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✦ quoting kelly "We're still in a pretty good position as long as we win. We've got to win more football games. We're only 6-2. If we take care of business and win week after week — we've got some quality teams in front of us — I think we're right where we need to be. Just keep winning football games. I really believe that as long as we just take care of week to week, we're going to be fine when it's all said and done." On the play of freshman right guard Steve Elmer in his first career start last Saturday against Air Force: "I'd say the plus is that he's a very smart kid. He's not going to have a lot of missed assignments. He's a very conscientious kid. The other plus is he's long. He's a long, athletic kid. He can make up for some deficiencies in terms of some of his techniques, because of his athleticism. "He's got to get stronger, physically stronger. He's still just a true freshman. That physical strength needs to continue to come along and develop. And he needs to play with a consistent technique. He has a tendency to get out in front of himself a little bit. He just needs to slow down a little bit. "But all in all, if you're asking about a true freshman playing, the pluses definitely outweigh the minuses." On the protocol for instructing offensive linemen during the game: "I usually talk to [offensive line coach] Harry Hiestand when it comes to the offensive line, and he'll address them on the bench. It's much easier, when you have a group of five guys, unless it's the center and the quarterback [snapping issue], I'll get involved in that because sometimes it's a matter of communication. But when there's a false start with a particular lineman, Coach Hiestand usually handles that in his own manner. He's got a way of correcting that quickly. To view this video you must log in at BlueGoldOnline.com with your print subscription username and password VIDEO: Head coach Brian Kelly spoke to the media Oct. 29 about last week's win over Air Force and Saturday's upcoming game against Navy. "His manner is … an interesting one in that sometimes it doesn't require much conversation at all. It's just a look. And that look really works quite well with those guys. He's got such a great relationship with them." On senior quarterback Tommy Rees' legacy at Notre Dame as he prepares for his penultimate home game: "I don't normally have much time to think about those things, because I don't think big picture. But you've asked the question. "He resembles that kind of Fighting Irish. He just keeps coming. He just shows up every day and keeps working. Sometimes it doesn't look the greatest, but he keeps playing. And keeps persevering. And he represents all the things that we like. He's a great teammate. "You really like your relationship with him. You love his competitiveness. He cares about the right things. I guess that's how I see it without having a chance to really formulate anything — he's just Fighting Irish." On which freshmen have stood out more than Kelly ✦ Page 9 anticipated before the season started: "We go into the season with a pretty good idea who we're going to play and who we're not going to play. We don't believe that they're going to come in and be All-Americans, but they're going to be contributors. "If you look at the freshmen, the one guy that's been more than a contributor is [Dog linebacker] Jaylon Smith, obviously. He's been more than just a contributor. "If there's one freshman that has really impacted our football team, I think you'd have to point to Jaylon." On the play of senior defensive lineman Kona Schwenke in 2013: "We're getting a lot of favorable reports on him being able to play next year as well, at the next level. He's a kid who is lean at 305 pounds right now. They're hard to find at 6-foot-4. He's played well for us. "He was in my office early in the year: 'Where do I stand? Am I going to get an opportunity this year?' And we felt like he would. He had a great preseason camp, and he's been really important to us this year. His play has been the best since he's been here." ✦