Brian Kelly Transcript: Oct. 4
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly met with the media following his team's Thursday practice in preparation for Virginia Tech.
Check out all what Kelly had to say before the top-25 showdown.
Q: How did the week go? Any updates on injuries?
KELLY: “I like our preparation. They were in the same place that they’ve been other than a lot more noise. We had it up to about 115 decibels. We’ve prepared for the elements. It’s stay away from any of the distractions and play. I liked our preparation. We’re prepared to play. We have no excuses. We didn’t suffer any injuries during the week. Guys are bending back into playing shape. We had some bumps and bruises during the week that slowed up some guys Tuesday, but by today they were back full-go and practicing like they should be.”
Q: Do you expect to have Tony Jones?
KELLY: “Yes.”
Q: How did Drue Tranquill adapt to the cast on his hand?
KELLY: “I think in the game you play with so much adrenaline that is was no issue. Certainly as it started to swell and sore, I think he was a little tender and sore on Tuesday. By today, he was back and flying around playing like Drue Tranquill. I think your typical transition into a cast. We’ll bring that down a little bit smaller than it is currently right now. He’s a pretty impressive young. No, it doesn’t limit it his grasp. We don’t see any issues. Now, he won’t be able to go out and grab them with one hand. There is some limitations there … But none to the point where it would be not in our best interest to have him on the field.”
Q: How has the left guard spot been settled? Is it going to be Ruhland?
KELLY: “Banks will play too. Ruhland will start, but Banks will definitely be on the field as well.”
Q: What is it about Aaron that has enabled him to rise?
KELLY: “I think he’s always been ascending. Opportunity, as you know, is probably the chief reason why that he is much more in the mix. He’s a big and athletic kid that has gained confidence in his ability to put it bluntly. I think what we like about him the most is that he’s adapted well to go from tackle to guard this week. Kind of excited to watch him play.”
Q: Do you see this like a tag-team with Robert Hainsey and Tommy Kraemer last year?
KELLY: “We’ll have to see how that plays out.”
Q: Are you concerned about his ability to communicate in the atmosphere?
KELLY: “There won’t be much communicating. We’re set up where they are going to have to do some things on the move. They know what they are supposed to and how they are supposed to do it. A lot of that will kind of sort itself out by recognition that’s right next to him with the center doing a lot of that for him. Not that concerned.”
Q: Ryan Willis has some bigger receivers in Damon Hazelton and Eric Kumah. It seems they like to throw some jump balls … You faced that this week, so how much does that prepare you for this week?
KELLY: “It certainly prepares you, but they do it differently. They’re a team that runs their offense differently. It’s part of what they do. Much more of a first down and come at any time. I think Stanford you knew it was much more of a third down and red zone. This is part of what they do.”
Q: In terms of concerns going into it, pass protection be up there?
KELLY: “There’s everything under the sun to consider relative to what Virginia Tech can do defensively. You’re preparing for a lot of different things. I think the game will dictate what we see because it’s a younger group. You’re not going to see 10 different defensive structures. We’ll adapt to it. We’ve tried to do a little bit of everything this and prepare Ian for it. I liked how he practiced today. He saw a lot of different pressures and looks. We’re prepared for it. They are really good at what they do. They pressure the line of scrimmage and in their run game there is seven, eight or nine guys on the line of scrimmage. That’s why they don’t give up a lot of rushing yards, but to do that you give up other things. We’ll see how it plays out. Maybe they will play us like they did two years ago with a lot of zone coverage. We have to be prepared for a lot of things.”
Q: I asked Ian Book about the Bud Foster and the multiple things you mentioned on Tuesday. He said it was fun. Is that kind of his approach?
KELLY: “He didn’t know what he was talking about. I don’t know if you asked him the same question today … I think he is a lot more in tuned with what fun is today. He got a looks today. I get it. He’s been challenged likes he’s never been challenged in terms of recognition. I like how he handled himself. He was really good.”
Q: Troy Pride was in Virginia Tech’s class for a while and you were able to flip him. What did you see in him?
KELLY: “He was a fit in terms of his character. That has to be a primary concern is the culture fit for us. That was there. We were at a point where we were looking for great speed at the position. He certainly had that. We expected him to development. He was not a finished product as you know. He was undersized and needed the weight room. I think character, cultural fit, we liked who he was as a person and speed.”
Q: Last night, he and some other players seemed to be really confident about the different between this year and Miami going into a hostile environment. Do you like that?
KELLY: “I’d rather have a confident football as long as it is not a cocky and overconfident football team. I’d much rather be confident than a team that is not feeling confident. They know if they prepare the right way and eliminate distractions that they are a good football team. I am okay with that. We’ve worked hard on that. They know who they are … As long as it is not too far out there, I’d rather have a confident team.”
Q: At tight end, is this most comfortable you’ve been with the multiplicity of that position as you’ve been?
KELLY: “I don’t remember having the complement of having a guy who can play in short yardage in Brock Wright then having the moving parts in a veteran like Nic Weishar. Then two multi-dimensional players at tight end (Alize Mack and Cole Kmet). They give us so much flexibility. They can spread out, they can play 1-on-1 football and they can block in-line … That’s a luxury that I can’t remember ever having.”
Q: Cole’s recovery, he’s talked about he’s a fast healer and about he’s putting about 2 1/2 hours in the recovery room…is that something you get from a sophomore a lot?
KELLY: “He lives in there. Incredible maturity. It’s unusual to understand how important is to put the time in to get it back. He did. Listen, he still is in the training room. It’s still a high ankle sprain. There’s still soreness. There’s still days where that thing is flamed up and sore. He was in there today for a good two hours. Just a great maturity and understanding of how important it is.”
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