[September 24, 2005] #16 Notre Dame (2-1) vs Washington (1-2)

[Guest]

Nice to see Lambert getting some playing time, looks alot faster then our other corners thats for sure.

 

[Guest]

Pissed Purdue lost, I wanted them to be undefeated when we played them....

 

[jiggafini19]

Jiggafini's nuggetts from game 4:

1. The pass defense is still bad. Very bad. USC, or better yet Purdue, will have a field day with those guys.

2. Special teams is also bad. Two muffed field goals and an extra point? Can't win close ones that way.

3. Samardzija is a star. So is Darius Walker. So is Anthony Fasano. Brady Quinn under Charlie Weis is scary and this is just the beginning.

4. Rashon Powers Neal, welcome back from vacation. Good to see you back...in the end zone.

5. Schwapp is a freshmen. He plays like one, too. This is the second week in a row that he hasn't converted a fourth and one. RPN, your table is ready sir.

6. Good to see Travis Thomas put one in the end zone. #99 Talley had better shape up. Personal foul against Pitt and roughing the passer today. Someone should tell Leo Ferrine on fourth down, don't go for the pick...bat the ball down. He had good position and coverage, but didn't make the play.


Overall, they won the game because they had more talent. Anyone with equal or more talent could have beaten them. UW played hard and was prepared. They were out manned in the second half. Adjustments were made and the offense looked good in the second half. If ND plays like this against Purdue, they'll lose a close game in OT like last week. They play like this against SC, they'll get killed. This was a sloppy game and the score didn't really do the game justice. Notre Dame wasted far too many opportunites they will not get away with against good teams. You will not beat USC with field goals.

They're 3-1, but the honeymoon is over. I know everyone (haters) didn't think they'd be 3-1, but they are what they are. They're a 3-1 team that still needs to improve if they want to play with the big boys.

 

[KMac151993]

Jiggafini's nuggetts from game 4:

1. The pass defense is still bad. Very bad. USC, or better yet Purdue, will have a field day with those guys.

2. Special teams is also bad. Two muffed field goals and an extra point? Can't win close ones that way.

3. Samardzija is a star. So is Darius Walker. So is Anthony Fasano. Brady Quinn under Charlie Weis is scary and this is just the beginning.

4. Rashon Powers Neal, welcome back from vacation. Good to see you back...in the end zone.

5. Schwapp is a freshmen. He plays like one, too. This is the second week in a row that he hasn't converted a fourth and one. RPN, your table is ready sir.

6. Good to see Travis Thomas put one in the end zone. #99 Talley had better shape up. Personal foul against Pitt and roughing the passer today. Someone should tell Leo Ferrine on fourth down, don't go for the pick...bat the ball down. He had good position and coverage, but didn't make the play.


Overall, they won the game because they had more talent. Anyone with equal or more talent could have beaten them. UW played hard and was prepared. They were out manned in the second half. Adjustments were made and the offense looked good in the second half. If ND plays like this against Purdue, they'll lose a close game in OT like last week. They play like this against SC, they'll get killed. This was a sloppy game and the score didn't really do the game justice. Notre Dame wasted far too many opportunites they will not get away with against good teams. You will not beat USC with field goals.

They're 3-1, but the honeymoon is over. I know everyone (haters) didn't think they'd be 3-1, but they are what they are. They're a 3-1 team that still needs to improve if they want to play with the big boys.

Very good recap

 

[Batch]

I am ok with today...

I am ok with today...

Actually I am ok with today's performance, we forced three turnovers. I know alot of you will say we were lucky but if really look at it, all 3 were forced. The first stripped intentionally, the second was because of pressure on the quaterback and Hoyt laid a lick on their RB to force the other. That puts us plus 5 for the season which is pretty good after 4 games.

Yep, we gave up a ton of yards through the air, but only 41 on the ground. And please somebody raise their hand if they thought the secondary wasn't a question mark going into this season. I will be the first to admit that our D needs some work but I also see them improving... in reality I think our first string only gave up 3 points today. We made UW one dimensional and we tightened down when we had to.

We only committed 6 turnovers today compared to what 12 against MSU? Thats a definate improvement. We gained yards we just couldnt stick it in the endzone this game. And when I see that I admit I am very frustrated but I also take a step back and think, look at this offense compared to last year and this is only the 4th game under the new system.

Yes we still need to improve but I honestly believe we are.

-Batch

 

[jiggafini19]

Very good recap

Hey, they're baaaaaaack. But there's work to be done.

 

[guff]

6. Good to see Travis Thomas put one in the end zone. #99 Talley had better shape up. Personal foul against Pitt and roughing the passer today. Someone should tell Leo Ferrine on fourth down, don't go for the pick...bat the ball down. He had good position and coverage, but didn't make the play.

I think your nit picking with Ferrine. I'm satsified with just have a DB in position to make an INT. I think the defense is using the dreaded "Bend but don't break" theory. I don't like it, but when you can't dominate there aren't many options.

I think the offensive production so far has been hard to argue with. Yeah they missed opportunities but they still put up 36 points. They have a lot of weapons. I don't know of many offenses that are better. They're execution needs to sharpen and I'm confident it will.

It is obvious that Quinn is become more comfortable with the offense. His timing is improving. He's a much better QB this year and he keeps getting better. Just needs to learn to slide.

Samardzija - This guy is so good that by the end of the year everyone will know how to spell his name. All he does is make big plays.

There is room for improvement and they will improve. USC is as good as they are going to get. There's no improving to be done. I know that they are very good but they aren't some invincible juggernaut. And I like the fact the CW has two weeks to prepare. I don't think I'd predict an ND win but I'll take ND and the points for sure.

But let 'em take care of Purdue first.

 

[KMac151993]

Actually I am ok with today's performance, we forced three turnovers. I know alot of you will say we were lucky but if really look at it, all 3 were forced. The first stripped intentionally, the second was because of pressure on the quaterback and Hoyt laid a lick on their RB to force the other. That puts us plus 5 for the season which is pretty good after 4 games.

Yep, we gave up a ton of yards through the air, but only 41 on the ground. And please somebody raise their hand if they thought the secondary wasn't a question mark going into this season. I will be the first to admit that our D needs some work but I also see them improving... in reality I think our first string only gave up 3 points today. We made UW one dimensional and we tightened down when we had to.

We only committed 6 turnovers today compared to what 12 against MSU? Thats a definate improvement. We gained yards we just couldnt stick it in the endzone this game. And when I see that I admit I am very frustrated but I also take a step back and think, look at this offense compared to last year and this is only the 4th game under the new system.

Yes we still need to improve but I honestly believe we are.

-Batch

But look how many times UW could have scored, like the WR pass; a decent or good team like Michigan State did will hit those, Mayes forced the fumble and recovered it not Hoyte. Regardless giving up 400yds passing to a bad undermanned team is not very good.

 

[kickerbg31]

Why do our corners not play up on the receivers more often? Washington got a ton of yardage on screen passes against very soft coverage... I understand our corners are trying not to get burned by speed, but I absolutely hate the "bend don't break" style of defense. I didn't work last year and in wont work against USC, Purdue, or Tennessee

 

[jiggafini19]

I think your nit picking with Ferrine. I'm satsified with just have a DB in position to make an INT. I think the defense is using the dreaded "Bend but don't break" theory. I don't like it, but when you can't dominate there aren't many options.

I think the offensive production so far has been hard to argue with. Yeah they missed opportunities but they still put up 36 points. They have a lot of weapons. I don't know of many offenses that are better. They're execution needs to sharpen and I'm confident it will.

It is obvious that Quinn is become more comfortable with the offense. His timing is improving. He's a much better QB this year and he keeps getting better. Just needs to learn to slide.

Samardzija - This guy is so good that by the end of the year everyone will know how to spell his name. All he does is make big plays.

There is room for improvement and they will improve. USC is as good as they are going to get. There's no improving to be done. I know that they are very good but they aren't some invincible juggernaut. And I like the fact the CW has two weeks to prepare. I don't think I'd predict an ND win but I'll take ND and the points for sure.

But let 'em take care of Purdue first.

Ferrine is one play away from being the guy in his position. There is no excuse for giving up a big play like that. There is no depth on this team. Guys like Ferrine and Talley are going to be called upon.

These receivers are WIDE OPEN. There is no one near them. Where is the coverage? Do you think "bend but don't break" will win these next two games? The run defense was awesome last year too. I didn't like the end results from last year. Field goals will not beat Purdue or USC. They need to start stepping on people's b@lls and believing in it. That is what gets the job done, not settling for 3 when you could have 4 more. And judging by the field goal unit thus far after four games, thanks but no thanks. I'd rather have the offense on the field.

It appears that Pitt and Michigan aren't very good. Michigan could probably win the MAC, but they've played two good teams and lost both of them. You know UW isn't any good and they hung around way too long today. Michigan State is the real deal. These next two games are going to be killers.

Notre Dame 2005 under Charlie Weis is going to find their identity in these next three weeks. 0-2, 1-1 or 2-0 they're going to know what they're really made of.

 

[jiggafini19]

Why do our corners not play up on the receivers more often? Washington got a ton of yardage on screen passes against very soft coverage... I understand our corners are trying not to get burned by speed, but I absolutely hate the "bend don't break" style of defense. I didn't work last year and in wont work against USC, Purdue, or Tennessee

Point taken. 100% agreement here.

MSU and UW receivers were catching balls and the ND dbs would be five yards IN FRONT of them.

Why do the ND receivers have to work for everything?

I'm sorry, but that UW qb won't throw for that many yards in the next two weeks.

Bend but don't break = mediocre or bad. Live up to the "nasty" mentality and make it a reality. These DBs need to start busting chops.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

I think the game overall was pretty good, have to clean up the mental mistakes at purdue...those are game changers. Samardzjia is frickin amazing, really helps with the loss of McKnight so far. Any news on him? Hopefully back for the USC game.

hows Morton injury?

DWalk is a Pimp

We Need Walls so bad for this year's class.

 

[Guest]

We have a secret weapon in Lambert, he's had a cast around his arm all year long, and today it was just wrapped up. This kid had offers from every major program in the country(USC,FSU, & etc). Wooden I can live with, Richardson I'm sorry to say is no good. I like Tommy Z and Nudwe. We need to work Lambert into that starting role.

 

[brucejcarr]

We have a secret weapon in Lambert, he's had a cast around his arm all year long, and today it was just wrapped up. This kid had offers from every major program in the country(USC,FSU, & etc). Wooden I can live with, Richardson I'm sorry to say is no good. I like Tommy Z and Nudwe. We need to work Lambert into that starting role.

I think Lambert starts next week. I didn't see Richardson much of the 4th Qtr.

 

[kickerbg31]

total agreement on Lambert...he batted down some passes against much bigger receivers...he was in great position several times and wasnt intimidated by guys that had 4 inches and 40 pounds on him

 

[irishtexan]

Lambert should dp pretty well, mike richardson was recruited out of high school as a receiver, so i dont know if he has any defense skills before converting in college.

 

[jiggafini19]

I have little to no doubt in my mind that Raeshon McNeil and Darrin Walls would be starting by the end of next season at corner. Walls surely must know that he is better right now than anyone ND has currently. He'll enroll in January and win the spot in spring. McNeil isn't very far behind.

Come on, Darrin!! The choice is clear.