BCS title game postgame thoughts

[chicago51]

ouch.

"They're good because they are so simple," Barrett Jones said, "but, also, they're simple. We knew if we had certain shifts, they would get into certain formations that we felt like we would have good runs against. We were right -- every play, almost. This is not a flaw in Notre Dame. We watched a lot of film. We had a lot of time to figure out what they did in certain formations."
Nearly every rushing play in the first quarter went to Warmack's side of the field. Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier loved the matchup that the left side of his line -- Warmack, tackle Cyrus Kouandjio and tight end Michael Williams -- had from the left hash against the Notre Dame 3-4. Williams cleared out Irish linebacker Prince Shembo (one tackle, two assists) at will.
Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line dominates Notre Dame Fighting Irish at line of scrimmage -- college football - ESPN

Our OLBs were terrrible at setting the edge on Monday.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Our OLBs were terrrible at setting the edge on Monday.

How could you set the edge if 600 + pounds knew where you were going to be and when, every time? I am telling you this is the same thing that happened three years ago Navy.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I think the staff needs to change some elements of the bowl preparation but the in game coaching was just fine. Coaching is harder than it looks people it is always easy to say stuff in hindsight.

This may be true. Hard to argue their prep was perfect based on what we saw Monday. It was our worst performance of the season. At the same time, I wouldn't want them to change just for te sake of it. If they identify something to do differently that they think will help, then they should do it. But maybe the prep wasn't to blame. Changing just for the sake of it can do more harm than good.

 

[chicago51]

How could you set the edge if 600 + pounds knew where you were going to be and when, every time?

You don't play football because it is easy. The OLB in the 3-4 defense has to set the edge is responsible for either the outside gap most of the time. Our OLBs had a difficult assignment most players would fail and ours did.

I am telling you this is the same thing that happened three years ago Navy.

What?

 

[phgreek]

my final thoughts...after reviwing the game.

1) Execution on Defense was bad. Many of the Drives Alabama sustained had multiple missed opportunities to put them behind schedule. That said, as others have mentioned, they were going to beat us because we could not set the edge...that wasn't execution...that was being physically beat.

2) Execution on offense was mediocre. EG actually did a nice job throwing the ball except for deep balls. I cannot tell if he was told to hang it up there...but he hung it up there. He would have been better served on a few of those to throw sooner and at a flatter trajectory...Our guys can win those battles if the d-backs can't camp under the ball and get their feet and bodies right...so yea, those home-run balls might have helped loosen underneath more for a possesion-type passing game. As well, I don't think we were going to run it well until we hurt them deep...Point is, we didn't scare them w/ the deep ball because we didn't execute, and I would argue it was there...we just didn't hit it. And So what if it was Milliner...he happened to be the read...thats where you go. And he would have been beaten a couple times with an earlier flatter ball...so whats that tell you?

I am good with the gameplanning overall...including what happened when we went down 21-0...what do you do? Personally, after the third TD, I would have sent everyone until they took Mccaron off on a stretcher...but ND might have been down 56-0 in the first half...which is why I don't coach in college...my temper takes over....

I saw some really nice things from Day (and before garbage time). Lou held his own. D-line was mixing it up pretty well. They will be a force again next year...

 

[Bogtrotter07]

You don't play football because it is easy. The OLB in the 3-4 defense has to set the edge is responsible for either the outside gap most of the time. Our OLBs had a difficult assignment most players would fail and ours did.



What?

Catastrophic defensive coaching breakdown. I cannot base it on anything but making assumptions. If that is true, It has a feel of arrogance.

Asking kids to sit back and take it from the best, when they have coaches identifying where you will be on the field, based upon what they do is a 'turkey shoot.' It is certainly not the players fault. In most slaughters the defenders fight valiantly, down to the last man.

 

[ND NYC]

i actually watched the first half of the game on dvr with a sober, clear head.
we had them in so many crucial 3rd downs in that first half,but they seemed to ALWAYS convert on 3rd. frustrating. if we could have held them on just 2 or 3 of them in the first half...and caught a break here and there...damn this one still stings.

 

[tko]

Catastrophic defensive coaching breakdown. I cannot base it on anything but making assumptions. If that is true, It has a feel of arrogance.

Asking kids to sit back and take it from the best, when they have coaches identifying where you will be on the field, based upon what they do is a 'turkey shoot.' It is certainly not the players fault. In most slaughters the defenders fight valiantly, down to the last man.

So, i guess we don't have to worry about Diaco leaving huh?

 

[RubberSoul]

You're "allowed" to question authority, but in this case questioning the coach makes you wrong. You can be within your rights and wrong at the same time. Also, Kelly isn't an "authority" to you, unless you're on the team.

The passing game was the only bright spot in the whole game for the Irish, and people bitching about not running the ball enough are just exposing themselves as the type of people who just have to complain about something. It takes a special kind of person to complain after a 42-14 loss (in which you started down 35-0) that you didn't run the ball enough. Not only did the circumstances dictate that we throw the ball, anyone who watched the game realized within a few rushing attempts that running was going to be pretty much a waste of a down against that defense.

It is unfathomable to me that people are complaining about the coaching! If you watched that game and came away thinking the coaching lost the game, then its only because you blame the coach reflexively no matter what actually happens.

How was the passing game when it mattered? This game was over at halftime. It was over to Alabama at 35-0. It was garbage time after that. The bright spot of passing took place during garbage time. 14 points were scored in garbage time. Alabama won this game 35-0.

Having said that, nobody as been able to tell me just what Kelly wants to do with hos offensive line and his offense in general because after year three, I still cant tell.

 

[phork]

So what? How is that quitting? The OP said the team didn't "fight hard"... I dare you or him to go say that to Theo Riddick, Louis Nix, or KLM.

You can question execution, questioning effort is really messed up.

I wasn't questioning NDs effort. I was stating that Alabama had their foot off the gas, thus garbage time.

 

[phgreek]

How was the passing game when it mattered? This game was over at halftime. It was over to Alabama at 35-0. It was garbage time after that. The bright spot of passing took place during garbage time. 14 points were scored in garbage time. Alabama won this game 35-0.

Having said that, nobody as been able to tell me just what Kelly wants to do with hos offensive line and his offense in general because after year three, I still cant tell.

I think Saban said it best...BK is really good at using what he has.

So what is he trying to do...right now...win.

I think he grudgingly went to power running more...and will stay there. I think he wants a mobile QB...check. I think he wants more tempo when EG can handle it. I think he cobbled together an offensive philosphy this year which was all about risk management...get up on the scoreboard, play lights out D, run the ball. When it didn't work out, he still found ways to win. He brought EG along enough to beat teams like SC and OK with the pass when he needs to...

I think you'll see more aggressive O next year...commensurate with the QB's ability to handle it. But it will still be alot of "Run it" when you get ahead, because he still has a good D.

What he's trying to do is get in front, and run it down peoples throat. Low risk, high reward so far....what is missing is the offensive execution to stay in a track meet like we saw with Bama...

Just my view

 

[chicago51]

I think Saban said it best...BK is really good at using what he has.

So what is he trying to do...right now...win.

I think he grudgingly went to power running more...and will stay there. I think he wants a mobile QB...check. I think he wants more tempo when EG can handle it. I think he cobbled together an offensive philosphy this year which was all about risk management...get up on the scoreboard, play lights out D, run the ball. When it didn't work out, he still found ways to win. He brought EG along enough to beat teams like SC and OK with the pass when he needs to...

I think you'll see more aggressive O next year...commensurate with the QB's ability to handle it. But it will still be alot of "Run it" when you get ahead, because he still has a good D.

What he's trying to do is get in front, and run it down peoples throat. Low risk, high reward so far....what is missing is the offensive execution to stay in a track meet like we saw with Bama...

Just my view

Good post. I think the same thing. Especially about the track the meet part. We were built to play with the lead or at least within range. When our D got blasted we didn't have a prayer. Thats okay we will improve on that end. Hopefully we can continue to improve our D so we don't get blasted as well.

 

[ND NYC]

i felt to me like Kelly put in the offense he used back in Dec 2009 for the second half of the Cinn-Pitt game.

ps that was a hell of a game and what a comeback by Cinn...but pitt aint bama thats fo sho.

 

[RubberSoul]

We were supposed to have the best defense in college football. Recruiting has been fine for years.. Barrett was only 75%. How does this defense get utterly demolished like that? 28 points in just over a quarter. I just dont see how its possible unless they were severly over rated. I think Georgia, LSU, Florida, Ta&m and South Carolina would have probably done the same thing to us.

Its sobering to think about but i guess everyone is right about the sec. They are just THAT much better than the rest of the country.

 

[Bluto]

We were supposed to have the best defense in college football. Recruiting has been fine for years.. Barrett was only 75%. How does this defense get utterly demolished like that? 28 points in just over a quarter. I just dont see how its possible unless they were severly over rated. I think Georgia, LSU, Florida, Ta&m and South Carolina would have probably done the same thing to us.

Its sobering to think about but i guess everyone is right about the sec. They are just THAT much better than the rest of the country.

Pretty bad assessment. Here's why, Bama's QB. Macaron was so on point it was painful. Florida and LSU have major problems at QB (both lost their bowls by the way). The rest of those teams are good but Georgia is the only one I would say looked solid across the board. I felt that ND needed to play near perfect and catch a couple breaks for this to be a good game. Neither of those things happened.

 

[DillonHall]

Maybe I'm simplifying this, but I think we just ran into a buzz saw. Alabama was so prepared and executed to near perfection in all facets of the game. I don't think anybody could have beaten them.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

RubberSoul..you are drunk. Stop posting.

 

[RubberSoul]

Im not drunk, im pissed. And if your not then theres something wrong with you. Theres also something wrong with you if you think that this team was prepared to play this game. I get that bama is better than us. I get it. But theyre not 35 to ****ing 0 better than us. Weve hauled in very good classes the last few years.The brilliant offensive mind of Brian Kelly couldnt manufacture 1 ****ing point when it mattered. Diacos 'best defense in the country' couldnt make 1 stop when it mattered. It was humiliating. Way to have a team ready to
play the programs biggest game in twenty five years coach. Your team was scared, intimidated and beaten before the game even started. 4th and 5 and you call a 30 yard pooch punt pass down the sideline? Who the **** does that? Thats a first or second down call.

I dont blame the players. I feelnsick for them. It broke my heart to see Riddick inconsolable. The blame is on Kelly. It was his job to have this team physically, mentally and emotionally ready to play this game. he came up woefully short. You know what a great coach does? He goes to Florida and throttles OSU in the natty in year three. Then he goes to OSU and goes undefeated in year one.

 

[johnnykillz]

Get this out of your system then realize, we are the second best team in the nation.

And stop being a fvcking pussy.

Our favorite team in CFB lost.

Get over it.

We'll have to in order to win next year.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

Disagree with just about everything you just said.

It was a combination of Bama being very good, rested up, and ready to play a perfect game plan & ND being outmatched depth wise and the difference in experience.

ND should have been more competitive none the less, but we didn't exactly get any breaks when the game was class (See Eifert catch and penalty on punt).

I'm not happy or satisfied with the game the other night, but I'm also not going to go crazy over it. I've seen ND play much worse game.

 

[Irish#1]

Exactly. Saban called off the dogs. it could have been. worse.

What game were you watching? They were still throwing in the fourth quarter and didn't pull the starters until two minutes were left. They wanted to toss a shutout. We scored because we made great throws and great catches to score our 14. They didn't get off the gas.

For those of you who think we were outcoached, go back and listen to Kelly's pre-game comments. He knew exactly what Bama was going to bring and knew it would be tough sledding. We missed a lot of tackles because we were late getting to the spot and that was because Lacy was faster than we expected. We didn't face any back of his caliber this year.

You don't get to the NCG because your coaches are crappy. We're a year ahead of schedule. Relax and enjoy the accomplishment.

 

[Irish#1]

RubberSoul..you are drunk. Stop posting.

No kidding.

 

[RubberSoul]

What game were you watching? They were still throwing in the fourth quarter and didn't pull the starters until two minutes were left. They wanted to toss a shutout. We scored because we made great throws and great catches to score our 14. They didn't get off the gas.

For those of you who think we were outcoached, go back and listen to Kelly's pre-game comments. He knew exactly what Bama was going to bring and knew it would be tough sledding. We missed a lot of tackles because we were late getting to the spot and that was because Lacy was faster than we expected. We didn't face any back of his caliber this year.

You don't get to the NCG because your coaches are crappy. We're a year ahead of schedule. Relax and enjoy the accomplishment.

We arent saying they pulled the starters. They eased up a bit. Played off just a bit. Vanilla. They wanted to prevent any big plays and burn the clock. The game was OVER. Of course they threw on third down. They wanted to extend their drives.
Yours entitled to your opinion. If you want to feel good because we scored 14 meaningless points in the fourth quarter against a defense that was smiling, laughing and already celebrating because the game was over, then thats fine. Saban didnt care about the shutout, we arent a hated sec rival.

And just because we are ayear ahead soes not excuse that pitiful, embarrasing performance.

 

[RubberSoul]

Disagree with just about everything you just said.

It was a combination of Bama being very good, rested up, and ready to play a perfect game plan & ND being outmatched depth wise and the difference in experience.

ND should have been more competitive none the less, but we didn't exactly get any breaks when the game was class (See Eifert catch and penalty on punt).

I'm not happy or satisfied with the game the other night, but I'm also not going to go crazy over it. I've seen ND play much worse game.

Youre right, i need to get it out. Im trying to. My dad isnt going to live forever. hes waited 25 years. He wont be around another 25. I guess im pissed for him too. Im sorry ive angered some of you.

 

[Bishop2b5]

Maybe I'm simplifying this, but I think we just ran into a buzz saw. Alabama was so prepared and executed to near perfection in all facets of the game. I don't think anybody could have beaten them.

Simple or not, I think you hit the nail on the head. ND had a very good team this year. Kelly did an outstanding job all season and exceeded even your most optimistic expectations. At worst, his gameplan was a bit vanilla, but he had to deal with some mismatches and his gameplan was designed to give you guys your best chance. You simply ran into a buzzsaw that was executing almost to perfection. It was just one of those nights.

 

[kmoose]

Im not drunk, im pissed. And if your not then theres something wrong with you.

There's nothing wrong with people who are strong enough to control their emotions, or to not let their emotions control them. And it's "you're".

 

[Bogtrotter07]

So, i guess we don't have to worry about Diaco leaving huh?

No, we don't. I could never figure what the Cinci fans that extolled pure distilled hatred for this guy were sniffing. Most people from his last stop did not have the same regard for him as ND fans. To risk anyone's ire, I would say it was one of those things that make you go, "Hmmmm!"

Then I started to see in October, around the time he called Farley's sisters super-models (bad move, "oversuperficialization") and the great Freddy Kruger incident, where he denied what he said before he found it was released on tape, that he kind of had a fancy veneer; but, outside his coaching was incomplete.

If you think Nick Saban coaches with his ego, forgetaboutit! I am not sure that is the case with Bob D. Do I think he is a great coach? Hail yes. Do I think he has room for improvement? Hail yes? Will I be sorry when he goes? Hail yes. But after this bowl game, looking back at the way I remember Nick Sabin, what puts him in the position of the most successful coach ever, at the pinnacle of his career, is what he draws to win, OUTSIDE of his coaching talents. Kelly has it. I believe most of the assistants do, I believe Chuck Martin has it. I know Bob Elliot does. Do you need to have it to win a lot, no. But when a guy that does, goes against a guy that doesn't, the guy that does wins.

PS. Please read this as a positive commentary. Here is why. My bias is for our kids. Our talent is much better than some that want to throw it under the bus can admit. Those kids played their hearts out. And their talent was not as short as it appeared from the results of the game. If the ND staff sat down and started from scratch, and through out all of their tendencies like Alabama did . . . .

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Get this out of your system then realize, we are the second best team in the nation.

And stop being a fvcking pussy.

Our favorite team in CFB lost.

Get over it.

We'll have to in order to win next year.

Actually I am going to have to live the season with Oregon and Ohio State being rated higher than ND, which is a bunch of crrap. Oregon lost to Stanford, (how soon they forget) and Ohio State was down to it with MSU when they had to rely on the refs to blow a pick-6 dead to preserve a victory, (final score 17-16, with officiating 23-17.) tOSU actually benefited more from luck than ND did this year, and I have inyourface told everyone that brought it up this year.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

The following is a perfect example of what pi$$es me off. I pulled it from the response column to the article written on ND Nation about the NC game.

Scooter says:
January 8, 2013 at 7:37 pm


I grew up in East Tennessee. I got up every Sunday morning and couldn’t wait for the Notre Dame replay. Listening to Lindsey Nelson say, “Michigan was unable to sustain a drive and punted to Notre Dame.” I liked the Vols too, but I still get chills thinking about those Sunday mornings watching Notre Dame. [This is a person who is a "SEC" fan, was never Irish fan; he just took what someone else has said, plagerized it, and embelished and twisted it to fit his point. ANYONE, who was a ND fan of or about his age, (two years younger than me) would know that ND never played Michigan in those years, not from 1943 to 1978. Sorry, you are done. Exposed. But why go to this trouble?]

I moved to Nashville in 1969 as a 10 year old and over the years became a Vanderbilt fan. Those gold helmets made me think about those Sunday mornings and Notre Dame. I’ve watched SEC football for close to 50 years now and have seen some great teams. UT, Bama, Georgia, Florida, LSU, Arkansas and many teams outside the SEC. I played football in highschool and wished over the years that I had gone on to play in college. Looking back, I know it was a good thing that I didn’t. I can still walk and enjoy myself. [There you have it, a true "SEC" homer, the south will rise again! SEC homer, read it as impotent hanger on of a school that will never amount to anything athletically on its own, so the coward hangs with the belief there is safety in numbers.]

That being said, I have an opinion for all the Notre Dame fans. The Irish didn’t have an “off night” last night. The only thing they did wrong, was play Alabama. Notre Dame would have a tuff time beating six teams in the SEC. I’m not trash talking either. I’m just stating a fact. I would love to see the Irish do good. Notre Dame needs to know that until they recruit better and work harder, this is the way it’s going to be. [This is exactly the kind of filthy back-biting bull$hit that I am tired of. What kind of krap-a$$ is so small spirited that they try to diminish the effort of a team of gamers that left it all out on the field all season long. I mean what is the difference between 42-14 and 21-0, which is what happened in the bowl game last year to LSU, (as opposed to the inseason 6-3 score)? The answer is preserve the overal prowess of the SEC at all cost. The SEC is a very mediocre conference without Alabama. Alabama is a team for the ages. The SEC has become, nearly average outside of Alabama; in fact if the SEC would continue their march toward NCAA guidlines, in recuruiting 25 players a year, give up their grayshirt farm systems, and the southern high schools would raise their educational standards, instead of changing grades to gain elgibility, so souther athletes could get into good, non-SEC schools, the SEC would return to what it was in my youth, a series of second rate (football programs) that sprang up from the ashes of Normal schools and teacher colleges. ]

If Brian Kelly tells the truth, he will say the same thing, he knows it. You could see it in his deer in the headlight eyes when he was going in for halftime. If there was ever a belief that his team could compete in the upper echelon of college football, Alabama rolled it out of him. They didn’t do anything wrong, they just have to get better. I hope they do. I’m pulling for Notre Dame and I feel for all their fans. [Take the word echelon out and I can agree with the point. The only word that fits in their accurately is Alabama, again this guy is making a case that their is a bunch of schools that can play with Alabama, there is not. But the way Alabama throws itself around, they wear themselves down, so there are a couple of teams that can catch them in the thick of things, when they are down. Notre Dame would be another, I am confident. But that does not excuse this ditz from such a basically dishonest approach, for what? His own blatant misplaced homerism?]

Stop believing all the goofballs that tell you how good you are. Get to work and make yourselves great. [Calling anyone else a goofball; that is the pot calling the kettle black. This is the best example of the kind of dysfunction found in our society today. One guy covering up his own shortcomings, by lying with the intent of putting down wrongly another, with the result being damage to the spirit.]

Don't listen to douches like this, and if you want to know why I argue for the players so hard, even when it seems I am against the coaches sometimes? This is why!

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Interesting take on the game

https://www.profootballfocus.com/bl...mson-tide-vs-fighting-irish-bcs-championship/


This is how they grade

https://www.profootballfocus.com/about/grading/

For those debating Zeke's performance:

More Tackling Woes

While a lot of the credit has to go to Lacy for making defenders miss, Notre Dame deserves some blame for their awful tackling display. They finished with 19 missed tackles on the day, with safety Zeke Motta leading the way with six. Motta finished at a game-worst -9.0 for the day from his poor tackling, bad angles, and getting beat in coverage. The Irish had chances to stop the running game, as unblocked defenders swarmed the line of scrimmage with clear shots at the running back, but Motta and others were unable to capitalize. In addition, Spond contributed three missed tackles while CB KeiVarae Russell missed three as well. Not a lot went right for Notre Dame, and poor tackling is right at the top of the list of blunders from Monday night.