Post Game Observations....

[GoldenIsThyFame]

From mgoblog:

Here's the thing about Notre Dame's defense: it's going to be just fine. Gardner ate plenty of defensive lineman Saturday, usually after delivering a perfectly-placed dart. Notre Dame blitzed him almost two-thirds of the time and got the one huge mistake and nothing else. Notre Dame defensive backs were, with rare exceptions, in position to make a play on anything other than a perfectly-placed ball. They could not make plays without committing pass interference, called or not, because Devin Gardner was spitting hot death all night long.
On third and goal from the 14, Drew Dileo screwed up his route. He ran next to Gallon, bringing a third defender into the area. Gardner fired a ball in between all three guys that hit Gallon in the hands instead of the chest because KeiVarae Russell was riding him like a horse. Earlier in the drive he'd tossed up that back-shoulder throw that he might have been attempting against Central Michigan when he got hit, and Gallon plucked it out of the air. Russell was there. He just couldn't do anything about it.

By the fourth quarter, Gardner and Gallon had become so proficient at the back shoulder fade that Notre Dame was actually sitting on it, which I have never seen before. There were a lot of things last night that I haven't seen before in a winged helmet, that have traditionally been the province of passing specialists like Texas Tech. They tried to man up Crab, once, and Texas Tech beat the #1 team in the country without a running game or defense. Michigan has at least one of those.

A hairy night for the defense as Tommy Rees spent large chunks of the game straight dealin', but when the smoke cleared Rees had taken 51 attempts to acquire 314 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. That's a pedestrian 6.2 yards an attempt.

While it felt like death as Rees and company were jetting down the field between the 20s, the strategy worked. ND drives that reached field goal territory:

Four-yard touchdown to TJ Jones on a deflection.
ND stalls at the 26, kicks 44-yard field goal.
ND stalls at the 7, kicks 24-yard field goal.
20-yard touchdown to Troy Niklas.
Turnover on downs at the 17.
ND stalls at the 23, kicks 40-yard field goal.
Rees intercepted by Blake Countess after two deflections.
ND racked up a ton of yards but was not particularly efficient at turning those into points—the offense acquired 23, a mediocre number. (Let's say the deflections offset.) Their longest completion of the night was 23 yards. The safeties did not split like a cantaloupe hit with an axe and spill out a bounty of touchdowns.

Michigan was content to sit back in their nickel package, rush four, get nowhere near Rees, and constrict as the field did. It was a gameplan based on scoring a lot of points themselves, which Michigan did, and continued doing the entire game. It is really easy to see a Carr version of this team putting the offense in the barn at some point and getting scorched; Brady Hoke is aggressive, start to end.

In the end Michigan overcame Notre Dame dominating the trenches to score a relatively easy victory. When's the last time that happened? The overall game plan was fantastic on both sides of the ball.

Bitching about the other team's gameplan is go. Notre Dame's inability to get anything long had a lot to do with Brian Kelly's refusal to run the danged ball despite Michigan's inability to stop those pistol power runs. At one point those gashed Michigan for gains of 12 and 7, and then Notre Dame threw from an empty set. I don't think the Irish ran play action all night. They ran once in the redzone.

I get irritated when Michigan tips its run/pass call by receiver substitution (no Gallon == run), but that doesn't even compare to having a statue like Rees by himself in the backfield. All you had to know about that strategy was what happened when Rees motioned a tailback into the backfield with him: the linebackers came five yards closer to the line of scrimmage. O RLY.

It seemed that ND was spooked by their first two drives, on which Michigan booted them off the field when they ran on third and short. The first one was Mattison calling a great blitz that put Frank Clark inside the right tackle too quick for anyone to do anything about. That's Mattison winning at rock-paper-scissors; Notre Dame seemed to accept it as fate. The sequence that led to the turnover on downs late was indicative: on third and two ND threw a wide receiver screen against two Michigan DBs within four yards of the line of scrimmage.

Shovel On A Little More Coal | mgoblog

 

[T Town Tommy]

If Notre Dame runs 53 times and passes 19 times they win the game. The Irish was making them pay running the ball. Wish Amir would have had more carries, especially in the second half.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Only thing I didn't like regarding Amir's running was that he put his head down on every run up the middle. I love the toughness but get your head up son.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Only thing I didn't like regarding Amir's running was that he put his head down on every run up the middle. I love the toughness but get your head up son.

True. He is gonna hurt that neck doing that. But he did show he could go between the tackles pretty effectively. That was a pleasant surprise. Maybe now he knows he can do it and starts looking to add to the play instead of waiting on the hit.

 

[tko]

It seemed like ND started out running to set up the pass, but after getting stuffed twice on 3rd and short runs they went to passing to set up the run.

To me the game changing differences were Gardner's precise passing and his feet that extended plays and drives, and ND's offense/UM's defense in the red zone. ND's last three trips to the red zone netted 3 points.

Don't sleep on ASU -- they are the biggest threat in ND's remaining schedule IMO.

I'm just hoping to be able to actually sleep after Purdue Saturday night! One at a time bro.

 

[Catholics_Rule]

I thought defense adjusted well in the second half but the 2 turnovers were everything.

I think the loss of Te'o & Spond is pretty apparent as well.

I personally think GAIII needs to step it up or Amir & Cam will see much more playing time over him.

Only other thing I'd like to add is setup plays weren't utilized very well I thought. Having the HB in the backfield then putting him out as receiver was baffling for me. I thought setting up play action wasn't utilized very well.

Regardless, next up, Purdue. Go irish!

 

[Veer option]

My observations:

Offense

Where is the offensive identity? If ND is gashing Meatchicken with Amir up the middle why does ND start chucking the ball instead of running it?

Amir is really good. Hit hits the hole like a freight train. Really digging his running ability. Why the OC/Kelly keep substituting him out is beyond me.

Speaking of substituting why is ND doing so much of it? IMO Kelly and Co are getting too cutesy with it. Play your best players until they need a break, or get hurt. Substituting an entire set of skill players every other play is getting old.

Please dont throw GA3 the ball EVER. I can understand now why he wasn't moved over to the WR corp.

Rees played decently. I really liked his ability to change the blocking scheme to what he saw. Something Golson had trouble with last year. One or two interceptions from Rees per game is pretty much par for the course.

OL pretty good stuff. Definitely the strength of the offense.


Defense

I really miss Motta in the secondary. For all his faults in coverage, he didn't miss many tackles and he layed the lumber when necessary. Farly is just too small to be an enforcer in the secondary.

For every good play Shumate makes, he makes a bad one to counteract it.

Jaylon Smith will be amazing to watch the next three/four seasons.

I think Ishaq is finally starting to get it. He is starting to play faster. It only took almost two full seasons...

Second half D was much better than the first where they were gashed for lots of passing yards.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Only thing I disagree with from the Mgoblue article is "dominating the trenches." I think that we actually won the line of scrimmage battle on BOTH sides.

97.1 the ticket (Phork, where you at) agrees with me. Their show this morning noted that rarely do you see a team win where the losing team won the trench battle.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

HLS' NDTex breaks down ND's blitzing against Michigan here:

And OFD's Eric Murtaugh just published his review of game here:

These are some of the major examples of Notre Dame doing the right things on defense, about to make big plays that could have changes the course of the game, and Gardner simply being better and turning them into positive outcomes for Michigan. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the opponent and it has nothing to do with being "out-coached." Even when he was faced with pressure in his face---on damn near half of his pass attempts---Gardner put nearly every pass right on the money. On the re-watch even the Irish defensive backs are in good position, sometimes with a hand about to break up the pass, and the ball is just so on the money it's futile.

Michigan made some nice plays on defense, but hardly anything on a sustained basis. The Irish ground game was better than Michigan's and the Wolverines barely touched Rees all game. Conversely, Michigan's ground game was bottled up and the Irish were constantly harassing Gardner. Michigan didn't do a very good job run or pass blocking but Gardner made up for all of it. That makes the loss easier to swallow than if Michigan had won in a lot more phases of the game.

In 2013 if a crazy athletic dual-threat opposing quarterback plays out of his mind you're almost always going to lose. And Notre Dame lost. Gardner was the X-factor and made the Irish pay.

From mgoblog:

Shovel On A Little More Coal | mgoblog

Ugh. I'm sick to my stomach now. We dominated so many aspects of that game and lost (YET AGAIN) to a f*cking Winged Helmet QB playing with cheat codes.

And where's our dynamic QB? San Diego, playing pitch and catch with Whitfield, because we did something no other program would do. Moral superiority ftl.

Last year's victory didn't come close to evening the heart ache ledger. If we never play these charmed as$holes again, it'll be too soon.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rees threw 51 times Saturday. Via <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_LouSomogyi">@BGI_LouSomogyi</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> is 1-14 all-time when attempting at least 49 passes. The win? Pitt in 3 OTs.</p>— Dan Murphy (@BGI_DanMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_DanMurphy/statuses/377143076726132736">September 9, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Alabama was 5-for-5 in red zone vs. ND — all TDs. Michigan was 4-for-4 — all TDs. Quite sobering. Gardner now 23-of-26 TDs in red zone.</p>— Lou Somogyi (@BGI_LouSomogyi) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_LouSomogyi/statuses/377145962101088256">September 9, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[palinurus]

Not that it makes it any easier, really, but the loss may look a little different later in the year should it turn out that Michigan, and not Ohio State, is the class of the Big Ten and is playing for the title.

But I kind of doubt it. Gardner's excellence aside, I was not left with the feeling that that was a great, or even really really good, Michigan team. I'll always believe we should have won that game.

 

[tko]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rees threw 51 times Saturday. Via <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_LouSomogyi">@BGI_LouSomogyi</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> is 1-14 all-time when attempting at least 49 passes. The win? Pitt in 3 OTs.</p>— Dan Murphy (@BGI_DanMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_DanMurphy/statuses/377143076726132736">September 9, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Alabama was 5-for-5 in red zone vs. ND — all TDs. Michigan was 4-for-4 — all TDs. Quite sobering. Gardner now 23-of-26 TDs in red zone.</p>— Lou Somogyi (@BGI_LouSomogyi) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_LouSomogyi/statuses/377145962101088256">September 9, 2013</a></blockquote>
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yikes. can someone share with BK? TP, email BK please.

 

[Veer option]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Rees threw 51 times Saturday. Via <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_LouSomogyi">@BGI_LouSomogyi</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> is 1-14 all-time when attempting at least 49 passes. The win? Pitt in 3 OTs.</p>— Dan Murphy (@BGI_DanMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_DanMurphy/statuses/377143076726132736">September 9, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ouch

 

[ACamp1900]

I have been open about not liking BK's offensive scheme much... not that I'm a hater or anything... but yeah... run. the. damn. ball.

 

[Kak7304]

These stats are meaningless. Teams throw when they're behind so of course more passes will often correlate with more losses and teams run to preserve leads. We passed because we were losing, we didn't lose because we passed.

 

[fitz_bu47]

Few things grind my gears like poor tackling. One thing that does is showing you clearly have no interest in tackling or the physical nature of the sport, Keivarre Russell had 0 interest in tackling anyone, and it hurt us.

 

[NDohio]

I have been open about not liking BK's offensive scheme much... not that I'm a hater or anything... but yeah... run. the. damn. ball.

I basically agree with you. I prefer a run first offense myself. BUT ....

The one aspect of BK's offense from his Cincinnati days that has been missing since coming to ND is the tempo. At Cinci, the offensive goal was to snap the ball with more than twenty seconds on the play clock. That has not happened here - at all. It seems to take forever to get the play in to the QB and get lined up. I would think that Tommy has enough of a grasp of the offense that this should be attainable. We also have enough receivers and running back to keep from getting worn out if we were to play uptempo. If there are going to be 51 pass plays in a game(I hope not), then let's get that tempo to be much quicker.

 

[T Town Tommy]

These stats are meaningless. Teams throw when they're behind so of course more passes will often correlate with more losses and teams run to preserve leads. We passed because we were losing, we didn't lose because we passed.

That holds true in most cases but not Saturday night. ND ran the ball very effectively then got away from it and started throwing. And, the Irish was tied 10-10 when they abandoned the run for some reason.

Once down by two scores coming out of the half it appeared that ND simply decided to pass the ball to try and catch up instead of running the ball to catch up. The defense played well enough in the second half to allow the offense plenty of time. End of the day, a more well balanced run/pass ratio would have been better off for the Irish.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

These stats are meaningless. Teams throw when they're behind so of course more passes will often correlate with more losses and teams run to preserve leads. We passed because we were losing, we didn't lose because we passed.

Yes. As the classic Football Outsiders article on the subject put it:

As it turns out, looking at all 32 teams together reinforces what we've seen so far: that more rushing attempts early don't indicate a winning team, but rushing attempts late do.

Statisticians have a concept called the correlation coefficient that measures how much one variable influences another variable. A correlation of 1 means the two variables are completely connected; 0 means they have no connection.

The correlation between first quarter rushing attempts and team wins is a measly .171. That means there is almost no connection between running a lot in the first quarter, and winning a lot of games. The correlation between fourth quarter rushing attempts and team wins, on the other hand, is .750. That's a sizeable relationship.

EDIT: which isn't to say ND should or should not have run more on Saturday. I just disagree that running is particularly correlated with winning as a cause rather than effect.

 

[TomHaverford]

That holds true in most cases but not Saturday night. ND ran the ball very effectively then got away from it and started throwing. And, the Irish was tied 10-10 when they abandoned the run for some reason.

Once down by two scores coming out of the half it appeared that ND simply decided to pass the ball to try and catch up instead of running the ball to catch up. The defense played well enough in the second half to allow the offense plenty of time. End of the day, a more well balanced run/pass ratio would have been better off for the Irish.

Yeah, and that tie lasted all of 30 seconds. Michigan got the ball back, went up 17-10 on the very next drive. ND got the FG on their next drive to make it 17-13. Michigan got the ball back, got a FG to go up 20-13. ND got the ball back off that long Michigan drive that ended in a FG with just a couple minutes left at half. You either run clock to go to the half or you run your 2 min offense to try and score points which involves passing more. Kelly did the wise thing and run the 2 min offense, Rees made a bonehead turnover and Michigan got the ball back with a min and change left and great field position, punched it into the end zone to go up 27-13 at half.

I can't blame Kelly for abandoning the run. The situation dictated he needed to score points. Any time you're playing catch-up, you're going to pass the ball a lot more. Just the nature of the beast.

 

[ScooterIrish]

Yeah, and that tie lasted all of 30 seconds. Michigan got the ball back, went up 17-10 on the very next drive. ND got the FG on their next drive to make it 17-13. Michigan got the ball back, got a FG to go up 20-13. ND got the ball back off that long Michigan drive that ended in a FG with just a couple minutes left at half. You either run clock to go to the half or you run your 2 min offense to try and score points which involves passing more. Kelly did the wise thing and run the 2 min offense, Rees made a bonehead turnover and Michigan got the ball back with a min and change left and great field position, punched it into the end zone to go up 27-13 at half.

I can't blame Kelly for abandoning the run. The situation dictated he needed to score points. Any time you're playing catch-up, you're going to pass the ball a lot more. Just the nature of the beast.

Except you are wrong. When the score was 17-10, ND passed 13 out of the next 15 plays. That's throwing the run out the window. The game wasn't out of hand at that point and the RB's were getting good chunks of yards.

Why'd we settle for a FG? Because Kelly abandoned the run.

Anyway, my favorite play of the game was a screen pass on 3rd and 2. Run.the.football.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Except you are wrong. When the score was 17-10, ND passed 13 out of the next 15 plays. That's throwing the run out the window. The game wasn't out of hand at that point and the RB's were getting good chunks of yards.

What was Michigan doing? Martin isn't calling plays in a vacuum, and Rees is frequently changing the play based on pre-snap reads. I haven't had a chance to break down the game yet, but if Michigan was consistently loading the box and giving Rees favorable 1 on 1 match-ups, then passing 13/15 times was the right call.

 

[rocket66]

Brindza had a hell of a game. Glad to see that position shored up going forward...

 

[Catholics_Rule]

Except you are wrong. When the score was 17-10, ND passed 13 out of the next 15 plays. That's throwing the run out the window. The game wasn't out of hand at that point and the RB's were getting good chunks of yards.

Why'd we settle for a FG? Because Kelly abandoned the run.

Anyway, my favorite play of the game was a screen pass on 3rd and 2. Run.the.football.

I agree with you. At that point ND was getting good chucks of yards on the ground and thought running on 3rd and short was the way to go. I was shocked when they threw the screen.

 

[rikkitikki08]

The running game was fine. I still have ND going 10-2, watching highlights today and you will realize ND didn't play that bad its just Gardner played lights out, it happens. Our d-line actually had a pretty decent push in the second half Gardner just made plays. I guarantee one thing, Notre Dame is going to crush Purdue

 

[koonja]

The running game hasn't been stopped in the last two games. These OL and RBs deserve more running plays. The one thing that upsets me, is that it seemed almost every carry we had solid results in the running game against Michigan (I was drunk during the game, so maybe this isn't as accurate as I though) and we abandoned it. I really don't think they could handle our running game.

And we really need to get the freshman involved. GAIII keeps getting further and further from being 'the guy'.

 

[rikkitikki08]

All i know is by the end of the game i was hammered, remember nothing except for the game. I was dialed in intoxication style

 

[MJ12666]

The running game hasn't been stopped in the last two games. These OL and RBs deserve more running plays. The one thing that upsets me, is that it seemed almost every carry we had solid results in the running game against Michigan (I was drunk during the game, so maybe this isn't as accurate as I though) and we abandoned it. I really don't think they could handle our running game.

And we really need to get the freshman involved. GAIII keeps getting further and further from being 'the guy'.

I think you need to watch both games again. ND does not have a "power" running game. In both games I do not believe that they were able to convert any third and short via the run. Now I could be wrong; but I distinctly remember them being stopped by Temple on a third and two and I believe in the second Michigan series it was third and three, they ran, and did not come close to getting the first. Teams that have a "power" running game can convert but ND doesn't seem to be able to do this, at least on a consistent basis. That is not to say they can't run. If they spread the field and create space they run very efficiently. I also think this is their problem in scoring TD's. I can't remember the last time against a reasonably decent opponent when they got a first and goal, and simply ran the ball in for a TD.

 

[NDhoosier]

These stats are meaningless. Teams throw when they're behind so of course more passes will often correlate with more losses and teams run to preserve leads. We passed because we were losing, we didn't lose because we passed.

finally someone actually gets it. This is an easy case of which came first, the chicken or the egg.

 

[IrishInFl]