Notre Dame Football: Why QB Battle Is Least of Brian Kelly's Worries

There are a number of things keeping Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly up at night, which was the headline of an article I published nearly three weeks ago.

Contrary to popular belief, the raging quarterback controversy is the least of Kelly's worries.

Readers may think this writer is clinically insane for saying so, but I say so for good reason.

The third-year head coach knows that no matter whom he chooses as his starting quarterback, the player will be a highly talented one. That thought is, far and away, a safety net for Brian Kelly.

The following slides outline what Kelly should really be worried about.

Enjoy.

Michael Floyd Must Be Replaced

Now that Michael Floyd has graduated from Notre Dame and moved on to the NFL, Brian Kelly must ease his offense into the post-Floyd era.

Not a single player on the roster is capable of matching Floyd's eye-popping numbers, but a committee approach is the most feasible solution to replacing the all-universe receiver.

The top candidates for this so-called committee include unproven receivers John Goodman, Daniel Smith and DaVaris Daniels.

Goodman could potentially have a breakout type season, but that seems doubtful after having been on campus for four full seasons. What Goodman does have going for himself is the chance to prove that he truly deserved a fifth season of eligibility.

Smith, on the other hand, has been unable to avoid the injury bug through two full seasons in South Bend. What intrigues fans the most about Smith is his tremendous size, at 6'4" and 215 pounds.

Yet the most promising player to help fans forget about Michael Floyd is redshirt freshman DaVaris Daniels. The Vernon Hills, Illinois native wowed his coaches at the Irish's simulated combine, posting numbers on par with NFL prospects.

But at the end of the day, each of these three receivers will have to prove themselves on the field.

Will the Irish Be Able to Return Punts in 2012?

Notre Dame ended the 2011 campaign as one the worst punt returning teams in the nation.

In fact, the Irish were so abysmal in the return game, that they finished the 2011 regular season with a combined total of three punt return yards. That's right, I said three.

In order to find a solution to that nagging problem, Brian Kelly divvied up the special teams coaching responsibilities among his staff, rather than place Mike Elston as the sole leader of special teams.

The shared responsibility may not solve the problem, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.

Having dynamite play-makers returning punts also helps, so the addition of Davonte Neal will be a welcome one, to say the least.

Aaron Lynch Is No Longer with the Irish

Aaron Lynch's highly scrutinized decision to transfer from Notre Dame to South Florida gave the media story angles for weeks. One angle was seemingly ignored, and that was how the Irish defensive line would fare without Lynch.

It's no mystery that Lynch's monstrous presence will be missed in 2012. The 6'6", 270-pound behemoth brings an element to the game that few players are able to match.

But the Irish defensive line will remain a fearsome unit in 2012.

Fifth-year senior defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore will slide into Lynch's starting role, opposite Stephon Tuitt. Lewis-Moore certainly isn't Aaron Lynch, but he's still a tremendous talent, nonetheless.

Add in nose tackle Louis Nix, and you have yourself a solid defensive line.

An Inexperienced Secondary Will Be Thrown into the Fire

The onus is on Brian Kelly and defensive coordinator Bob Diaco to prepare their defensive secondary for a season in which it will face the likes of USC's Matt Barkley, Oklahoma's Landry Jones and that pesky quarterback from Michigan, also known as Denard Robinson.

Bennett Jackson and Lo Wood would trot onto the field as Notre Dame's starting cornerbacks if the season started today. Neither of the two has started a game while at Notre Dame, which likely has opposing offensive coordinators licking their chops.

Making matters worse is the limited number of players available at cornerback. Only five players appear on the depth chart, including former running back Cam McDaniel.

The secondary will have a strong leader, though. Safety Jamoris Slaughter is back for a fifth season, and will be the anchor of this young group.

Are the Turnovers a Thing of the Past?

As I stated in an article published earlier this week, Notre Dame would have been a BCS participant had it not turned the ball over at such a staggering rate.

The Irish finished the 2011 season ranked 116th in the FBS in turnover margin, at -1.2.

A hefty number of those gut wrenching turnovers came from the quarterback position, a position that is currently in the process of a significant overhaul.

Should the next starting quarterback make smart decisions with the football, the turnover plague will be a thing of the past for the Fighting Irish. If not, Notre Dame could very well be in for another long season.