team hasn’t been nearly as dynamic and has actually been a liability. Â Cody Riggs poorly handled a punt against Michigan that could have turned into a costly turnover had it not been from James Onwualu’s hustle. Â Riggs fielded another grounder against Purdue that caused a few stomachs to jump as well. Â Riggs and Greg Bryant were outstanding fielding punts against Rice, Notre Dame needs to find that unit again.
10. Pick up the pace
Brian Kelly has talked a lot in the past about running more tempo offense but so far we still haven’t really seen it. Â Notre Dame has gone no huddle but the ball is still being snapped towards the end of the play clock and at times the Irish have had to burn timeouts because of poor clock management. Â By this point I was expecting to see more of the fast break, high tempo offense but we haven’t really seen it yet. Â Can Kelly and his staff get the offense running faster with a bye week? Too much to expect with just an extra week?
4 and 5 star recruits on O-Line over the last few years, and can’t run the ball when asked or needed..? Throwing the ball inside the 5..it’s kinda bitch ass at times..can we get under center 1st and goal and run between the tackles against Purdue or run clock with 1st downs against Michagan..? it’s a damn problem and SOFT at times..! I mean Golson has shown the ability to throw the ball very well and has loosened the box and still can’t run the ball with authority or consistency..?
Is it the o-line or a lack or commitment to the run by Kelly or both.
Bottom line run game must improve.
I would call Jake from State. farm, or the Afflac Duck for their opinions club
Careful bro, gitty will now call you a drunk.
Oh here is the real drunk back again adding nothing to the conversation.
Yea you do that. I can’t wait for your answer.
Syracuse will be a problem with a young team going cross country
I’m surprised jerry, for such an insightful fellow you seem to be amiss on the fact that Notre Dame and Syracuse both reside in the same time zone.
I agree that Greg Bryant needs to be fed the ball. He has power, speed and quickness above the others. Just keep giving him the ball. The other two can back him up.
JDH,
I think they are letting the NCAA review before the final decision. There is a question of improper gifts given to players by a student employee. I don’t think they have enough on these kids to kick them out of school. They just want to make sure they didn’t violate any NCAA rules.
I read it three times and am still unclear.
Does this “extra benefit” involve a player other than the “academic five?” If so, why is he still suiting up? And if it involved one of the “academic five”, why is there no decision on the other four? Or did it involve them all, which wouldn’t make it an “academic matter”?
The drama, secrecy, and indecisive nature of Jenkins reveal ineptitude in this matter to a high degree. His “clarification” to the staff was hopefully clearer than what we know. Look long enough and you’ll find something askew in every football program in the country. This “process” is stuck in neutral, but it’s certainly a continued downward slide for the five. Pitiful!
Michael,
I think the problem is that the student in questions was at one time employed by the athletic department and had nothing to do with tutoring or academics. The issue may be that this student in question was female and was dating one of the five players or paid for something for the 5 players.
Daniels father tweeted out that it wasn’t cheating that it was his son’s girlfriend proof reading his papers. They may be looking into extra benefits not as a monetary or academic item, but other.
One fan’s take.
On Tuesday, Sept. 16th 2014
Notre Dame president Fr. John Jenkins said that the university’s academic investigation into some football players involves a student who was “employed” by the athletic department.
On Oct. 28th, 2010 there was this:
“Declan Sullivan, a 20-year-old junior from Long Grove, Ill., who died Wednesday (Oct. 27) in an accident at a Notre Dame football practice field was a “member” of a Department of Athletics video crew, Sullivan who died while videotaping Notre Dame football practice for the Department of Athletics when a hydraulic scissor lift at the LaBar Practice Complex fell over.”
An investigation by the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration ended without anyone being faulted, although the agency fined Notre Dame $77,500 for six safety violations.
Perhaps by now “employing” these students, they are then entitled to various benefits…. Like Workman’s Compensation, Life and Health insurance and Accedential Death Benefits?
And by doing so, I could then see how the water gets muddied between the University, the university student, the student Athlete, the employeed student, and the NCAA.
Shaz,
Good point. The issue here is we don’t know what was the improper benefit. In blogosphere people are assuming it had to do with a relationship, but we don’t know and will not know until everything is finalized.
It sounds like to me they have sent their investigation to the NCAA and are awaiting their response as to a rules violation. They are trying to be transparent because the cover up is usually worse than the infraction.
This reminds me of a violation under the Holtz administration with Marc Edwards girlfriend going on a spring break trip to Vegas. She was part of the alumni association and was thought to have given the players improper benefits based on the trip.
Father Jenkins addressed the faculty this afternoon:
http://irish.nbcsports.com/2014/09/17/jenkins-addresses-football-suspensions-to-notre-dame-faculty/
Cutting through all the legalese and edu-speak, what he means is “We don’t have any idea if anyone did anything or not. And we’re not sure what to do now.”
FEED GREG BRYANT THE BALL……….PLEASE!
This kid can turn a 8 yd run into a 80 yd touchdown. I disagree about Cam being a better all around back than Bryant. The offense is more explosive with Bryant in the game.
Who said Cam is better all around back? Give Bryant some decent blocking and this kid is easily giving us 100 yds/gm. Not to mention what he can do after the catch. Its coming.
11.) FIND A RIGHT TACKLE! I’ve broken down all three games, we saw it a little bit in the Rice and Michigan games with speed off the edge, and even more against Purdue. Elmer is a huge liability at Tackle. He needs to slide back inside this week so he can get back in the grove. He’s a mauler and the Irish could use some more
Push inside.
12.) HOW ABOUT SOME FORMATION DIVERSITY!?- from what I’ve seen the Irish offense runs strictly out of the shotgun. Don’t get me wrong I’m not opposed to shotgun but I would like to see Golson under center with more 21 personnel (or two tight end sets). This will also get the TE more involved in the passing game. If the Irish can make those O-line adjustments and start lining up, running the ball downhill and pushin people off the line of scrimmage it will open up this offense even more.
I’ve been thinking maybe BK is just not wanting to give future opponents a lot of looks on film, time will tell.
Did you break down the film with Sean?
Before the Purdue game the team was very disciplined, I think they only had 3 penalties total. I would expect a little regression after an emotional win to Michigan. I do love how the young guys have played, especially Hill and Trumbetti. This team is young and playing with a swagger. The next couple weeks are going to be telling on how the season goes, but I see every game as winnable outside of FSU. I hope the boys get healthy, this academic mess is cleared up, and we can’t make a strong case for the playoff! And for God sake, give Greg Bryant the ball, he is going to be unstoppable! GO IRISH!
#11. For ND to Work on, AND FINALIZE, During the Bye
Decide the fate of the “academic five”.
Next game is “homecoming” for Ishaq Williams as much as it was for captains Martin and Day last week.
Not saying anything against D.Butler, Drue Tranquil, Blankenship, or Prosise
all of whom played well as “next man in”,
but I couldn’t help but think of how valuable it would have been to be able to replace Luke w/K.Russell,
Eilar Hardy for Redfield, Ishaq for an injured( still unpunished ) head-to-head blow from Michigan on Trumbetti,
and D.Daniels as another WR when Amir went down.
My addition(#11) to the above list is less about
need than it is about fairness,
and it is about time!
When injuries limit your depth, that’s to be expected and to be dealt with.
When your own school’s Administration does, that shouldn’t be expected, and needs to be dealt with.
I’m convinced this is because the problem goes beyond the 5. Jenkins basically stated an employee was involved and I believe they’re trying to cover their bases with potential sanctions. If it was just these 5 guys, it would have been done already. I’m afraid this is damage control beyond these guys. Let’s not forget Golson and other teams have had academic issues already. It is unfair to the players involved and the team to be sure but ND does not want to turn into UNC with this situation. Hoping for the best.
I would not worry to much about Purdue regarding ND and discipline. The Boilermakers are a rival and that carries weight regardless of the teams involved. Pitt is another rival by the way.
I would not worry about to much about Purdue regarding ND and discipline. The Boilermakers are a rival and carries weight regardless of the teams involved. Pitt is another rival by the way.
Agreed Toulmin. Add to that this was the first game “away” from home even though the Irish were the home team. It was a change from the norm for these guys. There is a lot of youth, sophomores and freshmen, playing so away games are new. School has been in session now for just over a month and the first set of exams are in play as well.
Put all that on top of the previous week and the big win over Michigan and it is not surprising there was a bit of a let down.
I much prefer the Irish let down after Michigan to $SC’s let down after Stanford!
On top of that, officiating was generally poor overall. I counted 4 penalties that should have been called on PU that were not and would have majorly impacted the game.