David Braun Has High Praise for Chip Kelly and Northwestern’s Offense

David Braun knew exactly what he was getting when he brought Chip Kelly to Northwestern.

One of the most creative offensive minds in college football history was coming to Evanston, and Braun has learned that sometimes the best thing he can do is simply let Kelly work.

Braun recently discussed his relationship with Kelly and the communication throughout Northwestern’s coaching staff. He acknowledged that there have been moments when Kelly’s approach has taken him outside his comfort zone, but that has also helped Braun realize why he hired him in the first place.

“The clarity that’s come to me is you don’t hire one of the most creative football minds in college football history and try and box that in,” Braun said. “You let that creativity flow.”

Through four games, Northwestern is beginning to see exactly what that creativity can produce.

Kelly was hired in December to completely reshape a Northwestern offense that had struggled to consistently produce in recent years. At the time, Braun called the move a “program-defining change” and praised Kelly’s ability to use different tempos, develop quarterbacks and maximize the talent around him. 

So far, the results have been encouraging.

Northwestern has scored 132 points through four games, tied for the fifth-most through four games in program history. More importantly, Kelly’s offense has shown it can win in several different ways. 

Against Indiana, Aidan Chiles was asked to take control through the air. He completed 22-of-29 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground as Northwestern nearly completed an upset of the No. 5 Hoosiers.

One week later, Kelly completely changed the approach.

Penn State had to deal with a Northwestern rushing attack that exploded for 413 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-13 victory. Caleb Komolafe rushed for 188 yards, Joseph Himon II added 162 and Aidan Chiles contributed another rushing touchdown. It was Northwestern’s highest rushing total in a game since 2003 and the most by a Big Ten team against an FBS opponent this season. 

That ability to change from week to week is what makes Kelly’s offense so interesting.

Defenses cannot simply prepare for one thing.

Northwestern has shown it can put the game in Chiles’ hands and attack through the air. It can turn around the following week and allow Komolafe, Himon and the offensive line to take over on the ground.

Kelly has several different weapons, and he continues finding ways to use them. Braun deserves credit for allowing that to happen.

Head coaches naturally want to know exactly what their team is going to look like. But instead of trying to control every aspect of Kelly’s offense, Braun has embraced the creativity that made Kelly such an intriguing hire in the first place.

That requires communication and trust between a head coach and his coordinators.

Braun has spoken highly of the communication throughout his entire staff, but his relationship with Kelly is especially important considering how much responsibility the veteran offensive coordinator has been given.

And that trust appears to be growing alongside the offense.

Northwestern is now 3-1, with its only loss coming by six points on the road against No. 5 Indiana. The Wildcats responded by putting up 506 total yards and dominating Penn State in the first game at New Ryan Field. 

There is still plenty of football left to play, and Kelly’s offense will face different challenges as Northwestern moves deeper into its Big Ten schedule.

But four games into the experiment, Braun’s decision to let one of college football’s most creative offensive minds be creative is looking pretty good.

Northwestern wanted a completely different offensive identity when it hired Kelly. The Wildcats are starting to see it take shape.