The first season for the Irish under Brian Kelly has been anything but smooth. It started well enough, even the losses to Michigan and Michigan State could be explained away with a simple "Well if Crist had played the whole game we would have beaten Michigan." and "Fake field goal in overtime, REALLY?!?!?!?"
The last two weeks though have left me scratching my head. First, they get absolutely manhandled by Navy. Apparently the Pope called the Irish and ordered them not to tackle the fullback for religious reasons. But at least that was away from Notre Dame Stadium.
Last week against Tulsa, at home, was absolutley inexcusable. Sure, like the Michigan game, Crist was lost to injury early, but Rees played well enough for them to win. My issue is with the play call at the end of the game that led to the final interception. The Irish are in position for a 36 yard field goal. Their kicker has made 18 straight kicks, a Notre Dame record. The ball is positioned in the middle of the field, and what does Brian Kelly do? Well certainly he just ran the ball up the middle, used one of his remaining timeouts and kicked the field goal for a 30-28 victory. WRONG!!!!!
Kelly, whose freshman quarterback has already shown a propensity in this very game to force a pass for an interception, calls a pass play. Right on cue, Tommy Rees responds by throwing a jump ball in the end zone in the general direction of Michael Floyd for a Tulsa interception.
I am sure there are some who will say, "But the defense didn't get off the field when they had Tulsa third and 26 on the previous drive." That is true, but, the fact of the matter is that the offense had driven the ball down into a position to win the game. Brian Kelly has got to recognize the personnel he has on the field and not put the freshman quarterback in a position to even attempt that throw.
It reminded me of what had happened so many times under Charlie Weis. The apparent inability to be satisfied with winning a game ugly. Weis would keep throwing the ball even when the situation dictated a run, and oftentimes it led to more time being on the clock for the opposition to mke a final game winning drive.
I like Brian Kelly, and I am not giving up on him under the golden dome by any means, but Brian, please, next time, RUN THE BALL!!!!
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