Chuck Martin has no idea what he is doing

[irishfan]

1) Said this before, but about 90% of the time that Daniel Smith is in the slot, its a quick screen that way.

2) Everytime a RB gets motioned into the backfield and does his stepping in place routine before the snap, its a run play.

3) Niklas in the slot=screen that way

4) Pistol with 2 TEs to the same side=run off tackle that way

I don't know much about football, but its getting to the point where I can call our plays about 50% of the time. No wonder Saban shut us down with a month to prepare last year.

Also to add to this: James Onwualu on the field=run/screen

 

[anarin]

Bring back Charlie Molnar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's too busy leading UMASS to greatness.

 

[dmort]

I don't have a problem with what Chuck is doing.A play gets called and Tommy checks into something else.Might as well let Tommy call his own plays.

 

[NDhoosier]

I like how fans think they can do better than the coaches who are getting paid and have succeeded at a high level. The good thing is, is that all fan bases have this mentality, not just ND.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

It worry that Martin has too much experience with Kelly's offense. I think ND would be better served with someone who isn't familiar with Kelly's system.

If ND had an offensive coordinator with spread experience under a different program that might give Kelly some fresh ideas and provide a different perspective. I don't care who calls the plays. I just want to see someone who can bring some constructive criticism to the program like Belichick did.

Kelly seems more willing to blame poor execution than take a look at the play calls themselves.

Then people would just argue that there isn't good enough cohesion on the coaching staff.

And I think it's silly to think that Kelly doesn't review play calls every week. Why would he tell us about that review?

 

[Onemanwolfpack]

I like how fans think they can do better than the coaches who are getting paid and have succeeded at a high level. The good thing is, is that all fan bases have this mentality, not just ND.

NDHoosier, I agree that all fan bases have than mentality to some degree. However, there is a good degree of merit to smart posters like IrishLax and others who say that our offense is very predictable. And well coached teams will capitalize on this. Martin/Kelly have called the same plays in certain formations and with specific personel...so it is not hard to figure out. Now a Purdue defensive player comes out and says they knew exactly what we were going to run. Same comments were heard after the National Championship Game. The staff has done a fantastic job on many fronts, but there is a big opportunity with playcalling to do better.

 

[Junkhead]

NDHoosier, I agree that all fan bases have than mentality to some degree. However, there is a good degree of merit to smart posters like IrishLax and others who say that our offense is very predictable. And well coached teams will capitalize on this. Martin/Kelly have called the same plays in certain formations and with specific personel...so it is not hard to figure out. Now a Purdue defensive player comes out and says they knew exactly what we were going to run. Same comments were heard after the National Championship Game. The staff has done a fantastic job on many fronts, but there is a big opportunity with playcalling to do better.

Yep. If the fans can see the trends on TV, no doubt the other teams notice it watching film.

 

[gkIrish]

The encouraging thing is that if other teams know what we are going to run and we are still winning games it means that if we fix the problem we are going to start crushing teams and beating good teams all the time.

 

[Buster Bluth]

NDHoosier, I agree that all fan bases have than mentality to some degree. However, there is a good degree of merit to smart posters like IrishLax and others who say that our offense is very predictable. And well coached teams will capitalize on this. Martin/Kelly have called the same plays in certain formations and with specific personel...so it is not hard to figure out. Now a Purdue defensive player comes out and says they knew exactly what we were going to run. Same comments were heard after the National Championship Game. The staff has done a fantastic job on many fronts, but there is a big opportunity with playcalling to do better.

Where is this being said? Not saying it isnt true, just curious.

 

[kmoose]

The encouraging thing is that if other teams know what we are going to run and we are still winning games it means that if we fix the problem we are going to start crushing teams and beating good teams all the time.

^This

 

[Onemanwolfpack]

Where is this being said? Not saying it isnt true, just curious.

I read on another board it was said by Ricardo Allen with similar quotes from their HC. Trying to find a link to postgame comments now. Appreciate you calling me out, since we should confirm the quotes. The Bama comments after the Championship game have been discussed on the ISD podcast a couple times.

 

[ulukinatme]

If the other team knows where we're going to run, maybe we should run some counters out of the Pistol so we can get them flowing one way and then cut it back.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I like how fans think they can do better than the coaches who are getting paid and have succeeded at a high level. The good thing is, is that all fan bases have this mentality, not just ND.

The downfall of a lot of coaches is refusing to change. Sometimes I feel like we see that with Martin. No, Chuck, the WR screen won't work on the 20th attempt. 20th time is not a charm.

Kelly's playcalling in the 2nd half was pretty good though. I don't like having an offense for one of the premier programs in the country be run by a guy who only has experience calling plays on the D2 level.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Honestly, the offense doesn't concern me too much. When we have players like TJ Jones and Davaris Daniels, I'll be comfortable with them.

 

[phgreek]

I swear, some of you'd have Martin drawing **** up in the dirt. Hey, Cam...run a button hook here, at the Gatorade cap, and DD, fake like your faking....

...yes ND is predictable ... FWIW last year wasn't all that different...

NOW, we have a QB with little mobility, questionable decision-making when pressured (at times), and a less than stellar arm. We have a running game / running backs that have not helped, but actually accentuated the QBs issues with their poor play, primarily, as receivers, but also with an absence of N-S running. Now add in a tight-end who is Jekyl/Hyde as a receiver...What I see in my mind's eye by the third quarter is lines upon lines of play sheet with big red lines through them, but yea, sure Martin sucks...

Kelly is better...big surprise there. Martin will be fine...in fact he'd look like a Savant if players would freaking execute in the first half.

All that said...points haven't been and won't be the issue if you are realistic...< 30 ppg is what TR gets you from the helm...if ND needs more thats likely a loss...

 

[dublinirish]

i think after the bye week we will see some new plays from CM/BK. I wouldnt expect anything new to be installed until then unfortunately.

 

[Buster Bluth]

i think after the bye week we will see some new plays from CM/BK. I wouldnt expect anything new to be installed until then unfortunately.

If my high school team could install plays on a weekly basis, so can Notre Dame.

 

[ulukinatme]

All that said...points haven't been and won't be the issue if you are realistic...< 30 ppg is what TR gets you from the helm...if ND needs more thats likely a loss...

To be fair, Golson wasn't giving us regular 30+ ppg last year either. There were a couple blowouts, but most games our offense was scoring the same number of points as this year.

 

[dublinirish]

If my high school team could install plays on a weekly basis, so can Notre Dame.

I believe they could do it, i just doubt they will

 

[IrishGlory]

I read on another board it was said by Ricardo Allen with similar quotes from their HC. Trying to find a link to postgame comments now. Appreciate you calling me out, since we should confirm the quotes. The Bama comments after the Championship game have been discussed on the ISD podcast a couple times.

If true, its funny how this guy can say he knew what was coming when Daniels smoked him for an 82 yard score. Just saying!!!

 

[BleedBlueGold]

My main gripes:

1) Too predictable. They need to get creative. Teams are clearly selling out for the run. ND needs to pass (downfield) to open up the run. The second half proved this.

2) The creativity needs to works itself into the RB usage as well. Cam has pretty much solidified himself as the power between the tackles back. The others, well they need to be used like we all predicted they would...in space. Sweeps, reverses, misdirection runs, etc. Where is all that?

3) Kelly claiming they can't run an uptempo offense drives me nuts. Does he really think that because they can't run an efficient read-option w/ Tommy that that means they can't run uptempo? He has spent tons of time communicating with Belichik and, IIRC, Chip Kelly to figure out how they run at such a fast pace. How many read-options does Tom Brady run? Yet they're among tops in the league for offensive plays ran in a game.

I'm not an expert, but last week Gruden paused a play to show the breakdown of Vick's options. The entire play was set so that Vick could read the defense and throw the ball (or hand off) to the appropriate player w/o having to call a different play. Reading defenses is supposed to be Tommy's strength. Why can't the staff utilize some of the same formations? ND has the personnel to run uptempo. They also have the personnel to slow the game down and run out the clock. Take advantage of it!

4) Circling back, I really can't stand the vanilla and predictable play-calling. Which brings me to my last gripe: BK always talks about getting his play makers the ball and letting them make plays. Well then call a play that allows them to do that!

 

[PANDFAN]

If true, its funny how this guy can say he knew what was coming when Daniels smoked him for an 82 yard score. Just saying!!!

knowing and executing is a big difference....on that play i don't know if i have ever seen DD run that fast

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Funny how those downfield passes opened up the run game for Cam later on...

Anyone else want to see a play-action bomb to DD or Brown on the first play against MSU this weekend? I do! I do!

 

[kmoose]

I read on another board it was said by Ricardo Allen with similar quotes from their HC. Trying to find a link to postgame comments now. Appreciate you calling me out, since we should confirm the quotes. The Bama comments after the Championship game have been discussed on the ISD podcast a couple times.

The difference is that I am pretty sure I am remembering correctly when I say that the Alabama comments were about knowing exactly what our Defense would do, not knowing what play(s) our Offense would run.

 

[NDBoiler]

.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

The difference is that I am pretty sure I am remembering correctly when I say that the Alabama comments were about knowing exactly what our Defense would do, not knowing what play(s) our Offense would run.

This is correct. Alabama's offense attacked the holes in ND's defense. All the quotes from their side on based on that.

 

[NDBoiler]

I read on another board it was said by Ricardo Allen with similar quotes from their HC. Trying to find a link to postgame comments now. Appreciate you calling me out, since we should confirm the quotes. The Bama comments after the Championship game have been discussed on the ISD podcast a couple times.

I recall hearing that same thing, I think it was the post game interview of Hazell as he was walking off the field where he mentioned ND's "tendencies". Basically a nice way of saying "we knew what plays to expect"...

 

[NDohio]

My main gripes:

1) Too predictable. They need to get creative. Teams are clearly selling out for the run. ND needs to pass (downfield) to open up the run. The second half proved this.

2) The creativity needs to works itself into the RB usage as well. Cam has pretty much solidified himself as the power between the tackles back. The others, well they need to be used like we all predicted they would...in space. Sweeps, reverses, misdirection runs, etc. Where is all that?

3) Kelly claiming they can't run an uptempo offense drives me nuts. Does he really think that because they can't run an efficient read-option w/ Tommy that that means they can't run uptempo? He has spent tons of time communicating with Belichik and, IIRC, Chip Kelly to figure out how they run at such a fast pace. How many read-options does Tom Brady run? Yet they're among tops in the league for offensive plays ran in a game.

I'm not an expert, but last week Gruden paused a play to show the breakdown of Vick's options. The entire play was set so that Vick could read the defense and throw the ball (or hand off) to the appropriate player w/o having to call a different play. Reading defenses is supposed to be Tommy's strength. Why can't the staff utilize some of the same formations? ND has the personnel to run uptempo. They also have the personnel to slow the game down and run out the clock. Take advantage of it!

4) Circling back, I really can't stand the vanilla and predictable play-calling. Which brings me to my last gripe: BK always talks about getting his play makers the ball and letting them make plays. Well then call a play that allows them to do that!

This is really my biggest complaint for this team. You bring up Brady and that's a great point. Watching the Broncos yesterday and I was longing for the Irish to run that type of offense. PM runs worse than Tommy does and they were gettingplays off quickly. I truly beielve that the skill players on this team could run this offense and really fly all over the field.

 

[rocket66]

I recall hearing that same thing, I think it was the post game interview of Hazell as he was walking off the field where he mentioned ND's "tendencies". Basically a nice way of saying "we knew what plays to expect"...

Hazell actually said this going into halftime when his defense held ND to 3 total points. It's absolutely concerning that we're hearing this, especially after the NC debacle. You have to think BK and Martin are addressing this immediately and making the necessary changes. All of these years of coaching, and your tendencies on offense are that glaring? Huge issue.

 

[NDBoiler]

Hazell actually said this going into halftime when his defense held ND to 3 total points. It's absolutely concerning that we're hearing this, especially after the NC debacle. You have to think BK and Martin are addressing this immediately and making the necessary changes. All of these years of coaching, and your tendencies on offense are that glaring? Huge issue.

I knew I wasn't crazy and heard it somewhere from him, thanks!