Chuck!!! The Offensive Coaches Must Own Loss!!

[jonesman]

Before everyone lights there torches and goes on the rampage to run Charlie out of town, take a deep breath and count to a TD. This one was painful for all of us and mostly for the players who left it all on the field. I do not believe there was a lack of effort tonight, but there was some major lack of play calling by Chuck and our rookie OC, Mike. I will say that this has been a two game regression at this point. I want to hear CW take some blame on this one. He did a poor job in the second half and OT.

When we put our foot on the gas, this O moves with the best. BUT when we try to go a bit conservative, we struggle mightily. The playcalling or possibly Clausen's choice of receiver is getting toooo predictable. Raise your hand if you are tired of seeing the sideline fade every other series?? ME TO. Defenses know it is coming and are sitting on Floyd and Tate for this.

Clausen has had two poor games in a row as far as I am concerned. He is beginning to lock on his WR's too early and missing bad on some. There were at least 3 plays today where he threw passes to empty spaces. This means that either the WR or Clausen are making bad reads. With the pressure Jimmy is feeling, we could use some rollouts.

In conclusion, we all knew this team would make some youthful mistakes and that 8 victories is the bar. I still believe we achieve 8 wins and go to a bowl game. Futher, I am starting to see a D play with more and more speed. They struggled a bit in the second half tonight due to time on the field. Let's cheer out players, they gave their hearts tonite. Charlie may not be perfect, but I am really not sure we can find a better man for the job. There is alot of risk in another coach. CW is building a good program and we are getting better. I am as dissapointed as any of you, but rash remarks and threats that he should be fired are unrealistic.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Reps!!! You dont fire a construction company halfway through a job.

 

[CurtisCandy]

What really bothered me was the lack of that empty backfield, 5-receiver set we'd been using with GREAT results over the past few games. While it's not a formation you would run for an entire game, it has certainly been effective ever since they first used it.

Where the hell was it today?

 

[Junkhead]

It's frustrating as hell to have a 2 touchdown lead and see the offense basically give up. Maybe we have no idea how to play with the lead after last season, but when the play-calling goes conservative, its over. The o-line and d-line are still weak. O-line I believe is coaching, D-line is players and inexperience.

 

[phork]

There is nothing wrong with the offense when the foot is on the pedal. So much respect was given to Floyd for the big toss he was eating them up with 10+ yard outs all game. With Tate always a threat to go deep, HOW IN THE HELL CAN'T WE RUN THE BALL. And if we can't run the ball, throw it, every play.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

The heavyweights chimed in.

 

[Timugen]

We lost this game for one simple reason.

Our offensive offensive line.

Pitt has one of the worst secondaries in CFB (just look at what a friggin' struggling 2-5 Rutgers did to them last week through the air,) yet we struggled to exploit that because Jimmy was running for his life the whole game (yes, we put up passing stats, but actually watching the game, we could have gotten so much more.)

When the team that you're playing can pressure the QB on almost every play with just rushing 4, then you're going to be in trouble - and that's exactly what happened. They didn't even need to send a blitz to get Jimmy running for his life....and that's disgraceful on the part of our offensive offensive line.

That's why we got Wannstached.

 

[NDFLA]

I read something disturbing today that I also heard last week after the Washington game. Golden Tate said that they get over confident when they go up by 14 points against an opponent. Last week he said that they didn't want to rub it in and run up the score against Washington because it "isn't our style, we won't run up the score". Where the hell does a 19 year old kid get an idea like this. When looking at the play calling, I have to say that it must be the coaching. They are being taught to take their foot off the pedal and let up on these teams. We are not good enough to let up. We can't hold a lead and if given the opportunity, these same teams would score 100 points on us. I realize that this is a young team that is going to make mistakes, but the coaching staff has to make an effort to go full throttle for 60 minutes. We aren't going to hurt anyones feelings if we do. The Irish will be OK, but the need to get their heads together, fast.
BC is licking their chops for this mentally weak Irish team to come to town. Go Irish!

 

[jonesman]

NDFLA<
Trust me, BC is not licking their chops at ND coming to town. We will come back strong next week and put a beatdown on BC. They are definitely not as good as Pitt and I believe CW learned a few things yesterday.

I have confidence in this team learning and growing. What some of us forget is we are still really reallly young. We are starting about 5 Fresh or Soph on O and the same on D.

Let's all have faith that we are getting better and will be really tough next season.

 

[NDFLA]

NDFLA<
Trust me, BC is not licking their chops at ND coming to town. We will come back strong next week and put a beatdown on BC. They are definitely not as good as Pitt and I believe CW learned a few things yesterday.

I have confidence in this team learning and growing. What some of us forget is we are still really reallly young. We are starting about 5 Fresh or Soph on O and the same on D.

Let's all have faith that we are getting better and will be really tough next season.

You don't seem to have read my post, other then the last line. I know that we are young, I am aware that we are starting a ton of underclassmen on both sides of the ball, and I have faith in this team. This is always the biggest game of the year for the Eagles and TRUST ME, they have been waiting for this game all year. If the Irish don't get the right mental state soon, this will be a very tough game. I like the idea that we will put a beat down on BC, I think that we have felt that way once or twice before. You need to have a no mercy attitude in this sport, because as we are learning as Irish fans, a 14 point lead at halftime isn't nearly enough.

Go Irish

 

[ACamp1900]

You don't seem to have read my post, other then the last line. I know that we are young, I am aware that we are starting a ton of underclassmen on both sides of the ball, and I have faith in this team. This is always the biggest game of the year for the Eagles and TRUST ME, they have been waiting for this game all year. If the Irish don't get the right mental state soon, this will be a very tough game. I like the idea that we will put a beat down on BC, I think that we have felt that way once or twice before. You need to have a no mercy attitude in this sport, because as we are learning as Irish fans, a 14 point lead at halftime isn't nearly enough.

Go Irish

I totally agree... and I have said before until we go out and actually do it, beating BC will be a challenge, they simply have our number right now...

I like our chances but it will be another close game

 

[BeatSC]

The difference between the Rutgers game and this game for Pitt was they got sky high for us and weren't emotionally ready for the one win Rutgers. These are kids who live off emotion and every week the ND game is their Bowl game of the season. WRT the play calling I would like to see GT get more touches. Direct snap, bubble screen, flanker reverse etc. also looked like some screen passes and draw plays might have helped JC out. It seems like Haywood freezes making good calls under the pressure of game time. JC also needs to look off WR's and do a little more pump faking.

 

[IrishGrizz]

In conclusion, we all knew this team would make some youthful mistakes and that 8 victories is the bar. I still believe we achieve 8 wins and go to a bowl game. Futher, I am starting to see a D play with more and more speed. They struggled a bit in the second half tonight due to time on the field. Let's cheer out players, they gave their hearts tonite. Charlie may not be perfect, but I am really not sure we can find a better man for the job. There is alot of risk in another coach. CW is building a good program and we are getting better. I am as dissapointed as any of you, but rash remarks and threats that he should be fired are unrealistic.

Amen, Brother Realistic, amen.

 

[IrishGrizz]

Reps!!! You dont fire a construction company halfway through a job.

If only others would look at it this way.....

 

[kmoose]

Why does it have to be on the offensive coaches? ND put up 400+ yards, and 24 points, in regulation time. Since when is that some kind of pathetic outing? How about the defensive side of the ball? Pitt had 71 yards of total offense, at halftime. They ended up with ~350. McCoy ended up with 170 yards. Even if he accounted for every yard Pitt had in the first half (he didn't), that would still mean that he gained very close to 100 yards in the second half. If you recorded the game, go back and watch the second half. I did, and what I saw was a defense that was guessing where the play was going to go. The front seven was slanting toward the anticipated play, leaving great cutback lanes, and wide open field when they guessed wrong. If you have to guess, on defense, you are dead! The bottom line is that ND is still a very mediocre team. The difference between last year and this year is that they are consistently mediocre. So they handle the bad teams this year. But they still struggle against the best teams on the schedule, and will probably lose big, to the USCs of the world. The bright spot is that they are mediocre mostly because of their youth at the skill positions. (Also because they lack a stud tailback) Next year should be a very bright year for the Irish. And they still can win 8 games this year, which will be one hell of an improvement.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

The front seven was slanting toward the anticipated play, leaving great cutback lanes, and wide open field when they guessed wrong. If you have to guess, on defense, you are dead! ....

Not necessarily. That's what makes for an attacking defense, but the thought has occurred to me more than once that maybe they should play a bit more "base" D and pursue to the ball.

This D is not as bad as people think. Pretty damn good if you axe me.

Otherweis, nice observations - as always.

 

[Irishlew]

how long has Saban been at Alabama? Hmmm what are they ranked again?

 

[ACamp1900]

how long has Saban been at Alabama? Hmmm what are they ranked again?

WE got to the top five in CW's first year did we not??? (If not than certainly top ten I forget honestly) Saban didn't do that... each program is different with varying circumstances in all fairness

 

[phork]

It is a decent defense, but when its on the field a lot it gets tired, quickly.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

WE got to the top five in CW's first year did we not??? (If not than certainly top ten I forget honestly) Saban didn't do that... each program is different with varying circumstances in all fairness

We were as high as 6 at one point and then lost.

 

[NDsuperfan09]

From what I saw yesterday that loss is all coaching. Why quit throwing when Clausen and Floyd were making it look easy in the first half? Why keep blitzing the outside when the RB for Pitt staying to pass protect is picking up the blitz every single play? Why leave McNeil or any CB for that matter on an island on a 4th down in the redzone against a 6'6" WR? We should have won by 2-3 TDs yesterday.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

There is nothing wrong with the offense when the foot is on the pedal. So much respect was given to Floyd for the big toss he was eating them up with 10+ yard outs all game. With Tate always a threat to go deep, HOW IN THE HELL CAN'T WE RUN THE BALL. And if we can't run the ball, throw it, every play.

It is a decent defense, but when its on the field a lot it gets tired, quickly.

Oh my Lord! I can't believe I am agreeing with phork! What is my Irish universe coming to? Seriously though, I completely agree with these posts 100%.

Every ball Floyd caught in the first half went for 10-12 yards. I understand changing the play calling when the defense adjusts, but until they show me they can actually stop it, keep running the same thing that is working. Floyd on the outs and Tate on the slant. Where was that? Also, running up the middle wasn't working! Why do you keep running it? Floyd should have had about twice as many catches. They couldn't stop him! Armando started out with some good runs, but we should have been throwing sooooo much more than we did.

 

[irish4ever]

In conclusion, we all knew this team would make some youthful mistakes and that 8 victories is the bar. I still believe we achieve 8 wins and go to a bowl game.

Jonesman, I agree w/ you that the bar for victories this year should have been 8. Though still possible, I don't see it happening. Too many "breakdowns" against "fair to good" teams (MSU, NC and now Pitt). The Irish can get by w/ the gaffes against the weaker teams on the schedule (Navy and Syracuse coming up), but not the better teams (BC and U$C). I hope that I'm wrong about this upcoming w/e, but I foresee BC beating the Irish and U$C will do the same. I predict 7-5 going into a bowl game (that's the good thing, an add'l chance to get that 8th win).

 

[JeremyND07]

I am glad to see more realist as the koolaid chuggers act shocked that we could go 8-4 or even 7-5. We were 3-9 last year guys and we are still VERY young! We will make drastic improvements next year and go 10-2. 2010 is the year that it has to all come together!