Brian Kelly Talks Notre Dame’s Win Over Temple

Brian Kelly talked about Notre Dame’s season opening victory over Temple directly after the game yesterday.  Here are some notes on what Kelly had to say along with video of the entire press conference.

• Kelly talked about the defense not allowing points or big plays and how they make opposing offenses play mistake free football.  Temple moved the ball at times throughout the game but only put the ball into the endzone once. 
• 10 freshman played against Temple – Tarean Folston, Greg Bryant, Jaylon Smith, Cole Luke, Max Redfield, Corey Robinson, Will Fuller, James Onwualu, Isaac Rochell, and Devin Butler
• Overall Kelly was pleased with the play of Tommy Rees but did say that he did miss some throws and he knows that he can play better.
• DaVaris Daniels had a slight groin injury that caused him to come out of the game.  Kelly said that Daniels could have went back into the game if need be, but they didn’t want to risk any further injury.  It sounds like Daniels status for next week against Michigan is not in doubt.
• Kelly said that Jaylon Smith played like a freshman against Temple.  He said he played with great speed and athleticism but was out of place at times and still has a lot of room for improvement. “He’s got great speed and athleticism.  But he’s got a lot of work to do as well in terms of being in the right place, forcing the football, being in the curl.  He missed the curl a couple of times, but I’m sure glad he’s on our football team.”
• The safety communication was very good according to Kelly.  He specifically praised Austin Collinsworth and Matthias Farley for communicating all of the proper calls. “Yeah, what I like was the safety communication was outstanding.  I thought Collinsworth did a very nice job of working with Matthias Farley, in particular, get eight lost our calls in.”
• Kelly doesn’t know who will be his kicker for the Michigan game this weekend.  He said he will need a couple days to figure that out.
• Kelly described the play of TJ Jones as “dynamic” after the catch.  As a punt returner, Kelly said that Jones made one bad decision to not field a punt early on, but credited with him a tough catch late in traffic late in the game.
• Kelly said that he should have kept Cam McDaniel in the game for the touchdown that George Atkinson got in the second half.  McDaniel carried the load on that drive but came out after getting down to the two yard line.
• Notre Dame distributed the ball well – something that Kelly has said he wanted to see all summer long.  “You’re going to see a lot of guys contribute offensively.  I think it’s for the better.  I really do.  I think it gives us great balance across the board.”
• Inside linebacker play was spotty in the first half, but improved in the second half.  “So, again, the playing volume‑wise, Fox and Calabrese, their volume was way up.  But I thought in the second half they played much, much better.”
• Kelly said he was OK with letting Temple dink and dunk down the field and never felt the needed to tell Bob Diaco to bring pressure to get the ball back.  He said that he felt comfortable that the offense was going to score enough points not to need to dial up much pressure defensively.
• Kelly was pleased with Troy Niklas’s play – specifically his blocking.  “He was an outstanding blocker for us today.  We asked him to block on the perimeter.  He did a great job today.”