Coach D's Blog

After signing 23 players to scholarships for the Class of 2010 the Irish coaches will now be able to shift their entire focus on the Class of 2011.  After having to spend so much time playing catch up in order to finish off this particular class they will now have to play catch up with the Class of 2011.  The Class of 2010 was a very nice foundational class, but this staff must build upon this foundation with another good class next February.  Here’s how I see it all shaping up:

As I count the Irish have the Irish will have 63 juniors, sophomores, and freshman on the roster next fall.  If I am correct they also will have nine seniors who will have a potential 5^th year of eligibility.  Those players are Gary Gray (CB), Brandon Walker (K/P), Harrison Smith (S), Steve Paskorz (FB), Taylor Dever (OT), Andrew Nuss (OG), Mike Ragone (TE), Emeka Nwankwo (DE), and possibly Matt Romine (OT).  Romine is the one player I am not completely certain on concerning eligibility.   Of those nine players I would expect at least five to return with a potential for seven of those players to return.  For the purposes of this discussion we will assume that six of those nine players return.  I am including Gary Gray in the group of players who will come back for a 5^th year, but a strong senior season for him could lead him to declare for the NFL Draft.  So he is another potential player who could not return for the 2011 season which would open up a scholarship.  But for now we will go with six 5^th year seniors returning.  I also will project that both Michael Floyd and Kyle Rudolph have monster junior seasons which will vault them to the 1^st Round of the NFL Draft.  That’s two more scholarships.  I refuse to project that any players will quit or transfer, so I’m going to count all the remaining players on scholarship.

So that leaves Notre Dame with by my count 18 scholarships for the Class of 2011.  It could be more, it could be as few as 15.  But we will go with 18 for the purposes of this blog.  The primary needs of this football team are obvious.  They need to improve their depth along both lines.  They need some depth at linebacker.  We all have discussed the need for depth and talent increases in the secondary.  Here is how I see this class shaping up.

QUARTERBACK (1-2 scholarships): I truly believe that unless your circumstances are unique (having 5 or more similar styled quarterbacks on your roster) it is wise to bring in a quarterback every recruiting cycle.  You want to avoid seasons where you bring in three similar styled quarterbacks, as the Irish did this past fall, but Coach Kelly was in a situation where it was necessary.  Coach Weis failed to bring in a quarterback in the last cycle, and with Jimmy Clausen leaving they were in a bad numbers situation.  This made the three quarterbacks in this class necessary.  Not getting a quarterback in this class will not be a bad thing, but I still think the Irish can and should bring in at least one quarterback.  There are basically three criteria I would look for in evaluating which quarterbacks should be offered.  1) Can this quarterback be better than the guys I just signed?  I do not see the point in offering another Tommy Rees or another Luke Massa.  You already have those kids.  I want to see a quarterback who could be better than the guys you have.  2) Is this quarterback a different style of player?  All four of the guys at Notre Dame now are passer’s first who can run a little bit as well.  It would not be a bad idea to bring in a guy who perhaps is a bit more of a running threat.  He doesn’t have to be a run first player, but he would have to be a guy who is truly dynamic with his legs and can also throw the football.  3) Can this quarterback play another position?  If they sign a second quarterback this is an absolute must in my opinion.  I would also not be too upset if this kind of player is the only type of quarterback they bring in next February.

RUNNING BACK (1-2 scholarships): Two is a must if the Irish move one or more of their current running backs to another position.  With Jonas Gray, Theo Riddick, Cierre Wood, and Cameron Roberson all having multiple years of eligibility remaining this is not a position of huge need from a numbers standpoint.  How if Theo Riddick is moved to wide receiver on a permanent basis, or moved to defense, or if Cierre Wood is moved to defense, or any other type of move takes place than the need for a couple of backs grows.  If they keep the status quo they will be fine with bringing in only one pure running back.  There is a chance more could sign, but anymore than the 1-2 focused on here would have to be players who have the ability to move to another position of need (linebacker, safety, cornerback).

WIDE RECEIVER (2 scholarships): I would expect to see the Irish coaches focus on bringing in at least two more wide receivers in this class.  First of all I say this, despite signing four players last year, because I believe at least one of the current incoming players will eventually land on the defensive side of the ball.  Secondly, I expect the Irish to lose Duval Kamara and Michael Floyd next fall.  There is talent left on the roster, but by the time this class arrives Goodman and Walker will be seniors and Evans will be a junior.  I would like to see the Irish “shoot big” for receivers in this class.  By that I do not mean nor do I care if they are highly ranked players; rather, what I’m referring to is for the staff to focus on bringing in guys who could be dynamic players in this offense.  One guy I have seen already who I think is outstanding is DeAnthony Arnett.  Getting him would be huge!!

TIGHT END (0-1 scholarships): I rarely advocate not landing a player at any offensive or defensive position; so I am not advocating for it here.  But with a bit of a numbers crunch this is one position where the Irish could get away with not landing a player in this class.  Despite the fact you will see Kyle Rudolph and Mike Ragone both be gone after this class finishes their freshman year, the Irish are still okay numbers wise.  I see both Alex Welch and Derek Roback combining with Tyler Eifert and Jake Golic to give the Irish solid depth at the position.  Eifert has a ton of ability for Kelly’s offense, so his health is a big key.  If he isn’t healthy moving forward the need for a TE in this class increases.

OFFENSIVE LINE (3-4 scholarships): Despite the issues with numbers and depth, the Irish have landed some talented linemen over the past couple of seasons.  As far as “prospects” you won’t find many groups better than Zach Martin, Chris Watt, Matt James, Alex Bullard, Christian Lombard, and Tate Nichols.  Throw in the group of Trevor Robinson, Mike Golic Jr., Lane Clelland, and Braxston Cave.  Three of that last group of players will have two years of eligibility left when this class arrives.  Having said that, an influx of numbers and talent is still wanted and needed.  A huge class of 5 or 6 linemen is not necessarily what the Irish need.  What is needed, however, is at least 3 or 4 players with ability that fit Coach Kelly’s offense.  If they can play right away great!  But this class is going to be more needed for down the road needs rather than immediate needs.  If the Irish land only three players they better be pretty solid players.  I prefer four.  The only real position that needs addressed is center.  Golic and Cave will be seniors (with a possible 5^th year) and Bullard is not a true center, at least not yet.  If you can land a big time center, do it!

DEFENSIVE END (3 scholarships): This is one of the top need areas for the next recruiting cycle.  Not only do the Irish need to improve their depth, they could seriously use a significant talent boost as well.  When this class enters Notre Dame as freshmen Ethan Johnson, Kapron Lewis-Moore, and Sean Cwynar will all be seniors.  I project Tyler Stockton to this position and look for him to be a very productive player at the DE position, and I like the signing of Kona Schwenke as well.  But the DE position is very important for this defense.  It doesn’t necessarily need the nation’s top DE, as that will be hard to get for a 3-4 defense.  What it does need are some big bodied, quick, and strong players who can anchor, get a push, and free up the backers for big plays.  Expect to see at least one “upside” player at this position, but I’d also like to see at least one player who can come in and be ready to play within his first two seasons.  This is one position I’m keeping a keen eye on for this cycle.  What I will also keep an eye on is what kind of player this staff is truly looking for.  Do they want the longer, thicker, stronger players who can anchor like we see at Alabama?  Or are they looking for players with good size, but with more of an emphasis on shooting gaps and getting penetration? 

NOSE GUARD (1-2 scholarships): This position is not a huge area of need for immediate playing time with Brandon Newman, Hafis Williams, and Louis Nix all returning.  Newman and Williams will be seniors but will have an extra year of eligibility each.  Nix will only be a sophomore.  There is a need at this position for the future, but that future will come relatively early.  The Irish will need to land a player who could be ready to at least contribute in a reserve role by his sophomore season.  Two bodies would be nice, only one is truly necessary. 

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (2-3 scholarships): The Irish should be loaded at this position for the next two seasons with Darius Fleming, Kerry Neal, and Steven Filer all have super potential for this position.  The problem is that Neal is done after this season and both Fleming and Filer will be seniors in 2011 without any eligibility remaining.  That leaves Dan Fox, Prince Shembo, and Justin Utupo as the only OLB’s who I see fitting the mold of what the Irish are likely to look for at the position.  A player like Danny Spond could move here, but even if he fits outside instead of inside, there are still serious depth issues.  I love the upside of Fox, Shembo, and Utupo in this defense but the Irish will absolutely need at least two players for this position for depth, but also need an infusion of talent.  This might arguably be the most important position in this class.

INSIDE LINEBACKER (1-2 scholarships): This is a position that will be in relatively good hands for the next couple of seasons.  Manti Te’o is only going to be a sophomore this season.  Anthony McDonald will be a senior with an extra year of eligibility remaining, as will David Posluszny.  Carlo Calabrese will have three years remaining and Danny Spond and Kendall Moore will also have at least three years left.  There is not a need for a ton of players at this position.  What I would like to see is the Irish really go after a player they identify as a special talent.  If you don’t have depth issues you might as well go after a special player.  It’s not a must, as I will always take a good, tough football player.

SAFETY (2 scholarships): If the Irish end up moving one of three potential safeties as I see it (Austin Collinsworth, Daniel Smith, Cierre Wood) then the depth issues are not as severe.  I like some of the talents they have in Zeke Motta, Dan McCarthy, and Chris Badger but I do not see a true difference maker in this group.  Teams have won championships without difference makers at safety, but it is always nice to have.  This unit needs a serious talent upgrade as well as some much needed depth.  Sure, Jamoris Slaughter could move to safety, as could Robert Blanton.  But if you move those kids to safety who starts at cornerback in 2011?  I like Slaughter quite a bit as a cornerback.  One player at cornerback who I really think could develop into a solid safety is Lo Wood.

CORNERBACK (2-3 scholarships): Even if Gary Gray returns for a fifth year, when this class enters college the Irish will have Gray and Blanton in their final year and Slaughter will be a senior with only one extra year left.  After that it is only Spencer Boyd and possibly Lo Wood.  This position needs a serious upgrade in talent and depth.  If the Irish don’t land at least 2 to 3 players in next year’s class who can play cornerback they will be in serious, serious trouble in 2011.  What is going to be interesting to watch is what kind of cornerback this staff will target.  Part of that depends on what type of coverages they want to play, the other part depends on what regions they want to go hardest after.  It will be interesting to watch.

I have been asked several times on the boards and in private emails about how I would rank ND's current recruits.  I did not watch as much film this year as I did in the past when I did rankings, but I did watch more film than I did last year.  Over the past few weeks I have tried to watch as many kids as I could.  Based on that I'm at the point where I feel I can somewhat comfortably give my "grades" for this class.  I will give the current recruits as well as the kids who are still left on the board for the Irish.

Explanation of the rankings: If a player is given a "Top #" basically what that is saying is the player will fall somewhere in that range.  So if a guy is a Top 300 guy he is someone I see being ranked somewhere between the 200 to 300 range.  Top 200 would be late 100's to the 200 range.  Etc, etc, etc.  Make sense?  Also, the players will be listed basically how I would rank this class, so the player I see as the top kid in the class on down.  I usually don't like doing this, as it can seem insulting to the kids at the "bottom" but I get asked it alot, so I will answer.

CURRENT RECRUITING CLASS:

Tai-ler Jones                   WR    GA    ****      Top 50
* Super athlete, dynamic with ball in his hands, should be a perfect fit for the Kelly offense.  Brings explosiveness to the game and has the versatility to play inside, outside, return kicks, and even play CB.  The best player in this class and one of the best in the nation.

Louis Nix                       DT    FL    ****      Top 100
* Very strong plugger, can anchor inside, good quickness for a player his size.  With better conditioning and continued physical maturity he could be a monster on the inside.  Great attitude and a real, real good inside player the Irish have lacked in terms of girth.

Spencer Boyd                    CB    FL    ****      Top 100
* Premier sleeper, very underrated.  Boyd is fast, quick, has long arms, is physical, and can reall smack people.  He's also fundamentally sound as a tackler.  I love his film.  This kid is going to really shock people with how good he is. 

Cameron Roberson                RB    CA    ****      Top 200
* Physical, one-cut type runner who has enough speed to rip off big runs when given room. Gets downhill quickly and hard.  If he can catch and block he has a chance to be real good in Kelly's offense.

Andrew Hendrix                  QB    OH    ****      Top 200
* Super arm strength, quick release, good athlete.  He is raw thanks to the fact he wasn't really used in HS, but if he is willing to work he has all the physical tools you look for to be a darn good QB.  The mental part is all the concerns me.

Christian Lombard               OL    IL    ****      Top 200
* Big, strong, thick young player.  Has to improve his technique and footwork but has the size, strength, and attitude you look for.  Should be a strong run blocker.

Kendall Moore                  ILB    NC    ****      Top 200
* Sleeper in this class.  Good athlete, physical, sideline-to-sideline player who also is solid in coverage.  Needs to loosen up his hips a bit, but a darn good football player.

Bennett Jackson                 WR    NJ    ****      Top 200
* He's underrated.  Lacks super speed but makes up for it with excellent agility, vision, long arms, and explosiveness.  Has good hands and is quite versatile.  Another excellent fit for Kelly's offense.

Alex Welch                      TE    OH    ****      Top 200
* One question I had was blocking on the edge, but in Kelly's offense that is not quite as much a part of the game.  Needs to work as a blocker but is a solid athlete, understands how to get open, and catches the ball very well.  Not as dynamic athletically as some of the last few TE's but is a real good football player.

Luke Massa                      QB    OH    ****      Top 300
* Some technique issues need to be worked out to increase arm strength, which is his only real question.  Smart player, good footwork, and comes from a spread styled offense in HS.  As he gets stronger and improves his throwing motion he could really blossom.  He and Hendrix are going to have some great battles when Crist leaves.

Prince Shembo                  OLB    NC    ****      Top 300
* Built alot like Kerry Neal.  Natural pass rusher who is strong against the run as well.  Will need to bulk up some to play the OLB spot but really has alot of skill.  Good quickness, very active player, strong, and can play in coverage as well.  Very nice pickup.

Justin Utupo                    DE    CA    ****      Top 300
* If he was bigger he'd be ranked much higher.  He's a tremendous football player with good initial quickness, a great motor, strength, and can get after the QB.  The only issue is his size, which means where will he play.  He could play OLB in the 3-4 and if he gets thicker could play DE, but you ideally want a longer player there.  At worst he'll be a versatile guy who plays on the edge in the 3-4 but also can move to DE in 4 down situations. 

Danny Spond                    ATH    CO    ****      Top 300
* Who knows where he will play, but who cares.  This young man is just a football player.  He's a big, strong athlete who is good with the ball in his hands, is really tough, and if he gets stronger can certainly play defense as well.  I'd like to see him play ILB, but it would be real new for him.

Chris Badger                     S    UT    ****      Top 300
* What he lacks in speed he makes up for with instincts and toughness.  He's a kid who shouldn't be as good as he is b/c of his "measurables," but Badger just makes plays.  He's a destroyer over the middle and shows great timing break on the football and routes.  Smart kid.  Only concern is where does he play.  Can he play FS athletically?  Is he big enough for SS?

Lo Wood                         CB    FL    ***      
* I have some questions and concerns about his game speed, quickness, and leaping ability, which is why he is so low.  But he's a real, real tough kid who loves to hit.  Has good instincts and is the type of kid who ends up proving people like me wrong.  Is physical and instinctive enough to play FS if he is able to bulk up a bit.

Derek Roback                   ATH    OH    *** 
* Very good athlete who is dynamic with the ball in his hands.  Won't come in with the fan fare and needs work fundamentally and in the weight room, but this young man can flat out play.  He's physical with the ball in his hands, and my only question is how well he catches.  Not that I doubt it, I just haven't seen it.  He's going to shock alot of people.  This is not a MAC player.

Daniel Smith                    WR    IN    ***
* Very good athlete, although he does lack size.  He's a rangy kid and has great leaping ability, I mean he can really get up.  It would not surprise me if he ends up being a good player at ND on the outside.  He could be a big play WR thanks to his great size, leaping skills, and hands.  Also rangy enough to move to defense, although I have not seen much of him actually doing the things it takes to play defense.

Tate Nichols                    OL    KY    ***
* Very, very raw but you cannot teach his combination of size and athletic ability.  He was a good TE prospect athletically but has the body for the OT position.  He will need alot of work fundamentally and developing his body, but if it takes has a chance to be a player.  I love this pickup.

Austin Collinsworth            ATH    KY    ***
* I still think he ends up on defense.  He's a better defensive prospect IMO.  He's a quick kid on defense, instinctive, and plays the ball well.  He could play WR but I just don't see him beating out more talented players.  He's a smart kid and a versatile player.

Tommy Rees                      QB    IL    ***
* Smart kid who comes from a shot gun offense.  Coming in early will help as well.  Doesn't have great tools, but is a gutsy kid with confidence in himself. 

Bruce Heggie                    DE    FL    N/A
* Can't comment on him as I have only seen 4 or 5 clips.  All I can say is he is HUGE, I love his frame. You are going to start to see DE's in this 3-4 that are going to be 280+, and he has the frame to be that.

REMAINING PROSPECTS:

Seantrel Henderson              OL    MN    *****     Top 25
* One of the nation's elites.  He's tall, very athletic, and when he stops playing basketball I expect to see his strength take off.  He would be the pure "left tackle" ND fans have been clamoring for the last few seasons.  Excellent athlete and a chance to be a special football player.

Christian Jones                OLB    FL    ****      Top 50
* Would be a monster in the 3-4.  Put him on the outside and say "Go get the QB" and then watch him just dominate.  Very athletic kid, instinctive, not afraid to mix it up, and has an excellent frame.  I would love to see the upset that has Jones coming to wear the Golden helmet of the Irish.  He would be special in the 3-4.

Dietrich Riley                 ATH    CA    ****      Top 50
* Maybe he doesn't have the measurable speed that many look for, but this kid is one of the best football players in the country.  He could be a RB, he could be a dominate safety, he could even play CB in a defense that wants physical, fluid kids on the outside.  Just a special player who I wished the Irish would get. 

Matt James                      OL    OH    ****      Top 200
* Massive young man who I was told dominated in pass coverage down in San Antonio.  Comes from an offense that is similar to ND's in style (spread).  He is a solid athlete who must continue to improve his footwork and get stronger, but he's a real talented kid that would explode in Kelly's offense.

Ego Ferguson                    DT    MD    ****      Top 200
* Where does he play in the 3-4 is the only question I have.  He could play outside and be a good player, but I truly believe he could grow into a 3-4 DE where I believe at that point he would just dominate.  He has the size and strength to play the position but his athletic skills would set him apart as a DE and allow him to be real good.

Kona Schwenke                   DE    HI    ****      Top 300
* He's raw physically and fundamentally but his frame is tremendous.  He'll end up being HUGE.  He's a tough kid with solid quickness, long arms, and loves to get physical.  He has to learn to play lower more consistently, but as he gets bigger, improves fundamentally, he's what you are looking for in a 3-4 DE....long, tough, fighter, athletic.

Jeremy Ioane                     S    HI    ***
* Won't blow you away with measurables but I love his toughness. He flies around on the football field and loves to get physical.  Probably a more natural SS who is going to be down in the box disrupting.  At worst he ends up as a special teams standout, at best he becomes a run stuffing, turnover making SS.

Anyone who is truly objective has to be disappointed (so far) that Coach Kelly and his staff have not been able to land any of the “big name” players they are after and lost two commitments.  At the same time anyone who is objective must also be quite pleased by the work being put in by this staff and how well they have been received by players.  At the same time we cannot just dismiss it as “no big deal” if they fail to land any more players. 

There is much to like, there are things to be concerned about.  On the whole, regardless of how this class pans out, I am pleased with how recruiting has gone under Coach Kelly.  The biggest reason is I honestly did not expect him to land any of the big names.  I honestly assumed most of the players like Seantrel Henderson, Christian Jones, Dietrich Riley, and Ego Ferguson would immediately drop Notre Dame after Coach Weis was fired and Coach Kelly was hired.  Some folks did not like the Kelly hire to begin with so anything that goes wrong is going to be a “sign” that they were right about him, which is pure foolishness.  Some folks who were big Kelly supporters are going to write off the loss of Blake Lueders as not a big deal and the fact Notre Dame has not landed any players as nothing to worry about, which also is foolish. 

The truth is somewhere in the middle.  Losing Lueders is a big deal.  He’s an Indiana kid who was already committed to the Irish.  He is also a player at a position of need.  Landing him would have been great, losing him stinks.  Where I disagree with many is that I truly do not feel that losing Lueders is any type of indictment on the staff or their ability to recruit on the national stage.  Anyone who has followed Lueders recruitment cannot be overly surprised by this move.  At the same time if Notre Dame lands Henderson, Jones, Riley, and/or Ferguson it also does not speak to how well they will do in the future.  We won’t truly know how well this staff can or cannot recruit until February of next year after this staff has been able to go beginning to end with a recruiting class.  This year’s class is a key, and overall it is a solid class and landing players to it will certainly make it better.  But next year is truly the key in my opinion.  Coach Weis never recovered from having back to back average to poor recruiting classes.  This year’s class is much better than the Class of 2005 but at the same time next year’s class also MUST be better than the Class of 2006 under Coach Weis.  Over the next two seasons the Irish will lose many key players.  This class and next year’s class will serve as the keys to just how good Coach Kelly will be during his tenure.

As for the recent offers.  They will not excite many folks, which is obvious on the boards, but they are the type of prospects that I have argued in the past that the Irish did not go after enough.  Part of building a great football program is bringing in the “elite” players like Jimmy Clausen, Michael Floyd, Kyle Rudolph, Ethan Johnson, Darius Fleming, and Manti Te’o.  I have argued that the Irish did not, however, land enough “football players” in past seasons.  They were missing enough players like Danny Spond, Jeremy Ioane, Derek Roback, and Tate Nichols.  You would see these types of players at times, but there were not enough.  That’s why I actually am excited about players like Roback, Spond, and Ioane.  They are tough-nosed players that the Irish used to get all the time.  Remember it was not too long ago that some of the best LB’s the Irish had were not linebackers coming in, nor were they highly recruited players.  Remember Courtney Watson?  Remember Anthony Denman?  Remember Rocky Boiman? 

No matter how talented or how smart you are as a head coach, if you do not hire a staff that is just as good you will not win at the Division I level.  The game is too complex and opponents are too talented.  As we saw the last five seasons you must have a staff that can coach and recruit.  You can get away with having a coach or two who cannot recruit, but you cannot get away with having a recruiter who cannot coach.  It was Brian Kelly’s job to put together a staff that can do more than just recruit against the nation’s powerhouse programs.  He absolutely must put together a staff that can also coach against those programs.  Now that his staff is settled and I have had some time to let it sink in, to do some homework on the various coaches, listen to their interviews, and work out the dynamics of this staff in my head I must say that I am extremely pleased with the staff he has put together.  Time will tell if this staff truly has what it takes to build Notre Dame back into an elite program, but I do believe Brian Kelly is on his way towards accomplishing that goal.

BRIAN KELLY, HEAD COACH: My opinion on Coach Kelly has been much discussed and does not need to be rehashed again.  It is still early, but at this point I am pleased with what he has accomplished up to this point.  The Irish now have a training table, they have made a huge impact on the recruiting trail (this is true whether or not they land any of the remaining players) which bodes well for the future, and he has brought an attention to detail that has been sorely missed the last eight years.  So far, so good.

CHARLEY MOLNAR, QUARTERBACKS/OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Coach Molnar has been promoted to the Offensive Coordinator position under Kelly after spending the last few seasons as the Pass Game Coordinator.  He brings a detailed knowledge of Coach Kelly’s offense and should help ease the transition for the Irish players.  It makes sense to have your OC be either your line coach or the quarterbacks coach, although I would have enjoyed watching Molnar coach the talented unit of Notre Dame receivers.  As I studied his background I was surprised to see how much experience Coach Molnar has coaching the quarterback position.  In 2006 he coached then-freshman Dan LeFevour to a record setting season.  During that season LeFevour set school records in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense.  He also coached QB’s at Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Indiana State, Illinois State, and Western Carolina.  Seeing this experience eased all of my concerns about his transition to the QB position.  The QB is vital to Coach Kelly’s offense.  Molnar also has experience as an offensive coordinator.  What I like about Molnar is his energy and his constant emphasis on attention to details.  When you listen to his comments about aggressiveness and attention to the little things know that what I watched on film from Cincinnati backs it up.  A lot of coaches talk about those things but do not coach them; Molnar obviously does.  Dayne Crist should thrive under his tutelage.  Having Molnar as the QB Coach and Offensive Coordinator should also free up Coach Kelly to spend more time handling more of the Head Coaching duties. 

BOB DIACO, INSIDE LINEBACKERS/DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Many are nervous about Diaco coming in to serve as the DC for the Irish.  Many fans did not start watching Cincinnati until late in the season.  By that point in the season they were worn down (from a lack of talent and depth) and gave up a lot of yards and a lot of points.  Fortunately I was able to watch Cincinnati throughout the season.  Personally I am very happy that Bob Diaco is the new DC for the Irish.  He is a fiery guy and it obviously permeates throughout the entire defensive unit.  Even when Cincinnati’s defense was giving up yards and points they kept fighting, they played very hard, and they never quit.  With better players you will see better results.  Diaco’s defense is very aggressive, as evidenced by Top 10 national rankings in both sacks and tackles for loss.  Both of his starting ILB’s finished with over 100 tackles.  One part of his resume that I love is the fact he coached LB’s under Al Groh.  Groh was not a very good head coach but he is one of the better defensive minds in football and is one of the top 3-4 minds around.  Groh’s schemes were known as very strong against the run.  It will be interesting to see what types of coverages Diaco plays with the Irish.  I’d like to see them be more aggressive, although they will have to give up fewer big plays than we saw from his 2009 Cincinnati defense.  Diaco has a bright, bright future as a DC in my opinion and early on has made an impact on the recruiting trail for the Irish.

TONY ALFORD, WIDE RECEIVERS: Coach Alford has one of the best reputations as a RB coach in the game.  He did a very good job in 2008 as the RB coach at Notre Dame which supported the fact his reputation was well deserved.  The RB’s were a well coached unit that played fundamentally sound football, they were tough, and they executed their assignments at a high level.  It was clear watching Notre Dame in 2009 and Louisville in the previous season that Alford is an “attention to details” coach.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am a big “fundamentals” guy and Coach Alford is a “fundamentals” guy.  Having made the transition from RB’s to WR’s myself, I do not believe Coach Alford will have a hard time making the transition himself.  First of all, all skill coaches on offense work together, so he will have quite a bit of familiarity with what coaches want out of WR’s.  Second, Coach Kelly and Coach Molnar will be able to help him develop the practices habits he will need to make the move.  I’m confident he will be able to transition easily the WR position.  He’s a smart guy and a good football coach, he will do well outside.  As a recruiter he has proven his worth.  For Alford personally I believe his move to WR’s puts him closer to becoming an Offensive Coordinator if he desires for that type of promotion.

ED WARRINER, OFFENSIVE LINE: There is one big, big knock against Coach Warriner.  He’s a Mount Union alum, and my only experience with MUC was a very, very bad one.  When you lose 49-21 in the third round of the playoffs you will not have good memories!  All kidding aside, I am very happy with the hiring of Coach Warriner.  First and foremost he has five years of experience coaching the spread as both an Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach (at Kansas) and as a Run Game Coordinator/OL Coach (Illinois).  While at Kansas he coached Todd Reesing, who will graduate as KU’s most prolific quarterback.  He oversaw the powerful 2007 offense that led KU to an Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech.  His offenses also finished as the three best offenses in school history in yards per game and passing yards.  The fact he spent so many years as an OL coach and was able to then go coach a prolific quarterback shows he knows a real smart football coach, not just a line coach.  In 2006, while the OL Coach and Run Game Coordinator at Illinois he oversaw the nation’s 10^th best rushing attack.  Coach Warriner spent a lot of years at both Army and the Air Force Academy.  This tells me right away he is going to be a fundamentals-based coach, is a tactician, is going to have a disciplined unit, and is going to have a group of players who are going to play aggressive football.  I love the fact he wanted to be at Notre Dame. 

MIKE DENBROCK, TIGHT ENDS: The one thing I have been told by everyone I have talked to about Coach Denbrock is that he is 1) a great guy, and 2) he’s an excellent recruiter.  Outside of that I do not know much about Coach Denbrock.  I know he coached tight ends and tackles at Stanford in 2001 when the Cardinal rushed for over 200 yards a game.  He also has a lot of experience on both sides of the ball and served as both the OC and DC under Coach Kelly at Grand Valley State.

TIM HINTON, RUNNING BACKS: I was actually on the sidelines for a game where our opponent was coached by Tim Hinton.  In 1989, as a 5^th grader, I was a ball boy at Bath High School when Coach Hinton was the HC at Van Wert High School.  No one else might care, but I thought that was pretty cool.  Prior to his time at Cincinnati Coach Hinton was an excellent high school coach at Marion Harding.  I have coached in Ohio, I have recruited in Ohio, and I can tell you that Hinton was an excellent high school football coach.  Coach Hinton will help the Irish continue to recruit the state of Ohio and hopefully allow the Irish to bring in even more players from Ohio.  On top of that he coaches a difficult position in Coach Kelly’s offense.  The RB position in Kelly’s offense is difficult and requires players not only be talented physically, but also have to play smart.  They are asked to do a lot.  They not only run the football but they must also block at a high level, catch the football, be prepared to line up all over the field, and actually run routes like a receiver.  In 2009 the Bearcat backs averaged over 6.0 yards per carry which is very, very impressive.  Coach Hinton’s experience in this system should help the Irish backs transition well.  He also brings a reputation as a strong recruiter.

MIKE ELSTON, DEFENSIVE LINE/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR: Elston was an excellent and powerful running back in high school.  Elston was a standout running back at St. Mary’s Memorial while I was at Bath.  It’s obvious he brings that same mentality to the table as a football coach.  Despite losing all of his starters and switching to a new defense, Elston led a DL that accounted for more sacks than the entire Notre Dame defense in 2009.  His unit played hard, played aggressive, and played with a lot of fire.  Expect to see him push the young, but talented Irish front men.  Elston’s special team units at Cincinnati were aggressive and explosive.  One area where I would like to see improvement is in their coverage units.  Elston has the potential to be the best recruiter on this staff.  I expect to see him become a dynamic recruiter nationally.  Elston was the Co-Defensive Coordinator in 2005 along with Diaco. 

KERRY COOKS, OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS: Cooks is another guy I do not know much about.  His DB units at Wisconsin were very good and the transition to OLB should not be too rough.  I’m excited to see Coach Cooks develop, but cannot speak too much to his hire simply because I do not know enough about him.  His brief resume is impressive.  He will have some talented players to work with so he needs to adjust quickly.  His previous relationship with Coach Kelly and Coach Diaco should help him adjust quickly.

CHUCK MARTIN, DB: Getting Chuck Martin to leave Grand Valley State was a huge coup for the Irish.  First and foremost the guy is obviously a talented football coach.  He not only kept what Coach Kelly had going at GVSU, he made the program even better.  That is hard to do when you are talking about a program that had just won back to back championships.  Martin is an intelligent football coach who will bring a lot of passion and fire to the Irish program.  Lower level coaches have to be “fundamentals” guys in order to win on a consistent basis, which excites me.  I also love the fact he so badly wanted to come to Notre Dame.  Not only will he be a huge help for the DB’s, he will also be a huge asset for Bob Diaco.  His experience as a HC and former DC will allow Martin to serve as a mentor of sorts for Diaco as Diaco continues to develop as a coach.  Do not be surprised to see Martin develop into a top notch recruiter as he gets used to recruiting at the Division I level.  This was a great, great hire.  His experience as a HC should also allow Coach Kelly to lean on him in a variety of off and on the field ways.

DAVE PELOQUIN: Peloquin will essentially serve as the Recruiting Coordinator for the Irish.  I have never met him but have heard nothing but great things about his organizational abilities and the job he has done for the Irish over the years.  Peloquin will help make the transition for this staff much, much easier.  I’m told he’s a sharp guy who was a big part of the Irish recruiting success from an organizational aspect over the last five years.  One area where having a guy like Peloquin run the recruiting is that all the coaches will be able to devote all their time to coaching.  Peloquin will be able to handle the coordinating duties, the organizing, which will take the burden off of whatever coach would have handled that without him.  Each coach can now coach and take care of his own recruiting responsibilities.  This was a good move by Coach Kelly.

All in all I am pleased by this staff.  I see a group of guys who are skilled at coaching, that are “fundamentals” guys, are fiery guys, and can recruit.  It will be at least a year before we really know how good this staff is going to be, but I am very optimistic at this point.

First and foremost this blog is entirely my own depth chart.  This is my best guess on how things will shake out heading into spring.  I have zero inside information so do not take any of the positions or moves to be anything coming from ND.

Expect to see some players switching positions either before or after the spring.  ND will need to find some safeties, so perhaps we might see either Robert Blanton or Jamoris Slaughter move to free safety along with E.J. Banks.  Keep an eye on Cierre Wood.  If he sticks at ND he's one kid I wouldn't mind seeing moved to defense.  He might be one of the players who can provide an increase in the talent level of the safety position, as well as provide them with more depth at the free safety position.  He has to get leaner and in better shape, but he's still the same kid who was considered a versatile and talented player heading into the spring.  Here is my defensive depth chart with some notes.

DEFENSIVE END:

There is talent and depth at this position.  The DL played better than I expected this fall but it was not a strength.  I truly believe that had to do with how the players were used rather than the talent level or effort of the players.  Ethan Johnson was a 5 star player coming out of HS as a 3-4 DE.  It will be nice to see him moving back to the DE spot in this defense.  Kapron Lewis-Moore was a pleasant surprise this fall and I feel is perfect for the 3-4 DE spot.  When you add Sean Cwynar and Tyler Stockton to the mix you will see a solid 2 deep of talented players.  Cwynar was a bull in his limited minutes and the 3-4 will be a nice move for him.  I'm excited to see Tyler Stockton.  He's a great leverage player with an excellent first step and closing speed.  The wildcard is Emeka Nwankwo.  He's got the size and athletic ability you want but has never shown the toughness to play on the DL in college.  He is not a 4-3 player, so it will be interesting to see if he can crack the depth chart.  If Paddy Mullen comes back he should be able to provide a big body against the run in certain situations.

DE Ethan Johnson #9             6'4    280    Jr.      OR
Sean Cwynar #98              6'4    283    Jr. *    IL
Paddy Mullen #93             6'3    295    5th      MO

DE Kapron Lewis-Moore #89       6'4    270    Jr. *    TX
Tyler Stockton #92           6'1    290    Soph. *  NJ
Emeka Nwankwo #91            6'4    274    Sr. *    FL

NOSE GUARD:

Ian Williams showed great promise as a freshman NG in the 3-4 defense.  He has shown flashes the last two years but has never shown great consistency.  This past fall when allowed to play aggressively and in gaps he was excellent.  There were several games in which he flat dominated.  The Irish need him to anchor the front seven.  If he can be consistent week after week and snap after snap he'll go out with a bang.  There is little experience behind him but two big bodied players with ability.  Hafis Williams got some short yardage reps this season.  If he can continue to get in better shape, develop more strength, and be consistent with his motor he'll provide Ian Williams with a very good backup and give the Irish a NG of the future.  The same goes for Brandon Newman.  Newman is one player who should really benefit from the move to the 3-4 as he is a pure NG.  Newman has good quickness, plays with great leverage, and uses his hands well.  His issues are conditioning and consistency.

NG Ian Williams #95             6'2    295    Sr.      FL
Hafis Williams #79           6'2    295    Jr. *    NJ
Brandon Newman #99           6'1    295    Jr. *    KY

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER:

This is a position that is loaded with athletes.  The key here is Kerry Neal.  Neal is another player who showed great promise as a freshman as a 3-4 OLB.  He has underachieved the past two seasons and I feel it is because he has been asked to be something he is not, primarily a 4-3 DE.  Get him out a gap and I expect to see him become a true four down player.  The key for Neal will be streamlining his body, developing a body for the OLB position (as opposed to his extra bulked up DE body) and get his quickness back.  If this happens expect to see Neal emerge as a starter, I would guess as a strongside player at this point.  Neal was good in coverage in high school so if he does get back to his former self it would not surprise me to see him move to the OLB position that at times will work over TE's and in the slot.  Darius Fleming should blow up in the 3-4.  He is simply not a DE at 6'1 and 240 pounds, but did rack up 12 TFL's and 3 sacks as a DE.  Expect to see those numbers (especially the sack numbers) explode in this defense.  I would imagine Fleming will be the player who is primarily on the line and rushing the quarterback.  I truly believe if he stays healthy he could put up Justin Tuck numbers from 2004.  Steven Filer is an intriguing player in this defense.  He was a JLB in high school and I could see him there in this defense as well.  But he's a super athlete who might be just too good as a pass rusher to move away from the edge.  I would guess that Neal gets the first chance to earn the spot opposite Fleming, but Filer will push him and certain provide the Irish with great depth at the position.  These three players give the Irish three super athletic players at the OLB position.  Dan Fox might not be ready yet physically but he's long, athletic, was a good blitzer in HS, and is excellent in coverage.  When he is physically ready he has a chance to be a player for the Irish.

SLB Kerry Neal #56              6'2    250    Sr.      NC
Dan Fox #48                 6'3    230    Soph. *  OH

WLB Darius Fleming #45          6'1    240    Jr.      IL
Steven Filer #46            6'4    236    Jr.      IL

INSIDE LINEBACKER:

These two positions will be one of the top battles I watch as the spring and fall unfold.  By the end of the 2009 season Manti Te'o was clearly the best LB for the Irish.  He should start and be a standout, but where?  Te'o is big enough and strong enough to play the Mike position but he would be better served as the Jack.  Where he starts is a big question.  Where he moves effects who might be his inside partner.  If he is the Mike than Brian Smith and David Posluszny would likely have the best chance to start at the Jack position.  If Te'o is the Jack than Anthony McDonald and Carlo Calabrese will have a chance to push and perhaps beat out Brian Smith at the Mike position.  Brian Smith has the talent to be a standout and leader of this defense.  But up to this point he has been more bark than bite.  Smith absolutely MUST play with more fire and consistency.  At times the talent is shown on the field, at other times he lacks effort, plays high, shows poor play recognition, and does not hustle.  What is ironic is in the games where he talks to most leading into the game he plays the worst.  Smith will be a HUGE part of this defense.  If he can step up and be the player he is capable of the Irish will have two outstanding ILB's.  If he does not I expect to see Anthony McDonald and Carlo Calabrese push him at the Mike position.  Both players are pure Mike backers and will transition quite nicely to the 3-4.  McDonald has good instincts but must continue to get stronger at the point of attack.  Calabrese is a power player and I am excited to see what kind of player he can become.  Keep an eye on him this spring.

MLB Brian Smith #58             6'3    240    Sr.      KS
Anthony McDonald #54        6'2    230    Jr. *    CA
Carlo Calabrese #44         6'1    235    Soph. *  NJ

JLB Manti Te'o #5               6'2    244    Soph.    CA
David Posluszny #36         6'0    225    Jr. *    PA

SAFETY:

I am excited about the front seven and the cornerback position.  I am nervous about the safety position.  The Irish lack depth and do not have a single proven player.  Harrison Smith did well as a LB the last two years but struggled as a safety.  Was it the scheme, is he a late bloomer, does he just not have the instincts?  I know none of those answers.  What I do know is that Harrison Smith is a tremendous athlete with great length and range.  He will be a huge, huge key for the Irish defense.  If he can emerge at one of the safety spots it will go a long, long way to the Irish defense become a great one, which I truly believe it is capable of being.  Zeke Motta should have a great shot at the strong safety position assuming Smith moves back to free safety.  In a 3-4 the safeties have to be somewhat interchangable and Motta can do both but will be at his best down in the box, playing a half, and getting out in the slot.  He's a physical player with good athleticism.  He got some experience this fall and should be ready to emerge in the spring as a factor for one of the two safety positions.  Dan McCarthy is another talented athlete who was set back a bit by a severe neck injury.  He's another wildcard.  If he ready to start showing he is the player I hoped he could be, or will he get passed by?  The better McCarthy is the better this defense will be for two reasons.  One is he will push both Motta and Smith, two is the Irish will now have three safeties who can play.  E.J. Banks spent his freshman season recovering from a knee injury.  I expect to see him more to the free safety position, but he still might be a year away from contributing in the secondary.  Chris Badger gets a head start as an early enrollee.  He's a smart player, he's instinctive, he's physical, and he's a solid athlete.  These are the reasons I believe he'll emerge as a strong safety but he could also be a free safety.  How quickly he is ready remains to be seen, but keep an eye on him this spring.

SS Zeke Motta #17               6'2    215    Soph.    FL
Leonard Gordon #24           5'11   190    Sr.      KY
Chris Badger                 6'0    185    Fr.      UT

FS Harrison Smith #22           6'2    207    Sr. *    TN
Dan McCarthy #15             6'2    205    Jr. *    OH
E.J. Banks #27               5'11   185    Soph. *  PA

CORNERBACK:

This position is loaded with talent, but then again we said that heading into the 2009 season as well.  Expect to see Coach Diaco go back to a more 2007 style coverage scheme with more man schemes and the CB's playing more aggressively.  This should allow Darrin Walls and Robert Blanton, who both struggled in 2009, to regain their playmaking ability.  Both are good cover men, with Walls as a guy who can bump and Blanton as a guy who can play off man well.  By the end of last season Gary Gray was clearly the best cover corner for the Irish which was good to see after he struggle his first two years.  He was a highly regarded player so this should not come as a surprise.  The one area where Gray will have to improve if he wants to remain a starter and emerge as a standout is as a tackler.  He has to be more physical and learn to wrap up better.  Jamoris Slaughter is another standout athlete who is still learning to play cornerback.  There is a chance he could move back to safety, but I would love to see him stick at cornerback where his speed and toughness can be better used.  Perhaps either Slaughter or Blanton could move to free safety if either of the early enrollee freshman are ready to play. If I had a vote I'd go with Blanton who I believe could be more of a force at safety than Slaughter.

CB Darrin Walls #2              6'1    190    5th      PA
Jamoris Slaughter #26        6'0    185    Jr. *    GA 
Spencer Boyd                 5'10   175    Fr.      FL

CB Gary Gray #4                 5'11   190    Sr. *    SC
Robert Blanton #12           6'1    185    Jr.      NC
Lo Wood                      5'11   175    Fr.      FL

I have an article coming up later in the week breaking down the current roster in regards to their "fit" in Coach Kelly's offense.  Here is how I see the offensive recruits fitting into the system.  Needless to say I believe the talent coming into ND fits the system well.  Several recruits who I felt were good players before really become more valuable with the new system.  Bennett Jackson and Tai-ler Jones are the two main players I have in mind here.  I will do something on the defensive recruits once I know who the coordinator will be and/or what scheme the Irish will be running.

ANDREW HENDRIX, QB, OH: The Brian Kelly offense is quarterback driven, and Andrew Hendrix is one of the best in this class.  He has good size (6’2, 215), a big time arm, and is a good athlete.  The ideal quarterback in Kelly’s offense has the arm to push the ball downfield and attack teams vertically and should be able to also attack teams with the quick game, underneath routes, and crossing routes.  Hendrix has one of the strongest arms in this class but also has a very quick release.  This will allow him to attack teams vertically and make big plays downfield with his arm but also allow him to hurt teams on the medium to short routes as well.  Hendrix throws a great ball on the run, another key factor in the Kelly offense.  I do not expect to see Hendrix being used as a pure runner, but he certainly has the quickness, speed, and strength to hurt teams with his running skills.  He can buy time with his legs to get the ball downfield, he can carry the ball on designed runs, and if given a hole can use his athletic skills to make plays with his feet.  Hendrix to me is the perfect fit for the Brian Kelly offense.

TOMMY REES, QB, IL: At 6’2, 195 Rees does have the same great size as Hendrix, nor does he have the arm.  What Rees does have is a quick release, solid footwork in the pocket, accuracy, and experience in a shotgun based offense.  Despite not having a top flight arm, Rees is still able to push the ball downfield.  He makes quick reads, gets rid of the ball quickly, and has confidence in his ability.  Rees reminds me of Tony Pike in that he is not going to beat too many teams with his running ability, but is mobile enough and quick enough to buy time in the pocket as he scans downfield.  Rees appears to be a smart quarterback, which is arguably the most desirable trait in this offense.

CAMERON ROBERSON, RB, CA: I really like Roberson.  He’s one of the most underrated backs in the country.  Despite lacking elite speed Roberson has enough speed to make big plays.  He’s a one cut and go runner who is at his best attacking downhill between the tackles.  Roberson also is able to attack the perimeter.  I like that he is able to get to full speed at the snap, attacks the line with authority, and runs with good pad level.  He has good vision, good quickness, and very good power.  Roberson has the skill set to do everything Kelly asks of his running backs as he can also catch the football out of the backfield.  Roberson will need to learn to run from the gun.  If he is able to develop the ability to run from the gun I believe Roberson has a chance to be an excellent college running back.  He is going to surprise some people.

GIOVANNI BERNARD, RB, FL: Bernard on the other hand has plenty of experience running from the gun.  Bernard has good foot quickness, great lower body strength, great leg drive, uses his long arms to execute a great stiff arm, and is hard to bring down.  He is able to run through defenders but also has the agility to make defenders miss in open space.  What makes him so good out of the gun is that he is patient, allows the play to develop, and then bursts through the hole.  Backs cannot be too quick in the gun, and Bernard has a knack for knowing when to attack hard and when to let the play happen before he takes off.  Bernard is also a good blocker, which is something any back in Kelly’s offense must do.  Bernard is ideally suited for the shotgun rushing attack of Coach Kelly’s offense.  His one knock is a lack of speed, but he makes up for that with good vision and power out of the gun.

TAI-LER JONES, WR, GA: I have always liked Jones as a prospect, when Brian Kelly was hired at Notre Dame my excitement about Jones’ future intensified.  I felt that Jones could be a good slot player in a pro-style offense, but let’s be honest, the slot player in Coach Weis’ offense was never a huge impact player.  That is why I felt that defense and special teams would be where Jones made his greatest impact.  In the offense that Kelly runs Jones is the ideal receiver.  It’s an offense where the slot players have just as much impact as the outside receivers.  In this offense Jones can play inside or outside, but I truly believe he could excel inside.  He has the speed to beat teams deep, he has the foot quickness to become a dangerous route runner, and he is very dangerous after the catch.  He will be difficult to guard on the many crossing routes which will allow Jones to use his speed and quickness to run away from defenders.  As he develops as a route runner he will be very hard to stop inside.  Jones is the type of player you design ways to get the ball in his hands.  He still has the skill set (foot quickness, fluid hips, speed, ball skills) to move to cornerback, but at this point I would love to see him stick at wide receiver.  Jones also has big time potential as a punt returner.

BENNETT JACKSON, WR, NJ: Jackson is another player who should benefit greatly from the hiring of Brian Kelly.  For similar reasons I just mentioned regarding Tai-ler Jones, his skill set fits perfectly for Coach Kelly’s offense.  Jackson has a solid build (6’1, 165), very good agility, good ball skills, and can make plays after the catch thanks to his quickness and vision.  With work he should also develop into a solid route runner, although he is raw at this point.  Jackson reminds me a lot of D.J. Woods, who has been a solid player already under Kelly.  Jackson made a lot of plays at Raritan out of the backfield, on screens, and in the return game.  Kelly’s offense is excellent at getting players in open space with the football.  This is where Jackson is dangerous.  His arms are long for a player of his height and combined with his leaping ability and balls skills he should be effective going up after the football.  If he had better speed he would be more highly regarded, but that should not stop him from developing into a productive college football player.  Like Jones, expect him to be given an opportunity to return kicks.

DANIEL SMITH, WR, IN: Smith is a versatile player who could end up at wide receiver or on defense.  He should serve as the perfect compliment in this class to the faster and more agile players Jones and Jackson.  Smith lacks great speed and quickness but he does have tremendous leaping ability, body control, and ball skills.  This will make him a threat on the outside when combined with his size (6’4, 205).  Smith projects as the prototype possession receiver in this offense who will be effective working over the middle and provides a big target on 3^rd downs. 

ALEX WELCH, TE, OH: It is not quite as clear how well Alex Welch fits into the Kelly offense, but in the end I do believe he’ll be a solid fit.  Welch has a very nice frame for a college tight end at 6’5, 225.  If Kelly does what I expect him to with his tight ends (move them around but also allow them to play on the edge) than Welch will have a smooth transition.  Welch is a pass first tight end in high school.  He’s a solid athlete who can work the middle of the field and be a big target in the seams.  Do not be surprised to see Welch learn to use his athletic ability and size to attack teams on the outside as well.  Welch already has a good knack for working against the zone.  His strong hands will allow him to make the tough catches.  He also has good hands and has good enough feet to be a good route runner as well.  Welch has good ball skills on the deep ball which will allow him to be a weapon down the field as well.  He must develop as a blocker, but Kelly’s offense translates well to what he can do as a blocker. 

CHRISTIAN LOMBARD, OL, IL: Lombard is a solid right tackle prospect in Kelly’s offense.  Lombard is a tough player with a great frame.  I have a feeling that after a year or two in a college weight room Lombard is going to become a very big and strong football player.  He is raw from a technical standpoint (needs a lot of work with his footwork and use of hands), but when he gets coached up I expect to see Lombard become a powerful run blocker.  He has a good first step, plays with a good base, and when he gets his hands on defenders they are finished.  If he is able to improve as a pass blocker he will turn into a very good college player.  If Kelly wants his bigger power players inside Lombard is agile enough to play guard as well.  As I mentioned, the one thing holding him back from being an elite prospect is simply how raw of a player he is.  His footwork is not good and at times it makes him look slow, but he is not.  This is a big reason I am so high on him, I truly believe once he gets coached better technique he will truly explode and give the Irish depth, size, and power.

Right now the Irish have 18 verbal commitments.  As it stands right now this is a solid class of football players and keeping all of them in the fold will give Brian Kelly a far superior recruiting class to the one Charlie Weis inherited.  It is a priority that the new Irish head man keep these 18 prospects committed.  Of second importance is for Coach Kelly to go out and bring in a few more players.  Here is my list of the top players left on the board for the Irish to go after, the order is not all that important as all 15 of these kids would be great pickups for the Irish:

1. DIETRICH RILEY, S/ATH – Riley is one of my favorite players in this entire class, Notre Dame prospect or not.  The thing I love about Riley is he is just a football player.  He has good size, length, he’s a fluid athlete, and as a safety he has a chance to be a special player.  Riley is a ball hawk, can cover, can support the run, and is an impact player.  On top of the fact Riley is a super talent, the Irish have a huge need at safety.  They have serious depth issues and they need an infusion of talent.  Riley would provide both and is one of the players I can see competing for time as a freshman. KEY COMPETITORS: USC, Tennessee, Florida

2. SEANTREL HENDERSON, OL – If Coach Kelly were somehow able to land Henderson he would not only land one of the better players in the country at a position of great need, he would also prove immediately that he can go against the big boys and bring home super talents.  Henderson is a gifted tackle prospect who I expect to really explode as a player once he stops playing basketball.  On top of that the Irish have a huge need for linemen in this class, and you don’t get any better than Henderson.   He’s tall, long, comes from an offense that throws the football, and he’s a really good athlete. KEY COMPETITORS: Ohio State, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Florida, USC, Miami, Iowa

3. ANTHONY BARR, ATHLETE – I have no idea what position Anthony Barr will play for Brian Kelly.  To be honest, I do not care.  I always loved Barr and truly believe he is one of the nation’s elite players, but I never felt he would find a home under Coach Weis.  Coach Kelly will find a place for Barr, whether it is on offense or defense.  Barr is too talented not to go hard after.  He’s one of those kids you just love to have on your team and you just figure out a place for him to play once he gets on campus. KEY COMPETITORS: UCLA

4. CHRIS MARTIN, DE/OLB – Martin is worth making a phone call too.  If he listens you go hard after him, if he doesn’t you move on.  Despite some issues with consistency that I saw as a senior, there is still no mistaking Martin’s talent.  Whether ND runs the 4-3 or the 3-4 a player like him will fit in either system as a pass rusher.  I personally believe he’d be an excellent OLB in the 3-4, but his frame would also allow him to add the necessary size to be an excellent pass rusher from the 4-3 as well.  His length, quickness, and closing ability should allow him to really dominate at the next level, assuming he can be consistent.  Hopefully Martin will be willing to listen to Coach Kelly, and Coach Kelly can convince him to keep the Irish as an option. Living out in Colorado I was able to catch Martin on television and was once again impressed by his athletic ability for a player his size. KEY COMPETITORS: Florida, Oklahoma, USC, California

5. MARQUIS FLOWERS, S – I know that Flowers has dropped the Irish down on his list with the coaching change, but I hope the new coach and his staff can get Flowers back on board.  He’s another versatile player who could play running back, but I see projecting as a dominating strong safety.  Flowers is a long, rangy player with potential to be a big time playmaker at safety.  If Kelly were somehow able to land both Riley and Flowers to go along with Chris Badger he would hit a walk off grand slam in the secondary. KEY COMPETITORS: USC, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State

6. MATT JAMES, OT – James is an intriguing young man.  He had both Notre Dame and Cincinnati high on his list.  One would think Coach Kelly coming to Notre Dame would shoot the Irish way up his list.  We’ll see if that happens.  The Irish only have one OL commit at this point, and although Christian Lombard is a darn good one, they need more.  James is a solid prospect and would give the Irish more depth up front. KEY COMPETITORS: Ohio State, Florida, Cincinnati

7. BRUCE GASTON, DT – The Irish continue to need additional depth along their defensive line.  Gaston is a solid player who has significant upside.  If he can go to a program that will teach him better technique and light a fire under his tail to get him to play consistently, he has a chance to be a good one.  I like this kid quite a bit as a player and landing him would give the Irish a real solid DL class. KEY COMPETITORS: Purdue, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Arizona, Boston College

8. CHRISTIAN JONES, LB – You cannot have enough speed on your football team.  Jones has that and at 6’4 is a rangy sideline-to-sideline player.  Landing Jones does more for Coach Kelly than just landing a stud linebacker.  It also allows him to dip into Florida, a state Irish fans are hoping to see the new regime fair a bit better.  He’ll be hard to get away from Florida State, but it would be worth it to go after him, as landing him would be a home run.  KEY COMPETITORS: Florida State, Florida, Miami

9. COREY COOPER, WR/S – Add Cooper to the list of “football player.”  Right now he’s a better wide receiver, but I truly believe is best future position is at safety.  As a wide receiver Cooper is a big play threat who can beat teams deep with his speed, or use that same speed to make the short catch and take off for a big play.  As a safety he needs work with his technique in the run game, but he has tremendous range from the free safety position.  He’s an excellent football player and would be an excellent addition to the Irish recruiting class.  I’d love to see Notre Dame start to clean up in the state of Illinois. KEY COMPETITORS: Illinois

10. SEAN PARKER, S – There is no reason for Parker to be so good.  He’s a bit short, he’s not a super athlete, and he really has no trait that jumps out at you.  But then you watch his film and realize that despite all the factors that should keep him from being great, they don’t, and he’s excellent.  Parker is a bit of a combo safety who projects to either safety spot.  He seems to be a smart football player and seems to always be around the football.  Combine his talent with the Irish’s lack of depth at safety and he, Riley, Flowers, and Cooper all become huge targets.  It’s hard to pick one over the others, as they would all make me very happy if they committed to ND. KEY COMPETITORS: USC, Michigan, Oregon, California

11. ARIE KOUANDJIO, OL – I’d like to see the Irish be able to dip into Maryland every now and then and land players.  On top of that Kouandjio is a good prospect at a position of need for the Irish.  He’s a large young man who should end up being a monster.  He’s raw, but he gives good effort, has long arms, and is a solid athlete for someone so big.  He can play tackle, but also has the size, strength, and mobility to move inside as well.  KEY COMPETITORS: Alabama, Miami, Maryland, Tennessee, California

12. E.J. FERGUSON, DT – If Coach Kelly is going to run the 3-4 Ferguson is a guy who would be very, very high only my list.  In the 4-3 he’s a bit of a tweener.  Not sure he’s good enough as a pass rusher to be a pure 4-3 DE, and I’m not sure his game suits the DT position.  Ferguson is real raw, but has a great frame and natural ability.  In the 3-4 he could really standout as a DE.  KEY COMPETITORS: Oklahoma, LSU, Maryland, Miami, South Carolina, Florida State, UCLA, California

13. BEAU ALLEN, DT – Allen would add depth to the interior of the Irish DL which is needed.  Allen does not have the natural athletic skills of a Gaston or Ferguson but he’s a high motor, high energy kid who reminds me of a bigger version of Pat Kuntz.  KEY COMPETITORS: Wisconsin, Stanford, Minnesota

14. HAYES PULLARD, LB – Pullard is too short to be considered a big time prospect, but whenever I watch his tape I can’t help myself, he’s just a darn good football player.  I am not sure where he’d play at Notre Dame, but I do not care.  As I said, he’s just a linebacker, and I’m sure he’ll find a way to get on the field.  The problem is that in the 3-4 I’m not sure where he fits, but if Kelly decides to run the 4-3, or a multiple 3-4, Pullard is a kid who could excel in that defense with his speed and motor.  He’s really a darn good player. KEY COMPETITORS: UCLA, USC, Arizona State, Washington

15. BRANDON LINDER, OL – My hopes of landing Linder have gone down in the last week which is why he is lower on my list.  I love this kids versatility. He could play tackle, guard, or center.  He’s long, has good natural quickness, and with some more technique work could develop into a real nice lineman.  I’d like to see him inside at either guard or center. If for some reason ND is able to land this young man I would be very, very pleased. KEY COMPETITORS: Miami

I have no clue who the next head coach will be at Notre Dame.  I don't pretend to have any sources, I don't pretend to have any inside scoop, and I honestly could care less about all the rumors flying around about who the coach will be.  I'm sitting back, waiting for the next coach to be officially named, and then I will give my views on what that coach can or cannot do at Notre Dame.  So this blog about Brian Kelly has no relevance as far as whether or not he will be the next coach at Notre Dame.  I don't have a clue.  I think Brian Kelly would do a great job at Notre Dame, but there are several other coaches I think would do well at Notre Dame as well. 

But as the Brian Kelly rumors continue to float around and Notre Dame fans respond I am absolutely amazed at some of the negative feedback that Kelly is receiving.  Some of it is simply misguided, some of it is snobbery, some of it is downright hateful.  The rumors that are flying around about his past, his background, and his off the field life are sickening.  It's shameful in fact.  It saddens me that Notre Dame fans are participating in such talk.  I expected more from Notre Dame fans.  What is even more dumbfounding to me is the constant attacks on him as a football coach.  That is just lunacy.

Look, I could throw stats all over the place about how good his offenses have been, defenses have been, special teams have been, and how well he has done compared to previous regimes at his last two stops.  None of it really matters, nor is any of it all that relevant.  There are some statistical nuggets that make for good discussions, but when truly evaluating Brian Kelly as a football coach they really do not matter to me.  I have been fortunate to watch several Cincinnati games over the last three years and I can tell you this, whether or not he is the right "fit" for Notre Dame aside, Brian Kelly is flat out one of the best football coaches in the country.

When one watches Cincinnati, whether they like his schemes or not, what one cannot deny without losing credibility, is that Brian Kelly's football teams are very, very well coached.  This season I have seen his undersized OL that lacks any real talent continue to perform week in and week out.  I see that unit show great fight, despite being undersized and outmanned.  I see that unit play with excellent technique.  I see that unit executing their assignments at a relatively high level.  I see his backs, when called upon, make alot of plays, read their keys, and run hard.  I see their quarterbacks attack opponents, I see their quarterbacks move in the pocket, I see their quarterbacks making great decisions.  In 381 attempts this season the Cincinnati quarterbacks have only thrown 5 interceptions against 33 touchdowns.  Those are great numbers.  I see their starting QB go down with an injury and I see Kelly bring in his backup, who is different in style, and continue their offensive dominance.  I see their WR's run good routes.  I see their WR's block hard.  I see their WR's attacking the zone, attacking man defenses, and getting open week after week.  I see an offense that in 11 games has only turned the football over 7 times all season.  That's tremendous, and I bet if you asked Kelly he'd focus on the mistakes made in those 7, rather than focus on the fact his team simply does not turn the ball over compared to most programs.  Their offense is aggressive, they get after opponents, and when they sense an opponent is on the verge of going down they go HARD after them and look to bury teams.  They play to win!

Defensively Cincinnati has been spotty at times this fall, but I have been impressed with the job done the coaches at Cincinnati.  After losing 10 starters last fall Kelly looked at his team, analyzed his talent, and realized he had to make a change.  His talent dictated it.  So he fired a successful DC and hired Bob Diaco to install a 3-4 defense.  Despite losing 10 starters, and another starting LB early in the year, the Cincinnati defense still only gives up 18.6 points per game.  When I watch them I see a bunch of young men who play hard, fly to the football, and bring it week in and week out.  Even when allowing Illinois to go for almost 500 yards their players kept hitting, kept attacking Illinois, and made enough plays to allow the team to win.  I see a team who needs work, but one that has alot of promise considering the fact one of their starting LB's is a former QB at Notre Dame.  I'd like to see this unit force more TO's, but overall they have done a very good job this fall, and the reason is not talent, it's coaching.  They have gotten to the QB quite often (11th in sacks), they get great penetration (2nd nationally in TFL's), and they keep teams out of the end zone.  Those are huge keys for me.

The special teams at Cincinnati are excellent.  Their return game is very, very dangerous.  Their coverage units are solid, although they could use some work.  But the fact is when you watch them they play hard on ST and they are obviously well coached. 

I do not know if Brian Kelly will be the next coach at Notre Dame.  I do not know if he would be a great coach at Notre Dame.  What I do know is this, right now, as the Head Coach of Cincinnati, Brian Kelly has proved to be one of the games best coaches.  Few coaches have won as many games, none have done so with such little elite talent.  Brian Kelly is a tremendous football coach and if he is named the HC at Notre Dame I would hope fans would do their homework, watch his Cincinnati teams, and realize they are lucky to get someone who coaches at such a high level.