It's not easy getting college football coaches to honestly comment on another coach, player or team. Most coaches don't want to give opposing teams billboard material, which is why there is a lot of coach speak or overused cliches used throughout the offseason or regular season.

In order to get an accurate assessment of teams heading into 2017, Athlon asked coaches around the nation to talk anonymously about their opponents.

Note: These scouting reports come directly from coaching staffs and do not necessarily reflect the views of Athlon's editorial staff.

Coaches Anonymously Scout Notre Dame for 2017

“You’ll have a lot of first-year hires coaching to save their boss’ job." .

"Offensively it’s Brian Kelly’s show, but there’s a lot of debate if that’s the right move going forward."

"When they’re good Kelly has a staff that blends with him well. When he struggles, the staff is not on the same page. The players don’t play with confidence, and he gets frustrated. You could see that disconnect with their defense especially."

"If Kelly and Chip Long can get along well and Chip can understand it’s still Brian’s offense and understand he will come in at the last minute and change the game plans up to fit his style, it could work. You’re a co-OC at best there."

"Mike Elko is a great hire for them. Just blow up the 4-3 (Brian) VanGorder ran and show new looks in Week 1."

"We haven’t seen Notre Dame dominate recruiting like some think they still should, but this was a good football team in bad situations last season. They’ve been changing their message up on the recruiting trail to compensate."

"The fallout from 2017 is now you’re installing new schemes on both sides and asking the kid (Brandon Wimbush) to be a first-year savior."

"There’s talent all over this team on offense, look at a player like Alize Mack."

"Things got stale last season. From the outside it looked a lot like a NFL attitude on their sideline for the last couple seasons. That can’t work with 18-year-olds. Their systems broke down, but they’re not broken.”