Post Game Observations....

[kmoose]

1. Have you heard of this Golden Tate kid? He's pretty good.

2. Where did this Jimmy Clausen guy come from? He's pretty good, too.

3. Stanford scored on 8 of their 10 possessions, tonight. Our offense has almost zero room for error, because they have to score on every possession to make up for the crappy defense.

4. Not that this is any big news, but our safeties couldn't cover an ink stain with a beach towel.

5. Again, not big news, but ND HAS to hit a home run with the next coach.

 

[Junkhead]

5. Again, not big news, but ND HAS to hit a home run with the next coach.

At this point, I'd be thrilled with Meyer, Stoops, or Kelly, and any of the three would have to be an improvement. I appreciate CW putting his heart and soul into the program, recruiting like we haven't seen in decades, and trying his best, but it wasn't enough.

 

[wahoo]

Let's please have a defense! Please!!!!!

 

[wahoo]

ABC showed the AD talking to Jimmy at the end. My guess is Jimmy was saying his goodbye too

 

[phgreek]

We have some real nice skill guys...but these last 4 weeks...GROUNDHOG DAY.

Other team, marches up and down the field at will...gashing us for 6-10 20+ yard plays during the game...converts all key 3rd and 4th downs...yet some how we put points up to stay in it...Time running out, 4 man rush crushes Jimmy...dicks up our chances

I wish CW would have been harder on the Oline...guys, they still sucked enough of the time, especially when the game was on the line to own a chunk of the failure right with the defense. At least today CW sent a message to the Defense (albeit as the nearly former HC)...when he made them let Stanford score...Said it all, and they, to a man, defensive players and coaches alike deserve the complete lack of faith, and the slap in the face...he actually helped his successor more than he'll ever get credit for with that one move...

 

[maynardwix]

1. Have you heard of this Golden Tate kid? He's pretty good.
Who is this "Golden Tate" guy you speak of??

2. Where did this Jimmy Clausen guy come from? He's pretty good, too.
I have heard of him, have no idea where he came from, maybe Alaska?

3. Stanford scored on 8 of their 10 possessions, tonight. Our offense has almost zero room for error, because they have to score on every possession to make up for the crappy defense.
My thoughts exactly, I was very disapointed in the defence.

4. Not that this is any big news, but our safeties couldn't cover an ink stain with a beach towel.
Very disapointing.

5. Again, not big news, but ND HAS to hit a home run with the next coach.
Agreed!

To be serious though, I just found this forum, and can't be happier. I love Notre Dame, but live in a part of the country that is very SEC, so not a lot of other Notre Dame fans around to talk to about what's going on with them, just a lot of critisizm. I have been reading a lot of posts here, and it is nice to hear so many very knowledgable people talk about the team I love so much. I look forward to participating more in the future. GO IRISH!

 

[BeatSC]

We have some real nice skill guys...but these last 4 weeks...GROUNDHOG DAY.

Other team, marches up and down the field at will...gashing us for 6-10 20+ yard plays during the game...converts all key 3rd and 4th downs...yet some how we put points up to stay in it...Time running out, 4 man rush crushes Jimmy...dicks up our chances

I wish CW would have been harder on the Oline...guys, they still sucked enough of the time, especially when the game was on the line to own a chunk of the failure right with the defense. At least today CW sent a message to the Defense (albeit as the nearly former HC)...when he made them let Stanford score...Said it all, and they, to a man, defensive players and coaches alike deserve the complete lack of faith, and the slap in the face...he actually helped his successor more than he'll ever get credit for with that one move...

HE should have made the statement and gone for it on 4th down. The offense deserved the chance to go for it and the defense deserved a "No Confidence" vote. The D didn't stop Stanford once on the second half and twoce overall. By the numbers the D was batting .200. You can't tell me the way JC, GT and MF were playing that we couldn't make it. Just because his mentor got burned at NEw England doesn't mean he shouldn't have fone for it. CW was showing some balls most of the game and he tucked them in when he needed them most on the last 4th and 2. Our D should be ashamed which I'm sure they are. The special teams with the exception of the Ruffer and Turk also sucked. I don't think I could justify keep anyone expect the wr, rb, qb and maybe o-line coach. The play where Young got beat like a drum was a total embarrassment. Really want Stoops or Meyer. KElly plays a CW style of football and I'm tired of watching an ND team get pushed around.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

HE should have made the statement and gone for it on 4th down. The offense deserved the chance to go for it and the defense deserved a "No Confidence" vote. The D didn't stop Stanford once on the second half and twoce overall. By the numbers the D was batting .200. You can't tell me the way JC, GT and MF were playing that we couldn't make it. Just because his mentor got burned at NEw England doesn't mean he shouldn't have fone for it. CW was showing some balls most of the game and he tucked them in when he needed them most on the last 4th and 2. Our D should be ashamed which I'm sure they are. The special teams with the exception of the Ruffer and Turk also sucked. I don't think I could justify keep anyone expect the wr, rb, qb and maybe o-line coach. The play where Young got beat like a drum was a total embarrassment. Really want Stoops or Meyer. KElly plays a CW style of football and I'm tired of watching an ND team get pushed around.

Coould not agree more about the 4th down. You had a chance to put the game away. Nothing to lose.

 

[phork]

Kellys team is averaging 16ish points against per game.. But anyways.
Blackhole 3rd Quarter Sinks Irish Again. That should be the head line.

4th & 2 and you QB sneak it? Really? Initially I was like "Great this is the way they should have been playing all year". Then the 2nd half rolls in and, OH OH.

 

[cdz12250]

You cannot expect a pig to fly. It's not in a pig's nature to do so.

You can also not expect a fundamentally conservative coach to play to win, as opposed to playing not to lose, even when he has "nothing to lose."

This is why Charlie Weis did not go for it on 4th and 2 and gave the ball back to a team that his defense had shown itself unable to stop.

The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. This is why the Irish need a new coaching staff.

 

[BeatSC]

Kellys team is averaging 16ish points against per game.. But anyways.
Blackhole 3rd Quarter Sinks Irish Again. That should be the head line.

4th & 2 and you QB sneak it? Really? Initially I was like "Great this is the way they should have been playing all year". Then the 2nd half rolls in and, OH OH.

16? 36 to Illinois and 42 to Uconn. Even ND could do better than that.

 

[IrishAddiction]

At this point, I'd be thrilled with Meyer, Stoops, or Kelly, and any of the three would have to be an improvement. I appreciate CW putting his heart and soul into the program, recruiting like we haven't seen in decades, and trying his best, but it wasn't enough.

Replace kelly with harbaugh, and then im right with you on this post 100%. Doubt it with harbaugh, or meyer, but stranger things have happened in the world of college football.

 

[phork]

16? 36 to Illinois and 42 to Uconn. Even ND could do better than that.

And yet Cincy is 10-0. Hows ND doing? According to the official NCAA stats before this weekend, Cincy was giving 16 points per game.

 

[BeatSC]

And yet Cincy is 10-0. Hows ND doing? According to the official NCAA stats before this weekend, Cincy was giving 16 points per game.

Too many close games with Cincy. Don't think you can live that way for long. Cicny will have 2 losses by the end of the season. Sure I'll take KElly of CW but not any of the other 4 or 5 guys being mentioned.

 

[BillyIrish]

it killed me to see rudolph out there playing in so much pain. in pass protection the guy couldnt use his left arm. to me this showed the team wanted it so badly for Charlie.


Toby Gerhart will get the headlines but the Stanford O-line deserves most of the credit. They continued to dominate our weak front 7. To me that was the largest shortcoming from the D this year. B Smith was once again MIA. No pressure from the front.


We will know about Charlie on Monday I think. Unlike last time and the time before, ND needs to move quickly. This has to be a homerun!

 

[BeatSC]

it killed me to see rudolph out there playing in so much pain. in pass protection the guy couldnt use his left arm. to me this showed the team wanted it so badly for Charlie.


Toby Gerhart will get the headlines but the Stanford O-line deserves most of the credit. They continued to dominate our weak front 7. To me that was the largest shortcoming from the D this year. B Smith was once again MIA. No pressure from the front.


We will know about Charlie on Monday I think. Unlike last time and the time before, ND needs to move quickly. This has to be a homerun!

Gerhart had over 200 yards and about only 50 were after he was touched. That o-line which is great coupled with our D which plays like 3rd string players deserves all the credit/blame. Brian Smith did make a few good plays but that is not enough obviously. I think he should be a backup because he never seems to be engaged on a play by play basis. Would have like to see more of Scott Smith and Toryan against the run. What did we have to lose?

 

[The hawaiianassassin]

Too many close games with Cincy. Don't think you can live that way for long. Cicny will have 2 losses by the end of the season. Sure I'll take KElly of CW but not any of the other 4 or 5 guys being mentioned.

UUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH dud there is only one game left on there schedule and thats pit they are 11-0

 

[irishtrain]

We have some real nice skill guys...but these last 4 weeks...GROUNDHOG DAY.

Other team, marches up and down the field at will...gashing us for 6-10 20+ yard plays during the game...converts all key 3rd and 4th downs...yet some how we put points up to stay in it...Time running out, 4 man rush crushes Jimmy...dicks up our chances

I wish CW would have been harder on the Oline...guys, they still sucked enough of the time, especially when the game was on the line to own a chunk of the failure right with the defense. At least today CW sent a message to the Defense (albeit as the nearly former HC)...when he made them let Stanford score...Said it all, and they, to a man, defensive players and coaches alike deserve the complete lack of faith, and the slap in the face...he actually helped his successor more than he'll ever get credit for with that one move...

This is a great comment and when the new coach comes in he should play this 'let 'em have it touchdown' to all the returning d/players until they feel like throwing up because that is exactly how I felt watching those guys play tonight. Like me most of the people on this site I am respectfull and watch what I say about Notre Dame football but tonight I was gutted by the lack of defense. To play that slack is just not good enough and if those guys are not good enough then get 'em off the field. I felt bad for Teo and Smith as they were getting killed by downfield blocks not taken up by a d/line, and the d/backs are game but not very well coached or correct in their angles. This defense is in such a mess that it looks like someone is trying to screw it up.

 

[BearGB]

UUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH dud there is only one game left on there schedule and thats pit they are 11-0

There's a bowl game (BCS?) left for them. Don't be quite so quick to judge next time.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

... At least today CW sent a message to the Defense (albeit as the nearly former HC)...when he made them let Stanford score...Said it all, and they, to a man, defensive players and coaches alike deserve the complete lack of faith, and the slap in the face...he actually helped his successor more than he'll ever get credit for with that one move...

I was at a sports bar for the second half, sitting next to a Sooner fan. We both agreed that ND needed to let Stanford score quickly at that point. It was their only chance.

Defense played so poorly they should be humiliated. Tenuta should slap himself. How can a defense play an entire season taking wrong angles to the ballcarrier and whiffing on the tackle? How can they spend an entire season out of position? There were only a few plays where I noticed lateral pursuit, and it seems to me that ND stopped them cold on those plays. Hook zones and flats were open all night. Oh well...

I can't believe the season is over.

 

[xindyteam]

Love ND!!!

Love ND!!!

I have to say I love ND!!!!! I really feel bad for CW..... I know everything gets put on the head coach........... But really the players dont produce oh sorry coach its your fault..... oh the team lost...... sorry coach...... your gone!!!!!!! Not saying its all the coaches fault or the players. but lets get real. players cant tackle, not the coaches fault.... ya ND defence sucks!!!! not chariles fault. not his fault that the rookie fumbles!!! ME I like weise. look at the offince. yes we did have 3 yes i said 3 heisman canidates. bring back CW so the QB AND RECIVERS WILL STAY AND WE WILL HAVE A HEISMAN NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BearGB]

Even though the "let 'em walk it in" call wasn't exactly a pat on the back for our defense, it was much more of a clock management call than a judgment on our defense. I tried to look for exact numbers but I may be off.

Stanford had the ball on the 4 with 1:05 left, and I think we had one timeout. Even if the defense stops them on three plays forcing a field goal, I think either time has already run out or else there are a few seconds left. It is essentially an extra point. Even a great goal line stand by our D in this situation would be essentially useless.

Like I said, it's not a compliment to our defense, but it is much more of a clock management decision (what Charlie managing the clock? ), than a judgment of the defense. The only indictment of the defense that could be taken from this call is that Charlie didn't believe they could force a turnover - and can you really expect a defense to do that in the given situation?

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

The defense played better when they let Gerhart score than when they were actually trying to play football, something I'm not sure most of them know how to do or had ever done before coming to Notre Dame.

 

[Irish.Ca]

Back to back weeks we have Irish ex-pat's kill us. Aaagh. Opening drive of second was awesome! Could have used more of the same. Manti was wow. Hope he's here next year. Sergio looked motivated due to his error last week and made some plays, not enough, but some plays. Good speed, he should only run safety blitz. Will miss Charlie, not Tenuta. What happens to Corwin?

 

[Domer4ever]

My postgame thoughts:

1.) Anybody who thinks our offensive line was fine this year at the tackle spots is blind. Sam Young and Paul Duncan have been terrible. How many big sacks have those two given up late in games? It seems to happen on a weekly basis. Goodbye and good riddance. Whomever the new coach is better put the full court press on Seantrel Henderson and Matt James as top recruiting priorities.

2.) The defense once again was manhandled in the running game. The line is pretty consistantly pushed off the ball and Stanford was the latest team to put on a clinic today against the Irish defense. There is not a player on the Notre Dame defensive line that can beat his man one on one. Same story all season long.

3.) Say what you will about Charlie Weis, but his offense got the job done this season. The story has been the defense and their inability to match up with anybody. Like someone mentioned earlier, the offense would almost have to play perfect games to win and that is not realistic. Charlie's inability to field a competative defense has been his undoing.

4.) I am really at a loss as to where we go from this point. All indications are Weis, Clausen and Tate will all be gone and it's likely our best defensive player will take a mission trip and be gone for possibly two years. Recruiting is going to be a huge question mark with players possibly looking elsewhere with the firing of Weis and the program in transition once again. Whomever the new man in charge will be will have his hands full.

 

[jason_h537]

Good:
Golden, Jimmy and Michael might be the best WR's and QB i have seen all year. Il put them up against anyone

Robert Hughes had a solid game

Chris Stweart was a beast (except when he tackled Hughes on a screen, Olsen (i'm gonna miss him, and T rob were studs as well

The linebcakers were all over the field today

The Bad:
Why were the linbackers the only ones making tackles? where the fuck was the rest of the D?

Thats 3 times this year where our tackles have given up a sack on the final drive killing any chance of a comeback.

The entire second half of defesne. We let them score in the end because we couldnt stop them anyways.

 

[Riddickulous]

The Good:

1. Jimmy
2. Golden
3. Michael
4. Robert
5. Manti

The Bad:

1. The Defense
2. Brian Smith NEVER backs up his trash talking, always countering it with piss-poor play.
3. Sam Young is the biggest bust in a long, long time here at Notre Dame. Period. Five-star blue chip recruit, 50 consecutive starts, and he's improved so little over four years that it almost defies the imagination. Couple that with a mammoth frame that he never uses and you have a big bust.

 

[jason_h537]

Say what you want about Brian Smith but he showed up for Stanford, Even Hayseed was making plays. Where was the secondary and D-line?

Hayseed is tackling Gerhart 20 yards downfield after brushed off Gray and Slaghter.

 

[MartiGraw]

It's the oldest adage in sports of any kind: Defense wins championships. No team can win consistently by just outscoring opponents in high-scoring games. Charlie "proved" to us what we already knew when he came in...he understands offense....and that's why he was such a poor candidate to be head coach. Defense was never his primary focus, and his lack of understanding of that more critical side of the game cost us win after win, against some embarrassingly iffy competition. Because this obvious flaw was conveniently "overlooked" when he got that ridiculous contract extension, the school, now, will have to pay a hefty price....and deservedly so. But don't shed a tear for Charlie - he was richly rewarded for perpetual mediocrity when the deck was heavily stacked in his favor with our unique combination of so-so competition and a preponderance of home games. Maybe, finally, Swarbrick will get us a guy who understands the game on both sides of the ball!

 

[Master Guns]

I was thinking to myself, as the game clearly was in ND hands that I could not wait to post here and slam all the haters, but yet again I get crushed. For a while it looked as if the D might have its best game this season, because they were making key 3d down stops and only giving up a FG. But then the third quarter rolls around and like a fake Rolex watch, the defense stopped suddenly. Manti is going to be a monster.

The offense....I could just cry after watching Jimmy, Golden, Mike Floyd, and Hughes just play like madmen out there. So much wasted. And you know to a man, they love CW and love playing for him. Sad that he could not get it all together.