STOP the Madness!!!! ND will survive and thrive!!

[jonesman]

After this past weekend, I thought very hard about not looking at one article, website or sportscast this week. I knew it would be "end of the world" for many. I am as depressed as any guy here. I breathe ND football 24/7.

So, is ND football that broken. NO WAY!!! I see everyone talking about things like change of personnel, coaching changes, playcalling, scheduling, recruiting and joining a conference.

Here is the big reality. We have really only had ONE major issue for two straight games. TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS!!!!! We don't even have to eliminate them to win, we need to minimize them. Think about this, we had 10 turnovers in two games, yet only lost by one score in each game. Change ONE turnover in each game and ND is 2-0, which would have every person on this site and every sports outlet talking how ND is headed the right direction.

The team has some issues, but overall the offense moved the ball at will two weeks in a row. We are balanced with running and passing. On defense we have stopped the run and been pretty effective against the pass. The long ball got us on Saturday, but overall doing good. We need to improve out special teams, but every team has some weak spots.

This team is talented. They are giving strong effort. The offense could be dynamic if we stop TURNOVERS.

This is not like the days of Ty when we had NO offense. It is not like the days of Davie when we lacked offense and defense. This is not the days of Weis with uninspired performances like I saw in 2007. These kids are laying it out there. They are having some HORRIBLE breaks. Think about watching UM fumble on the goal line, only to have the ball bounce right up to Denard.

So, get off the cliff edge. ND and we are better than this!!! These kids NEED our support. I thank every player for sticking with ND and their team. Go IRISH!!!

 

[Irish4Life09]

Good post,but you have 2 things wrong.
1.9 turnovers,not 10.
2.There's a huge problem with penalties right now.Absolutely ridiculous that our players have no fundamental training.17 total penalties for 148yards is BEYOND ridiculous.

I'm not jumping off a cliff,but we do have some SERIOUS problems that need to be fixed quick.

 

[DCirishfan]

I don't know about the kids but I need support after that game.

 

[NDOM]

Actually he is right. We have 10 total turnovers for the year.

 

[micks60]

I can only count nine, Brian Kelly said nine post game interview, but most media sources say ten. I think the debate is that last play of the game. What was it ruled? Ibcant even remember...did Michigan have possession or did we just bat it out the back of the endzone. If so is batting it out the endzone a turnover?
The turnovers I remember are the wood fumble, rees fumble, and two rees interceptions.

Ok just found a box score...Collinsworth last play was considered a turnover. I say give the guy a break. He had some goodmpoints and really does that last fumble matter at all?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

The long ball got us on Saturday, but overall doing good...This is not the days of Weis with uninspired performances like I saw in 2007.

I agreed with this sentiment after the USF game; we lost due to a perfect storm of bad luck, turn-overs, and stupid penalties.

Then came the 4th quarter against UM. Robinson is lobbing underthrown passes for huge yardage repeatedly, when all we needed to do was run Prevent and keep everyone in front of us to win. An average high school DB could have intercepted most of those throws, but our secondary decided it wasn't important to look for the ball.

That was a truly Weisian late game defensive collapse.

I'm not ready to write the team off. We're clearly much improved over recent iterations of the Irish. But the UM loss wasn't just due to bad luck and mental errors. We had complete and utter failure by the most experienced unit on the team to carry out the fundamentals of sound secondary play, and if they don't pull their sh!t together in a hurry, Cousins will cut them to pieces.

 

[loomis41973]

I agreed with this sentiment after the USF game; we lost due to a perfect storm of bad luck, turn-overs, and stupid penalties.

Then came the 4th quarter against UM. Robinson is lobbing underthrown passes for huge yardage repeatedly, when all we needed to do was run Prevent and keep everyone in front of us to win. An average high school DB could have intercepted most of those throws, but our secondary decided it wasn't important to look for the ball.

That was a truly Weisian late game defensive collapse.

I'm not ready to write the team off. We're clearly much improved over recent iterations of the Irish. But the UM loss wasn't just due to bad luck and mental errors. We had complete and utter failure by the most experienced unit on the team to carry out the fundamentals of sound secondary play, and if they don't pull their sh!t together in a hurry, Cousins will cut them to pieces.

Don't forget POOR clock management, among other things.

 

[jmurphy75]

I watched the game again today...mostly because I drank too much Saturday night and things were a little fuzzy. I agree this team is not the same they can play! They just need to cut down on the turnovers and penalties. Things will turn for the better I have all the faith in the world in these guys and the coaches.

 

[Mr. Larson]

A great man, Clark W. Griswold, one said, "We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest (season) since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f*cking Kaye." Fitting quote because that Michigan game felt like a Jelly of the Month Christmas bonus.
10 turnovers in 2 games is unreal. Others have given better reasons as to how Michigan State's O is a better fit for our defense so I won't attempt to rehash. Just go out there and play fundamentally sound football. Good things will come of it.

 

[Meacon Irish]

Think about watching UM fumble on the goal line, only to have the ball bounce right up to Denard.

I'd rather not.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

That was a truly Weisian late game defensive collapse.

For the most part, these are still Weis' recruits on the field. I don't normally like to use that excuse, but it's pretty clear BK recruits a different type of player (those that are mentally and physically tough). BK is known for his development, and IMO, this has shown. I'd like to chalk it up as a complete mental breakdown, mixed with that lack of cut throat mentality. The last 4 games of last year, this team was the aggressor. They went after teams with confidence. During the 4th qtr of the UM game, you could almost see the "Here we go again" expression on their faces. That must be removed. Like BK says, "You can't win, until you stop losing."

 

[RDU Irish]

Anyone who cannot see the potential of this team is blind. This is the best combination of offense and defense that I can remember seeing us field for two decades. I would rather have mental erros to fix than wish we had faster/stronger/better athletes that could compete.

Just look at the LOS play of the last two games versus the last twenty years. We are getting a nice push on BOTH sides of the ball. That is the source of long term success. We are not there yet but who really thought we would be in one year plus two games? I am with Jonesman.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

A victory against a top 15 team on Saturday can push this season in the right direction. I think we have seen the worst that ND can play all year against two pretty good opponents, and its mostly not due to a lack of talent. Virginia Tech last season, maybe??

 

[nd1]

we will be fine. I like the way they are mixing in young player to get some reps and experience so they will be that far ahead in the years coming. the future is very bright for nd and we will be back in contenion next year or so. It takes a few seasons to rebuild a program and bk and staff are doing a good job at getting the players we needto turn this program around.

 

[irishtrinity]

DO WORK!

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

@DickieV: "Trust me all the naysayers have ur fun now because this guy will get the last LAUGH! @coachbriankelly"

For those that are not fluent in Twitter, this is D!ck Vitale saying Brian Kelly will have the last laugh.

 

[irishff1014]

Coack Kelly is doing a very good job.

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

For once the sports gurus agree with all of us who are delirious on Irish kool-aid...I've been saying all along that this was going to be a good year, and so, I was wrong, TWICE...(being a woman the fact I admitted I was wrong can NEVER EVER EVER EVER be revealed to anyone of the female gender) but I'm still drinking the kool-aid (or Jameson i don't remember what I poured in this glass...) and I believe that ND will win this game. I believe ND will win the next 10 games. Ruthlessly.

 

[ShakeDown]

@DickieV: "Trust me all the naysayers have ur fun now because this guy will get the last LAUGH! @coachbriankelly"

For those that are not fluent in Twitter, this is D!ck Vitale saying Brian Kelly will have the last laugh.

I'd prefer if that laugh came sooner rather than later.

 

[nd1]

I'd prefer if that laugh came sooner rather than later.

I think everybody would perfer that.

 

[k1ssme1m1r1sh]

I'd prefer if that laugh came sooner rather than later.

Patience Daniel, Son

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I'd prefer if that laugh came sooner rather than later.

Kirk Herbstreit thinks it will. He likes us better after watching the loss to UM than he did last week. Good read, and very encouraging if you like Herbie.

 

[irishff1014]

Herbie sounds very confident in the Irish. And Mark May has said good things about them so everyone needs to see this team is turning the conrner.

 

[PigtownIrish]

We had complete and utter failure by the most experienced unit on the team to carry out the fundamentals of sound secondary play, and if they don't pull their sh!t together in a hurry, Cousins will cut them to pieces.

This is my concern as well. Blanton is the only DB who looks to make a play on the ball, and it got him a well-earned INT. There is a coaching problem here.

 

[irishtrain]

Kirk Herbstreit thinks it will. He likes us better after watching the loss to UM than he did last week. Good read, and very encouraging if you like Herbie.

Dont care much for his work and I dont learn much from his insight-we who follow could have told you this stuff in July. At least he didnt bash but how could you-they are a good football team. What Notre Dame needs now is one thing plain and simple-instead of playing against the ghosts of the past and seemingly being a bit afraid to lose they need to embrace the pressure of playing in the cauldron of Notre Dame football and remember who they are. Anyone with eyeballs can tell this group is good/in great physical shape/and game. The coaching is in place the players now need to draw a line in the sand and say no more loses. Winning pretty or ugly changes things-now because of this start they must win games-in bunches. I say they still end up 9-3. But if they lose this weekend all bets are off. They cannot lose this weekend!! If they lose to Sparty I'm still going to lov'em and pull for 'em but I will be watching for the shear respect of the program and entertainment. Its time now for Notre Dame football to stand up.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Dont care much for his work and I dont learn much from his insight-we who follow could have told you this stuff in July. At least he didnt bash but how could you-they are a good football team.

Actually, the standard response from sports commentators at this point is, "Here we go again. ND comes in with lots of preseason hype, but it turns out they're just not a very good team. Are they even relevant anymore? Blah blah blah."

I can't remember the last time I saw a major analyst comment that a losing ND squad is still a very good team that just needs to fix a few minor issues to break through.

 

[irishtrinity]

love is love... win or lose my love is golden..

we are getting were we need to be Oklahoma next yr. Texas 2013 love it going to both with a huge ND flag... can't wait to see the Fighting Irish shine again propper... Manti please STAY!!!

 

[jonesman]

Guys,
Don't place your heart and soul on this game this week. The MSU game is the one that scared me the most of our first 4. We may play our best game of the year and come up just a hair short.

I see ND going on a extended win streak starting Pitt week. After watching USC for two weeks I really feel confident on that night game. Go IRISH!!!!

As many of you are seeing and hearing from all the normally negative pundits, they believe this Irish program is going the right direction. We have had terrible turnovers, yet we are really only a couple plays from being 2-0. Even, USC homer Cowherd has been on the Irish bandwagon all week.

This is not like the bad times of old where we had NO offense, our defense was getting torched repeatedly, our players looked small and slow. We have good players, overall the offense and defense are solid. Yes, I know there are some quetionable things, but that is the norm with every team in the country.

Cheer on our Fighting IRISH!!! Please, Please NO BOOING in South Bend this weekend. We will have recruits in the crowd. Plus, our guys deserve a great home crowd.