Darrin Walls - Take a seat.

[JeremyND07]

I agree our d-ine is doing nothing...we blitz and get no pressure so that leaves are DB in man-to-man a lot! Walls will be fine once he gets his timing back...maybe USC will be his breakout game. I have a crazy idea...if blitzing does not work STOP DOING IT!!!!!!!!

 

[WeisWeisBaby]

Blitzing is what saved us against MSU... if it wasn't for Fleming putting the pressure on MSU's QB on that last play, he would've either thrown it away or had an easy completion. Instead, McCarthy saves the day.

Blitzing isn't always meant for sacks. I agree that at times it doesn't seem like we are getting back there enough, but I think it's working to a point where the QB is never comfortable.

 

[JeremyND07]

Blitzing is what saved us against MSU... if it wasn't for Fleming putting the pressure on MSU's QB on that last play, he would've either thrown it away or had an easy completion. Instead, McCarthy saves the day.

Blitzing isn't always meant for sacks. I agree that at times it doesn't seem like we are getting back there enough, but I think it's working to a point where the QB is never comfortable.

Fleming looked like he was on a stroll through the park most of the MSU game. We've only had (4) sacks all year and (2) of those came when we sent everyone! Our LB's are big and slow and our defense line is young. We cannot continue to put our DB's on an island the whole game while the QB has all day to throw. We do not have the talent in the front 7 to be a successful blitzing team or the packages are just not working. Either way there needs to be more changes!

 

[TDHeysus]

if it wasn't for Fleming....

Fair or not......When I see Fleming, the first thing that pops in my head is (got ankles broke clean off by a true freshman)

Blitzing is what saved us against MSU.. if it wasn't for Fleming putting the pressure on MSU's QB on that last play, he would've either thrown it away or had an easy completion. Instead, McCarthy saves the day..

you saw a situational blitz that worked....at the end of game, on a pass play like that, a blitz is called alot of the time. ND blitzes EVERY PLAY, that is where I disagree with the defensive philosophy, but hey, im just an IT nerd, not a coach.

Blitzing isn't always meant for sacks. I agree that at times it doesn't seem like we are getting back there enough, but I think it's working to a point where the QB is never comfortable.

versus MSU
0 sacks
3 QB hurries

was all the 'easy yards' given up all game long worth 3 hurries and zero sacks??

 

[BGIF]

Walls far from fragile

Walls far from fragile

Even though he’s off to a somewhat shaky start, cornerback Darrin Walls’ confidence isn’t shaken.

“I wouldn’t say fragile,” Walls said when asked if that was where he was on the confidence scale. “I’m just working on the things that I’ve done wrong or things I could have done better to make me become better.”

So what’s he done wrong?

“There were a couple times where I lined up too deep or something like that,” Walls said. “You watch the game and correct your mistakes and see what you could have done better. You think about those things and transfer them from that game to the next game, and that’s what makes you a better player.”

Walls was beaten for a touchdown against Michigan State and for a 40-yard gain against Michigan. He also just missed interceptions in both games, including one on the final drive against MSU that could have spared the Irish some late-game drama.

“People are still talking in the locker room about me dropping that one,” Walls said. “I don’t know if he had a hand on it or not, but you always want to make (the play). Those are the plays you always see on ESPN and you just think about it like, ‘It could have been, but it’s not so. Next time, hopefully.’”

One of those ESPN-type plays could be just what Walls needs right now.

“A couple of those pass breakups, if those turn into 90-yard interceptions, then he’d have a whole lot more” confidence, co-defensive coordinator Corwin Brown said. “It’d be hard for him to walk around around here, you know what I mean?”

 

[BGIF]

Fleming looked like he was on a stroll through the park most of the MSU game. We've only had (4) sacks all year and (2) of those came when we sent everyone! Our LB's are big and slow and our defense line is young. We cannot continue to put our DB's on an island the whole game while the QB has all day to throw. We do not have the talent in the front 7 to be a successful blitzing team or the packages are just not working. Either way there needs to be more changes!

If ND can't get pressure on the QB through the blitz how does the young DLine do it alone?

You'd give the QB even more time to throw!

 

[NDisme]

Hahahaha that is so true

Get him out. Now. He can't cover a white guy named Blair

 

[IrishAddiction]

Techinically a question i should know the answer to already, but who are our starting corners anyways? or do we have 3 w/ the nickel packages, which we seem to run alot.... Blanton is the best in run support that i have seen, Gary Gray has seemed non-existant minus a pick before halftime in one of the game, Mcneil (SP?) i remember hearing is a starter..... is walls actually a starter right now?

Just wondering guys.

 

[Riddickulous]

Techinically a question i should know the answer to already, but who are our starting corners anyways? or do we have 3 w/ the nickel packages, which we seem to run alot.... Blanton is the best in run support that i have seen, Gary Gray has seemed non-existant minus a pick before halftime in one of the game, Mcneil (SP?) i remember hearing is a starter..... is walls actually a starter right now?

Just wondering guys.

Blanton and Walls. Blanton is the one who's name is never called, because he covers receivers like a blanket.

 

[tgolden]

Walls will be ok. None of the dbacks (minus mccarthy) are looking that great because of the huge cushion they are all giving and the lack of pressure up front. He'll be fine though.

 

[irishfan]

Walls will be ok. None of the dbacks (minus mccarthy) are looking that great because of the huge cushion they are all giving and the lack of pressure up front. He'll be fine though.

hasmith has looked pretty good...younger mccarthy pretty much, just a solid tackler and doesnt make too many mistakes

 

[Irish52]

Walls is not the same player we saw before his hiatus. Why don't the coaches see what we all see.....and if they do...what will it take to get him off the field? A freshman corner cannot do any worse that him. And that Charlie, is the reason you will get axed. You don't know how to make adjustments during the game and certainly not at halftime.

 

[tgolden]

hasmith has looked pretty good...younger mccarthy pretty much, just a solid tackler and doesnt make too many mistakes

Harrison has had his ups and downs... just like most of the DBs. He's had some blown coverages, some missed tackles, some dumb plays. he's also had some nice tackles and coverages.

 

[Riddickulous]

I looooooooves me some R.J Blanton.

 

[TDHeysus]

If ND can't get pressure on the QB through the blitz how does the young DLine do it alone?

You'd give the QB even more time to throw!

a dlineman's job is to occupy blockers, pressure the QB and be effective in the run game. Technically, its the LB's job to make the tackles. If the dlinemen arent doing their job, its makes it hard for the LB's to do their job (dline should keep the Oline off the LB's) which also causes the DB's to have to cover the route runners for longer. Watch any noseguard on any team, he is double teamed just about every play, its part of his job to occupy blockers. of course if he can make a play, its all cake, but if he occupies blockers and the LB makes the tackle the nose guard did his job

if the blitz is not working, its needs to be curtailed. At times, I would rather have that 1 or 2 blitzing LB's back in the play for run/pass support. As it is now, if the opposing teams gets into the 'second level' of our defense, all they have is DB's to run thru (who are covering their man downfield).

Keeping the LB's back (not blitzing) puts our defense in a reactionary position, but given the way our defense has played this year, a reactionary type defense cant be any worse than what we have seen. Pressure isnt being generated anyways as it is, so why not drop more guys back to 'read and react'. Its very rudimental, but why not adopt a defensive philosophy of keeping the play in front of the defense, and making the tackle before any big plays break out. I know this isnt the ideal defensive pholosophy, but we dont seem to have the talent on defense to make Tenuta's blitz-first defense effective. If we had the personel to make it work, I think Tenuta defense would be pretty darn good.

its those darn Dlinemen, you hardly notice them until they are not doing their job. but when they arent effective, you see how critical good dlinemen are.