Notre Dame Sunday Notebook
The last time Notre Dame finished in the top 15 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense was Lou Holtz’s final season in 1996. That year they were tied for 10th in scoring offense at 37.0 and 14th in scoring defense (16.5).
Thereafter, there were years where they were strong with scoring offense — 8th and 16th in head coach Charlie Weis’ first two seasons — but mediocre on scoring defense: 53rd and 67th.
Other years they were superb on defense but muddled around on offense, a la Tyrone Willingham’s first year in 2002 (9th on defense and 91st in offense) or Brian Kelly’s third season in 2012 (second on defense and 78th on offense).
This year Notre Dame’s scoring offense at 41.3 points per game is 11th and the scoring defense is 12th at 16.4.
The offense under first-year coordinator Chip Long is on pace to break the school record 37.6 set in 1968. That’s not a complete surprise given the offense has averaged 31 to 34 points the past three years, although the way it is dominating on the ground with a 317.9 average per game has been well beyond the norm.
However, the defense has taken a significant leap in a year where it was thought to be too young on the back end and too unproven up front. First-year coordinator Mike Elko has become the toast among Irish faithful. When asked what was so appealing to land Elko, Kelly outlined three factors.
“Number one, I loved the fact that he had come up through the ranks, if you will, as a I-AA coach (FCS), non-Power 5 …” Kelly said. “I've always appreciated coaches that have worked that way, because it really is an indicator of your ability to teach and communicate and do more with less.
“Secondly, when he got to Wake Forest, his ability to really take the football away. And then, third, the evaluations from so many people that have worked with him. He was great to work with, a great staff member and a bulldog on the recruiting trail. All of those factors were contributors.”
The icing on the cake has been the remarkably quick buy-in he’s had in his interaction with the players.
“This has a lot to do with they know him to have been very, very successful,” Kelly said. “But that's only part of it. You then have to build a trust with the players that what you do will have a carry-over in what your performance level is, and he made a quick impact with our players through building a great relationship.
“He's great with not just the defensive players. If you ask our offensive players, he takes the time to spend with them as well. His ability to communicate and build relationships with his players is the second key there.”
Recruiting Weekend
Combining preparation for your arch rival with the biggest recruiting weekend of the year at the school is an intense juggling act, but it was well worth it for Kelly, especially after an impressive 49-14 victory.
“You feel a whole lot better talking about a victory in this fashion, especially when you've got a number of kids from the West Coast,” Kelly said.
Because it was a night game, Kelly said he conducted six interviews during the day with families hours before kickoff. He also met prior to the game with the recruits had already verbally committed. Eleven of the 16 verbal pledges for 2018 were on campus, plus local safety Paul Moala, who committed on Sunday. Both 2019 commits — defensive tackle Jacob Lacey and quarterback Cade McNamara — also were in town and had an audience with the head coach.
Kelly and his staff had breakfast this morning with all the families, and after his media teleconference in the afternoon and the coach’s show for television, he engaged in personal interviews with about a half dozen other recruits not yet committed.
“A long weekend, but obviously one that is very profitable in that sense, because we've got great kids on campus and it was a great, great Saturday,” Kelly summarized.
Backfield In Motion
Against USC, the Irish employed some two-back sets with junior Josh Adams (19 carries, 191 yards, three touchdowns) and Tony Jones Jr. (five carries, 37 yards), which had been seen in some open practices during August.
However, ankle injuries to both, as well as Dexter Williams, have limited that alignment.
“It's something we've wanted to do, quite frankly, for the last four or five weeks, but we haven't been healthy,” Kelly said. “Tony provides us another dimension, especially as a blocker and as a pass catcher …With two guys that are closing in on 220 pounds in that split set, it's a pretty imposing backfield and gives us another wrinkle within our offense.”
Jones also can be split out in the slot to aid the passing game.
“Expect to see more of it,” Kelly said.
Despite the size in the backfield, the strategy early against USC — after doing some self-scouting during the bye — was working the edge more initially before moving back into the power attack.
“You want to break some tendencies,” Kelly said. “We had a couple things that we wanted to get accomplished tactically with getting their eyes off of some things that we had shown before. Part of that was to add some misdirection within the offense, get the ball on the perimeter and then come back and attack them inside/out.
“A lot of that has to do with your self-scouting and how you wanted to attack your opponent based upon some of those things.”
Injury Update
• Senior captain/linebacker Greer Martini was held out of the USC game after undergoing a scope procedure on his knee Oct. 12. Kelly said Martini has been cleared to practice on Tuesday and will be expected back for the game versus No. 14 North Carolina State this weekend.
• Junior running back Dexter Williams did not play, which Kelly hinted at last Thursday, but there is no consideration being given about petitioning for a medical redshirt while he heals from his ankle sprain.
“We made a conscious decision not to play Dexter until he got back to 100 percent,” Kelly said. “We think he's going to be 100 percent for the North Carolina State game, and we've got a lot of big football games. We're going to need Dexter. So expect to see him play a big role in what we do down the stretch here.”
• Graduate transfer receiver Cam Smith suffered a Grade 1 hamstring injury during last Wednesday’s practice. He was held out versus USC as a precaution but is expected back this coming week.
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