Survive and Advance

[JughedJones]

Pitt would have been a top 25 team if they didn't blow last week's game, so that's a good point.

However, a spread offense (who has Floyd and Eifert) going against the worst passing defense in the nation looks like that? We need to address the QB issue.

We don't have a QB, we have a placeholder. I really hate to say it, but does anyone really think Tommy is our QB of the future?

So next year we have a QB battle between Everett and Hendrix and Tommy.

I see problems for a while until we get a stud at the helm. We don't have a stud.

 

[MacIrish75]

Pitt had a great defensive gameplan. Graham had the experience of playing us last year and knew that he'd need to cover Floyd with two guys and force someone else to beat us. The problem is, Tommy has fallen in love with Floyd early and often in previous games when the defense didn't force him to look elsewhere. He had Floyd all day in the first 3 games. That wasn't the case today.

Face it: A maligned Pitt team came into today with a good game plan and forced our hand. We struggled mightily, but survived. We ran the ball well. Our defense played great. We won the game. Go ahead and be unhappy, but good teams find a way to win DESPITE obstacles. We did that today. We're still finding ourselves, but I'd rather find myself with a hard fought W than with a loss 8 days a week.

 

[koonja]

We don't have a QB, we have a placeholder. I really hate to say it, but does anyone really think Tommy is our QB of the future?

So next year we have a QB battle between Everett and Hendrix and Tommy.

I see problems for a while until we get a stud at the helm. We don't have a stud.

Not a very good one, lol. Did you see that FG attempt?

 

[MacIrish75]

Kavanaugh is the holder. Did I miss the sarcasm? I need a beer or 6 to set me straight.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Only positives are Jonas gray, cierre wood, Tyler eifert, and all the sacks we registered

And...

WE WON.

 

[50milesSE ND]

wtf why didnt we throw deep more to unload the box . they had a sophomore on floyd for crying outloud

 

[JughedJones]

Pitt had a great defensive gameplan. Graham had the experience of playing us last year and knew that he'd need to cover Floyd with two guys and force someone else to beat us. The problem is, Tommy has fallen in love with Floyd early and often in previous games when the defense didn't force him to look elsewhere. He had Floyd all day in the first 3 games. That wasn't the case today.

Face it: A maligned Pitt team came into today with a good game plan and forced our hand. We struggled mightily, but survived. We ran the ball well. Our defense played great. We won the game. Go ahead and be unhappy, but good teams find a way to win DESPITE obstacles. We did that today. We're still finding ourselves, but I'd rather find myself with a hard fought W than with a loss 8 days a week.

Did we really though? Without one AWESOME run from Jonas we have around 100 yds on the ground. That's not really running the ball well, especially considering we only passed for 216 with a 1 TD and a pick and a fumble and a bunch of horrible stalls.


No good.

 

[georgia irish]

It's important to learn how to win ugly .I liked seeing Toma out I think he sparked Ree's they have good chemistry because they practiced together while they were 2nd string.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I know who to go to if I need something to drink because there are a lot of water carriers around here. This game was a disaster. At least the record will show a win, but Maryland and Wake Forest are the only teams who could lose to us if we play like that again.

 

[maybenextyear]

We don't have a QB, we have a placeholder. I really hate to say it, but does anyone really think Tommy is our QB of the future?

hard to say. he is still young so there is time to grow and mature but im not sure the things he needs to develop can be taught to him now.

but as long as he keeps winning i dont care - isnt he 5-1 as a starter?

 

[JughedJones]

wtf why didnt we throw deep more to unload the box . they had a sophomore on floyd for crying outloud

Because we got out coached. And we don't have a QB.

(Sorry for the repeats)

 

[MacIrish75]

Did we really though? Without one AWESOME run from Jonas we have around 100 yds on the ground. That's not really running the ball well, especially considering we only passed for 216 with a 1 TD and a pick and a fumble and a bunch of horrible stalls.


No good.

Cierre had another game at or near 100 yards. We ran the ball when we needed to. Yes, we had some rushes for no gain, but Cierre and Jonas were able to work hard for 3-4 YPC most of the game. (I haven't checked the stats, so I'm not sure of the exact YPC for each). But, that 79 yard run certainly counts toward our total as it was a well executed play. Would you say that a team that rushes for 250 yards with 3 carries of over 50 yards and only 100 more on 25-30 carries didn't run the ball well?

We all know Rees had another subpar (mildly put) performance today, but our backs (not necessarily the offensive line) did work today and got yards when there weren't many to be had.

 

[Couv Domer]

Glad we got the "W", but I just wasn't impressed with our overall play. I have to stop listening to all the hype prior to the games...just makes me go crazy when ND doesn't play up to expectations. Oh well, an ugly win is better than an ugly loss.

 

[meowmix]

I bet Kelly would murder to have a qb like Collaros on this team. Let's hope Hendrix and Golson can fit that role.

 

[JughedJones]

Cierre had another game at or near 100 yards. We ran the ball when we needed to. Yes, we had some rushes for no gain, but Cierre and Jonas were able to work hard for 3-4 YPC most of the game. (I haven't checked the stats, so I'm not sure of the exact YPC for each). But, that 79 yard run certainly counts toward our total as it was a well executed play. Would you say that a team that rushes for 250 yards with 3 carries of over 50 yards and only 100 more on 25-30 carries didn't run the ball well?

We all know Rees had another subpar (mildly put) performance today, but our backs (not necessarily the offensive line) did work today and got yards when there weren't many to be had.

I love our guys. Love.

I'm just tired of ND having a subpar QB. I really do love Tommy and wish him well, but he's not going to beat elite teams....not a friggin chance. Honestly I'm worried about our coaching staff too...it seems like we play down, not up. That's crap. We're ND for God's sake.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

isnt he 5-1 as a starter?

He is now 6-1. But that can be credited to our defense.

 

[koonja]

The Good:

1) We won
2) Eifert is amazing
3) Flemming and Shembo showed why we're all so excited about them
4) Blanton is a baller
5) Cierre is consistently producing
6) Jonas Gray has played like an absolute man (I still think if he doesn't fumble that play Crist is our starting QB)
7) Theo came alive
8) Floyd, as always
9) Our defense as a whole
10) Tommy's last drive

The Bad:

1) O-line in run blocking. Jonas/Cierre were forced to bounce it out too many times.
2) Gary Gray still struggling to find the ball even though he's blanketing his man

The Ugly:

1) Our QB play. Going against the worst passing defense in CFB
2) Pitt's passing defense earned that worst-ranking against Buffalo, Maine, and Iowa
3) 9 TOs in 3.5 games by Rees
4) The fact that our defense has to play lights out in order for us to win
5) The fact that we needed a game winning TD in the final minutes in order to pull out a W.

 

[50milesSE ND]

the only time we play up is when we are the underdogs. wish we would kick someones *** for shits and giggles. really

 

[IrishJayhawk]

the only time we play up is when we are the underdogs. wish we would kick someones *** for shits and giggles. really

The game played out nearly exactly as Vegas predicted. Why does that make us flat?

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

There is absolutely no reason we should need a game-winning drive in the late minutes of a game when we're a spread offense and we're playing the WORST passing defense in the nation.

Our 3rd stringer should have been getting game reps at that time just for experience.

Rees has 9 TOs in 3.5 games. I'm going to lose all optimism if he remains the starter. We're so limited with him, at least give Hendrix a chance.

You never had any to begin with dude, give it a rest already. The sky is not falling.

 

[Irish Man3]

Guys Im sorry, I always remain optimistic but that was really bad. Yes, we got the W but it was very unimpressive. Save me the "a win is a win" crap please. That Pittsburgh team is not good at all. Tino is not a good quarterback and he had his best game by far.

Tommy Rees is not a "BCS" quarterback as BK likes to say. Im really tired of people saying that he has the "it" factor. If not for our defense in ALL of his starts, we lose. He is a turnover waiting to happen. His arm strength is weak at best, and he limits our offense. What does he do better than Dayne?

I remain very proud of Cierre Wood and Tyler Eifert and this defense. Congradulations to Jonas as well for a big play and some positive momentum for him personally. Aaron Lynch played another solid game but I thought Fleming played the best game of his season.

Im not a ledge jumper by any means and it still feels good to get the win. This is just not what I expected coming into this season. We have said for awhile that BK can manufacture offense.... where is it? I dont see this offense taking many more steps behind Rees. Whether its Dayne or one of the young guys, something has to change. Rees has 9 turnovers in less than four games this year. That TD pass to Eifert was late and should have been turnover number 10. That was just a really bad performance against a very bad pass defense.

 

[maybenextyear]

He is now 6-1. But that can be credited to our defense.

could be credited to a lot of things. but 6-1 is good enough for me. im not looking for style points, im looking right at the W-L column.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Well, damn if it wasn't pretty, but we survived. That game about gave me a heart attack.

This team has issues, obviously. But today and tonight, I'm going to celebrate this win, because a win is a win is a win is a win. At this point, I'd much rather watch ND win ugly than dominate and lose.

I gotta go coach my own team now...they're lucky ND won or Coach would NOT be in a good mood LOL. I'll leave it to you guys to moan and groan about this win...for me, it'll be time with some youngsters and then a whole lotta beer because ND's season was frigfin' saved today (for now).

Go Irish!!!

Agreed. Well said and now, it's time to start drinking and enjoy another Irish W... I'll take it!!! Go Irish. Beat Pur-Puke.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Guys Im sorry, I always remain optimistic but that was really bad. Yes, we got the W but it was very unimpressive. Save me the "a win is a win" crap please. That Pittsburgh team is not good at all. Tino is not a good quarterback and he had his best game by far.

Tommy Rees is not a "BCS" quarterback as BK likes to say. Im really tired of people saying that he has the "it" factor. If not for our defense in ALL of his starts, we lose. He is a turnover waiting to happen. His arm strength is weak at best, and he limits our offense. What does he do better than Dayne?

I remain very proud of Cierre Wood and Tyler Eifert and this defense. Congradulations to Jonas as well for a big play and some positive momentum for him personally. Aaron Lynch played another solid game but I thought Fleming played the best game of his season.

Im not a ledge jumper by any means and it still feels good to get the win. This is just not what I expected coming into this season. We have said for awhile that BK can manufacture offense.... where is it? I dont see this offense taking many more steps behind Rees. Whether its Dayne or one of the young guys, something has to change. Rees has 9 turnovers in less than four games this year. That TD pass to Eifert was late and should have been turnover number 10. That was just a really bad performance against a very bad pass defense.

I highlighted the important part.

That's new.

 

[koonja]

You never had any to begin with dude, give it a rest already. The sky is not falling.

I guess my 10-2 prediction wasn't optimistic enough for you? Get real.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

im not sticking up or defending tommy or dayne, but i dont think having a QB carousel and just parading different kids in throughout the season is going to help us much..

Well, I'm not so sure about this. There are exceptions to every rule, and if you have two guys with glaring weaknesses, maybe it IS a good idea to rotate them as performance dictates. Neither is going to lead us to a championship - this we know, so I am starting to think they should share time on a regular basis.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I didn't think this would be a blow out. I don't know about the rest of you. I love the last comeback. I love the defensive stands.

A Charlie Weis team would have lost 31-15.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I guess my 10-2 prediction wasn't optimistic enough for you? Get real.

We could still be 10-2

 

[Yes]

Even if we won by 1,000 points our record would still read 2-2.

 

[WaveDomer]

As Urban Meyer said in the booth, if you know your back-up can do a better job it's an easy choice to make. If you think your starter can win for you, you stick with him.

So you have only limited choices here:

1)Rees is the best QB ND has.
2)Rees is not the best QB ND has and BK is a moron.