Defensive Front Seven

[jason_h537]

After a tough loss last week, our offense came out flat. This is a game we would have lost if not for the play of the guys up front. They have had their struggles but for 3 straight weeks they have stepped up. KLM and Ethan Johnson seem to have found their groove. We are gettting solid production from John Ryan/ Kerry Neal. Ian Williams is filling his gaps. The linebackers looked solid again. Brian Smith and Manti Te'o were all over the field. Don't forget Fleming and Cywner. These guys deserve the game ball today. Great game and they seem to be growing up before our eyes.

 

[Junkhead]

Run D was by far the best it's been this year.

 

[notredomer23]

That RB ran for 264 yards last week. What did he have here? 20?

 

[jason_h537]

going into the 3rd quarter he was averaging a lil over 1 ypc

 

[kmoose]

After a tough loss last week, our offense came out flat. This is a game we would have lost if not for the play of the guys up front. They have had their struggles but for 3 straight weeks they have stepped up. KLM and Ethan Johnson seem to have found their groove. We are gettting solid production from John Ryan/ Kerry Neal. Ian Williams is filling his gaps. The linebackers looked solid again. Brian Smith and Manti Te'o were all over the field. Don't forget Fleming and Cywner. These guys deserve the game ball today. Great game and they seem to be growing up before our eyes.

Good call, jason. I accidentally omitted the front 7, from my Post Game Observations. How nice was it, to see the DL and LBs making plays at the line of scrimmage, instead of 6-8 yards downfield?

 

[kmoose]

That RB ran for 264 yards last week. What did he have here? 20?

He finished with 38 yards, on 22 carries. A 1.7 ypc avg.

 

[WabashFalcon]

He finished with 38 yards, on 22 carries. A 1.7 ypc avg.

And two fumbles. Don't forget that MASSIVE statistic.

 

[jason_h537]

This is a really good sign if we can win a game without the offense. Now lest figure out the secondary and we will be all set.

 

[kmoose]

This is a really good sign if we can win a game without the offense. Now lest figure out the secondary and we will be all set.

We got a lot of help from BC's terrible QB play. WTF was that kid thinking, on that last pick? He threw a perfect strike..............to the wrong team! That was a horrible pass.

 

[WabashFalcon]

We got a lot of help from BC's terrible QB play. WTF was that kid thinking, on that last pick? He threw a perfect strike..............to the wrong team! That was a horrible pass.

He saw his guy cut... never saw Mr. Smith.

 

[jason_h537]

True but alot of those passes were from our guys getting pressure. Kerry Neal was right on him when he completed it to Brian Smith


BTW... what was that delay of game penalty on Brian about?

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

True but alot of those passes were from our guys getting pressure. Kerry Neal was right on him when he completed it to Brian Smith


BTW... what was that delay of game penalty on Brian about?

He threw the ball down the field after the whistle on the INT.

 

[WabashFalcon]

True but alot of those passes were from our guys getting pressure. Kerry Neal was right on him when he completed it to Brian Smith


BTW... what was that delay of game penalty on Brian about?

He rolled the ball upfield after recovering a fumble.

 

[jason_h537]

still bs.

 

[jason_h537]

Heres a great stat

Leading tacklers: BC
Te'o: 9
I Williams: 7
B Smith: 6
KLM: 6

Leading Tackles: USC
B Smith: 8
Te'o: 8
KLM: 5
McCarthy: 5

Thats 2 games in a row where our LB's have lead the team in tackles.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Heres a great stat

Leading tacklers: BC
Te'o: 9
I Williams: 7
B Smith: 6
KLM: 6

Leading Tackles: USC
B Smith: 8
Te'o: 8
KLM: 5
McCarthy: 5

Thats 2 games in a row where our LB's have lead the team in tackles.

KLM is not getting nearly enough love on here IMO. He's been getting better and better each week! As for Te'o, he already has one thread going, but as moderator I'm tempted to make it mandatory that he gets mentioned in every single damn thread on this site (he's that much fun to watch!)...

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Defensive front 7...welcome to the party. It's been fun to watch KLM and Manti grow as much as they have from week 2 til now. It will only get better.

Keep Harrison at LB. If only we could find D backs who make plays on the ball while it's in the air

 

[Junkhead]

If only we could find D backs who make plays on the ball while it's in the air

Kyle McCarthy would like a word with you. (other than him, I agree)

 

[JefMaj]

Watching the game the secondary was as close to the line as I've ever seen. CW layed it all on Shinskie's shoulders to beat with the pass - he almsot did - his strategy was to shut down the run an a running power-house. Now, if he can find a way to get secondary somewhere close to a receiver for most of the game.

 

[mbeckha]

We got a lot of help from BC's terrible QB play. WTF was that kid thinking, on that last pick? He threw a perfect strike..............to the wrong team! That was a horrible pass.

Your posts are really starting to make me think your Pat Haden.

 

[Tony Muto]

tonesmund

tonesmund

Weakest link ND has now, in my opinion, is its kicking game. Defense secondary still has lot of room for improvement but ND cannot continue to give opposing team a short field after every kick off and punt. The defense will continue to bend and hopefully not always break. They have shown some ability to make stops and create turnovers. And, there has been some improvement shown. However, if the opposing team has only 60-65 yards to score, the defense is always looking at their on goal line very close in their rear view mirror.

I do not now for sure but my guess is that the opposing teams have started their drives at an average of their own 35 yard line. With only 65 yards to go for a score, the defense is always being placed under pressure to make a stop. They will continue to bend and probably break a few times with defending such a short field.

The defense has, and will continue to, get better each week. However, unfortunately, the kicking game ( both punt and kick offs) will not get better without new personnel. I do not know why the IRISH cannot recruit/find a better kick off guy and punter. They have solved the FG problem they have had for what seems like over a decade but not the other parts of the kicking game.

By contrast, the IRISH opponents this year seem to have always outkicked us. Again, I do not know, but would guess that our starting field position, on average, has been the 20 - 25 yard line.

With a bad kicking game, the defense will always be challenged which also puts the pressure on the offense to outscore our opponents. Every remaining game this season will be close unless we can improve in this area of the game.

Tones

 

[kmoose]

Your posts are really starting to make me think your Pat Haden.

Well, it's true. The first INT he threw was a pass that was simply thrown up for grabs. The second one was a ball that was thrown way too far behind the receiver, and the third one was thrown right into B. Smith's numbers. We don't get those turnovers, against a good QB.

 

[BeatSC]

We got a lot of help from BC's terrible QB play. WTF was that kid thinking, on that last pick? He threw a perfect strike..............to the wrong team! That was a horrible pass.

He was thinking the same thing the Mich St. QB thought when he threw his pick on the final drive. That QB also made quite a few good passes to WR between 2 defenders. Our D forced our TO's today.

 

[Riddickulous]

Kapron Lewis-Moore has been in beast mode the last three or four weeks. Ethan Johnson is also stepping it up. Ian Williams has improved. I like John Boy Ryan, but I'd prefer Kerry Neal to start on the defensive line.

Brian Smith has been solid. So has Darius Fleming. Manti Te'o is a WARRIOOOOR.

 

[BeatSC]

Lowered Bar?

Lowered Bar?

Kapron Lewis-Moore has been in beast mode the last three or four weeks. Ethan Johnson is also stepping it up. Ian Williams has improved. I like John Boy Ryan, but I'd prefer Kerry Neal to start on the defensive line.

Brian Smith has been solid. So has Darius Fleming. Manti Te'o is a WARRIOOOOR.

If someone who is objective were to look at these posts they would wonder what we're thinking. I think we have set very low expectations at this point so and are looking for some silver linings. How many sacks did we have? How many times did their QB throw the ball out of bounds like JC? We sold out to stop the run (2 weeks in a row) the result is a lousy overall result to a mediocre QB. We came up big to make some plays but shouldn't have been in that situation, 4th and 17......really? We played good enough to win....again but probably will have the worst ranked defense in the top 25 this week. Do love Teo. It is the first time since Ndukwe that we have someone who can stick.

 

[kmoose]

He was thinking the same thing the Mich St. QB thought when he threw his pick on the final drive. That QB also made quite a few good passes to WR between 2 defenders. Our D forced our TO's today.

I have to disagree, to a point. The D did put pressure on the QB, and help cause a couple of bad decisions. However, a good QB is not going to make those mistakes. On the first interception, there is pressure coming, up the middle, but Shinskie had time to set and throw. He panicked and threw the ball off of his back foot, floating one up for grabs. A better QB would have either thrown it away, or delivered a good ball and taken the pasting. On the second INT, it was just a terrible throw. The protection was there. He had a very nice pocket, and simply underthrew his receiver. On the third INT, he committed the cardinal sin of a QB: he tried to throw the ball back toward the middle of the field, late. He got flushed from the pocket, moving laterally toward the sideline. He then tried to go back toward the center of the field. Again, I think a good QB either doesn't take a chance on that throw, or recognizes the LB standing right there.

I'm just saying that we don't get those INTs against a good, experienced QB.

 

[We_Are_ND]

nah it wasn't bs, I watched the replay and the ref had his hands out to take the ball from Brian Smith and then he rolled it down the field like a bowling ball.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Run D was by far the best it's been this year.

Absolutely, they did a hell of a job. I was nice to see us stop the run so effectively.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Weakest link ND has now, in my opinion, is its kicking game. Defense secondary still has lot of room for improvement but ND cannot continue to give opposing team a short field after every kick off and punt. The defense will continue to bend and hopefully not always break. They have shown some ability to make stops and create turnovers. And, there has been some improvement shown. However, if the opposing team has only 60-65 yards to score, the defense is always looking at their on goal line very close in their rear view mirror.

I do not now for sure but my guess is that the opposing teams have started their drives at an average of their own 35 yard line. With only 65 yards to go for a score, the defense is always being placed under pressure to make a stop. They will continue to bend and probably break a few times with defending such a short field.

The defense has, and will continue to, get better each week. However, unfortunately, the kicking game ( both punt and kick offs) will not get better without new personnel. I do not know why the IRISH cannot recruit/find a better kick off guy and punter. They have solved the FG problem they have had for what seems like over a decade but not the other parts of the kicking game.

By contrast, the IRISH opponents this year seem to have always outkicked us. Again, I do not know, but would guess that our starting field position, on average, has been the 20 - 25 yard line.

With a bad kicking game, the defense will always be challenged which also puts the pressure on the offense to outscore our opponents. Every remaining game this season will be close unless we can improve in this area of the game.

Tones

Tausch is about to break an ND record for Field Goals, I believe. He is the best kicker we've had since Setta and when all is said and done I am sure it'll go back further. Our kick offs could be deeper but the coverage needs to up it a notch. Punting is dismal though.

 

[bert2834]

Yeah, our punting is terrible. What did we average? 33 yards a punt? Come on, does ND have a Rugby team? Get one of those guys to come in a punt for us!