I believe there is a general lack of leadership from the upperclassmen on this team, and it hurts the development of the young guys and how they react to changes or strategy. JMO.
That's where I'm at. The defense has some legitimate excuses for collapsing, but the offense has none. I'm hoping Kelly consults with Malzahn in the off-season and transitions to a run-first "power" spread which caters to the positions we can recruit well.
That's just not true. Should he take a majority of the responsibility, sure but the Oline was incredibly inconsistent all year. Same goes for WR's and the D. This wasnt just one aspect or player, it was many. Ex. Good protection, good throw, and dropped first down. Bad Bltiz recognition, poor blitz pickup, and sack fumble. I think that makes the point.
That's just not true. Should he take a majority of the responsibility, sure but the Oline was incredibly inconsistent all year. Same goes for WR's and the D. This wasnt just one aspect or player, it was many. Ex. Good protection, good throw, and dropped first down. Bad Bltiz recognition, poor blitz pickup, and sack fumble. I think that makes the point.
OL play was good enough. That had little impact on Golson's turnovers. WR's had some drops but if you watch enough college football it happens on every team. Bottomline as Golson went so went our team. Take care of the football and we don't lose to N'western or Louisville and actually would have had some chance against ASU. Is it all Golson's fault? Of course not but if he takes care of the football (which is his most important responsibility) this is a 9 or 10 win team despite all the injuries that crippled the defense.
What? Versus NW if McDaniel doesn't fumble we run out the clocks and win. If Kelly chooses to take a knee and then punt we probably win. If the D has any ability to stop a terrible offense NW doesn't kick a FG to tie. None of that had to do with Golson but somehow we're pinning that on him, that's crazy. He, 100%, didn't play well enough but over the course of the last six games very few parts of the game were consistent.
14 interceptions and 12 fumbles (8 lost) is unacceptable for a starting QB. That's an insane number. Too important of a position.
Lack of leadership and youthfulness reared it's ugly head over and over again after the fucking flag at FSU. It was insane how one play derailed a 6-1 start. A terribly negative vibe lingered and never left after that play. A young team seemed to feel cheated (can't blame them) and couldn't overcome. Then it was injury after injury and the snowball affect has led this team to this point.
The most upsetting part is while getting lambasted against USC none of the Irish players seemed to lose their cool and yes I find that upsetting. They just took their beating, said thanks for the lovely weather, and here take the Jeweled Shillelagh USC. That team was defeated before the freaking coin flip. It was a pair of 7-4 teams that each had their own depth limitations playing in a big time rivarly game. One team determined they wanted it more before the game was ever started and it played out that way on the field. I don't want guys throwing haymakers but getting in your rivals face and having the attitude of "you better enjoy this shit cause its not happening again while I'm here!" was sorely missing. Robert Hughes and Chris Stewart are two former alums that had that mentality when USC was crushing ND and were ultimately apart of the team that stopped the hemorrhaging against the Trojans. I don't care if your 0-11 you go into the game Vs. USC with a crazy look in your eye and hate in your heart. No fight. Disappointing.
And that's on everybody. Coaches and players (even injured ones). Syracuse vs. Boston College had 10 times the intensity because both teams wanted to pound the other into the dirt regardless of records, history or what the score of the game was. It's pride in school and team. This ND team plays like little position units not a cohesive group aiming at one goal. The OL will have great protection but the receiver runs the wrong route or drops a ball. The LB's fill their lanes but two DL got pushed back. Two defenders watch as a safety misses a tackle instead of gang tackling through the whistle.
No one is saying it's the sole reason.
Not speaking for Lucky, but I think we are on a similar page here.
No one is saying the EG's performance is acceptable, but his performance is not the sole reason that games were lost.
OL play was good enough. That had little impact on Golson's turnovers. WR's had some drops but if you watch enough college football it happens on every team. Bottomline as Golson went so went our team. Take care of the football and we don't lose to N'western or Louisville and actually would have had some chance against ASU. Is it all Golson's fault? Of course not but if he takes care of the football (which is his most important responsibility) this is a 9 or 10 win team despite all the injuries that crippled the defense.
14 interceptions and 12 fumbles (8 lost) is unacceptable for a starting QB. That's an insane number. Too important of a position.
No one is saying it's the sole reason.
Fist off...this is my opinion and probably will get a lot of hate mail for this post BUT i feel this is a personal observation of the program ....
my resume: Notre Dame fan all my life, this year alone, went to the Spring game, Michigan Game and USC game and at home in front of the TV every Saturday to watch Games on NBC. I am a Notre Dame fan regardless how they play... win or lose...BUT I need to speak....
#1 - BK is the head coach and bears most blame for the team, any great head coach in history tells everyone that blame rest with him and no one else. BK has a tendency to point blame at other people, this includes players and coaches. I don't like how BK calls out players, these are 18 year old kids and need to be motivated. Some believe in motivation by criticism, BUT in todays world of super star athletes (4 and 5 stars) coming out of high school, BK needs to find out what works to motivate each kid individually, some of you will say that is impossible but the criticizing thing is not working. I believe that the team has felt it acceptable to yell and blame each other, just look at the end of Louisville game when Brindza missed the field goal and was yelling at MZ on the side lines in front of Kelly, I know the hold was not a 100% BUT Brindza being a SENIOR and future NFL kicker should have made the field goal. Brindza let the whole holder thing get into his head....AND we should have never let the game get to a point when we needed a field goal just to go into OT...3 trips to the red zone and 6 points, unacceptable.
#2 - GOLSON, I don't understand the relationship between BK and Golson. Either Golson had a different set of rules because he decided to come back to ND and worked out some back room deal with BK
or
BK put all his eggs in one basket and built his WHOLE offense around Golson and had no back up plan in case things went south...with the great 1st half of the Season and how they played against Florida St., no coach would think that things could get as bad as they did....BUT being the Coach at Notre Dame...it is expected to be ready for any and all possible disasters.....
#3 - BK talk about himself like he has won 5 National Championships and shows a lot of arrogance. he needs to be more humble. I believe that he needs to hire a TRUE Offensive Coordinator and let them run the offense, BK has to relinquish the offense, it still can be HIS offense BUT being both a head coach and OC is next to impossible at any major D1 program, YET it being NOTRE DAME...ND is a like a major sports franchise.... BK as a play caller is ok at best, take for ever for him to get a play in...so many penalties for expired play clock....horrible in the red zone....stubborn as hell when it comes to the run game....we got a 4* and 5* running back being wasted....run the ball down their throat and the pass will come...some will say our line can't block...B*ll S*it...put 2 tight ends and a ONLY 2 receivers out left and right and run the ball....our receivers are great blockers...when Bryant and Folson get the chance to run, they average yardage...running the ball is not as pretty as passing BUT it works. After we run the ball down their throat, they will be forced to jam the box and leave man to man on the outside and ALL our receivers are deadly with man to man coverage....
#4 - Defense, we all knew that defense was going to be shaky at best with the start of the season, BUT they played lights out in the 1st half of the season. we knew our offense at some point would have to match point for point. what killed our defense was 2 things. INJUIRIES....its either a fluke that we had so many OR we need to look as to the "WHY", is it conditioning, too much contact at practice, equipment, dirty teams or NAVY....I know we should always play NAVY but its time has to end. I know that NAVY has all the tradition but the "idea" of playing them I feel is in the minds of the kids and gets to them mentally...also it give a tremendous amounts of "film" of how chop blocking works against us...just look at Florida St., their O line was getting their ass kicked and then all of a sudden they started chop blocking and I am not saying these teams are dirty BUT a hell of a lot cut blocking is going on too...and all this leads to injuries....AND 2nd poor recruiting in the 2011 and 2012 classes lead to not depth on defense....look it up
#5 - Benching or not to Bench that is the Question - Kelly gave EG so much rope and gave others very little. I don't understand how a 1/4 back with over 20 turn overs stays the starting 1/4 back and a 5* safety has a bad practice and gets benched and only played again due to injuries. Trust me I think EG is a great kid, meet him a couple times and he is very humble and composed young man. But when someone can make so many mistakes and not have any repercussions...I would like to see him after a turn over go over to his defense and motivate them...trust me a defensive gets tired of just getting off the field and then having to go back with a turn over...EG has a very poor side line demeanor. you CAN NOT have two sets of rules for your players....BK said EG was on a short leash going into Louisville and he left him in for the 2nd half, the NBC commentators were dumb founded on how BK left him in the game...EG facial expression and body language were that of defeat. I am not saying give up on a kid but put in MK and have EG stand by you and coach him as to what he is doing wrong.
You guys may see this as a BK bashing and it is of sorts....I just believe that Kelly needs to be humbled and be willing to change and accept change....I don not envy him BUT he is the head coach at the BEST D1 program in the country and we as fans want to win...ND is the highest profile team in all of college sports....screw the SEC if they believe so....
Again lady and gentlemen, I am not an English major and please send me any questions or comments and be gentle....
NOTRE DAME our MOTHER....Pray for US...
Fist off...this is my opinion and probably will get a lot of hate mail for this post BUT i feel this is a personal observation of the program ....
my resume: Notre Dame fan all my life, this year alone, went to the Spring game, Michigan Game and USC game and at home in front of the TV every Saturday to watch Games on NBC. I am a Notre Dame fan regardless how they play... win or lose...BUT I need to speak....
#1 - BK is the head coach and bears most blame for the team, any great head coach in history tells everyone that blame rest with him and no one else. BK has a tendency to point blame at other people, this includes players and coaches. I don't like how BK calls out players, these are 18 year old kids and need to be motivated. Some believe in motivation by criticism, BUT in todays world of super star athletes (4 and 5 stars) coming out of high school, BK needs to find out what works to motivate each kid individually, some of you will say that is impossible but the criticizing thing is not working. I believe that the team has felt it acceptable to yell and blame each other, just look at the end of Louisville game when Brindza missed the field goal and was yelling at MZ on the side lines in front of Kelly, I know the hold was not a 100% BUT Brindza being a SENIOR and future NFL kicker should have made the field goal. Brindza let the whole holder thing get into his head....AND we should have never let the game get to a point when we needed a field goal just to go into OT...3 trips to the red zone and 6 points, unacceptable.
#2 - GOLSON, I don't understand the relationship between BK and Golson. Either Golson had a different set of rules because he decided to come back to ND and worked out some back room deal with BK
or
BK put all his eggs in one basket and built his WHOLE offense around Golson and had no back up plan in case things went south...with the great 1st half of the Season and how they played against Florida St., no coach would think that things could get as bad as they did....BUT being the Coach at Notre Dame...it is expected to be ready for any and all possible disasters.....
#3 - BK talk about himself like he has won 5 National Championships and shows a lot of arrogance. he needs to be more humble. I believe that he needs to hire a TRUE Offensive Coordinator and let them run the offense, BK has to relinquish the offense, it still can be HIS offense BUT being both a head coach and OC is next to impossible at any major D1 program, YET it being NOTRE DAME...ND is a like a major sports franchise.... BK as a play caller is ok at best, take for ever for him to get a play in...so many penalties for expired play clock....horrible in the red zone....stubborn as hell when it comes to the run game....we got a 4* and 5* running back being wasted....run the ball down their throat and the pass will come...some will say our line can't block...B*ll S*it...put 2 tight ends and a ONLY 2 receivers out left and right and run the ball....our receivers are great blockers...when Bryant and Folson get the chance to run, they average yardage...running the ball is not as pretty as passing BUT it works. After we run the ball down their throat, they will be forced to jam the box and leave man to man on the outside and ALL our receivers are deadly with man to man coverage....
#4 - Defense, we all knew that defense was going to be shaky at best with the start of the season, BUT they played lights out in the 1st half of the season. we knew our offense at some point would have to match point for point. what killed our defense was 2 things. INJUIRIES....its either a fluke that we had so many OR we need to look as to the "WHY", is it conditioning, too much contact at practice, equipment, dirty teams or NAVY....I know we should always play NAVY but its time has to end. I know that NAVY has all the tradition but the "idea" of playing them I feel is in the minds of the kids and gets to them mentally...also it give a tremendous amounts of "film" of how chop blocking works against us...just look at Florida St., their O line was getting their ass kicked and then all of a sudden they started chop blocking and I am not saying these teams are dirty BUT a hell of a lot cut blocking is going on too...and all this leads to injuries....AND 2nd poor recruiting in the 2011 and 2012 classes lead to not depth on defense....look it up
#5 - Benching or not to Bench that is the Question - Kelly gave EG so much rope and gave others very little. I don't understand how a 1/4 back with over 20 turn overs stays the starting 1/4 back and a 5* safety has a bad practice and gets benched and only played again due to injuries. Trust me I think EG is a great kid, meet him a couple times and he is very humble and composed young man. But when someone can make so many mistakes and not have any repercussions...I would like to see him after a turn over go over to his defense and motivate them...trust me a defensive gets tired of just getting off the field and then having to go back with a turn over...EG has a very poor side line demeanor. you CAN NOT have two sets of rules for your players....BK said EG was on a short leash going into Louisville and he left him in for the 2nd half, the NBC commentators were dumb founded on how BK left him in the game...EG facial expression and body language were that of defeat. I am not saying give up on a kid but put in MK and have EG stand by you and coach him as to what he is doing wrong.
You guys may see this as a BK bashing and it is of sorts....I just believe that Kelly needs to be humbled and be willing to change and accept change....I don not envy him BUT he is the head coach at the BEST D1 program in the country and we as fans want to win...ND is the highest profile team in all of college sports....screw the SEC if they believe so....
Again lady and gentlemen, I am not an English major and please send me any questions or comments and be gentle....
NOTRE DAME our MOTHER....Pray for US...
You literally said its all about the QB play and said that if it wasn't for that him wouldn't be talking about this. I said that wasn't accurate and then you went on to blame Golson for NW. Also, which isn't very accurate.
For those who complain about long posts...this one is well worth your time. Lots of great insight there, I concur with everything except I am not in favor of dumping Navy, as much as I hate playing that game and agree that it is almost a no win situation.
Please post more! Reps.
Actually, saying the 2011 class was a "bad" defensive class is way off base. That was the best defensive haul in one class from a talent perspective that ND has had in the past 20 years. Too bad a bunch of those dudes got injured, left early for the NFL and or got kicked out of/left school.
Crazy to think the d line this year could have been Tuitt, Lynch, Springman and Day. With the rotation being Jones, Schwenke, Williams, Hounshell (pre injury) and Rochell.
Are you really this dense? I quote myself "Is it all Golson's fault? Of course not but if he takes care of the football (which is his most important responsibility) this is a 9 or 10 win team despite all the injuries that the defense had." My opening statement "it's all about the QB play" is a general statement used by those (especially coaches) to emphasize how important QB play is to a team's success. It's why QB's in the NFL are easily the highest paid players.
Yes I'm dense because you made a dumb post, got called out, and are now backtracking. Keep up the quality. Also, I'm not the only one that couldn't read your mind or wait was it call your bull$h!t
No backtracking whatsoever. You just lack reading comprehension skills and common sense. It's not too late to develop those skills so maybe there is hope for you yet.
Keep up the insults, I'm sure it makes you feel smarter. Keep it classy.
Hey there folks...
I know we had a very disappointing season and few things went our way, but we are ND and we are a group unto ourselves derided by those outside our fan base. Not only that but we are officially in the Christmas season now. Could we please not turn on each other like in a bad end of the world movie? You guys are my IE brothers and we will find ourselves in the sun again someday and when we get there we will celebrate TOGETHER!
No backtracking whatsoever. You just lack reading comprehension skills and common sense. It's not too late to develop those skills so maybe there is hope for you yet.