Brian Kelly Notebook: Oct. 24

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Last season, Notre Dame and North Carolina State played while Hurricane Matthew tore through the Tar Heel State. High winds and a downpour created tremendously difficult conditions for the teams to navigate during the Wolfpack’s 10-3 win.

The game produced just 311 total yards of offense, including 95 yards through the air, and the lone touchdown was scored off a blocked punt.

This week, both head coaches stated that last year’s film wasn’t even reviewed. But for Brian Kelly, the Irish game plan for that contest also was a reason not to do that.

“We didn’t even look at the film,” Kelly said today. “It wasn’t even part of our breakdown because it really didn’t give us anything. It was a poorly designed game plan by me. There was nothing there that we really wanted to go back and look at.

“We’ve changed our punt protection since that time, which obviously the [blocked] punt was a huge play in the game. There’s really nothing that we could garner from that game. It really didn’t show truly who they were or who we were in that game because you just didn’t have the ability to exert force against the ground and be explosive and powerful.”

For Notre Dame, the big focus will be on how its rushing attack — which is ranked No. 6 nationally with an average of 317.9 yards — can penetrate a NC State defense that is allowing just 91.3 yards per game on the ground, which also ranks No. 6 in the country.

Kelly extended high praise to the Wolfpack front four and overall defensive unit.

“Defensively, this is as good of a group that we’re going to see,” he explained. “Comparable to Georgia. Physically very imposing. It’s led with [Bradley] Chubb and [B.J.] Hill up front. Obviously, they’re getting the accolades that they deserve. They are very good football players. Chubb obviously has the ability to rush the passer, as well, plays with a great motor. I think what I’m impressed with is that not only are they physical, but they play hard every snap.

“Again, this is a defense that’s very stingy against the run. They do a great job schematically of putting their guys in a very good position. You have to be worried about special teams with their ability to return kicks and punts as well. We’ve got our hands full in all three facets.”

While the defense gets much of the attention, NC State’s offense is also humming along behind the arm of redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley.

NC State ranks No. 24 nationally with an average of 467.4 total yards per game. The Wolfpack have thrown for 290.0 yards per contest (24th nationally) while rushing for 177.4 yards per outing (49th).

“First on offense, I think the best way to talk about them is starting with their quarterback,” Kelly said. “No interceptions on the season, hasn’t thrown an interception I think since Miami last year. Finley is very smart, knows the system, a veteran quarterback. He knows exactly what his offensive coordinator wants from him. Just does a really good job of taking care of the football. Very smart.

“They do a great job of holding onto the football, sustaining drives and scoring. I think they average 3.2 points per possession, which is really, really good. So, they’ve got a number of weapons on offense.”

One of those weapons is senior tight end Jaylen Samuels. Head coach Dave Doeren and the Wolfpack staff make sure to move Samuels around to create the best matchup possible whether that is lining him up as a receiver or in the backfield to spell junior tailback Nyheim Hines.

“Samuels is a matchup nightmare,” Kelly said. “He can match up against linebackers, safeties. He’s just a really difficult guy to defend. Hines, here is a guy [with] elite track speed now, has kind of taken that and translated that to the football field.

“Big-play potential. A very dangerous offensive football team. They’ve proven that.”

Though the film from last year’s game against NC State wasn’t much use to Kelly and his staff, it has been evident the Wolfpack — which, like the Irish, returned a lot of players — are much improved from last season.

Doeren’s team started the season 6-1, with victories at Florida State and versus Louisville.

“I think, first of all, with Finley and with [offensive coordinator Eli] Drinkwitz, those guys have been together,” Kelly said. “They came from Boise [State]. You can see they’re attached together there, there is a direct correlation to the play calling and the execution of that by the quarterback. So, the efficiency on offense is there because they’ve been together and you can see that play out.

“But I think more than anything else is the maturity of the football team, a veteran team, seniors, and they play really hard for a long time. This is a team that will fight you for four quarters.”

Due to an injury to senior Greer Martini, junior linebacker Te’von Coney stepped into the starting role for the Irish against USC.

It was nothing Coney couldn’t handle given his presence as a key rotation player for linebackers coach Clark Lea’s group.

Following the game, Kelly mentioned he believed it was one of Coney’s top performances while he’s been at Notre Dame. The junior led the team in tackles with 11, including two for loss and a sack.

Kelly touched on what he feels has led to Coney’s play so far this season.

“It’s the trust factor in the coaching,” Kelly said. “It’s like anything else, he’s trusting the teaching. I think that trust is starting to show itself on the field.

“A couple of weeks earlier, there were some clips when we were in a defensive meeting. We hear this all the time, right, the defensive line is getting pushed off the ball. Generally, if you’re getting pushed off the ball, it’s because linebackers are allowing double teams to occur. Our backers are attacking the line of scrimmage and getting those double teams to disengage. Now it’s single blocks because our linebackers are really attacking.

“I think Clark Lea has done a great job of teaching how to be part of that front and fit. Quite frankly, Te’von has done a great job of trusting his teaching.”

Against USC, Notre Dame had eight defensive linemen play at least 22 snaps displaying depth across the front four: sophomore end Daelin Hayes, junior nose guard Jerry Tillery, senior tackle Jonathan Bonner, senior end Jay Hayes, senior end Andrew Trumbetti, sophomore end Julian Okwara, freshman tackle Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa and sophomore end Khalid Kareem.

Kelly was asked if the deeper rotation was developed out of necessity or because of the staff’s commitment.

“Philosophical plan in the hiring of Mike Elko in terms of what he’s always been about, what we’ve really wanted to accomplish,” Kelly answered. “We felt like last year when we started to get into a deeper rotation with players, we saw how the culture began to change within our defense in terms of camaraderie, in terms of closeness, in terms of guys being into what we’re doing on a day-to-day basis.

“Part of the decision to hire Mike was part of, ‘How do you feel about getting guys involved in rotations?’ That was part of who he was coming up through the ranks. So this was just connecting with another philosophical alignment that we had.

“Mike Elston has done a great job of developing those guys, so now they’re at a point where they can really come in and impact the football game.”

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