Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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32 DECEMBER 2016 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED W here does Notre Dame go after a 4-8 season? One thing is for sure: the to-do list for head coach Brian Kelly won't be short. Notre Dame held a lead in 11 of 12 games this season, the exception a rain-soaked loss to North Carolina State. The collapses were numerous — blown double-digit advan- tages against Duke, Stanford, Miami and Virginia Tech. Senior linebacker James Onwualu was asked what one ingredient he would add to the 2017 team. "It's tough, because it could be so many different things," Onwualu said. "If I were to give you an answer though, just being able to step on a team's throat. Finish them. We played good ball, but it was too sporadic. "Just be consistent and knowing how to turn the jets on and really blow a team out." The talent was there in 2016. The Irish have recruited at or near a top-10 level during the past four seasons and flashed their potential throughout the year. But as Kelly repeated at nearly every press briefing, his team was inconsistent, un- able to put together complete games. Notre Dame's wealth of problems in all three phases brought Kelly's job security into question late in the season, but the 55-year-old said he's not surprised by those rumors. "When you've been in this busi- ness a long time, you think that you've got a track record of what you've done," Kelly said. "But you're also at a high-profile institution like Notre Dame where the expectations are really high. So you're going to have to answer those questions when you have a year like this." The Irish will lose several starters — most notably, Onwualu, corner- back Cole Luke, nose guard Jarron Jones and defensive end Isaac Ro- chell — though that list could grow. Four Notre Dame players submit- ted their names to the NFL Draft Ad- visory Board — a group that offers guidance to potential pro prospects. Junior quarterback DeShone Kizer, ju- nior offensive guard Quenton Nelson, junior linebacker Nyles Morgan and senior left tackle Mike McGlinchey will all get feedback on their futures. McGlinchey, a team captain who has already stated he intends to return in 2017, could be an anchor alongside Nelson should they come back. "It's obviously something to think about, but I don't think it'll change my mind," McGlinchey said. "… I've been pretty clear on what I'm doing next year, but we'll see what happens." Kizer, meanwhile, hasn't tipped his hand either way. He's said he'll speak with his family and make a decision on whether he returns to lead the Irish redemption tour in 2017. Kelly's job security came under question while the Irish struggled to a 4-8 finish. "This season was a decent represen- tation of who I am as an athlete," said Kizer, who is attractive to pro teams because of his strong arm and solid frame. "Whatever they choose to do with that one report is what they choose to do. "There's a lot more infor- mation we're going to have to bring in before we actually make a final decision." It's likely that the coaching staff sees some turnover. Kelly had stated previously he plans on interviewing both internal and external candidates for the defensive coordinator position — held by Greg Hudson in an interim role since the firing of Brian VanGorder Sept. 25. It also would not be sur- prising if Kelly makes a change at the special teams spot, a staff position that dra- matically underperformed in 2016 and cost Notre Dame several games, including the season finale against USC. "Everything's on the ta- ble," Kelly said. "I have to evaluate a lot of things within the program. There are some really good things in place. I've always felt that the blend of continuity and change is the sweet spot. And for me, we need to clearly look at where that is because it was off. "I need to clearly look at where that mix is of continuity and change." Kelly repeatedly has used youth — specifically the back end of his re-tooled defense — as an alibi for the team's struggles. That experience from 2016 should greatly benefit the Irish next season, though the pres- sure will undoubtedly be turned up on Kelly in the coming months. "You're going to have to answer those questions when you have a year like this," Kelly said of his job security. "One side of you says, 'Look, this is my 25th year, I know what I'm doing.' "But on the other side of it, you can't be surprised that when you go 4-8 that you're going to get those questions asked as well." ✦ ON THE IRISH BEAT MATT JONES Staff writer Matt Jones has been with Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2016. He can be reached at mjones@blueandgold.com. Notre Dame's To-Do List Long Entering 2017 Head coach Brian Kelly, who completed his seventh season at Notre Dame with a 4-8 record and now has a career mark of 59-31, indicated his desire to return to rectify the multitude of problems that resulted in such disappointment. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA