BYU Postgame

[ulukinatme]

I was skeptical about USC at the beginning of the season but they are getting better with each game. What they tend to do is muck around during the first half and then grind teams down in the second when their offensive talent kicks in and they pull away. Will be interesting to see how they do against Utah and UCLA.

They definitely have a ton of weapons on offense and will be dangerous, but I don't think their defense is superb and we'll have opportunities there. They have one four star offensive linemen recruited in the last four years if I recall, we should absolutely make things difficult for Williams in that game. DL should have him running early and often.

 

[Bluto]

They definitely have a ton of weapons on offense and will be dangerous, but I don't think their defense is superb and we'll have opportunities there. They have one four star offensive linemen recruited in the last four years if I recall, we should absolutely make things difficult for Williams in that game. DL should have him running early and often.

Most teams have been able to get Williams running. Unfortunately, he’s been really good at escaping and making plays. Getting him on the ground will be key. Will be interesting to see how the next few games play out.

 

[KPENN]

We're seriously a not fucking up the Marshall game away from being still in the top 10-12

Honestly I feel like they lose to Cal and/or UNC without the Marshall loss. Nothing to back it up with, just my gut.

 

[BeatSC]

Love Ara, but give me Tirico and Dungy.

I prefer Lindsey and Hornung. Heisman trophy winner with a 2-9 record

 

[irishff1014]

They definitely have a ton of weapons on offense and will be dangerous, but I don't think their defense is superb and we'll have opportunities there. They have one four star offensive linemen recruited in the last four years if I recall, we should absolutely make things difficult for Williams in that game. DL should have him running early and often.

I don't think the issue is their defense it's ours. We have given up some big passing plays. They have the ability to do make some big plays through the air. we can't blitz the safety against them because we'll have no help over the top. And they safeties are either to slow or the y start to far back to make a difference. or probably both. We ar gonna need the d line to bring the pressure with some LB blitz's that actually get home.

 

[BeatSC]

We held BYU to 46 plays and 276 total yards at a neutral site. We continued their QB and a few big plays were allowed. Season low in yards gained by BYU by over a 100 yards and tied for low score.

Btw going for two looks stupid looking back now. Only bad pass Pyne threw all night.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I don't think the issue is their defense it's ours. We have given up some big passing plays. They have the ability to do make some big plays through the air. we can't blitz the safety against them because we'll have no help over the top. And they safeties are either to slow or the y start to far back to make a difference. or probably both. We ar gonna need the d line to bring the pressure with some LB blitz's that actually get home.

It's not hard for Golden to simply stop calling the deep safety blitz against teams with dangerous passing attacks. Troy is soft AF in the trenches. We are not. We won't have to risk dangerous blitzes for Foskey and Mills to make Williams uncomfortable.

We pressure him, then hog with ball with a strong ground game to keep him off the field. Irish win... again.

 

[Dale]

I’m largely fine with the safety blitzes as a sporadic call it’s the personnel combined the blitzes that is a head scratcher. Joseph basically scares QBs off even going near him so he should rarely be the one blitzing. He should be the one covering the vacated space. Bracy is what a Top 5 player on the team at this point? Yet Mickey is at Nickel for some of these blitzes. There still seems to be a slight disconnect at times between personnel/subs and calls/situation.

 

[FWIrish4]

It was a good game but still not dynamic enough on Offense to keep up with Clemson and SC.

Your not going to beat Clemson and SC by holding back throwing down field. Running back and Tight End Play are not explosive enough against the elite teams.

The defense still gives up big plays.

Freeman seems like a wonderful onlooker when the offense is on the field and a tortured soul when the D gives up big plays. He will need two more seasons to gain confidence as a HC.

This will be a 4 loss Season at best.

I don’t think this is as big of an issue as you think. We had at least 4 (that I could count on the ESPN app) of chunk passing plays of 20+ yards in this game.

Why would we throw more downfield when we are running for 5.2 yards per attempt and our QB is completing 70%+ of his passes? Our offense, especially with the current receiving core, would most likely be much worse trying to force deep balls.

This board would absolutely be ripping Rees if we were unsuccessfully throwing deep and just killing drives.

 

[ulukinatme]

I don't think the issue is their defense it's ours. We have given up some big passing plays. They have the ability to do make some big plays through the air. we can't blitz the safety against them because we'll have no help over the top. And they safeties are either to slow or the y start to far back to make a difference. or probably both. We ar gonna need the d line to bring the pressure with some LB blitz's that actually get home.

We're stout most plays defensively. When we do have a breakdown it tends to be poor communication or a busted play. That's fixable, and sometimes it's a little bit of luck for the other team. If we can bottle up BYU and North Carolina for most of the game I think we can do a decent job against USC. We beat them considerably last year with Coan throwing for less than 200 yards. They've got a better QB this year, but that OL is still average at best and I think we're better both defensively (Kyle was out most of that game last year I think) from last year and I think we're certainly better at OL among some other positions. It should be tight, but I see no reason why we can't come away with a win.

 

[stlnd01]

We’ll need better linebacker play to stop USC, I think. Fortunately we have six games for the young guys to learn their way onto the field.

 

[CanadalovesND]

So a kid w/ world class speed is relegated to a possession WR? And he’s had every chance to be who they thought he would be coming out of HS.

Yeah it's unfortunate. But, he's shown to ability to work the deep or intermediate areas of the field. That being said, he could still provide a role.

 

[ACamp1900]

If there are no more Marshall games we should have a floor of 7-5 and an improbable but somewhat possible ceiling of 10-2.

I think most of us would have taken that range instantly if offered during the first quarter of the Cal game,… I thought 8-9 wins before the first snap and lost almost all hope of that after Marshall. Now I’m pretty much back there

 

[Whiskeyjack]

So a kid w/ world class speed is relegated to a possession WR? And he’s had every chance to be who they thought he would be coming out of HS.

We tried to recruit him as a DB, but he insisted on WR and wouldn't have come here had we not allowed him to play offense. But the kid has never had the hands necessary to play the position at this level.

Had he listened to our staff, he'd probably be a draftable CB right now.

 

[Sea Turtle]

If there are no more Marshall games we should have a floor of 7-5 and an improbable but somewhat possible ceiling of 10-2.

I think most of us would have taken that range instantly if offered during the first quarter of the Cal game,… I thought 8-9 wins before the first snap and lost almost all hope of that after Marshall. Now I’m pretty much back there

I thought 10-2 before the season. I think 8-4 now.

I don't see us beating Clemson or USC. Riley already has USC going well and they'll only get better. I'm afraid he's even better than I feared as Oklahoma is in dire straits without him.

 

[Irishdrunk]

I thought 10-2 before the season. I think 8-4 now.

I don't see us beating Clemson or USC. Riley already has USC going well and they'll only get better. I'm afraid he's even better than I feared as Oklahoma is in dire straits without him.

I agree with you. People knock Kelly like crazy but he had us as a Top 5 Program. It will take a few seasons for Freeman to get his HC chops. I hope he can get there.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I thought 10-2 before the season. I think 8-4 now.

I don't see us beating Clemson or USC. Riley already has USC going well and they'll only get better. I'm afraid he's even better than I feared as Oklahoma is in dire straits without him.

I agree with you. People knock Kelly like crazy but he had us as a Top 5 Program. It will take a few seasons for Freeman to get his HC chops. I hope he can get there.

I'll worry about the Trojans if they handle Utah and UCLA. Their schedule thus far has been a joke. Yes, their air attack is scary, but they're still the same glorified 7v7 squad they've been since Kiffin took over.

FEI rates their defense in the 4th quintile, which is quite poor. They'll fall to pieces against any team that can whip them in the trenches.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

USC is a ways out. Need to rebuild some depth in the interior DL and for everyone else to stay healthy. That game is winnable but ND will need to play 4 qtrs of solid football, which I believe they're trending in the right direction.

As far as this BYU game....it was a good one. One of the best SS games I can remember, top to bottom. Solid win.

Congrats Michael Mayer!! "You big stuuud. Take me to bed, or lose me forever."

 

[Grahambo]

I don’t think this is as big of an issue as you think. We had at least 4 (that I could count on the ESPN app) of chunk passing plays of 20+ yards in this game.

Why would we throw more downfield when we are running for 5.2 yards per attempt and our QB is completing 70%+ of his passes? Our offense, especially with the current receiving core, would most likely be much worse trying to force deep balls.

This board would absolutely be ripping Rees if we were unsuccessfully throwing deep and just killing drives.

It’s been clear that ND wants a ball control type offense as they view that as their best weapon for winning. Hard to argue when your best player is a TE, you have a 3-headed rushing attack, and have a mostly stout OL.

Best downfield play with that type of personnel is play action.

Will this win you a championship? No. But it’s winning games and allowing MF and co to recruit well which is all we wanted after a tumultuous offseason.

I'll worry about the Trojans if they handle Utah and UCLA. Their schedule thus far has been a joke. Yes, their air attack is scary, but they're still the same glorified 7v7 squad they've been since Kiffin took over.

FEI rates their defense in the 4th quintile, which is quite poor. They'll fall to pieces against any team that can whip them in the trenches.

Not to mention Lincoln Riley is a younger version of BK. Can’t beat the best teams. Will be a fascinating game to watch especially if ND is 8-3 going into the game.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

We tried to recruit him as a DB, but he insisted on WR and wouldn't have come here had we not allowed him to play offense. But the kid has never had the hands necessary to play the position at this level.

Had he listened to our staff, he'd probably be a draftable CB right now.

I had totally forgotten that. Thanks!

 

[Dale]

 

[irishff1014]

It's not hard for Golden to simply stop calling the deep safety blitz against teams with dangerous passing attacks. Troy is soft AF in the trenches. We are not. We won't have to risk dangerous blitzes for Foskey and Mills to make Williams uncomfortable.

We pressure him, then hog with ball with a strong ground game to keep him off the field. Irish win... again.

I don't disagree that they are soft. But Riley will be smart enough as cough to try to get the ball out quickly. Again mostly plays well for us until we don't keep containment and then hit us for huge gain.

Williams hasn't run the ball that much. But i would say that might be a possibility in our game.

 

[stlnd01]

I'm sorry but Michigan and Texas remain pretenders until absolutely convincingly proven otherwise (and no last year doesn't count for Michigan).

Also who is the red M in the "wildcards" bunch. Is that... Maryland?

 

[ACamp1900]

Am I missing something?? Why include NMSU but not UTEP? Or do my eyes deceive me?

 

[Irish du Nord]

We’ll need better linebacker play to stop USC, I think. Fortunately we have six games for the young guys to learn their way onto the field.

Dye is legit. We’ve gotta really be more consistent with run defense in addition to playing OSU level pad defense. If we shut down their Offense, that would be a huge statement for our team.

 

[sixstar]

It's interesting to me that we have held OSU, UNC, and BYU to (seemingly?) season lows in yardage and points, yet our defense is mediocre when adjusted for opponents.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

It's interesting to me that we have held OSU, UNC, and BYU to (seemingly?) season lows in yardage and points, yet our defense is mediocre when adjusted for opponents.

At least some of that success is how few offensive plays the opposing team gets to run. The advanced stats try to control for that.

 

[NDdomer2]

i couldnt find UNLV or Navy on there either.

Hard games remaining: Clemson, USC
Battle: Syracuse
Should be wins: Stanford, UNLV, Navy, BC

 

[FWIrish4]

is BYU the softest fan base ever? The comments are hilarious. Notre Dame’s home game they moved to another city wasn’t inclusive enough for them apparently lol.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

is BYU the softest fan base ever? The comments are hilarious. Notre Dame’s home game they moved to another city wasn’t inclusive enough for them apparently lol.

I haven't heard someone whine that much since Joseph decided to run off a start his own religion