“Oh, this is their Super Bowl,” he said Wednesday. “This is the biggest game on their schedule by far. Again, we’re going to get everybody’s best shot, we know that. I think I was referring more towards we have to make sure on our end that we take care of our players and don’t do too much (that it becomes a drain). There are so many things we could work on. We could be out there three hours. We’re [out there] 90 minutes in practice right now. Some coaches would want to be out there for two and a half or three, yet you’d lose that [intensity] on Saturday.”
If the philosophy is that every Saturday is the biggest of the year for its opponent, Notre Dame must be at its best 12 times a season. Doing so, Kelly said, is less about maintaining an emotional high than making sure the tank is full in terms of fervor.
“I try to keep them away from being emotional and more about loving to play and playing with enthusiasm,” Kelly explained. “I think when you get emotion, as you know, it can come up and come down. If you really love what you’re doing and you love to play — that’s why in recruiting I want guys that love to play, whether there’s 81,000 in that stadium or nobody showed up.”
Stingy in the fourth quarter
The Fighting Irish have allowed just six points in the third quarter this season after holding three of their last four opponents at the end of 2010 scoreless. Kelly said that’s no coincidence.
The Fighting Irish have allowed just six points in the third quarter this season after holding three of their last four opponents at the end of 2010 scoreless. Kelly said that’s no coincidence.
“That’s what we’re trying to build here,” he said. “We knew that our success was going to be linked towards building a defensive philosophy, a mentality and a way we play. I’ve looked at 15 years of recruiting at Notre Dame ... the skilled players will find their way here. We have to continue to develop our defense. We’re building a mentality and a confidence level that needs to continue to grow.”
It also requires building depth, something Kelly sees at Will linebacker with Carlo Calabrese and Dan Fox.
“We need to develop the kind of depth that we have at Will at Mike and at Drop and at Cat,” Kelly said. Manti’s [Te’o] playing way too many snaps, but he has to. It’s important that we develop what we have at Will at a number of different positions on defense.”
Similar to the inside linebacker spot next to Te’o, the Irish have a solid tandem at safety next to fifth-year senior Harrison Smith. Zeke Motta and Jamoris Slaughter have performed well, with Slaughter separating himself as of late.
“Jamoris is playing really well — really well,” Kelly said “He’s made that a very interesting situation relative to reps. They both have to play, but Jamoris is on a hot streak right now.”
Relying on Riddick
Senior receiver John Goodman took over punt return duties in the second week because Kelly felt junior Theo Riddick had too much on his plate as an important piece of the offensive puzzle. Riddick hasn’t been involved as consistently as much as the coaching staff would like.
Senior receiver John Goodman took over punt return duties in the second week because Kelly felt junior Theo Riddick had too much on his plate as an important piece of the offensive puzzle. Riddick hasn’t been involved as consistently as much as the coaching staff would like.
“He’s still in that curve; he’s still peaking; he still hasn’t arrived yet,” Kelly said of the slot receiver. “I like the way he practices and he has overcome a lot moving to that position. I think he’s ahead of schedule in a sense that he’s picked up the offense. He doesn’t have a lot of mistakes out there. It’s consistency in catching the ball. Since that first weekend, he’s been really good.”
And does Kelly think Riddick get another look in punt return somewhere down the line?
“Yes I do,” he said. “We’re working through some of those things right now.”
Pieces coming together for Rees
Sophomore quarterback Tommy Rees accounted for both of Notre Dame’s turnovers against Pitt, but settled in and delivered on a late-game drive when it counted most.
Sophomore quarterback Tommy Rees accounted for both of Notre Dame’s turnovers against Pitt, but settled in and delivered on a late-game drive when it counted most.
When asked if Rees recognized his mistake on a fumble, Kelly explained that the youngster’s awareness is a fault at times.
“Yeah, he probably would look back at it and say, ‘How did I fall for that one?’” Kelly said. [Pitt] simply brought a single linebacker up and showed as if a single linebacker was blitzing. Well, that doesn’t hurt our protection. But he’s so smart he outsmarted himself. What does he do? He changes the protection over there and they come from the field. Just a product of, ‘Hey, listen, you had the right protection out there, don’t get too smart for yourself.’”
Ragone still contributing
Despite a season-ending knee injury, Kelly talked about tight end Mike Ragone’s valuable role with the team, which may or may not include a sixth season next fall.
Despite a season-ending knee injury, Kelly talked about tight end Mike Ragone’s valuable role with the team, which may or may not include a sixth season next fall.
“Mike has really been a great mentor to those young tight ends,” Kelly said. “You’ve got three really inexperienced tight ends and he’s been great. He rooms with them; he spends a lot of extra time with those guys. He’s been a coach for us. He has done a great job. He has been at every single practice. He has put off surgery just to be with the guys. He’s going to get it done, but he has put it off because he is so much wanting to be a part of what we’re doing.
“He’s just committed to these guys and helping our team.”
Because Ragone has missed the majority of two different seasons due to injury, he could apply for a sixth year of eligibility.
“It’s something that we’re talking about,” Kelly said.
source: http://notredame.247sports.com/
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