Lambert and Morton

[blmarek]

These two guys seem to be the weakest links on both sides of the field. I realize Morton lost his dad at the beginning of the season and hasn't been the same, but I know during an acctual play he is not thinking about his father and is still managing to get his ass kicked weekly. As for Lambert, he could be the reason we possibly lose to USC. He is very inconsistant and when he is not on his game he is terriblly out of position and makes horrible plays. These guys have got to improve dramatically for us to beat USC.

 

[Freeman Ara]

These two guys seem to be the weakest links on both sides of the field. I realize Morton lost his dad at the beginning of the season and hasn't been the same, but I know during an acctual play he is not thinking about his father and is still managing to get his ass kicked weekly. As for Lambert, he could be the reason we possibly lose to USC. He is very inconsistant and when he is not on his game he is terriblly out of position and makes horrible plays. These guys have got to improve dramatically for us to beat USC.

I think in general the entire OL has underachieved this year not just Morton. And as far as Lambert goes he is just another in a long string of average corners. When was the last time we had a good CB, Todd Lyte? Both these situations will change in about 2 years but for now guess we just have to suffer.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Lambert's play has improved a bit as the season's progressed at least though (although I admit, not seeing the game today, I have no idea how he played so someone'd have to fill me in if it was a poor outing). I think the bad play on defense is a combination of not having the right personel for the scheme that's being run, and an overall lack of talent at a few positions. I've said from the beginning I'm not a huge fan of Minter's scheme, and I think he's trying to force a square peg into a round hole a bit w/ this defense. But at the same time these also aren't his guys for the most part, so I'm willing to continue being patient for another 2 years at most.

Morton is kinda a weak link on the O-line. And I know he's a freshman, so its forgivable, but Sam Young hasn't exactly been consistently lighting it up this year either. Anybody else feel this team misses LeVoir and Stevenson?

 

[Freeman Ara]

Morton's like a 3 or 4 year starter, there is no excuse for how bad he plays. Young is the frosh so his mistakes I can see and accept. And I totally agree with your take on Minter, I never really thought he did a great job last time he was here. But reality is as the talent improves so will the defense. We should have all know that these defense was going to be less then stellar, they were the same way last year and we were returning 9 starters. Returning 9 average starters isn't exactly the greatest thing.

 

[brecht]

I too have noticed how bad morton has been playing. One thing that's consistent is that he's getting beat up the middle. It appears that he's bearing the responsibility for his own man and to help on Young's man. How do you fix this? Let Young play! Don't force morton do to something he can't do! Tell Young he's more or less one-on-one, that he needs to win his individual assigment, and i would be surprised if his play didn't improve (along with morton's). Will Young screw up from time to time? Of course, but having someone beat you from the outside is much more manageable than getting beat up the middle for a QB. Plus, if Yound does get beat, it's in BQ's visual field, and he can be effectively elusive in that case. If you've noticed, BQ takes sacks in two situations: one, when there's pressure straight up the middle,and, two, when the coverage is good and he stays in the pocket for more than 5 seconds.

 

[Famboo28]

Our O-Line will have to pick it up if we're going to beat SC. Brady has been taking way too many hits for my liking this season and I know that SC has some studs on their D-Line. We need to get the Offensive Line to play up the their potential, which is very good.

 

[jiggafini19]

Lambert has been a "right place, right time" guy this year. He's improved, but his coverage needs work.

I'm going to guess that Morton leads Santucci for holding penalties this year. Harris and Young have been solid at tackle and I would not mind seeing Sully come back for a fifth year at center, especially with a new QB.

Morton and Santucci have had tough years.

 

[BigIrish]

And I totally agree with your take on Minter, I never really thought he did a great job last time he was here.

wait a sec...if memory serves me correctly, minter was previously at ND for 2 years in the early 1990s, during a stretch when ND was something like 22-2.

two losses in 24 games and you don't think he did a very good job?

EDIT: my bad. it was 21-2-1.

It was during his two seasons with Holtz at Notre Dame (1992-93) that he earned a national reputation of being one of the top defensive minds in the country. The 1993 Irish defense held nine of its 12 opponents under 100 yards rushing en route to an 11-1 season and runner-up finish in the national championship race. Notre Dame finished that season with the nation's fourth-best rushing defense, with three of Minter's defenders earning first-team All-America honors, including free safety Jeff Burris, cornerback Bobby Taylor and tackle Bryant Young.

The 1992 Notre Dame defense allowed an average of 91 yards rushing and 277 total yards over the last nine games of the season, as the Irish posted a 10-1-1 mark, won the Cotton Bowl and was ranked fourth in the final national polls. That season also saw the Notre Dame defense finish ninth nationally in rushing defense (111.1), with cornerback Tom Carter earning All-America honors. During his two seasons at Notre Dame, Minter coached 21 defensive players who went on to play professionally in the NFL.

the difference? the teams of the early 90s had talent top to bottom. this team doesn't. let minter get some of his kids on the field before you lament his coaching skills.

 

[irishnd31]

When was the last time we had a good CB, Todd Lyte?

Shane Walton

 

[Indydomer]

All the corners have struggled because of the lack of a pass rush.

By the way Vontez Duff was pretty good.

 

[KMac151993]

And as far as Lambert goes he is just another in a long string of average corners. When was the last time we had a good CB, Todd Lyte?

It was Todd Lyght and since Todd we have had guys like Tom Carter, Bobby Taylor, (Jeff Burris played some corner before FS), Allen Rossum (wasn't the best cover guy but he could fly and played tough, very little known fact, if Rossum hadn't been the burner that he was we would not have the winning streak against Navy) Brock Williams was pretty solid once he returned to ND, and most recently Shane Walton. So in my book that would be 6 CB's since Lyght that have been above average in terms of play.

 

[scooper]

Shane Walton was an All American. Not bad, I'd guess.

 

[Freeman Ara]

And as far as Lambert goes he is just another in a long string of average corners. When was the last time we had a good CB, Todd Lyte?

It was Todd Lyght and since Todd we have had guys like Tom Carter, Bobby Taylor, (Jeff Burris played some corner before FS), Allen Rossum (wasn't the best cover guy but he could fly and played tough, very little known fact, if Rossum hadn't been the burner that he was we would not have the winning streak against Navy) Brock Williams was pretty solid once he returned to ND, and most recently Shane Walton. So in my book that would be 6 CB's since Lyght that have been above average in terms of play.

Ok, obviously you guys missed the sarcasm in the Todd Lyght comment, I am aware we have had some pretty good corners since him but if your naming one guy every 4 years or so thats sad considering the talent we should be, and now are, able to recruit . And players, like Rossum, who have outright blazing speed but don't have good coverage technique don't really qualify as good corners. My whole point was we really haven't had a good pass defense in quite awhile(and I know this also includes defensive line play).

 

[KMac151993]

Ok, obviously you guys missed the sarcasm in the Todd Lyght comment, I am aware we have had some pretty good corners since him but if your naming one guy every 4 years or so thats sad considering the talent we should be, and now are, able to recruit . And players, like Rossum, who have outright blazing speed but don't have good coverage technique don't really qualify as good corners. My whole point was we really haven't had a good pass defense in quite awhile(and I know this also includes defensive line play).

If you have a good corner he should play for 4 years...so whats wrong with every four years there is a new one. There are numerous different ways to judge a pass defense, ie. sacks, interceptions, completion %, and defensive scheme.