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✦ QUOTING KELLY "Defensively, what we have is a wealth of knowledge with three of our coaches, and two in particular have such a great understanding of the defense in [interim defensive coordinator] Kerry Cooks and [defensive line coach] Mike Elston. [Safeties coach] Bob Elliott has coordinated for a long period of time, so I really feel comfortable with what we have there." On the challenges of losing two coordinators during the Pinstripe Bowl preparation: "From the offensive standpoint, I'm just arranging my schedule so I can be — I was involved a lot — I'm just involved a little bit more. With the new recruiting calendar, it's really helped out incredibly, because now we'll get into practices and I'm not out on the road recruiting. I think it's going to work out just fine on the offensive side of the ball. I'm not concerned at all from that standpoint. "Defensively, what we have is a wealth of knowledge with three of our coaches, and two in particular have such a great understanding of the defense in [interim defensive coordinator] Kerry Cooks and [defensive line coach] Mike Elston. [Safeties coach] Bob Elliott has coordinated for a long period of time, so I really feel comfortable with what we have there." On preparing for a Rutgers team without three assistant coaches: "There won't be much difference. It's hard to go and put in new schemes in this period of time. They're in exams like we are. You're not going to put in a ton of new schemes. You may accentuate one thing or another, but you're going to look very similar to what you are during the season. Then you'll just adjust during the game. "I wouldn't make too much of it. I think you're going to look like you are from your body of work and maybe you make an adjustment or two during the game." On which player has emerged during bowl preparation that has caught his eye: "[Freshman tight end] Durham 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 Dec. 14 about the upcoming Pinstripe Bowl against Rutgers. Smythe is going to be a really good player, really good player. Outstanding ball skills. He's going to continue to get bigger and stronger. I don't want to over-hype him, but he has some really unique ball skills for that position that he plays. "As long as he continues to develop and get stronger physically, and he doesn't get into a hybrid position in terms of not getting strong enough to play as an in-line tight end, he's going to be an exceptional player." On freshman wide receiver Torii Hunter Jr.'s development and potential for becoming a two-sport athlete in baseball: "He's a good kid. He's a pretty good player. That's all I'll tell you. He hasn't caught a pass, he hasn't caught a touchdown, but you're going to be talking about him. He's a pretty good player. I don't know if he can hit or anything like that. I'm talking about football. I don't know if he can steal bases or catch fly balls, but he can play football." "We talked about [Hunter playing both sports]. My rule ✦ PAGE 7 relative to two-sport athletes is once you establish yourself in the sport that's paying for your education, then I'm open to working with that second sport. So he's got to establish himself in the spring. Once he establishes himself in the spring, which I'm certain he will, then we'll allow him to work out a schedule that can do both." On allowing departed defensive coordinator Bob Diaco to address the team after he took the UConn head coaching job: "Bob asked me, and I said that I felt it was a good idea that he got a chance to address the defense before he left. Anytime that you can do that, it's great. Very rarely do you have that chance. I've always wanted to have that opportunity, and I've taken advantage of it and have been hammered for it, but I feel like it's the right way to do it. … If you can do it, you should try to address those kids you've been with. If I could create that situation, which I was able to, I wanted Bob to be able to talk to those kids." ✦