Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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IN THE TRENCHES ANDREW OWENS physical difference [with Alabama] that we had to deal with. I'm so comfortable that we have it. "Brian [Kelly] said it well. At no point did I think, 'Gosh, we physically can't play with them.' We could. We need to execute better and play a little better. "We've still got to build depth. It was tested to the max this year, so it's hard to evaluate depth when you have to use so much of it. The next step is to continue to build depth." Saying it was "tested to the max" is putting it nicely. Notre Dame lost its starting quarterback, running back, tight end, nose guard, nickel back and cornerback for multiple games — and, in some cases, most of the season — and also sent home a pair of players for violations of team rules, plus relied on an injured Sheldon Day along the defensive line in the bowl. There can be no excuses in year six of a program, however, and Kelly knows that. He hasn't made them. But the injuries are not the only factor holding Notre Dame back from con‑ tending for a College Football Playoff bid annually. Defensive coordinator Brian Van‑ Gorder's unit failed another test, and two years of evidence prove his ap‑ proach is not working. Either the Irish must be willing to part ways with him, or he must adapt to the college game that has immensely changed since he succeeded at Georgia a decade ago. But Notre Dame's offense is not with‑ out its faults, either. It turns the ball over too often, and that has been a theme throughout Kelly's six‑year tenure. Too often explosive plays or game‑altering drives are overshadowed by fumbles and interceptions. What should be comforting to Irish fans is that Kelly has again shown he is one of a handful of men that are capable of bringing that elusive 12th national championship trophy to South Bend. "I like where we are," Kelly said when asked about the trajectory of the program. "We're going to keep banging at the door. Keep playing Ohio State, keep playing Florida State, keep play‑ ing Alabama, keep playing these teams in these kinds of venues, in these kinds of games. "We don't want to be playing direc‑ tional teams with no profile to them. Big names, great traditions, New Year's Six games. Keep playing them, get in them. Keep building our program, keep recruiting, keep doing it the way we're doing it, and we're going to win these games." Kelly called the program's progress the past three years "significant." He is correct, and Notre Dame fans should hope that he is the leader at the helm for another six years while NFL and college teams call for his services. Next year, Notre Dame will again have the talent to compete for a national championship. Kelly's program has reached that point where it should, year in and year out. It's tough for many to hear after another double‑digit loss in a major bowl game, but Notre Dame is on the doorstep. ✦ Andrew Owens has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since August 2013. He can be reached at aowens@blueandgold.com