Stanford Game Day Discussion Thread [Oct 4th, 08]

[jakerbluegold]

Natural athleticism, tangible progression, and victories lead to confidence. When you get confident the fire and emotion comes naturally.

It's silly to me how people toss around intangibles "kids a winner, kid has emotion, kid plays hard, kid is confident" .. I dont care how many kids are out there screaming at the top of their lungs, pounding their bare heads into their locker from being so psyched... skill will win 95% of the time.

When you have skill, victories, etc.. you have something to be confident/cocky and emotional about.

I think we do have the "skill" at this point, more emotion is needed! It seems to be much more prevalent now, as opposed to last season. We're seeing the results as well.

 

[IrishFan4Life]

It was a good game overall. The defense looked horrible, time to regroup.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

It was a good game overall. The defense looked horrible, time to regroup.

I think this defense is playing as a TEAM. From top to bottom, from left to right.

I am already hearing talk about which coach moves on to the next top spot. I kinda wish coaches that have established themselves (at whatever position) as a winner would fly home to Notre Dame as their final destination. I think that is what Holtz had in mind.

Yep, that could create a static situation, but it could also create a dynamic back to back to back to back to back.. greatness.

 

[NDMontana]

EXACTLY!!!! Remember the Miami game? That's what I'm talking about!

Oh yeah! The Catholics vs. Convicts game!!! My Uncle was coaching at Miami at the time so it hurt a little to root against him but somehow I did it!!!

 

[NDMontana]

Two things became evident to me this game. One of them I've thought all along and the other is a revelation (where's NDinLA??).

One: We can't run the football. Last weeks gawdy stats were piled up on a Purdue defense that can't stop the run. Their linebackers were/are terrible. I said ND wouldn't run for more than 120 this week and now I feel vindicated (but not happy) that I said as much. The o-line just looks blasé. I don't know how else to describe them....they couldn't get 2 inches on a few occassions this game.

Two: Jimmy Clausen is on the verge of becoming a stud and completely silencing his critics, including this guy. He is making good decisions 95% of the time. He threw for 300 yards today and any time you do that it means you're doing something right. I'm really happy with JC.

 

[Junkhead]

Two: Jimmy Clausen is on the verge of becoming a stud and completely silencing his critics, including this guy. He is making good decisions 95% of the time. He threw for 300 yards today and any time you do that it means you're doing something right. I'm really happy with JC.

In the last 2 games, he has 622yds passing, 6 tds, 0 Ints, 0 fumbles. Impressive!

 

[NDMontana]

In the last 2 games, he has 622yds passing, 6 tds, 0 Ints, 0 fumbles. Impressive!

Yes, very.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

In all my years of watching ND du Lac football, I have never seen a more precise QB. Remember that both of his older brothers were the starting QBs at Tennesse, another great institution with a great football history. I would say he might have learned a thing or two from them.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Sorry I got to this thread late, but it may have already been mentioned. B-Walker is in the tank. That last FG-try when we were 4th- and short should have been a go-for-it situation. His body language just screams, "oh crap, don't throw me out there again." It sure seemed like we let off the gas in the 4th quarter in particular, seeing a lot of faces playing key roles on offense that had not played the whole game (at least not been heard from- Kumara, J.A., etc.) Don't quite understand why the gameplan changed that early in the 4th, as huge mental errors by Pritchard are all that really kept Stanford from scoring fairly easily a couple of times in the first half. Did not leave a whole lot of room for error when Jimmy had a clutch throw or two in that last drive to seal the deal.

Not complaining about the win. Just my uneducated observations.

 

[Brown]

Sorry I got to this thread late, but it may have already been mentioned. B-Walker is in the tank. That last FG-try when we were 4th- and short should have been a go-for-it situation. His body language just screams, "oh crap, don't throw me out there again." It sure seemed like we let off the gas in the 4th quarter in particular, seeing a lot of faces playing key roles on offense that had not played the whole game (at least not been heard from- Kumara, J.A., etc.) Don't quite understand why the gameplan changed that early in the 4th, as huge mental errors by Pritchard are all that really kept Stanford from scoring fairly easily a couple of times in the first half. Did not leave a whole lot of room for error when Jimmy had a clutch throw or two in that last drive to seal the deal.

Not complaining about the win. Just my uneducated observations.

I thought your observations were the closest thing to educated in this entire thread...good stuff.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

I thought your observations were the closest thing to educated in this entire thread...good stuff.

You aren't very educated if you thought that was good stuff

All they did was drop a pass. Jimmy needs to ease up a bit on his zings. 100 mile an hour balls thrown at you can be hard to catch. Jimmy is freegin accurate though.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Sorry I got to this thread late, but it may have already been mentioned. B-Walker is in the tank. That last FG-try when we were 4th- and short should have been a go-for-it situation. His body language just screams, "oh crap, don't throw me out there again." It sure seemed like we let off the gas in the 4th quarter in particular, seeing a lot of faces playing key roles on offense that had not played the whole game (at least not been heard from- Kumara, J.A., etc.) Don't quite understand why the gameplan changed that early in the 4th, as huge mental errors by Pritchard are all that really kept Stanford from scoring fairly easily a couple of times in the first half. Did not leave a whole lot of room for error when Jimmy had a clutch throw or two in that last drive to seal the deal.

Not complaining about the win. Just my uneducated observations.

I think the game plan did not change. That is why they won. How did the game plan change, in your opinion?

It is not B Walker's fault. Is this the same guy who is 100% accurate on P'sAT?

I am tellin ya, the FG attempt is a team thing. The snap is still not reaching the holder at the correct spot. I am also thinking that because this guy is a left footed kicker, they need a left handed holder. I was a left handed holder, holding for a right footed kicker. We failed often. They replaced me with a right handed holder and BINGO!

 

[no.1IrishFan]

My only gripe about this game is that we took our foot off their necks.

I completely agree, I dont think the defense is that bad(7 points in the whole first half)we just turned it off in the 4th qtr. Worries me a little though we are not good enough to just coast thru a half like that resting on a big lead, it almost bit us in the ass.

 

[brentlycat]

Good games for kuntz and claussen,but overall not impressed by team performance.Special teams sucked again.If we don't play better up front next week we're gonna be 4-2 I dont want to be 4-2

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Good games for kuntz and claussen,but overall not impressed by team performance.Special teams sucked again.If we don't play better up front next week we're gonna be 4-2 I dont want to be 4-2

Me either. I think punt coverage did not spread the field enough. Loved the fake punt though. Attempt would have failed if runner did not juke LB. Great call. Great effort. Another reason ND won.


It is late. I am now a bit tipsy. I need to sign out and pass out.

 

[phork]

100% Accurate on PATs is like saying punching babies is hard.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

You aren't very educated if you thought that was good stuff.

All they did was drop a pass. Jimmy needs to ease up a bit on his zings. 100 mile an hour balls thrown at you can be hard to catch. Jimmy is freegin accurate though.

???

I made no mention of Jimmy having anything to do with Stanford's 4th quarter comeback. The playcalling and personnel changed way too early in the 4th quarter for my liking. Who dropped a pass?

 

[brentlycat]

It's time to get nasty that's the only thing we're missing besides consistent effort and execution on special teams.It's frustrating we're so close to putting it all together,shake the lead out! Discos' out Murders'in.

 

[kmoose]

It's time to get nasty that's the only thing we're missing besides consistent effort and execution on special teams.It's frustrating we're so close to putting it all together,shake the lead out! Discos' out Murders'in.

It's not the only thing we are missing.............sooner or later, we are going to need a FG to tie or win, and it ain't gonna happen.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

100% Accurate on PATs is like saying punching babies is hard.

So it is easy for you to punch a baby?

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

???

I made no mention of Jimmy having anything to do with Stanford's 4th quarter comeback. The playcalling and personnel changed way too early in the 4th quarter for my liking. Who dropped a pass?

I was responding to Brown.

 

[NDMontana]

After the first three games, I saw no improvement from a year ago. In the last two weeks the offense has improved incredibily. Jimmy Clausen has been terrific and so have the receivers. The team is 4-1 which is beyond my expectations.

That being said, I think a few of the posters here are in need of a reality check. We came into this game with the 85th ranked defense in college football. Lets be honest, San Diego State and Michigan are not what you would call offensive juggernauts. MSU and Purdue can roll up yardage on anyone. Facing two below average opponents, a decent opponent and a legitamely good opponent should yield better than the 85th ranked defense in the country. Don't get me wrong, the defense has created some timely turnovers, but the defense has given up a lot of yardage. Had we been playing the normal ND schedule we might be 2-3 or worse right now because those turnovers wouldn't have happened.

The defense is giving up 4.5 yards per carry and 140 yards per game rushing. Take out the pass happy San Diego State game stats and the defense is yielding 156 yards per game rushing. Ouch. The D may be "working together" but they're not working well. There was more pressure applied today but when a team blitzes 75% of the time and only had one sack through 4 games it's not a good sign.

I've said before that we will not lose again and should head into the game against USC at 10-1. But, we will not be an upper echelon team until we can improve the rushing defense and offense. In other words we need better line play.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Two things I loved about this game:

First of all, seeing Trevor Robinson stand up for his QB when the Stanford player got in Jimmy's face. He went over and muscled in on that guy. T Rob looks like a beast out there. He is going to be amazing. Finally, an O lineman stands up for his QB and goes after someone that messes with him. I loved it. Wish I could have heard what he as saying, but the dude looked scary to me.

Secondly, I appreciate Pat Haden, on more than one occassion, pointing out the play of the unheralded back up QB Jimmy Carson. Nice to see a little known player get some recognition. Jimmy Carson is my new favorite player on the team. God, Haden is such a douce!!!!!!!! GET A DAMN ROSTER YOU TURD!!! YOU ARE A FREAKING RHODES SCHOLAR, WHY CAN'T YOU GET THE NAME OF THE STARTING QB RIGHT?!?

Sorry, I just had to get that out...

 

[NDMontana]

Two things I loved about this game:

First of all, seeing Trevor Robinson stand up for his QB when the Stanford player got in Jimmy's face. He went over and muscled in on that guy. T Rob looks like a beast out there. He is going to be amazing. Finally, an O lineman stands up for his QB and goes after someone that messes with him. I loved it. Wish I could have heard what he as saying, but the dude looked scary to me.

Agreed!!!

=Secondly, I appreciate Pat Haden, on more than one occassion, pointing out the play of the unheralded back up QB Jimmy Carson. Nice to see a little known player get some recognition. Jimmy Carson is my new favorite player on the team. God, Haden is such a douce!!!!!!!! GET A DAMN ROSTER YOU TURD!!! YOU ARE A FREAKING RHODES SCHOLAR, WHY CAN'T YOU GET THE NAME OF THE STARTING QB RIGHT?!?

Absolutely agree and I'm laughing my ass off!!!

Sorry, I just had to get that out...

I can't speak for anyone else but no apology needed!!!

 

[WaveDomer]

Don't get me wrong, the defense has created some timely turnovers, but the defense has given up a lot of yardage. Had we been playing the normal ND schedule we might be 2-3 or worse right now because those turnovers wouldn't have happened.

The defense is giving up 4.5 yards per carry and 140 yards per game rushing. Take out the pass happy San Diego State game stats and the defense is yielding 156 yards per game rushing. Ouch. The D may be "working together" but they're not working well. There was more pressure applied today but when a team blitzes 75% of the time and only had one sack through 4 games it's not a good sign.

To be fair the defense caused 4 turnovers today and had 5 sacks, if my stats are correct. Also, last week they pressured the heck out of the QB. That doesn't show up in stats but it shows up in the score. They have also played pretty well in the "bend but don't break" category. ND has a lot to work on. But they are also playing well in a lot of areas. I think there is good reason to be excited as ND fans.

 

[NDMontana]

To be fair the defense caused 4 turnovers today and had 5 sacks, if my stats are correct. Also, last week they pressured the heck out of the QB. That doesn't show up in stats but it shows up in the score. They have also played pretty well in the "bend but don't break" category. ND has a lot to work on. But they are also playing well in a lot of areas. I think there is good reason to be excited as ND fans.

There is a great deal to be excited about and I am excited. But I think it's incredibly short sighted to term the defense's play as good.

My first paragraph credited the defense for creating timely turnovers and in the third paragraph I said that they got more pressure on the QB today.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

[/QUOTE]To be fair the defense caused 4 turnovers today and had 5 sacks, if my stats are correct. Also, last week they pressured the heck out of the QB. That doesn't show up in stats but it shows up in the score. They have also played pretty well in the "bend but don't break" category. ND has a lot to work on. But they are also playing well in a lot of areas. I think there is good reason to be excited as ND fans.[/QUOTE]

Couldn't agree more! We did not look our best today (other than Jimmy Clausen and Jimmy Carson, that is), but we got the "W" and it is time to focus on going to Chapel Hill. I am pumped for this team! We got a little complacent in the middle part of the game, but we hung on. Last year, the team would have folded when the opponent started coming back. I saw no sign of the "here we go again" mentality that was so prevelent last year.

 

[WaveDomer]

There is a great deal to be excited about and I am excited. But I think it's incredibly short sighted to term the defense's play as good.

My first paragraph credited the defense for creating timely turnovers and in the third paragraph I said that they got more pressure on the QB today.

True, but you put in the number of sacks in the first 4 games and left out the sack total today.

 

[NDMontana]

Couldn't agree more! We did not look our best today (other than Jimmy Clausen and Jimmy Carson, that is), but we got the "W" and it is time to focus on going to Chapel Hill. I am pumped for this team! We got a little complacent in the middle part of the game, but we hung on. Last year, the team would have folded when the opponent started coming back. I saw no sign of the "here we go again" mentality that was so prevelent last year.

I never had that "here we go again" feeling either. It felt pretty damn good to feel like the team would win no matter what. I haven't felt that way in a while. I'm, dare I say, confident in this team. Wow....that was an epiphany.

I think this season has a lot more positive moments in store. Look out college football, the team you love to hate and love to love, Notre Dame, might be back (sooner than expected)!

 

[phork]

So it is easy for you to punch a baby?

If its not easy for you then its time to uh, eat your wheaties? I punch babies all day long for fun.

People, for the sake of all involved:

LEARN HOW TO QUOTE