Joe Montana on the Dan Patrick Show

[Irish Envy]

For those of you that don't listen to his show, Montana was on and said he would not have given free release to USC's receivers. "It's hard to cover a bad receiver if they are given free release from the line of crimmage, not to mention one great receiver and several good receivers."

I think we've all wondered why the Notre Dame corners haven't bumped more at the line of scrimmage to slow down opposing receivers and I can name tons of times I've seen 10 to 15 yard cushions given to the opposition... especially in the Purdue and UNC games.

Minter was willing to give opposing receivers 10-20 yard receptions instead of letting them make the big catch if they got by our defensive backs. Unfortunately, our tackling had been terrible, too, so those 15 yard slants turned into 80 yard touchdowns. Kinda interesting hearing this coming from a prominent Notre Dame alum.

 

[Clotho]

But Minter is a fine coach, Svo. Not his fault.

 

[jiggafini19]

He's right. 100%.

Jarrett is big. How can you not get physical with him?

Other teams do it to Samardzija all the time and it works.

 

[NDAlumSon]

Ya gotta wonder what kind of debates Lewis and Minter had about CB cushions, jamming and the like.
I wonder if Bill agreed with Rick about the use of his (Bill's) secondary.

 

[Irish Envy]

Ya gotta wonder what kind of debates Lewis and Minter had about CB cushions, jamming and the like.
I wonder if Bill agreed with Rick about the use of his (Bill's) secondary.

That's been my one issue with Lewis.

Lewis has said all along that Notre Dame is his swan song and he doesn't plan on coaching anywhere after coaching here. Considering he already has one foot into retirement, I've always wondered just how devoted he is to Notre Dame.

 

[jiggafini19]

Bill Lewis has NFL coaching experience.

Watch any pair of NFL corners on Sunday. They are constantly jamming the WR standing across from them.

You mix things up, but you have to throw those guys off their routes within that 5 yard cushion that you are allowed.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: defensive coaches at the college football level are typically best when they are young, energetic guys that can fire up their players and rally their guys at all times. The best extract the most effort out of their unit as they possibly can, then they extract more.

Pete Carroll, Greg Schiano, Jon Tenuta...etc.

Of the defensive staff at Notre Dame, Jappy Oliver is by far the most animated.

 

[FleaFlicker]

It should also be noted that USC didn't give much of a cushion to either mcknight or jeff. And that physicality got in their heads a bit.

Like the first quick slant that Rhema dropped because he was afraid of the hit.

And there were a few other 3 step drops that never worked because our receivers were still jammed. Sure, you may get beat every now and then, but... for one thing, if you get a 40 yards pass, 1/3-1/4 of the times, there are going to be a lot of times where that drive stops because of the incompletions.

If you give a defense 15 yard completions at a 65-70% clip. They will be knocking you over all day, just not as quick.

It also didn't help that we were blitzing when our corners were giving them a 10 yard cushion a lot. Not that hard to find your hot receiver in those situations.

One other thing, the referees were letting a LOT of pushing and shoving go on between corners and receivers. They weren't calling ticky-tack fouls. The D-coordinators have to recognize that at half time, and tell their corners to play up a bit more, and physical a bit more. Don't worry so much abotu getting the interference call, just play physical and try to make plays.

 

[NDAlumSon]

That's been my one issue with Lewis.

Lewis has said all along that Notre Dame is his swan song and he doesn't plan on coaching anywhere after coaching here. Considering he already has one foot into retirement, I've always wondered just how devoted he is to Notre Dame.

I didn't know that about coach Lewis. Damn !!
I guess we should take comfort in that fact that he got us Young, McNeil, Smith, Jackson, Richardson, Neal and Gray if he does, in fact, turn in his whistle.
Wow ! Again, I didn't realize this. What a shock.

Bill Lewis has NFL coaching experience.

Watch any pair of NFL corners on Sunday. They are constantly jamming the WR standing across from them.

You mix things up, but you have to throw those guys off their routes within that 5 yard cushion that you are allowed.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: defensive coaches at the college football level are typically best when they are young, energetic guys that can fire up their players and rally their guys at all times. The best extract the most effort out of their unit as they possibly can, then they extract more.

Pete Carroll, Greg Schiano, Jon Tenuta...etc.

Of the defensive staff at Notre Dame, Jappy Oliver is by far the most animated.

Jigga your right !
I hate to say it, but we do need a guy like Ken Norton.
The thing I'm most astonished by after Saturday is the complete lack of emotion and fire from this team.
It looks like we need some screamers on the staff cause it definitely ain't gonna come from Charlie.
The interceptions and blocked punt got them fired up in the second quarter but just as quickly, the air left the ballon.
Really disappointing.

 

[TexasDomer]

Jamming only works if your cover corners can continue to stay with the receiver after the jam, and I don't think our guys had that ability.

 

[Irish Envy]

Bill Lewis has NFL coaching experience.

Watch any pair of NFL corners on Sunday. They are constantly jamming the WR standing across from them.

You mix things up, but you have to throw those guys off their routes within that 5 yard cushion that you are allowed.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: defensive coaches at the college football level are typically best when they are young, energetic guys that can fire up their players and rally their guys at all times. The best extract the most effort out of their unit as they possibly can, then they extract more.

Pete Carroll, Greg Schiano, Jon Tenuta...etc.

Of the defensive staff at Notre Dame, Jappy Oliver is by far the most animated.

So why would Lewis go against everything he knows or is he being overruled by someone else?

 

[NDAlumSon]

Jamming only works if your cover corners can continue to stay with the receiver after the jam, and I don't think our guys had that ability.

It's easier to stay with them if they are jammed.
The problem starts when you go to jam and MISS. Then you're F***ED !

 

[ND_Ownz!]

So why would Lewis go against everything he knows or is he being overruled by someone else?

That's what I'm thinking...even MORE reason to shit can Minter...

Did you hear Reggie Miller even trash our D saying we were AWFUL

 

[NDAlumSon]

Did you hear Reggie Miller even trash our D saying we were AWFUL

Ex-Indiana Pacer great Reggie Miller ??? What the hell does he know?

 

[ND_Ownz!]

Obviously enough to recognize how shitty our defense is...

Do you really think recruits don't for the most part, see it the same?

 

[IrishDon103]

We're just a few players a way from at least having a top 30 defense, which should be good enough considering all the players we've got on offense.

Something tells me Lewis doesn't trust our corners to play bump coverage. I played CB way back in middle school, and even then it was EXTREMELY tough to do well.

 

[marv81s]

That's what I'm thinking...even MORE reason to shit can Minter...

Did you hear Reggie Miller even trash our D saying we were AWFUL

WTF does miller know about defense? He didn't even play defense in the nba when he was a player.

 

[dankus]

Stevie Wonder would say our defense was awful.

 

[Vince Young]

Stevie Wonder would say our defense was awful.

Dammit, man, why'd you disable your rep? That post SORELY deserves some props!

 

[chrislw35]

Jamming only works if your cover corners can continue to stay with the receiver after the jam, and I don't think our guys had that ability.

That is not true. The good def. schemes have the safetys roll over top to help. Thus allowing the only option to be the backs or short possesion catches.