2009 Fighting Irish Football

[NDMontana]

I think alot of the blitz success depends on the play or "pressure potential" of the front 3 on defense. I don't think there was a single player on the defensive line that required a double team block throughout the year (at least not consitently). That one stud defensive line player can create a lot of holes for linebackers to go through if he can take up the double team. My gut tells me had Trevor Laws been there this year we would have seen the blitz's be at least somewhat effective.

Honestly I'm not a huge fan of Tenuta either but this is just my take on why his blitzes were completely uneffective.

That's good analysis. You didn't say this but I'm going to fill in the blanks that you left (no offense): Trevor Laws would've helped but he wasn't here. As such, Notre Dame should not have blitzed like they did.

 

[NDMontana]

I'm in the middle here. I totally agree with Montana and Camp, that the blitzes were ineffective. We blitzed A LOT, but when did we get pressure? Rarely. I was hoping that things would change once we got used to the new schemes, but things never seemed to get better (as far as getting pressure). I'm still hoping that another year in the same system (remember, continuity is HUGE infootball) will get them to where we all want them to be.

But I do love the fact that we are TRYING to put pressure on the QB. Let's face it, all great defenses (throughout history) get pressure on the QB. Hell, just look at last year's NYGiants for case #1. But they could do it without blitzing so much (our boy Justin Tuck is going DAMAGE!), whereas we simply don't have the personnel to get pressure without blitzing. So I do see the need to blitz.

It'd be nice, however, to see one of those damn blitzes work!!!

We need to disguise the blitzes. The problem with Tenuta's philosophy isn't that blitzing, in and of itself, is a bad idea. The problem is that you lose the element of surprise when you blitz on every play. Offensive coordinators salivate when they know what a defense is going to do in every given situation.

 

[irish4ever]

Charlie Weis is a lot of things, but the fat comments are out of line and frankly I am sick of it. All I see on these blogs and articles with comments are his comments about his weight and how much he eats. Really, get a life.

I agree. They get rather old after a while.

 

[JeremyND07]

schemes can change but without a dominate NG the 3-4 is not effective! Until we recruit or one of our current guys adds about 30-40 pounds we will never have an effect defense scheme!

 

[sportallyr]

What we need next year is a coaching staff that makes adjustments during the game. I understand that Charlie and Co come up with a gameplan every Sunday through Friday, but making an adjustment on Saturday would be nice to see every once in a while.

Also, having Darrin Walls back will help both the defense and the return game in my opinion. He's a gamebreaker and will make a big difference next year.

 

[JeremyND07]

Give me a 380 pound NG and we will be set on defense next year...I mean top 15 nationally!

 

[tko]

What we need next year is a coaching staff that makes adjustments during the game. I understand that Charlie and Co come up with a gameplan every Sunday through Friday, but making an adjustment on Saturday would be nice to see every once in a while.
Also, having Darrin Walls back will help both the defense and the return game in my opinion. He's a gamebreaker and will make a big difference next year.

a little more discreetly though than on national tv with everyone scrambling around writing shit down on cards. that was one of the most embarrassing things i've ever seen from any team in the history of sports and sadly it was our team!

 

[tko]

Give me a 380 pound NG and we will be set on defense next year...I mean top 15 nationally!

was brandon newman simply not ready this year?

 

[JeremyND07]

was brandon newman simply not ready this year?

I was wondering the samething!!!!

 

[tko]

I was wondering the samething!!!!

hopefully he's involved in the mix and ready to compete next year.

 

[BeatSC]

That's good analysis. You didn't say this but I'm going to fill in the blanks that you left (no offense): Trevor Laws would've helped but he wasn't here. As such, Notre Dame should not have blitzed like they did.

The opposing QB's had enough time already. How much more time would they have had if we didn't blitz? Our guys hold up the line pretty good but they don't need any double teams. Kuntz came the closest to getting a double team once in a while and I doubt he will get drafted. Someone said if we got some double teams the blitz would be more effective and he was Right on with that observation.

 

[JeremyND07]

It is hard to look at who we have coming back, coming in, and our weak schedule not to be VERY optimistic for next year! I think we could be 5-0 and not ranked again though! I would like to see 10-2 and a large non-BCS bowl win!

 

[Sureal]

You know what I would like to see?

ND playing the next game in their bowl. Show some improvement there...

 

[NDMontana]

Give me a 380 pound NG and we will be set on defense next year...I mean top 15 nationally!

We already tried the "eat your way to the top" experiment with the o-line last offseason. It didn't work.

 

[NDMontana]

The opposing QB's had enough time already. How much more time would they have had if we didn't blitz? Our guys hold up the line pretty good but they don't need any double teams. Kuntz came the closest to getting a double team once in a while and I doubt he will get drafted. Someone said if we got some double teams the blitz would be more effective and he was Right on with that observation.

They may have had more time but everyone would have been covered with our safeties helping over the top. Our linebackers would have been in better position(s) to actually make tackles on the first or second level instead of racing into the backfield and either:

a. getting blocked
b. high fiving the running back as they passed each other.

You can have all day to throw but when everyone is covered you're shit out of luck. You don't continually use an ineffective strategy (blitzing) to cover up a defeciency (lack of good defensive linemen). It only serves to compound the problem.

 

[KeepItCatholic]

Intensity..Intensity...Intesity

make them fear you, make them feel you, punish them and deliver the blow. Jump around and get fired up. I want the hits to be delivered. I want to be on the edge of my seat ready to jump out of it on contact when i see us bulldoze through the opponent. Relentlessness! KILL!!! lol


Get in the head of the opponent

and lastly learn to put the nail in the coffin
keep the foot on the throat
whatever the saying you prefer
FINISH!!