Post Game Impressions

[RDU Irish]

So I timed Tuitt at 9.5 seconds on his 77 yard return which I translate to a 12.3 second 100 yard dash. Not bad for a 300 pounder in full pads and knee braces, probably one of the more impressive things I saw all weekend. And who can't smile when a D-lineman gets in the endzone!

I see Cierre , Riddick and GAIII splitting carries. There is very little point of keeping any of them off the field. Cierre and Riddick will probably be on the field at the same time frequently.

IMO -
Cierre provides the best pass protection, Theo second, GAIII distant third.

GAIII provides best game breaking ability, Cierre second, Theo third (by what is proven, not hyped).

Theo is probably the best reciever, Cierre second and GAIII third (not much to judge GAIII on yet).

Add it all up and I see Cierre as the #1 guy, Theo #2 and GAIII #3 overall. Pass protection trumps A LOT and Cierre is not far behind in the other areas. All are made better by being fresh and humble enough to be happy spreading the ball around. If each gets ten touches a game, I am OK with it.

 

[NDhoosier]

i like the breakdown RDU, and I agree, I still think Wood is the best overall back, but Riddick and GAIII both give us solid, if not game breaking, backs behind him... I LOVE that we have so many good RBs that we are debating over who should start... This is an argument I like to see on ND boards.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Start Tuitt at running back!

 

[UmphreakDomer]

Start Tuitt at running back!

goal line back. yup. im on board.

 

[NDTH91]

goal line back. yup. im on board.

Me too. Bus 2.0?

 

[Irish#1]

"Believe" what you wish. Coming out of high school Cierre was clocked at 4.5 and Theo 4.4. I have seen nothing to contradict those numbers. Belief has nothing to do with it.

Last year by his own admission Cierre and Jonas were a coin flip in side by side 40's. Jonas' lowest 40 time (as per nfldraftscout.com) is a 4.47.

I am not a Cierre Wood hater. I think he was very good last year. But Theo and GA III looked good (and let's face it the O-Line looked good to spring them over and over) and they will have one more week to impress. I cannot believe that CW has been getting the same number of reps in practice that he would normally get AND practice reps are in no way equivalent to carries during a real game. By week 3 Cierre will have a bit of rust to work out and he will be going against an MSU d which has had two real games to work out the kinks. That is reality. I would expect Theo to get the most carries vs. MSU while GAIII and Cierre split the remainder. After week three I would expect the coaches to go with the guy who is producing. Either way I am certain it will be a committee approach with all three getting their carries. I see that as a positive as it will reduce the wear and tear on all three guys. McDaniels looks good and in the event of an injury he looks like he could be a productive "next guy in".

When I posted that Cierre should be looking over his shoulder, I meant that as a compliment to Riddick, Atkinson and McDaniels not as a slight towards Cierre.

CW, TR GA-III, a nice problem to have.

 

[Chamellion]

Me too. Bus 2.0?

I'm not sure i want people going after his knees on goal line plays.

 

[koonja]

Given the recent debate with Cierre coming back as a starter or not, I asked Eric Hanson's take...

Comment From Jacob
Eric, do you have any insight as to whether or not Cierre will be listed as the starter after his 2-game? He seems to be our best 'bruiser', so to speak, and starting with MSU I think his size will be important right away.
12:42

Eric Hansen:
Cierre is going to have to earn it. Theo and GA3 looked pretty good in the opener. Let's see how they look in week 2, But I do not see him re-entering at the top of the depth chart next Monday.

 

[Irish To The Core]

Like I said, acceleration is different than speed. 40 times don't directly correlate with top end. Theo is extremely quick, great balance, and his acceleration after a cut is remarkable. I was just let down last year when he was in open space a few times and couldn't get home.

Can you cite even one time when he was run down from behind when he was in full stride? I certainly don't recall it happening. I recall him being caught by a db who chose an effective angle of pursuit and caught him. I also recall him being caught once when he had just planted, made a cut and was still accelerating when a defender who had been chasing him unhindered caught him. We were all disappointed but it says nothing about his maximum speed. If you are eliminating the only reasonable empirical measure we have for speed in favor of your memory of a few times when he let you down last year, then believe what you wish. Until you rent a high end radar and get some reliable readings you have only a feeling that Cierre is faster than Theo.

 

[FLDomer]

Can you cite even one time when he was run down from behind when he was in full stride? I certainly don't recall it happening. I recall him being caught by a db who chose an effective angle of pursuit and caught him. I also recall him being caught once when he had just planted, made a cut and was still accelerating when a defender who had been chasing him unhindered caught him. We were all disappointed but it says nothing about his maximum speed. If you are eliminating the only reasonable empirical measure we have for speed in favor of your memory of a few times when he let you down last year, then believe what you wish. Until you rent a high end radar and get some reliable readings you have only a feeling that Cierre is faster than Theo.

Not being a dick here but I can name a time. Navy last yr it was in the 1st half on a quick pass where he bounced to the outside on a block I believe by TJ and he went down the sidelines and was run down from behind.

 

[PANDFAN]

Not being a dick here but I can name a time. Navy last yr it was in the 1st half on a quick pass where he bounced to the outside on a block I believe by TJ and he went down the sidelines and was run down from behind.

you would be correct! it was terrible!!! even the commentators mentioned it saying how he was run down...he was easily on his way to a touchdown and boom out of nowhere the guy tracked his @ss down.

 

[irish1958]

And, perhaps the DB sub was a 4.3-40. Who knows?
Breaking tackles, especially arm tackles, is much more important for an every down back, as is blocking, picking up the blitz and catching relief passes from the backfield.

 

[jason_h537]

Haven't been on so here is my post game impressions.

- The O-Line are monsters. The D Line is stout, I think ND may have one of the best front sevens in the country.

- Golson did not try to do too much and delivered (mostly) what was asked of him.

- The Running game is going to carry this team

- Cornerbacks are still a big concern

- Special teams was sloppy

Going foreword Purdue will be a great early test. Should be a winnable game barring jetlag or sloppiness. Still, Purdue can spread the D out and show us what our DB's are really made off. Also, MSU's D is for real. Golson will be tested so I am very much looking foreword to that game.

All in all, fun Saturday watching ND beat down an inferior opponent, hope they keep it going tomorrow.

 

[UmphreakDomer]

HCTI--Where do we stand?

HCTI--Where do we stand?

i really do agree with what you are saying. however, i believe notre dame has already taken that moral high ground. that's our difference of opinion. that is also why i think we are dealing with semantics here. it really doesnt matter *who* starts (at least at this position because of depth and what seems to be pretty decent production--all the way to and including robby toma). i just think you are looking at the moniker of "starter" like it's the person chosen to wear the crown. that may be true for certain positions, i.e. the QB, but not so much in this case, IMHO. i understand the ramifications. he made a bonehead decision and again, i believe he has paid that debt back.

i also believe, or hope might be a better verb, that cierre has learned his lesson.

so just to clarify, your not suggesting his workload be affected, just whether or not he's in the first personnel grouping?

i guess we will see what happens over the next two weeks in practice and the decision that is reached. you never know--maybe BK/CM go with a two back split set to open up against MSU.

lets reconvene in about 13 days and chat about it. it really is an excellent discussion and lends weight to not only the program (vs. others), but also the fan base. we expect and accept punishment where others, a la, usc's and most SEC schools turn blind eyes and the general fan bases think punishment is for the weak.

Wondering about your opinion on this matter now? Does CW start against Michigan?

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I think Cierre reminded his doubters why he is the best back on the team last night. All 3 RBs compliment each other and neither is the same back. Wood is the 20 carry guy, Riddick is the scat back, and GA3 is the situational back. Kelly used it to perfection against one of the best defenses we will see this year.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Wondering about your opinion on this matter now? Does CW start against Michigan?

I believe he will. That said, I think that BK got his point across. He didn't start him, which I was happy that BK did that. He didn't see exclusive reps as they were pretty evenly distributed. He made him earn the spot back. I think he's earned that right back.

He's served his time in the penalty box. Time to cut it loose.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I believe he will. That said, I think that BK got his point across. He didn't start him, which I was happy that BK did that. He didn't see exclusive reps as they were pretty evenly distributed. He made him earn the spot back. I think he's earned that right back.

He's served his time in the penalty box. Time to cut it loose.

Amen.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I believe he will. That said, I think that BK got his point across. He didn't start him, which I was happy that BK did that. He didn't see exclusive reps as they were pretty evenly distributed. He made him earn the spot back. I think he's earned that right back.

He's served his time in the penalty box. Time to cut it loose.

Well said.

 

[irishff1014]

I believe he will. That said, I think that BK got his point across. He didn't start him, which I was happy that BK did that. He didn't see exclusive reps as they were pretty evenly distributed. He made him earn the spot back. I think he's earned that right back.

He's served his time in the penalty box. Time to cut it loose.

Yes sir HCTI

 

[UmphreakDomer]

I believe he will. That said, I think that BK got his point across. He didn't start him, which I was happy that BK did that. He didn't see exclusive reps as they were pretty evenly distributed. He made him earn the spot back. I think he's earned that right back.

He's served his time in the penalty box. Time to cut it loose.

agreed. twas a good discussion with the appropriate ending. i think we were in agreement the whole time. cheers o'mulleted one.

 

[irishtrain]

Without going into all the x's and o's how about how these players ignored the typical bully bull%$#@ by Sparty and just turned to the sideline for the next call. Totally locked in and loaded-that was what struck me. No peacock strutting/ no needing to show swagg/ just buckle up and get ready to execute. It was beautiful. Thats where you see that this group may have turned the corner.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Team on a mission, even keeled, and ready to take it away; no doubt!