Sep 7 | Michigan

[]\/[GoBlue]

All the Michigan fans I've spoken to were in complete confusion as to why we ran the ball so few times when it was clear that they were having huge trouble stopping the run.

This is 100% true. I have no idea why ND decided not to, but I'm glad y'all didn't.

 

[stlnd01]

All the Michigan fans I've spoken to were in complete confusion as to why we ran the ball so few times when it was clear that they were having huge trouble stopping the run.

We ran early and couldn't establish it (three and outs on the first two possessions, both with, IIRC, two runs) and got behind multiple scores. Then the collapse at the end of the second quarter put us multi-scores behind again. We did run a fair bit in that long third quarter drive, but in the fourth time became a factor.
I agree we should have run more, but I can understand why we didn't.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

NBC's Keith Arnold just published an article on our red zone woes:

The Irish’s heavy hand in the passing game could have been dictated by a variety of reasons. The most obvious is falling behind by two scores. Another could be the different defensive looks Greg Mattison gave Tommy Rees and the Irish offense. Yet a season after living within the team’s offensive constraints and almost being forced to rely on a strong run game, Saturday night the Irish seemed to give up on it, especially when it got in the scoring area.

...


After running for better than five yards a carry, the Irish all but abandoned the ground in the red zone. The numbers are ugly. Of the thirteen plays the Irish ran at or inside Michigan’s 20 yard-line, twelve of them were passes.

Here’s a breakdown of those plays:

1st and Goal at MICH 10 Amir Carlisle rush for 6 yards to the Mich 4.
2nd and Goal at MICH 4 Tommy Rees pass incomplete to DaVaris Daniels.
3rd and Goal at MICH 4 Tommy Rees pass complete to TJ Jones for 4 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.

1st and 10 at MICH 11 Tommy Rees pass incomplete to George Atkinson III.
2nd and 10 at MICH 11 Tommy Rees pass incomplete to TJ Jones.
3rd and 10 at MICH 11 Tommy Rees pass complete to Amir Carlisle for 4 yards to the Mich 7.

1st and 10 at MICH 20 Tommy Rees pass complete to Troy Niklas for 20 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.

3rd and 2 at MICH 15 Tommy Rees pass complete to DaVaris Daniels for a loss of 2 yards to the Mich 17.
4th and 4 at MICH 17 Tommy Rees pass incomplete to TJ Jones.

1st and 10 at MICH 20 Tommy Rees pass incomplete to Chris Brown.
2nd and 10 at MICH 20 Tommy Rees pass complete to TJ Jones for 7 yards to the Mich 13.
3rd and 3 at MICH 13 Tommy Rees pass complete to TJ Jones for 7 yards to the Mich 6 for a 1ST down.
1st and Goal at MICH 6 Tommy Rees pass intercepted by Blake Countess at the Mich 0, returned for no gain for a touchback.

Without knowing play calls or quarterback reads, it’s difficult to speak unequivocally about the decision to abandon the run in the part of the field where it’s most difficult to throw the football. But if the Irish want to improve their scoring efficiency in the red zone, using the run game to supplement the passing attack would be a good idea.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I thought they ran it too much in the beginning. It just wasn't working until Rees opened up the defense with his arm.

But I'll say this, the "4th and 4 at MICH 17 Tommy Rees pass incomplete to TJ Jones." was just a head-scratcher; a legitimate "why the **** do you run that play?" sorta moment. It's fourth and four and they run a corner route to the back of the end zone? I'm sorry but that seems like the time you do an easier play for four simple yards. A hitch, slant, out, etc etc etc. A corner though, really?

 

[BGIF]

NBC's Keith Arnold just published an article on our red zone woes:

Without knowing play calls or quarterback reads, it’s difficult to speak unequivocally about the decision to abandon the run in the part of the field where it’s most difficult to throw the football. But if the Irish want to improve their scoring efficiency in the red zone, using the run game to supplement the passing attack would be a good idea.


I like most of Keith's stuff but this is BS. After acknowledging in the opening sentence that he doesn't know the call or reads so "it's difficult to speak unequivocally" but he does anyway. I expect that from the dude on the Chicago Tribune not K.A.

Through the Spring and Summer while posters lamented our Special Teams I noted the single think ND had to do was turn '12 Red Zone FGs into Red Zone TD and giving up 60% of the points per scoring drive. This is the Kelly's 4th season still struggling in the Red Zone.

Keith notes 13 RZ plays . I haven't rewatched the game so I'll have to lean on my faulty memory. Correct me where I err on player or the action.


First Drive -TD

Second Drive - First play incomplete to GA. Wasn't that one of his drops? Drops aren't bad play calls, they're bad execution.

Third Drive - BAM! First Play TD! What were they thinking NOT running 3 running plays first?

Fourth Drive - There were only two plays as the drive started outside the 20. First play was complete but blown up because there was NO block. Again, the pass part was there, the rest of the execution wasn't. Tell me, how successful are running plays with no blocks? Now the next play was 4th and 4. How successful are 4 and 4 running plays? Anywhere on the field? FOR ND? IN THE RED ZONE? Now wasn't this the pass to the near corner of the end zone inside the 5 where the pass UNDEFENDABLE as it was thrown between the sidleine and receiver with the defender on the backside of the receiver? Didn't the receiver (TJ ?) bounce the ball of his arms and chest as he went out of bounds in front of the goal line. He was a catchable pass that was NOT caught cleanly and pulled in, it was bobbled. while the receiver went out of bounds without establishing possession. Great Call, Damn Good Throw, Catchable Ball.

Fifth Drive - With ND needing TWO TOUCHDOWNS and the clock running down, remember 10 points is still an "L". Three pass plays for gain of 14 yds AND a First Down. Making the yds using while using less time. Now trying to make something happen with time running down Rees tried to thread the needle. INT! Montana, Joe not the progeny, didn't make all those throws either when he was a college QB. Joe threw as many INTs as TDs. Quinn and Clausen didn't make them all either.


I'm not defending the pass. I don't think it's as black and white as the smashmouth yearners of old try to spin it. Holtz Full House backfield behind better OLines than today's didn't make them all.


Who is the ND Power Running Back?

There is none. ND is still trying to find who the #1 back is.


Who is the FB back leading the play?

Oh, that's right! ND doesn't have a FB and hasn't for several seasons. I really liked ACE but he was NOT a successful FB blocking, rushing, or catching. ND has NOT had a real FB since Marc Edwards in '96. 17 years.

But yeah, we should run something. That's sounds like a Gerry Faust sound bite.

 

[Irishman77]

Notre Dame vs Michigan 2013 - YouTube

Video has been removed...damn!

 

[phork]

 

[NYIrish14]

Thanks phork

 

[aubeirish]

Even though it hurts like a mother F, this is a funny gif.

 

[dublinirish]

Collinsworth got lit up in the endzone on another TD of Gallon's also, it was nasty

 

[dshans]

Three consecutive strikes. I believe that in bowling parlance that is referred to as a TURKEY.

 

[IrishLion]

It's funny because watching the replay during the game, that's exactly what I thought it looked like. Irish players getting crashed around like bowling pins against eachother.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

I thought they ran it too much in the beginning. It just wasn't working until Rees opened up the defense with his arm.

But I'll say this, the "4th and 4 at MICH 17 Tommy Rees pass incomplete to TJ Jones." was just a head-scratcher; a legitimate "why the **** do you run that play?" sorta moment. It's fourth and four and they run a corner route to the back of the end zone? I'm sorry but that seems like the time you do an easier play for four simple yards. A hitch, slant, out, etc etc etc. A corner though, really?

What really gets me is the underneath in that Smash route was wide open.

 

[Black Irish]

It's funny because watching the replay during the game, that's exactly what I thought it looked like. Irish players getting crashed around like bowling pins against eachother.

I hope Kelly has the boys spend more time in the bowling alley this week. Obvious weak point they need to work on.

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>It's unbelievable that duck dynasty beat nd at Michigan in TV ratings! Wondering what that says about us as a society?</p>— Alex Flanagan (@Alex_Flanagan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alex_Flanagan/statuses/377487854428897280">September 10, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[tko]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>It's unbelievable that duck dynasty beat nd at Michigan in TV ratings! Wondering what that says about us as a society?</p>— Alex Flanagan (@Alex_Flanagan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alex_Flanagan/statuses/377487854428897280">September 10, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I don't care what it says, Alex, you are hot!

 

[Emcee77]

Umm Duck Dynasty is amazing ...

I'm not even sure what she's saying ... So some people would rather watch some hilarious rednecks throwing their cash around than 18-22 year old kids chasing a leather ball around? Not sure either program has much social value, Alex ...

 

[BGIF]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>It's unbelievable that duck dynasty beat nd at Michigan in TV ratings! Wondering what that says about us as a society?</p>— Alex Flanagan (@Alex_Flanagan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alex_Flanagan/statuses/377487854428897280">September 10, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The sideline announcer ruined the game.

That and the halftime Courtney Love impersonator.

 

[Emcee77]

The sideline announcer ruined the game.

That and the halftime Courtney Love impersonator.

lol dying laughing

 

[aubeirish]

Umm Duck Dynasty is amazing ...

I'm not even sure what she's saying ... So some people would rather watch some hilarious rednecks throwing their cash around than 18-22 year old kids chasing a leather ball around? Not sure either program has much social value, Alex ...

I see your point, but Duck Dynasty is not amazing. It is a shame that people find these idiots appealing. It will not get our society to a higher level that is for sure.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Umm Duck Dynasty is amazing ...

I'm not even sure what she's saying ... So some people would rather watch some hilarious rednecks throwing their cash around than 18-22 year old kids chasing a leather ball around? Not sure either program has much social value, Alex ...

I'd say there is a strong argument that college football has significantly more social value than Duck Dynasty.

 

[Emcee77]

I'd say there is a strong argument that college football has significantly more social value than Duck Dynasty.

Ha, well, maybe, and I'm sure Alex was just kidding around, but at first something about that tweet rubbed me the wrong way. It kinda sounded like Alex was suggesting that there is something wrong with someone who chooses to watch Duck Dynasty over her football telecast, but it's not like she's covering the crisis in Syria or exposing corruption in Washington or anything like that. I know a lot of people who find football incredibly boring and who might find Duck Dynasty mildly diverting, in an I'm-laughing-at-you-not-with-you kind of way.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Pick your poison. It's either:

"Haha look at that grown man in camo obsessed with hunting"

or

"Haha look at that grown man in a football jersey obsessed with kids playing it."

Both are perfectly fine IMO. To each his own.

 

[IrishLion]

I would also argue that while football teaches values (hard work, leadership, teamwork, etc.), Duck Dynasty always has a message at the end of the show about some type of positive value as well.

I watch the show for pure entertainment purposes because I think it's funny, but they try to incorporate some teaching moments at least (however forced and corny they may seem).

 

[Old Man Mike]

I grew up in a region of experimental television. There was a program called Varmint Dynasty. There will never again be anything like it.

 

[NDWorld247]

I think it teaches us a few things about society:

1.) Southerners don't watch Northern football.
2.) Southerners love them some redneck TV.
3.) Northerners love laughing at rednecks on TV.

Duck Dynasty reaches both segments of the population while northern college football only reaches one. Once again, the South is to blame.

 

[BobD]

Soon there will be two distinct groups of humans, those with a reality show and those that watch them......I'm going to have a reality show where people watch me watch sports and American Pickers.

 

[aubeirish]

Soon there will be two distinct groups of humans, those with a reality show and those that watch them......I'm going to have a reality show where people watch me watch sports and American Pickers.

I giggled to that. Very good.

 

[Irishman77]

I guarantee the players would enjoy watching a season of a couple dozen of us watch them play.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Even though it hurts like a mother F, this is a funny gif.

I'm sorry, but for me, it just hurts.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>It's unbelievable that duck dynasty beat nd at Michigan in TV ratings! Wondering what that says about us as a society?</p>— Alex Flanagan (@Alex_Flanagan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alex_Flanagan/statuses/377487854428897280">September 10, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I don't care what it says, Alex, you are hot!

It says that ND v U of M is obviously NOT a national rivalry.

Soon there will be two distinct groups of humans, those with a reality show and those that watch them......I'm going to have a reality show where people watch me watch sports and American Pickers.

I thought I was the only one that watched that show