Post Game - UNC

[Jimmy3Putt]

Oline improving, but D still has its question marks with or without KH. We should run the rest of the schedule. 11-1 during a rebuild?

How can you not be excited for the next 3-4 years?
Two stud freshman tackles, a high ceiling quarterback, and NFL level skill players everywhere!

 

[Trait Expectations]

Oline improving, but D still has its question marks with or without KH. We should run the rest of the schedule. 11-1 during a rebuild?

Virginia is going to be a tough game.

 

[MacIrish75]

Can Jarrett Patterson return next year on the OL?

Fisher-Kristofic-Patterson-Spindler-Alt sounds pretty damn good.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Can Jarrett Patterson return next year on the OL?

Fisher-Kristofic-Patterson-Spindler-Alt sounds pretty damn good.

He can, the question is if he would/should

 

[BeatSC]

- Rees and Kelly finally figure out the offense
- Coan can run and I knew it he just shy’s away from it
- TB running not effective. TB being on the field as a threat to run is effective.
- Styles = Stud. Lenzy the brittle one can now move on.
- good catch by Austin but also another drop.
- at least 3 drops. Styles Avery and Austin.
- Diggs is good but certainly not KW. Should keep getting better though. Would like to see more C’Bo
- Oline continuing to improve just in time to close our this season.
- stadium environment getting kicked up a notch.
- nice kicking by Doer.
- tackling was atrocious and even embarrassing. Foskey needs to wrap up. Everyone will be back except Amosa (who is usually solid) Hamilton will be gone so we need some upgrades safety’s. Missed secondary assignments.
- Freeman is overrated and is here as long as we want him.
- we need to be scoring in the 50’s. Need the style points but out D needs to keep competition in the 20’s.
- Bauer seems to becoming a complete LB. faster than Drew or JD.

I see more losses across the CFB landscape for the teams in front of us. We win and we’re in…..again!

 

[BeatSC]

He can, the question is if he would/should

He should, question is would he play left tackle?

 

[irishtrain]

Williams run for me was the greatest and most impactful play I have ever saw in my time watching Notre Dame football ( how about the block by Mayer)-but the defensive plan to let a average running quarterback almost single handily destroy a game was something I just do not understand-glad for the win but they cant keep playing defense like that and get a great New Years Day bowl bid-that was not good. If anyone can stop the offense a few times they'll get beat- Virginia (just lost their QB due to injury) Stanford can score etc. I still take my hat off to Kelly for being able to navigate this with a developing team but the defense really has me puzzled they played a very good game except for the glaring weakness of letting that guy run like that.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Williams run for me was the greatest and most impactful play I have ever saw in my time watching Notre Dame football ( how about the block by Mayer)-but the defensive plan to let a average running quarterback almost single handily destroy a game was something I just do not understand-glad for the win but they cant keep playing defense like that and get a great New Years Day bowl bid-that was not good. If anyone can stop the offense a few times they'll get beat- Virginia (just lost their QB due to injury) Stanford can score etc. I still take my hat off to Kelly for being able to navigate this with a developing team but the defense really has me puzzled they played a very good game except for the glaring weakness of letting that guy run like that.

Mostly agree but I wouldn’t call Howell an average running quarterback, he was 4th in FBS in rushing yards for a QB going into the game. He’s a good runner and we let him do what he was good at, which could also be an indictment on us, but a different one than what you made above

 

[Sea Turtle]

We won by double digits. I'm happy.

 

[NDisme]

Oline improving, but D still has its question marks with or without KH. We should run the rest of the schedule. 11-1 during a rebuild?

That along with playing D’s that are not as good at rushing the passer

 

[Irishize]

I knew Howell & that offense would get their yards/points so that wasn’t a big surprise. What was disconcerting is the poor angles & poor tackling. Foskey has been quoted as admitting how tough Howell was to take down in last year’s contest. He proved ND didn’t learn their lesson b/c the kid is strong as an ox to go along w/ a great deep ball (maybe not last night…but overall).

Whether the poor tackling gets chalked up to players being tired or just poor execution remains to be seen but it needs to be fixed ASAP.

 

[irishandy]

Postgame Thoughts:
1) Kyren Williams is getting better and better as we get deeper into the season.
2) The 91 yd. TD by Williams might be the best run I've seen at a game. UNC had him in the backfield. Helluva run by Williams.
3) I am glad the light bulb finally turned on for Kelly to play freshman. 4 freshman were on the field at the same time in the second quarter on offense- Buchner, Diggs, Colzie and Styles. This happened multiple times yesterday.
4) We missed Kyle Hamilton on defense yesterday.
5) Our defense needs to revisit tackling 101 this week.
6) Still too many drops by our WR's and these passes are catchable.
7) Coan on the QB keeper for a TD!! His experience is paying off this year.
8) Nice gameday atmosphere with the lights. I think at some point they need to add fireworks instead of the smoke when ND first runs out onto the field.

Go Irish!!

 

[ThePiombino]

How can you not be excited for the next 3-4 years?
Two stud freshman tackles, a high ceiling quarterback, and NFL level skill players everywhere!

Not in the secondary sans KH this year and no one beyond...

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Not in the secondary sans KH this year and no one beyond...

I was talking about the offense. Freeman has two years to build up his defense for a 23 and 24 title run.
Until then, we have to outscore everyone which is what Bama, OU, and OSU have been doing the past 3-4 years anyway.

Who knows? Maybe a lot of these guys come back for some unfinished business and we can make some noise next year.

 

[Irish4life]

- Rees and Kelly finally figure out the offense
- Coan can run and I knew it he just shy’s away from it
- TB running not effective. TB being on the field as a threat to run is effective.
- Styles = Stud. Lenzy the brittle one can now move on.
- good catch by Austin but also another drop.
- at least 3 drops. Styles Avery and Austin.
- Diggs is good but certainly not KW. Should keep getting better though. Would like to see more C’Bo
- Oline continuing to improve just in time to close our this season.
- stadium environment getting kicked up a notch.
- nice kicking by Doer.
- tackling was atrocious and even embarrassing. Foskey needs to wrap up. Everyone will be back except Amosa (who is usually solid) Hamilton will be gone so we need some upgrades safety’s. Missed secondary assignments.
- Freeman is overrated and is here as long as we want him.
- we need to be scoring in the 50’s. Need the style points but out D needs to keep competition in the 20’s.
- Bauer seems to becoming a complete LB. faster than Drew or JD.

I see more losses across the CFB landscape for the teams in front of us. We win and we’re in…..again!

Mostly agree outside of the OL improving, it's still a problem. Kyren had 170 yards come after contact, 91 of which came on a single run. Unbelievable performance by him. completely unsustainable. Regression will hit and hit hard if they continue down this path.

 

[NDRock]

I feel like we’ve been 2 years away for most of Kelly’s tenure.PJ was supposed to be throwing bombs to Lenzy and the gang this year.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I feel like we’ve been 2 years away for most of Kelly’s tenure.PJ was supposed to be throwing bombs to Lenzy and the gang this year.

That's a great point, but this time the quarterback is actually playing and won't have a three year starter to beat out.
It just feels different.

 

[texbender]

Made it to he game...great stadium atmosphere from start to finish. Good scene for recruits.
Glad we won, but D had serious issues. #11 for UNC had a career night.
KW is a warrior as previously stated. Without him we lose that game.
Wish we would have gone for TDs on the 2 late occasions we had 1st and goal inside the 5. That's how you put opponents away.
Bad night for the refs, for both teams.
Seems like we had so many chances to sack the QB, but he always got away (until Botelho caught him on final drive)
Styles is coming on, even with his big drop. Hope to see more of him.
OL continues to improve.
Is Hamilton returning, or is he shutting it down for he season?
Great chance to go to 11-1 and NYD Bowl if ND just takes care of biz from here.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I think you covered it.

AND

Irish cover!

The rebuild continues and everything is on track.

Catching up after returning from South Bend this weekend, and you've mentioned the rebuild in so many posts and I thank you for reminding everyone of that, BM.

We are on track for yet another double digit win season in what most reasonable, rational fans realized was a rebuilding year prior to Labor Day. We took a transfer QB and G to bridge some major losses offensively and we've taken some lumps defensively as far as playmakers and depth is concerned.

There's nothing I or anyone else can post on this site to make a lot of you realize that anyone who had playoff expectations this year was a little off base. Even if we did make it, how in the world do you think we'd handle playing Bama or UGA? Our schedule turned out to be a paper tiger. 2020 ND would boat race a hypothetical 2021 ND playoff team.

To summarize, I am completely blown away by the amount of negativity I've read after a 7-1 start. (not so much on this thread as some of the others, but it's palpable throughout the site). I'm not going to take the time to look, but if we went back to June/July posts, I would assume the same ones who are bitching about Freeman are the same posters who prematurely anointed him coach in waiting and are the same posters who thought this team was CFP bound.

I think it would be wise to look in the mirror as a fan for some. It's one thing to wear green colored lenses and another to take a step back and realize that this "rebuilding" football team is a pretty damn good one, certainly a gritty, resilient one and the future is extremely bright.

 

[NDohio]

Catching up after returning from South Bend this weekend, and you've mentioned the rebuild in so many posts and I think you for reminding everyone of that, BM.

We are on track for yet another double digit win season in what most reasonable, rational fans realized was a rebuilding year prior to Labor Day. We took a transfer QB and G to bridge some major losses offensively and we've taken some lumps defensively as far as playmakers and depth is concerned.

There's nothing I or anyone else can post on this site to make a lot of you realize that anyone who had playoff expectations this year was a little off base. Even if we did make it, how in the world do you think we'd handle playing Bama or UGA? Our schedule turned out to be a paper tiger. 2020 ND would boat race a hypothetical 2021 ND playoff team.

To summarize, I am completely blown away by the amount of negativity I've read after a 7-1 start. (not so much on this thread as some of the others, but it's palpable throughout the site). I'm not going to take the time to look, but if we went back to June/July posts, I would assume the same ones who are bitching about Freeman are the same posters who prematurely anointed him coach in waiting and are the same posters who thought this team was CFP bound.

I think it would be wise to look in the mirror as a fan for some. It's one thing to wear green colored lenses and another to take a step back and realize that this "rebuilding" football team is a pretty damn good one, certainly a gritty, resilient one and the future is extremely bright.

...and extremely entertaining...

 

[NDPhilly]

How many points do we think single handily Kyle Hamilton would have saved? 5? 10? Obviously would have been big on those blown coverages, but also would have been a giant help with Howell scrambling. Might have even knocked him out of the game with how fast he comes down hill.

 

[Wild Bill]

How many points do we think single handily Kyle Hamilton would have saved? 5? 10? Obviously would have been big on those blown coverages, but also would have been a giant help with Howell scrambling. Might have even knocked him out of the game with how fast he comes down hill.

Could have been the worst game for him to miss given Howell's ability to scramble and Downs speed in the slot.

Long answer:
I have to imagine he would have prevented at least one TD - that long run where DJ Brown was playing center field and he was just floating backwards and to his left even after a blind man could see that they were running to his right. Then when he decided to join his defense, he made their back look like Usain Bolt with the angle he took. Given KH's closing speed, he probably could have dropped him at the 45 if he read the play right. At worst, he makes the tackle at the 25 and maybe they hold them to a FG.

Fake screen/deep ball was another one where he could have made a difference. That was on the corner and safety had a long run to make but KH has made some of those runs look easy. The screen play to Downs in the first half and the long ball to Downs in the first quarter is another one that he may have been able to defend. Tough to say b/c UNC set some great picks on the play.

That Howell TD run was another play that you have to believe KH would have been able to prevent.

Specific plays aside, KH playing probably changes some of the game planning to ND's favor and certainly helps contain Downs, and Howell would have had to think twice before tucking and running.

Short answer: 7-10 points.

Kyren is as hard working as he is talented and has been a joy to watch. I hope he keeps up this pace up to finish the year. I can watch him run the ball and pick up blitzers all day.

Rees has earned some criticism this year but I give him credit for finding something that works given his options at QB and Oline. It's only been a few games and it'll be interesting to see how defenses adjust but I give him credit for adapting to his talent and getting the most out of the offense.

 

[RDU Irish]

Mostly agree outside of the OL improving, it's still a problem. Kyren had 170 yards come after contact, 91 of which came on a single run. Unbelievable performance by him. completely unsustainable. Regression will hit and hit hard if they continue down this path.

To be fair - 93+ yards came after contact on that play.

 

[Irish4life]

To be fair - 93+ yards came after contact on that play.

Exactly. Kyren bailed out the OL against UNC.

 

[Dale]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/jamieuyeyama/status/1455357722480758784?s=21[/TWEET]

7 is an absurd amount

 

[BeatSC]

Tackling drills all week please. Freeman’s rep is and should be taking a pounding so far. While talk has been about the depth at D line they are not tackling well and giving up yards to the push too often. Don’t like the scheme and how we line up. When Hinish penetrates his alligator arms are too short to wrap up. Don’t see him getting drafted based on this seasons work.

 

[AlaskanIrish]

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but the "Lights out" entrance has popped up on Twitter a few times. I don't know how to square the stadium video of Brian Kelly leading the team in saying an "Our Father" with the immediate follow of "Hell's Bells". Caveat: I was raised Catholic, but I am not religious. My whole family is ND fans. I respect the university and the associated faith deeply, but it doesn't make sense to me. I'd be happy to be educated. Much respect.

 

[ND88]

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but the "Lights out" entrance has popped up on Twitter a few times. I don't know how to square the stadium video of Brian Kelly leading the team in saying an "Our Father" with the immediate follow of "Hell's Bells". Caveat: I was raised Catholic, but I am not religious. My whole family is ND fans. I respect the university and the associated faith deeply, but it doesn't make sense to me. I'd be happy to be educated. Much respect.

I'm not educating, just stating the obvious: football isn't exactly a godly sport and neither is most music. I think a prayer for good health is a sincere tradition that reflects Notre Dame's Catholic roots, but ultimately, the sport is violent and the music is just to get the crowd and players hyped in an entertaining way. The Ave Maria would only make sense in an Undertaker kind of way. Otherwise, ACDC has some ominous guitar licks to build up the intensity.

 

[AlaskanIrish]

I'm not educating, just stating the obvious: football isn't exactly a godly sport and neither is most music. I think a prayer for good health is a sincere tradition that reflects Notre Dame's Catholic roots, but ultimately, the sport is violent and the music is just to get the crowd and players hyped in an entertaining way. The Ave Maria would only make sense in an Undertaker kind of way. Otherwise, ACDC has some ominous guitar licks to build up the intensity.

Thanks, ND88. It just struck me as a strange juxtaposition is all. Perhaps it was the prayer being on the jumbotron and then immediately following it came AC/DC. Do you find that diehard ND fans, like myself, wrestle with, say, "what Jesus would have done" and football? I don't want to open a can of worms, but I didn't go to ND and I wish to understand. I'm a born in Scranton, PA guy where ND Football is like a religion in and of itself. Thanks again for the response.

 

[FWIrish4]

I do think we could certainly do better than Hell’s Bells as the entrance song BUT we are moving in the right direction of stadium atmosphere which is the most important thing.

And it’s been a thousand times, but all the light stuff is so much better in person. USC game was great but UNC was up another notch.