What we're missing.

[NDohio]

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP EXPERIENCE: CHECK


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Yes - I agree that experience needs to be added to the list of things we need. The shots of us in the tunnel gave me an uneasy feeling last night. The team didn't have the same type of attitude as they have had before other games. Last night was huge in that aspect.

I also agree completely with Kuehnja. We need to play an SEC team every year. Get used to the speed of that league. I hate that the SEC keeps winning titles and I have to hear about it constantly(S Carolina fans drive me nuts - What have you won?!?). Until quality programs gain experience in playing against SEC teams on a regular basis they will continue to win these titles. The angles our boys took last night were horrible - ND was not prepared for that kind of game speed and it showed.

Take what was learned last night to prepare for the next time. We will be back!!

 

[dwshade]

Using Alabama as the measuring stick, here are the areas that I noticed we come up short:

1) BCS, quality depth on the lines.
2) Elite DBs (ours are very good, but when it comes to athleticism, it wasn't even close).
3) A WR that can stretch the field. DD is our best receiver, imo, but look at #9 for Alabama. We need a guy like that to make the play action that much more dangerous.
4) Fast linebackers. Theirs were flying around like madmen (thank you, Jalon Smith).
5) I know people on here sing Paul Longo praises, but whatever Alabama is doing for S&C is incredible. They looked like full grown men out there compared to our boys. Our guys were tired and noticeably weaker than their team as a whole.

Thank God we're addressing some of these needs through this recruiting class (see, Max Redfield, Cole Luke, Butler, Jaylon Smith, Alex Anzalone, etc).

Completely disagree on point 5. Longo has been a godsend to this program.

 

[BleedBlue&Gold]

I would like to schedule one SEC team per year. For two reasons:

1) Play a game against or in a state that's loaded with talent (LSU, Bama, Georgia, Florida, etc).

2) We can point to our schedule all we want, hell we can even be right in an objective SOS argument. But the fact is, no one's going to give us much credit until we start playing and beating a SEC team.

Take off Oklahoma. That's a tough game and Oklahoma isn't as loaded with prospects as Georgia, Florida, etc are. Keep Texas and USC because those are talent-rich states. I fully believe we can compete with SEC teams on a week to week basis. Giving a team like Bama 37 days to prepare, however, was a different story, at least last night. Play them 6 days after then play Tennessee and I think we have a shot.

YES YES YES, AGREE 1000%, we have to schedule one SEC game a year. gotta find out where the program is.

 

[ThePiombino]

YES YES YES, AGREE 1000%, we have to schedule one SEC game a year. gotta find out where the program is.

Good luck getting a "top" SEC to schedule us, though.

 

[BleedBlue&Gold]

Good luck getting a "top" SEC to schedule us, though.

If it's about money for the school they will, can't be afraid after last night.

 

[Domina Nostra]

If it's about money for the school they will, can't be afraid after last night.

You think we would be a cake-walk for South Carolina, Florida, or LSU? I doubt it.

Last night was certainly rough, but it was only a disaster if you thought we were a NC-calibur team. No doubt we "deserved" to be in the game based on our record, but we had an inconsistent offense and a lopsided defense. Those things will improve over the summer without any major overhauls.

 

[ickythump1225]

We're just behind them right now. Rome wasn't built in a day. Saban has been building that team and reloading talent for 6+ years now. It takes to build aen Alabama like team, especially tough when Notre Dame is in a cold city and it is tough to get into the school. In 2-3 years I think we will be there

^This. We were at least 1 year ahead of schedule and it showed last night. We had a lot of heart and grit but ultimately the power of the Tide was too much. This class coming in is going to be huge and another 10+ win season next year should secure a class close to that and then we could be at Alabama "reload not rebuild" status. What we saw from the Crimson side last night is what I want for ND in 2 years.

Saban is the Grandmaster Wizard and he has been building his southern empire for over half a decade. Kelly is really just getting started. Winning (or losing) is a cycle and a mindset. By going 12-1 this year we've put ourselves in a winning cycle because we've attracted the top recruiting class in CFB. By doing that we will win a bunch of games again next year and in turn we'll draw more talent, and so on and so forth. We're close to the top but good things come to those who wait.

 

[BleedBlue&Gold]

You think we would be a cake-walk for South Carolina, Florida, or LSU? I doubt it.

Last night was certainly rough, but it was only a disaster if you thought we were a NC-calibur team. No doubt we "deserved" to be in the game based on our record, but we had an inconsistent offense and a lopsided defense. Those things will improve over the summer without any major overhauls.

Not saying that we'd be a cake walk, jus a tweak in the schedule.

 

[ThePiombino]

Not saying that we'd be a cake walk, jus a tweak in the schedule.

Is our schedule not difficult enough for you? SEC needs to seriously overhaul who they schedule for non-conference games, but why at our expense?

 

[ALLGATOR]

Good luck getting a "top" SEC to schedule us, though.

I bet LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn Miss State & Tennessee would all schedule a home and home at the begining of the year with Notre Dame

 

[koonja]

I bet LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn Miss State & Tennessee would all schedule a home and home at the begining of the year with Notre Dame

Why not Florida?

 

[philipm31]

When was the last game that FLA played outside of the state of FLA if it was OOC?? 1991, maybe?

 

[philipm31]

And we have played home and homes with TN several times. No need to play them again.

Personally none of those teams are any good now, nor would they prepare ND for SEC football...of course, nor will any ACC game, either.

They just need to hit SEC country HARDER than ever before to attract some more talent.

EDIT: except LSU

 

[Patulski]

We need offensive tackles. We essentially had 5 guards out there last night. Thankfully, Kelly has recruited some bigger bodies at OT.

 

[ALLGATOR]

Why not Florida?

Florida plays FSU every year they will not add another home and home to the schedule. If you noticed all the teams I listed play their state rival inside the conference so they have an extra game that can be high profile out of conference.

 

[ickythump1225]

Overall? Just keep adding high quality athletes. I think depth is probably the #1 problem. This is why building takes time.

As with football though, controlling the LOS is the most important thing and we just didn't have the depth to control the LOS for 60 minutes.

I think depth is an issue as well but any team is going to get worn out having their defense on the field for nearly 40 minutes. Depth would have helped but ultimately we were getting beaten in the trenches allowing them to control the ball and move the chains. They did to us what we have been doing to other teams all year long. I agree though that it all takes time and that we just need to keep adding talent and depth and we'll be fine.

 

[Grahambo]

I think depth is an issue as well but any team is going to get worn out having their defense on the field for nearly 40 minutes. Depth would have helped but ultimately we were getting beaten in the trenches allowing them to control the ball and move the chains. They did to us what we have been doing to other teams all year long. I agree though that it all takes time and that we just need to keep adding talent and depth and we'll be fine.

Nobody was beating Alabama last night..nobody.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

What would we accomplish by scheduling a top SEC school every year? Take a look at the final AP poll; only three of these schools (aTm, UF, and LSU) played a schedule ranked in Sagarin's top 10. Our typical schedule is tough enough already, and will likely get more challenging as the ACC arrangement kicks in.

 

[ThePiombino]

What would we accomplish by scheduling a top SEC school every year? Take a look at the final AP poll; only three of these schools (aTm, UF, and LSU) played a schedule ranked in Sagarin's top 10. Our typical schedule is tough enough already, and will likely get more challenging as the ACC arrangement kicks in.

So much ^this!

 

[ickythump1225]

Nobody was beating Alabama last night..nobody.

Well I agree. Our flaws were magnified on a national stage last night. We of course did not just develop those flaws we just did a good job masking them. Unfortunately our "bend but don't break" defense got broke repeatedly last night by a team that was just playing on a higher level.

 

[IrishBlood81]

I agree with everything you said. 2 Things I think you didn't cover.
1 We weren't condition for this specific game. The humidity and heat really hurt our guys. Play this game in the Midwest and I believe its a different outcome. We were at their home practically.
2 I think QB needs to improve. Obviously Golson is a freshman but, I just have my doubts about him. I'll probably get a lot of hate from this but I'm not sure Golson is the long term QB. I like him, hes given us the best opportunity to win this season, but he doesn't seem to be a leader at all and he didn't seem at any point to be on top of this game. He seemed just freaked out.
I have big hopes for Gunner and incoming Freshman Malik.

 

[IrishBlood81]

What would we accomplish by scheduling a top SEC school every year? Take a look at the final AP poll; only three of these schools (aTm, UF, and LSU) played a schedule ranked in Sagarin's top 10. Our typical schedule is tough enough already, and will likely get more challenging as the ACC arrangement kicks in.

I was just thinking how good it could be to schedule an SEC opponent. What do we accomplish? We could get experience playing elite SEC defenses and offenses apart from making it to bowl games once a year and getting annihilated.
We could work out kinks and know what to expect, how to game plan for such an opponent.
Oklahoma and Stanford don't even come close to what we saw last night. If we want to beat these guys we need more experience playing them than just once a year.

 

[acrimsontide]

I won't presume to tell you what your team is missing, but I will tell you what your team is NOT missing, and that is class and character. I was so impressed with the young men on your team in their post game interviews. Each one of them that I saw were very gracious in their comments about their opponent and each of them showed how much they cared for Notre Dame. I know these young men were hurting, but still had the class and character to be gentlemen.

Notre Dame fans should be very proud of these young men and what the team accomplished this year. ND will be a team to be reckoned with in the near future. Keep supporting them and until they meet Bama on the field again, I will join you in a big GO IRISH.

 

[koonja]

What would we accomplish by scheduling a top SEC school every year? Take a look at the final AP poll; only three of these schools (aTm, UF, and LSU) played a schedule ranked in Sagarin's top 10. Our typical schedule is tough enough already, and will likely get more challenging as the ACC arrangement kicks in.

This year we climbed the 'you can't touch the SEC' mountain, peaked over the top, only to find the Alabama avalanche come and crush us. Now, until we beat one (in God knows how long), no matter who we beat we're going to be looked at as the team that still can't compete with the SEC.

Look at what I said. I didn't say 'add an SEC team and keep everyone else on the schedule'. But nobody cares if you play 12 'good' teams and beat them all, unless you've beaten some elite teams. I'd rather schedule 'easier' games, and have two elite games on the schedule; one being USC and the other being an SEC team. It doesn't have to be Alabama or LSU, but some SEC teams. An SEC team can play 6 cup-cakes and no one cares, because they play at least two elite teams per year. IMO, we need to give ourselves a chance at two elite programs per year. Go ahead and schedule 4/5 cupcakes. If we take care of USC + SEC team, no one will dock us for doing it.

 

[Old North State Irish]

I agree with everything you said. 2 Things I think you didn't cover.
1 We weren't condition for this specific game. The humidity and heat really hurt our guys. Play this game in the Midwest and I believe its a different outcome. We were at their home practically.
2 I think QB needs to improve. Obviously Golson is a freshman but, I just have my doubts about him. I'll probably get a lot of hate from this but I'm not sure Golson is the long term QB. I like him, hes given us the best opportunity to win this season, but he doesn't seem to be a leader at all and he didn't seem at any point to be on top of this game. He seemed just freaked out.
I have big hopes for Gunner and incoming Freshman Malik.

We all want what you want but I must disagree. I live in the Carolinas and knew of Golson back in his high school days. His school actually played and beat Clowney's high school their senior year(s) for the South Carolina state title. Golson is going to come on strong and I have been pleased with his progress. I am of the mindset that he will be a top tier college level QB by the time he is done. Remember this post in the future and have faith!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I agree with everything you said. 2 Things I think you didn't cover.
1 We weren't condition for this specific game. The humidity and heat really hurt our guys. Play this game in the Midwest and I believe its a different outcome. We were at their home practically.
2 I think QB needs to improve. Obviously Golson is a freshman but, I just have my doubts about him. I'll probably get a lot of hate from this but I'm not sure Golson is the long term QB. I like him, hes given us the best opportunity to win this season, but he doesn't seem to be a leader at all and he didn't seem at any point to be on top of this game. He seemed just freaked out.
I have big hopes for Gunner and incoming Freshman Malik.

So you're blaming (1) the weather; and (2) Golson, one of our few bright spots from last night? Got it.

I was just thinking how good it could be to schedule an SEC opponent. What do we accomplish? We could get experience playing elite SEC defenses and offenses apart from making it to bowl games once a year and getting annihilated.
We could work out kinks and know what to expect, how to game plan for such an opponent. Oklahoma and Stanford don't even come close to what we saw last night. If we want to beat these guys we need more experience playing them than just once a year.

Despite what many southern fanboys like to claim, 'Bama != SEC. So scheduling Vanderbilt or Ole Miss would not help us beat them.

We're not unfamiliar with the SEC's style of football (it's not all that different from midwestern MANBALL); and I'm not sure such familiarity is worth much when facing the unstoppable killing machine that is the Crimson Tide anyway. Our coaching staff had a full season's worth of game tape to study, and 'Bama didn't do anything innovative to beat us. They're simply bigger, faster, stronger and deeper.

So until our roster approaches theirs in terms of talent and depth, playing them more frequently would accomplish nothing besides leaving us with a bruising regular season loss.

Though I will say this: 'Bama's not 4 TDs better than us. Our defense, in particular, is much better than they played. Not sure why they suddenly lost the ability to tackle, but it's not because Lacey is super-human. We handled RBs of similar talent earlier in the season.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Now, until we beat one (in God knows how long), no matter who we beat we're going to be looked at as the team that still can't compete with the SEC.

The SEC fanboys sling that crap at everyone outside of their conference, regardless of how good they are. It's mostly bullsh!t, but until someone manages to beat 'Bama for the MNC, there's not much we can say to refute it besides pointing to advanced metrics like FEI.

Look at what I said. I didn't say 'add an SEC team and keep everyone else on the schedule'. But nobody cares if you play 12 'good' teams and beat them all, unless you've beaten some elite teams.

Soon, the only opinions that will matter are those on the playoff selection committee. The SEC model of scheduling FCS cupcakes in between their difficult games has proven to be the most effective route to achieving BCS success, but that model will soon be gone.

I'd rather schedule 'easier' games, and have two elite games on the schedule; one being USC and the other being an SEC team.

What about Stanford? We have to keep them both on the schedule to maintain an annual game in CA, and at least in the medium term, the Cardinal will likely be an even tougher opponent than the Trojans.

It doesn't have to be Alabama or LSU, but some SEC teams. An SEC team can play 6 cup-cakes and no one cares, because they play at least two elite teams per year. IMO, we need to give ourselves a chance at two elite programs per year. Go ahead and schedule 4/5 cupcakes. If we take care of USC + SEC team, no one will dock us for doing it.

We do schedule elite programs. Check out the final AP poll. We beat 7, 15 and 24. 'Bama beat 5, 14 and 24. There's nothing wrong with our schedule.

This seems to be driven by your personal desire to refute SEC fanboys who claim we didn't play anyone. That's obviously not true, and you shouldn't bother trying to argue with such delusional fans anyway. And, as I mentioned previously, the selection committee is going to make much of this irrelevant anyway.

 

[Irish#1]

We have a lot of talent but we need more and depth. The last two classes 12 & 13 will help immensely. We exceeded expectations this year. No one should be disappointed. Bama was just bigger and faster and they played their best game of the year.

 

[ulukinatme]

Realistically, I don't know if we can get even with Alabama as long as Saban is in there. Theres some questionable stuff that goes on from recruiting standpoints and they treat the school like a business, not a university. They're not there to prepare young men for life after football, winning comes first and at any price. They'll cut guys, theres no guaranteed 4 year scholarships there. Thats one reason why they're so deep, aside from the fact they haul in great talent year in and year out. Hard to keep up with that, it's as cutthroat as you can get imo. Granted, I think if the defense showed up last night it could have at least been a close game, but we somehow forgot to tackle or everyone else we tackled this year was just easier to bring down. It was ugly.

I think this team is very cable of taking down a 1 or 2 loss team in a big BCS bowl, but there was no way we were going to compete with a team of Alabama's caliber last night. Until I see otherwise, I'm going to continue to support the team but be as realistic as possible.

 

[ickythump1225]

So you're blaming (1) the weather; and (2) Golson, one of our few bright spots from last night? Got it.



Despite what many southern fanboys like to claim, 'Bama != SEC. So scheduling Vanderbilt or Ole Miss would not help us beat them.

We're not unfamiliar with the SEC's style of football (it's not all that different from midwestern MANBALL); and I'm not sure such familiarity is worth much when facing the unstoppable killing machine that is the Crimson Tide anyway. Our coaching staff had a full season's worth of game tape to study, and 'Bama didn't do anything innovative to beat us. They're simply bigger, faster, stronger and deeper.

So until our roster approaches theirs in terms of talent and depth, playing them more frequently would accomplish nothing besides leaving us with a bruising regular season loss.

Though I will say this: 'Bama's not 4 TDs better than us. Our defense, in particular, is much better than they played. Not sure why they suddenly lost the ability to tackle, but it's not because Lacey is super-human. We handled RBs of similar talent earlier in the season.

Exactly. Alabama is the opposite of Oregon, they are not innovative at all. They throw in very few wrinkles and play "caveman football." The thing is they'll let you know what they're going to run and dare you to stop it. They can do this because they can recruit (legally or otherwise) athletes that are just bigger, stronger, faster, and better than yours and it's not just the starters either. And then Saban "coaches 'em up" and turns his team into machines.

What we need, like you said, is bigger, stronger, faster, and better athletes. We have the coaching and the athletes are coming. What we need now is patience.