Brian Kelly Addresses Notre Dame's Matchup With USC, Injury Situation
For the first time in head coach Brian Kelly’s eight seasons at Notre Dame, both the Fighting Irish and arch rival USC are ranked at the time of their game.
The last such meeting was in 2009 when USC was No. 6 while Notre Dame just made it in at No. 25. This year’s encounter also marks the first time since 2006 that both are in the Associated Press Top 15, with the Trojans No. 11 and Notre Dame No. 13.
Kelly said he won’t downplay the significance of this contest — which essentially is a College Football Playoff elimination game — but he also will not alter the basic tenets of preparation that entail execution, focus and attention to detail, just like in the first six contests.
“It’s important that our players are aware of the game and the circumstances, because that’s why they come here,” he said. “It’s important not to just bury your head in the sand. Be aware of it. Having said that … it has no bearing on what we need to do relative to our habits and our traits. I think that’s why they come to Notre Dame — they want to play in these type of games.”
For the first time in 11 games, USC is an underdog, as Sports Book Review made Notre Dame an early three-point favorite on its home field against a unit that is 15-1 in its last 16 contests. The last time USC wasn’t the favorite in any game was when it traveled to College Football Playoff-bound Washington last Nov. 12 as a nine-point underdog — and came away with a 26-13 upset win versus the Huskies.
Also factoring into the dynamics is Notre Dame is coming off a bye week, and this week there are no classes for the Irish players while enjoying mid-semester break. Kelly acknowledged that such a respite has been a positive both physically and mentally.
“We have six days of not being in a contact situation after the North Carolina game,” Kelly said. “So you get the physical rest — and then you get the mental rest this week, without having to be in the classroom. So it’s clearly a benefit, not only for this game but the next five games after this.
“It gives us an opportunity to do a little more film study, it gives us a little more opportunity to do some walk-throughs. The schedule is altered a little bit in the sense that we can do a little bit more football with them. We don’t overtax them in any way. It’s a great opportunity for them to catch up on some sleep and some rest, and the practices are virtually the same as any other week. That doesn’t change much at all.”
Kelly is 8-1 at Notre Dame following a bye week and has won seven straight such games, including 14-10 versus USC in 2013. The streak began after a 31-17 loss at home to the Trojans in 2011.
Meanwhile, USC will play its seventh consecutive game this weekend, and it also drew the short straw this year in the Pac-12 scheduling arrangement where it does not have a bye through its 12-game regular season slate (although it does Nov. 25, one week before possibly playing in the Pac-12 Playoff as the South representative).
From an injury perspective, Kelly confirmed that starting senior Buck linebacker Greer Martini injured his knee in a practice and is in a “day-to-day” situation. If Martini is unable to play, junior Te’von Coney would get the start.
Coney, who also has rotated some at the Mike position where senior Nyles Morgan plays, has 231 snaps this season compared to Martini’s 228. Coney is second on the team in tackles with 42 (2.5 for loss, including a sack), while Martini is third with 39 (two for loss, plus two forced fumbles).
As for junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush, who did not start at North Carolina while mending from a foot injury, Kelly declared the No. 1 Irish signal caller is practicing at “100 percent.”
“There’s no health issues at all,” Kelly said.
During last week’s self-scouting and analysis, Kelly noted how Wimbush has been more effective than some numbers (96th nationally in passing efficiency) might reveal on paper.
“He’s been really productive in a number of areas — moving the chains, fourth-down conversions, third downs, big plays …” Kelly explained. “He’s done a lot of really good things to get us to where we are today, and yeah, there has to be some improvement in some other areas. But from a productivity standpoint, he’s done some really good things and he’s only going to get better."
In other injury notes, Kelly said the bye week enabled the running back trio of Josh Adams, Dexter Williams and Tony Jones Jr. to heal — “all the ankle guys are good to go” — while freshman defensive tackle Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, the top backup in the interior rotation who suffered a chest contusion at North Carolina, also is back.
“He would have been cleared probably last week to play,” Kelly said.
Tagovailoa's health is vital because Kelly confirmed that junior defensive tackle Elijah Taylor, who had Lisfranc surgery in the spring, will miss the balance of the season because "that foot has not healed to the level that it needs to."
Meanwhile, junior receiver Kevin Stepherson, who was sidelined the first four games this season in a non-injury-related issue, is gradually assimilating back into the lineup, although he is not listed on the two-deep for the USC game. He played 10 snaps against Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 30, and then 13 at North Carolina a week later while attempting to get back up to game speed and conditioning.
“He’s had a really good off week, and this week you’ll see more of him,” Kelly said. “As we progress over the next half of this season, our expectations are to see his role increase.”
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