Nore Dame Defense and Armando Allen

[jason_h537]

For those who actually watched the entire game, the defense and Allen played their hearts out today and deserved much better.

 

[tankjeep]

For those who actually watched the entire game, the defense and Allen played their hearts out today and deserved much better.

i know the defense was on the field quite a bit today, but don't you think allowing 75% on 3rd down conversions is just plain awful?

they forced the first punt in the 3rd quarter too.

 

[jason_h537]

i know the defense was on the field quite a bit today, but don't you think allowing 75% on 3rd down conversions is just plain awful?

they were on the field for nearly 40 minutes, forced 2 turnovers and held Stanford to 19 through 3 quarters. Not just that but this is a GREAT Stanford team. How much more can you ask of them?

Thats with Slaughter playing on a bum ankle and Walls playing with a partially seperated shoulder

 

[tankjeep]

they were on the field for nearly 40 minutes, forced 2 turnovers and held Stanford to 19 through 3 quarters. Not just that but this is a GREAT Stanford team. How much more can you ask of them?

yeah, stanford is a very good team, but in the same breath our defense made them look pretty darn good as well.

but i'm sorry, allowing the long 3rd down conversions is unacceptable.

 

[Irish Insanity]

I think our D looked decent. Our 3rd down rate looked horrible, but as much time as they spent on the field i wouldn't expect much different. Alot of the players look to have bought into the BK plan, as i have also. He hasn't paniced because he knows the end results will be great even if the road to the finish is rough. Most of the players seemed to have bought in too. But Floyd on the other hand has looked as if he is only giving 85% effort sometimes, almost like maybe he isnt fully vested in the concept. But this has opened the door for Riddick to look pretty good in his position change.

 

[military_irish]

i give them both credit because it seems like the point of BK's defense's are bend but don't break.

and they did their part until the very end, if the offense can't score, the defense can only do so much.

and AA well just his performance shows how important he is, it looked like he suffered a bad knee injury at least one to sideline him for the game, instead he came back the next drive. to try and do anything he possibly could to help his team win

 

[Irish Insanity]

I love AA, especially the way he's playing this year. He looks alot more passionate and patient. But what happened to occasionally rotating Wood in for a change of pace? It worked well for the 1 game BK actually did it.

 

[military_irish]

I love AA, especially the way he's playing this year. He looks alot more passionate and patient. But what happened to occasionally rotating Wood in for a change of pace? It worked well for the 1 game BK actually did it.

the one major time i seen that happen, Crist got hit and fumbled because Wood wasn't able to pick up the blitz. both Wood and Gray have problems right now with picking up the blitz, where as AA is great at it

 

[jason_h537]

yeah, stanford is a very good team, but in the same breath our defense made them look pretty darn good as well.

but i'm sorry, allowing the long 3rd down conversions is unacceptable.

True but check out these numbers
44 Carries for 166 yrds. 3.8 yards a caryy. with a long of 9.

They just kept pounding and pounding it and burned us on play action because they didnt have to anything else. They knew they had us almost from the start.

 

[Riddickulous]

Eh.

I still didn't like what I saw. Still a lot of easy throws for Luck.

 

[Irish Insanity]

the one major time i seen that happen, Crist got hit and fumbled because Wood wasn't able to pick up the blitz. both Wood and Gray have problems right now with picking up the blitz, where as AA is great at it

Very true. BK said he called Wood out on his special teams play also. And I'm saddened to admit that he failed horribly. He brought it out often when he shouldn't have, and then showed no burst when he found a hole.

 

[bjohnmwc]

Very true. BK said he called Wood out on his special teams play also. And I'm saddened to admit that he failed horribly. He brought it out often when he shouldn't have, and then showed no burst when he found a hole.

Between the missed assignments and the special teams play, I wouldn't be surprised to see Wood in the doghouse.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

the one major time i seen that happen, Crist got hit and fumbled because Wood wasn't able to pick up the blitz. both Wood and Gray have problems right now with picking up the blitz, where as AA is great at it

Exactly...If you are a RB and you can't help in protection you don't see the field!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I know Rob Hughes doesn't fit this system, but he is decent catching the ball out of the backfield. He is also a veteran and can pickup pass protection. Why not use him as the third down back and to give AA a blow?

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

I noticed the difference in the two teams DB plays on the ball. It seemed liked most of Crist's passes were contested when they got to the WR's by the DB's. Part of this is Crist is making the wrong reads...or so it seems watching the replays.
On the other hand when luck threw, more often than not...the ND DB would be in position but allow the WR to make the catch, then simply make the tackle. Our DB's/LB's need to make more plays on a ball in flight.

 

[jason_h537]

Exactly...If you are a RB and you can't help in protection you don't see the field!

Thats on the coaches, They know what Wood can and can't do. He shouldn't be in a position where he has to make that block unless he can

 

[KPENN]

Armando Allen has deserved a lot better his entire career

 

[ubet49]

AA earned most of his run yardage himself. Not many big holes for him to run through. He had to fight for all the yardage he got on his own, pretty sad. A one running back system sucks. I feel right now from what Isaw Saturday against Stanford that BK is a mini CW.
What a stupid call on 4th and 1.

 

[irish1958]

Were you people watching the same game that I watched?
What I saw was an offensive live that couldn't run block or pass protect; and when AA wasn't in the backfield, blitz protect;
receivers who can't separate from defenders in the two seconds that the line protection gave the QB;
an inexperienced quarterback who wasn't protected and apparently didn't receive any coaching last year
It takes three or four years of GOOD Coaching to develop a decent line, and we haven't had that since Joe Moore was fired by Davie.
Kelly is recruiting linemen, and it will probably take three years for his coaches to get them capable of playing BCS devision football.
It will take Kelly three years to develop the team for college football instead of a double A farm club for the pros.

 

[lookingdeadred]

If the offense does its job,

If the offense does its job,

I think the defense might have been playing well enough to maybe steal a win.

i know the defense was on the field quite a bit today, but don't you think allowing 75% on 3rd down conversions is just plain awful?

they forced the first punt in the 3rd quarter too.

 

[RyCo1983]

Defense looked pretty weak all game...I see 4 guys who actually look solid on D...
Teo...when he wraps up...he'd have 10-15 more tackles this season and we'd be 3-1 if he got the message.
Gray
Calabrese is coming on strong
Ian Williams is doing well.
KLM seems OK at times.

I can't wait for Kelly to get HIS guys in there because Charlie's leftovers, while oh so highly touted coming out of high school look like garbage week in and week out.
3 years of it.

Anyone else hoping Andrew Hendrix beats out Crist?
I know I am.
Granted, Stanford came in as the TOP passing D in the nation....but Crist has looked shaky, made terrible reads, and made in accurate passes in every game so far.

If Riddick and Rudolph weren't there to bail him out on the dump offs...his stats would be HORRENDOUS.

I hope Kelly can light a fire under him.
This will be an up and down year, ugly at times.

Kelly will be great when he gets his recruits in.

 

[RDU Irish]

I noticed the difference in the two teams DB plays on the ball. It seemed liked most of Crist's passes were contested when they got to the WR's by the DB's. Part of this is Crist is making the wrong reads...or so it seems watching the replays.
On the other hand when luck threw, more often than not...the ND DB would be in position but allow the WR to make the catch, then simply make the tackle. Our DB's/LB's need to make more plays on a ball in flight.

Fundamentals first. I think the entire focus on defense has been assignments and tackling. You don't see a lot of play on the ball, stripping the ball etc. I suspect b/c the players need to master the basics first and foremost. I also think Crist is slow on his reads and staring a hole through his main targets. Again, make the right decision first and once that is second nature you can start pump fakes and other tactics to fool the defense. Crist isn't even making a lot of the right reads or throws so it is hard to expect him to start getting too creative yet, IMO.

I see positive ground work being put in place and continue to think we are moving in the right direction. Just quite a bit more of a work in progress than I was hoping.

 

[Riddickulous]

Anyone else hoping Andrew Hendrix beats out Crist?
I know I am.
Granted, Stanford came in as the TOP passing D in the nation....but Crist has looked shaky, made terrible reads, and made in accurate passes in every game so far.

If Riddick and Rudolph weren't there to bail him out on the dump offs...his stats would be HORRENDOUS.

I hope Kelly can light a fire under him.
This will be an up and down year, ugly at times.

Kelly will be great when he gets his recruits in.

1. Absolutely not. I'll take Crist from 2010-2012, where he will no doubt vastly improve year by year until he could be a superstar QB in his final season. Hendrix will take three years to learn the offense, and will have it mastered by his first starting season in 2013. He will be a redshirt senior in 2014, so we will have a solid two years under Hendrix.

2. Yes. Expect a first year starter to be lights out against the best pass defense in the country (statistically) in the country. Brilliant.

3. All common traits of first year starters. Clausen exhibited all three of these at various points in 2007.

4. Oh my. You can't give him any credit, can you? Did you see him in rhythm against Michigan State? He was confident and took shots downfield, and when he was truly in rhythm, every pass was on target.

The fact remains...

A) Crist is a first year starter.
B) Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State had awful defenses. Stanford was his first true test.
C) Pressure is a word whose definition is relatively unknown to Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State. Crist, unaccustomed to pressure from the defense, naturally did not handle it well.
D) The offensive line was horrible. This is a valid argument as to why Crist didn't do well.
E) Lack of a running game doesn't help, either.
F) Crist started the game 11/16 for 96 yards. Coincidentally, that was when the offensive line was giving him protection. Two of those incompletions were drops. One by Michael Floyd on a tough high throw and one by Theo Riddick on a ball that hit him right on the numbers.

Dayne Crist, like all non-Denard Robinson quarterbacks, needs BLOCKING to do well. Good God. Stop freaking out, people.
D)

 

[Butchie]

Two players on Offense giving 100% - Stewart & Allen

Two players on Defense giving 100% - Te'o & Gray

Every play, every down, every time.

Seeing the Stanford D was good for Crist - It is a real D. I hope he grows from it.

Hughes has got to be Allen's back up for the blitz pick ups alone. I am so pissed outta what I seen from Wood I would send him to scout for a week. Yeah - That Pissed.

The O-Line has looked terrible for three weeks now and the D-Line looked awful on Sat.

Not right for the offense my ***. I'm tired of hearing that. What about heart. What about playing to the whistle. Too many excuses.

I'm going to say it until Coach Kelly recognizes it: Darrin Walls is terrible.
Problem is Blanton is worse.

Let's Go Irish!

 

[tankjeep]

Hughes has got to be Allen's back up for the blitz pick ups alone. I am so pissed outta what I seen from Wood I would send him to scout for a week. Yeah - That Pissed.

I'm going to say it until Coach Kelly recognizes it: Darrin Walls is terrible.
Problem is Blanton is worse.

Let's Go Irish!

blanton actually played one of his best games in a long time.

agreed about wood.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

IMHO - I dont think Stewert had a good game.

As far as Woods....he is not playing with any swagger...is he hurt? How about letting Jackson run a kick back?

I know I have said this before...however I think Hendrix should get a shot...he has the speed to give another dimension to the O. Now should he start instead of Crist? No..however he would be a good change of pace...and my understandign is that he is smart and HE HAS learned the offence....and I think he has the IT factor.

 

[IrishinSyria]

I thought the D looked very good. They wanted to do two things: force turnovers and prevent the big play. They did both. Occasionally, this meant going for the sure tackle instead of the uncertain swat, which was frustrating. Luck did a great job putting the ball in a position where only his receivers could make a play on it and they, in turn, were very good at using their bodies to shield the ball. I noticed a ton of small things like that that Stanford did: they are an extremely well coached team.

Armando Allen and Goodman were the two stars of the game on offense, though I thought Theo looked alright too.

 

[PANDFAN]

1. Absolutely not. I'll take Crist from 2010-2012, where he will no doubt vastly improve year by year until he could be a superstar QB in his final season. Hendrix will take three years to learn the offense, and will have it mastered by his first starting season in 2013. He will be a redshirt senior in 2014, so we will have a solid two years under Hendrix.

2. Yes. Expect a first year starter to be lights out against the best pass defense in the country (statistically) in the country. Brilliant.

3. All common traits of first year starters. Clausen exhibited all three of these at various points in 2007.

4. Oh my. You can't give him any credit, can you? Did you see him in rhythm against Michigan State? He was confident and took shots downfield, and when he was truly in rhythm, every pass was on target.

The fact remains...

A) Crist is a first year starter.
B) Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State had awful defenses. Stanford was his first true test.
C) Pressure is a word whose definition is relatively unknown to Purdue, Michigan and Michigan State. Crist, unaccustomed to pressure from the defense, naturally did not handle it well.
D) The offensive line was horrible. This is a valid argument as to why Crist didn't do well.
E) Lack of a running game doesn't help, either.
F) Crist started the game 11/16 for 96 yards. Coincidentally, that was when the offensive line was giving him protection. Two of those incompletions were drops. One by Michael Floyd on a tough high throw and one by Theo Riddick on a ball that hit him right on the numbers.

Dayne Crist, like all non-Denard Robinson quarterbacks, needs BLOCKING to do well. Good God. Stop freaking out, people.
D)

100% agree! i think crist is good and will be excellent! he needs growing pains just like any 1st year starting qb...mixed in with little to no running game...the D knows were going to pass....i think we are missing the boat on some misdirections, sweeps, reverse, bubble screens to get some kind of guessing on the D side...I see a difference from last years team, i am 100% supportive of BK and have faith we will get there....we all want to see different guys in the game because we feel this person or that person isn't performing...but at the end of the day we don't see what happens during the week of practice so who knows...being a monday morning qb is always easy

 

[Irish Man3]

Defense looked pretty weak all game...I see 4 guys who actually look solid on D...
Teo...when he wraps up...he'd have 10-15 more tackles this season and we'd be 3-1 if he got the message.
Gray
Calabrese is coming on strong
Ian Williams is doing well.
KLM seems OK at times.

I can't wait for Kelly to get HIS guys in there because Charlie's leftovers, while oh so highly touted coming out of high school look like garbage week in and week out.
3 years of it.

Anyone else hoping Andrew Hendrix beats out Crist?
I know I am.
Granted, Stanford came in as the TOP passing D in the nation....but Crist has looked shaky, made terrible reads, and made in accurate passes in every game so far.

If Riddick and Rudolph weren't there to bail him out on the dump offs...his stats would be HORRENDOUS.

I hope Kelly can light a fire under him.
This will be an up and down year, ugly at times.

Kelly will be great when he gets his recruits in.

HAHAHA really??
Last I checked Hendrix cant beat out Montana and Rees for the back-up and third string position. You must be basing your outlook on the fact that he was a 4* recuit. With the way Montana and Rees looked against Michigan, if Hendrix cant beat them out..... hahaha ill take Crist!
Crist had a bad game against a great defense. BK admitted that he didnt have Crist prepared properly for this game. Some of these posts are just unreal.

 

[irish1958]

I think the D line (3man) played OK; the problem was the outside linebackers.
The O line was terrible, and unfortunately, it will take a couple of years to get much better, unless Kelly pulls off a miracle.
Payton Manning couldn't have done much better against Stanford with that O line play.