Bye Week
Ok, so we are 3-0 at the beginning of Brian Kelly’s 5th year, with injuries and suspensions depleting what once looked like a top 10 squad that, if real lucky, might run the table now that Golson’s back.
Everything would now be different on both sides of the ball – well it is on defense and not so much on offense. So far there is confidence in what VanGorder’s amping up a much more attacking defense than Diaco ran and we are seeing quite a few young guys getting playing time. While we haven’t taken on the heavy hitters yet, it seems so far so good. I like an aggressive DC and I like him on the sidelines – VanGorder revs these guys up.
Now the offensive side – trouble is brewing. There is no cohesion, nor imaginative concept or play calling, no misdirection, no 2 or even 3 back sets – just same old same old. Outside of number 5 as opposed to number 11 (Rees) at QB this is last years offense as if it was freeze framed.
The only difference is Golson’s legs and stronger arm compared to Rees, but the OL certainly blocked better for Rees in passing situations. Granted Z Martin and Watt on left side made a lot possible that we’re missing this year.
Neither OT Stanley or Elmer can handle a speed rush and the interior OL cannot get push, hold blocks or get to the LB’s. I just can’t remember Nick Martin getting pushed backwards 4-5 yards into Golson’s face, so I’m thinking he’s not really all that healthy.
Kelly said they are going to take a hard look at the OL in the bye week. I hope he also takes a hard look at his predictable offense and play calling.
For the past several years Kelly let the OC’s call the plays. I don’t buy that – the Purdue game looked like Chuck Martin was back, not really since Kelly called the plays last year and had Martin as his scapegoat–my opinion!!
Purdue did not do anything exotic on defense outside of playing and stopping the run first. Go back to the 2012 Pitt game – they figured out Kelly’s offense and all the other teams just copied them to a certain extent. And Purdue ran the same defense – stop the ND run, force them to pass – it almost worked as Golson was sacked 4 times and should have been 4-5 more times. His escape capabilities and made plays is the only reason ND won that game.
Getting back to the OL… I think Martin is hurt and should be replaced by Hegarty. I would move Elmer back to LG or RG position, wherever he is most comfortable.
I’m not sure Lombard is healthy, if so stay at RG and bring in McGlinchy at RT. Or keep Elmer at RT and make McGlinchy a TE to help Elmer. McGlinchy is quite athletic and could play – certainly as a blocking TE.
Another thought is to get Quenton Nelson, the best recruited lineman in the country last year, on the field somewhere. He’s supposed to be the strongest OL and has a very nasty disposition.
Now every year all we hear is how complicated Kelly’s offense is – I just don’t see it, looks like a mediocre HS scheme to me – no motion just stand there, barely get the play in, run for a yard or just hope Golson pulls it and runs. Only problem there is Golson can’t make the read.
If Golson is forced to run like the Purdue game we are in big trouble and bigger trouble if he gets hurt. At Cinncy Kelly would sub a running QB in quite frequently – he’s got to get Zaire into these early games, at least let him run a series.
I just don’t get that it is so hard to learn this offense. We have good RB’s but no holes to run through so we just run east/west and hope a defender falls down.