Rumblings from Saturday...

[Mom and Notre Dame]

thanks for the reps....

let me clarify myself on a couple things.....

Navy - I know all the tradition and them being there for us through thick and thin BUT kids and people in general today with internet and twitter and facebook....we get information sometimes too fast for our own good. ESPN and other outlets fill their storyline with how NAVY is out KRYPTONITE and how even if we win how the stats are against us on our next game and how because they are smaller, they have to chop block. With that being said, players, fans and coaches alike can not but hear these things and affect their performance...I am not say ESPN causes injuries but when something is in the back of your mind...it does affect you. I know it should not affect us BUT it does, I know it affects me as a fan. Maybe we should schedule them every other year at the end of the season, same year when we play USC at home. If I am not mistaken, we play them next year before USC, see I already know and subconsciously already worried. If we play them at the end of the season, then we have time to get through injuries before a bowl game, just a thought. Or the staff needs to work with the kids to get them over the perception, maybe bring in some sports psychologist to work with the team. BUT most IMPORTANT, is that US as fans, should stop writing about it and giving it life, if we do not think coaches and players alike don't read blogs we are CRAZY and I am sure future recruits also read all about it....

2011 Recruiting Class - you are most definitely right about the 2011 class BUT like you said with suspensions, busts, transfers and Troy moving to tight end. Kelly should have made a huge priority for 2012 and load up...Kelly also did not recruit well at middle line backer those 2 years. This is why in 2013, he went crazy and went after every D lineman he could get....stealing a couple too...


One more thing....2015 Football season will have Kelly's job on the line, a lot of fans and some friends we have in the program and university are not to happy. Next year should be no excuses, regardless whom comes back...I just hope BK realizes this and becomes less stubborn and creates a offense and defense that plays to the strengths of the players and coaches he has even if it boring....I am just sad that at least one or two coaches will get fired as sacrificial lambs to satisfy school admin, boosters and fans...I think Booker will be gone, sorry for that...I liked him. I know LaFluer has only been here for a year but with all the 1/4 back problems, you never know....



AT NOTRED DAME...WE AS FANS, COACHES AND PLAYERS SHOULD REALIZE THAT WE HAVE A HUGE TARGET ON OUR BACKS EVERY WEEK....WHETHER IT IS FOOTBALL , BACKETBALL OR HOCKEY....NOTRE DAME IS FLAT OUT THE BEST UNIVERSITY IN THE UNITED STATES....FANS EITHER LOVE US, HATE US OR WISH THEY WERE US....THATS WHY WE ARE THE ONLY FOOTBALL TEAM TO HAVE NBC TV CONTRACT....OTHER SCHOOLS WISH THEY COULD HAVE THEIR OWN NETWORK...THE PAC 12, SEC AND THE OTHERS SUCK AND DONT HAVE THE VEIWERS WE HAVE....IT IS CRAZY TO THINK THAT I WOULD SAY NEARLY 1/2 OF ALL PEOPLE THAT TURN ON A NOTRE DAME GAME...ARE HATERS....LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I AM A NOTRE DAME FAN NO MATTER WHAT....I AM 45 AND BEEN GOING TO GAMES SINCE I WAS 5. EVERY SATURDAY,I GET TONS OF PHONE CALLS AND TEXT FROM FRIENDS ABOUT HOW ND GOING TO LOSE OR GOT LUCKY....WE ARE A DIFFERENT BREED AND I AM PROUD TO BE A NOTRE DAME FAN AND I WANT THE BEST FOR NOTRE DAME AND ALL ITS LOYAL FANS....

 

[IrishinSyria]

Yes we are. I'll add that in what was perceived to be Golsons worst game (ASU) at first glance. Actually turned out to be a terrible performance from our Oline, TEs, and RB's blocking. I was literally on the complete opposite of this while I was watching the game but after re-watching and reading those that know more than I, I was wrong.

One of the few bright spots of the second half of this season was that Folston finally seemed to awaken to the importance of pass protection after getting pulled in that game.

 

[Cackalacky]

I really think one understated fact this year is that it seems to me that a lot of EGs passes were outside of the hash marks. Hardly any passes were in the middle of the field. Koyack had what, maybe 30 catches? Most of which were in the flat. It's hard to run the ball when you are no threat to put the ball in the middle of the field. IMO BKs offense works better when you have the ability to open up the field and really this year we confined our aerial attack to outside the hash marks and no threat to run by QB (for durability issues).

 

[NDohio]

I really think one understated fact this year is that it seems to me that a lot of EGs passes were outside of the hash marks. Hardly any passes were in the middle of the field. Koyack had what, maybe 30 catches? Most of which were in the flat. It's hard to run the ball when you are no threat to put the ball in the middle of the field. IMO BKs offense works better when you have the ability to open up the field and really this year we confined our aerial attack to outside the hash marks and no threat to run by QB (for durability issues).

Agreed. I find it hard to believe that this was by design. So, was it EG's height or lack of confidence in throwing to the middle of the field?

 

[dublinirish]

Agreed. I find it hard to believe that this was by design. So, was it EG's height or lack of confidence in throwing to the middle of the field?

well its most likely both plus the fact that he is not calm in the pocket, he scrambles out of the pocket way too early. maybe the interior OL was terrible all the time and meant there was no pocket to protect him, id have to check the tape :/

 

[NDohio]

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.

.

 

[Irish#1]

How has this team not shown heart? Holy effing cow. They were down 34-3 on the road to a top 10 team and got to within one score. I don't know how you can look at the NW and Louisville game and blame it on "heart". This USC loss has people bridge jumping and its absurd. They got beat, the got taken behind the woodshed and whooped, but that doesn't mean they lack heart.

Bingo!

Now if there is a divide on the team concerning the offense being ran, then that is a different matter. I wouldn't be surprised if the rumor is true. I posted several times during the season, I could never figure out what Kelly was trying to accomplish with the run game. It never had an identity. That is probably where the divide is if there is indeed a divide.

 

[Old Man Mike]

There are a lot of "divides" possible.

1). Stay with Golson and the turnovers or give Malik a chance. This is the most likely "divide" since it had to have been a brutal morale killer as his bad play escalated and his overt attitude degraded.

2). Play Bryant more. Just like IE members, some athletes are more into the eye-test than the actual ability to play system football.

3). Play Redfield and Shumate more vs Collinsworth and Tranquill. [see above].

4). Play some of the younger OLinemen and bench Hegarty and/or Lombard --- I doubt that this was an issue as the OLines are usually really tightknit groups and all-for-one-and-one-for-all.

5). Defense pissed off at the offense generally for hanging them out to dry so often. This "D" vs "O" divide happens on more teams than one realizes.

6). General anger at Kelly for treating Golson as someone special than the way he treated others --- I.E. handling Golson like a baby while getting much harder in others' faces --- this is a speculation based on sideline coming-off-the-field behaviors.

I'll bet we could invent many others. The point is that losing, and losing with GREAT disappointment [rather than simply being outmanned], generates these sorts of divides almost automatically. Again, although some IEers refuse to acknowledge it, people, even elite people who are being compensated appropriately {and so should do their jobs without loss of enthusiasm in an ideal world}, will feel anger and some depression in these circumstances. It is a rare human who truly impersonates Mr. Spock from Startrek --- who also would be criticized here for "lack of enthusiasm".

 

[JeremyND07]

So, I would love to hear a response for these genius that think we should fire Kelly. Who do you think REALISTICALLY would take the Notre Dame job? I agree Kelly has not done well this year but there were a lot of factors besides just his coaching. The thing that is most disconcerting to me is it seems like this team threw in the towel after FSU and has been spiraling out of control since that game. I think if there is not a drastic improvement (10-2 plus bowel win) next year with the starters we have coming back then the university should evaluate their options at that time. We are NOT getting a high profile coach this year.

 

[wizards8507]

So, I would love to hear a response for these genius that think we should fire Kelly.

I don't think anyone would suggest firing Kelly and then hoping we find an adequate replacement. You would only even entertain the idea of firing Kelly if you had a verbal agreement with said replacement beforehand.

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

I don't think anyone would suggest firing Kelly and then hoping we find an adequate replacement. You would only even entertain the idea of firing Kelly if you had a verbal agreement with said replacement beforehand.

Agreed. I wasn't thrilled when Kelly was hired, each year he irritates me more and more. With that being said though, I don't want him gone at this point in time. He definitely needs to check his Ego at the door and do some serious self evaluating if he want to get these kids back. If that doesn't happen, 2015 will be more of the same in my opinion.

 

[Chi_IRISH]

One thing that was clear to me, so take it with a gain of salt, Is that when Malik came in the game it provided a definite "spark". I'm not saying anyone played harder, but it looked from afar that after the completion to Brown, there was an extra pep in the rest of the players step. Maybe I'm looking at it from rose colored lens though.

 

[IrishinSyria]

One thing that was clear to me, so take it with a gain of salt, Is that when Malik came in the game it provided a definite "spark". I'm not saying anyone played harder, but it looked from afar that after the completion to Brown, there was an extra pep in the rest of the players step. Maybe I'm looking at it from rose colored lens though.

It's a pretty common phenomenon in sports. That's why hockey coaches will pull their goalie when the team's flat even if the goalie's been playing relatively well- it tends to send a message to the rest of the team. It also sends a message to the other team, which sounds a lot like "uncle." ND played better with Malik in, but USC backed off too. The game was effectively over that point, so they dialed down the blitzes and went into a base defense for much of the rest of the game.

 

[Emcee77]

Rumblings from Saturday...

It's a pretty common phenomenon in sports. That's why hockey coaches will pull their goalie when the team's flat even if the goalie's been playing relatively well- it tends to send a message to the rest of the team. It also sends a message to the other team, which sounds a lot like "uncle." ND played better with Malik in, but USC backed off too. The game was effectively over that point, so they dialed down the blitzes and went into a base defense for much of the rest of the game.

Right, I agree, under the circumstances we just can't take too much away from Malik's performance on Saturday.



But it was really encouraging, I have to say. Malik looked pretty solid. He threw the ball better than his numbers, of course; he had how many drops? At least three, right?



It will be really interesting to see how the bowl practices go. After the USC game, Kelly did say that "all jobs are available." I hope he gives Malik a real chance to win the job. Not sure he will win it, but a competition will make both players better.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

It's a pretty common phenomenon in sports. That's why hockey coaches will pull their goalie when the team's flat even if the goalie's been playing relatively well- it tends to send a message to the rest of the team. It also sends a message to the other team, which sounds a lot like "uncle." ND played better with Malik in, but USC backed off too. The game was effectively over that point, so they dialed down the blitzes and went into a base defense for much of the rest of the game.

BOOM! Excellent point/post

 

[NDinL.A.]

I don't think anyone would suggest firing Kelly and then hoping we find an adequate replacement. You would only even entertain the idea of firing Kelly if you had a verbal agreement with said replacement beforehand.

LOTS of fans are suggesting just that. When pressed on a replacement, they either have a pie-in-the-sky Nick Saban replacement, or a guy we can all easily pick holes through. Most times it's the pie-in-the-sky guy ("we're N effing D baby, offer Bob Stoops the moon and he'll come!") and that's just not realistic. Sure, YOU might be realistic, but plenty of fans simply aren't. They want Kelly gone now and have no clue how hard it is to find top-notch replacements these days. Just ask USC, Michigan, and Florida (and Bama before they got Saban).

It's doable, but not easy at all.

 

[Fbolt]

I don't have the answers, but if I was in charge, i would have looked for a solution to the crumbling of the team before the last game of the season. Halftime adjustments? How about mid-season adjustments? I just did not see any-and was very disappointed.

I assume, and I realize that's a scary word, but I assume BK will fix the O. A few good points above on how (modify the O philosophy, pull EG and make this a true QB competition,...).

My big concern is the D. I know, I know, BVG is a solid D-coord. The irish played with a ton of youngsters, dealt with injuries, lost key players right off the bat, however, the blitzing D reminds me of a D-coord from the Weiss days: Tenuta. That's what scares me.

Hoping for a quick fix prior to the bowl game (if they even play), but wow-I have no expectations going into next season.

(Ha! Right. I'm sure by Feb I'll be lamenting over a lost recruit, in the summer I'll be pondering the starting line-up, and by early August, I'll be picking another Natty.)

Frustrating-sigh....

Lax, just edit and delete your post.

I feel this post should be deleted,

 

[IrishinSyria]

I don't have the answers, but if I was in charge, i would have looked for a solution to the crumbling of the team before the last game of the season. Halftime adjustments? How about mid-season adjustments? I just did not see any-and was very disappointed.

I assume, and I realize that's a scary word, but I assume BK will fix the O. A few good points above on how (modify the O philosophy, pull EG and make this a true QB competition,...).

My big concern is the D. I know, I know, BVG is a solid D-coord. The irish played with a ton of youngsters, dealt with injuries, lost key players right off the bat, however, the blitzing D reminds me of a D-coord from the Weiss days: Tenuta. That's what scares me.

Hoping for a quick fix prior to the bowl game (if they even play), but wow-I have no expectations going into next season.

(Ha! Right. I'm sure by Feb I'll be lamenting over a lost recruit, in the summer I'll be pondering the starting line-up, and by early August, I'll be picking another Natty.)

Frustrating-sigh....

Lax, just edit and delete your post.

I mean, at midseason we were 6-0, Golson was a Heisman candidate, and the defense had just shown its first crack against UNC.

Considering we were already banged up at that point and were just finding out what would happen to the frozen five, I'm not sure what midseason adjustments you would even make.

 

[Irish#1]

Right, I agree, under the circumstances we just can't take too much away from Malik's performance on Saturday.



But it was really encouraging, I have to say. Malik looked pretty solid. He threw the ball better than his numbers, of course; he had how many drops? At least three, right?



It will be really interesting to see how the bowl practices go. After the USC game, Kelly did say that "all jobs are available." I hope he gives Malik a real chance to win the job. Not sure he will win it, but a competition will make both players better.

I feel confident EG & MZ will see almost equal playing time in the bowl.

 

[phgreek]

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.

agreed...this d-line would cover up alot of problems in the secondary...and made the turnover parade something they could have overcome in most cases...it would have been fun to see all of that..