5 days and counting. There are just 5 more days until the Bulls take the field in South Bend in one of the biggest games in program history (the word excited does not explain how we are feeling right now).
As we prepare for this contest and begin digging into the Notre Dame team, we should take some time to look at who the coaches are at Notre Dame. While the players make the plays on the field, it is the play calling and decision making of the men on the sideline that can make or break a game or a program.
Notre Dame has had some historic coaches during its day (Holtz anyone?) and now the job has been handed to head coach Brian Kelly to lead the way for the Irish. [keep reading]
Brian Kelly is entering his second season as head coach of the Irish. After leaving Cincinnati right before their bowl game two years ago (classy move on his part) Kelly took the helm from Charlie Weis and led the Irish to a bowl victory over Miami (we can do that too). USF has history against Kelly when he was the head coach at Cincinnati, so the team should know a little bit of what to expect from him.
Kelly has done a solid job at Notre Dame, turning the defense into a solid unit and implementing his spread offense that has brought energy back to the fan base.
Kelly's offense averaged 26.3 points per game last season, including 253.1 yards per game in the air and 126.1 yards on the ground per game. While Crist and Rees were not the prototypical spread offense quarterbacks that Kelly likes to use, they made his system work and the offense reflected it.
Kelly continues to recruit well and has a talented team that is ready for a big season and has set BCS bowl expectations in just his second season.
Bob Diaco is the defensive coordinator, he is entering his second season with Kelly on the sidelines (followed him to South Bend). Diaco changed the defensive make-up of the ND defense, going from the 4-3 to the 3-4 in their first season.
The defense responded and late in the year, began to shut down opponents and slow everything down. They allowed 215 passing yards per game and 142.1 rushing yards per game (might be able to get something against them on the ground this year).
The strength of Diaco's defense is the linebacking group led by Manti Te'o, one of the best players in the country. The defensive is very active and is expecting to be better this season (first test of the year is our skill players, should be fun to watch).
Charley Molnar is the offensive coordinator for Brian Kelly, entering his second season as well.
Molnar calls the shots of the spread offense for Kelly and has done a solid job with Dayne Crist. Crist is a traditional pocket passer and is not that mobile (plus coming off of major knee surgery). Molnar has worked to adjust the offense and help Crist find the big time play makers down the field. With Michael Floyd back on the field (absolute joke that he is not suspended), the offense should be firing on all cylinders.
So these are the three main coaches for Notre Dame that South Florida fans should know for the game. The Irish will come out throwing in this game, such is the style of Kelly and Molnar. Crist will look for Floyd and Riddick all day (Team No Fly Zone will be very busy in this game). The defense of the Irish, under Diaco, brings a 3-4 package, meaning the offensive line will have to be ready for new looks in blitzes.
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