Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/734095
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 10, 2016 7 UNDER THE DOME of the solution here. There is going to be a lot of those guys that are going to feel like that they now can be part of the solution both in a defensive standpoint and in some instances on the offensive side of the ball." Also, there should be no more dis- cussion about the defense being too complex to where only a handful of players might be able to fully grasp it. Kelly said it will be pared down to give everyone a better shot of fulfill- ing his skills in it. The head coach believes the talent level is better than what has been dis- played, but the greater problems have been that it's inexperienced in some areas (specifically the secondary) and way overused. He indicated some of the nine missed tackles missed against Duke could be attributed to fatigue. "We've got some guys out there that are dog tired trying to do things," Kelly said. "They got too many reps, and we have too many good players sitting behind them watching. We've got to get them in the game, we've got to trust them and we've got to coach 'em and get them in the game — and that's on me. "We have some guys that are over- exposed in those positions of tack- ling, and that will change. [Freshman safety] Devin Studstill had 67 plays in him. When he missed that play that was a simple play on the sideline — he's a true freshman —fatigue was part of that. We've got to do a better job there. "I'm not laying it all on fatigue, but we have to be smarter. We've got other players that can be in the game at that time. [Sophomore linebacker] Te'von Coney was at play 56 when he missed the tackle on the back. … [Ju- nior safety] Drue Tranquill had a great game. He had 39 plays. He had one of his best games. Yeah, he missed one tackle, but he's a safety! He had a great game. We've got to manage our play- ers better. That's on us; that's on me. "We have some young guys out there, and we can't overexpose them." ✦ Holy Cross Village is a continuing care retirement community, sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross, with a tradition of caring, compassion and trust. Holy Cross Village welcomes people of all faiths. 54515 State Rd., 933 North, Notre Dame, IN 46556 www.holycrossvillage.com ... AND ENJOY THE GAME OF LIFE AT HOLY CROSS VILLAGE I magine making new friends and developing new talents, where everything you need to enjoy the game of life is right outside your front door. Nestled among three institutions of higher learning, Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame is a senior living community unlike anything else around. Our warm and inviting community offers: Independent Living Homes and Apartments Assisted Living Apartments Skilled Nursing Memory Care Rehabilitation Services Call (574) 251-2235 today for more information and to schedule a tour. Brian Kelly: 'I'm Under Review As Well' Following the 38-35 loss at home to 21-point underdog Duke Sept. 24 that dropped Notre Dame to 1-3, seventh-year head coach Brian Kelly made it clear that no one's job — player or coach — is safe, and the rest of the 2016 season would be one long public job interview. Following third-year defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder's firing the morning after the defeat versus the Blue Devils, Kelly was asked whether Greg Hudson, hired as a defensive analyst this season, is serving on an interim basis or long term. "As I told Greg, everybody's interviewing," Kelly said. "Everybody on our staff is on a very public inter- view. Everybody's got a chance to continue in their roles, and we'll all have that very public interview as we play each and every week." Although the offense averaged 37.2 points per game during the 1-3 start, Kelly said even that side of the ball will be under scrutiny. "I'm under review as well … we're all in this together — all the players, coaches, everybody," Kelly said. "Players' jobs are on the line. Every job is being evaluated; all coaches' jobs are on the line as well." That almost always will be the case when Notre Dame starts 1-3. — Lou Somogyi