Post Game Observations..........

[kmoose]

As previously promised........

1. I was way wrong to question whether Cierre Wood could be a featured back. This kid just keeps putting up very solid performances, week after week. Great game, Cierre!!

2. This defense seems to be for real. The 1st team D held Purdue to under 200 yards, until the backups came in.

3. Red Zone offense: Needs work. Tommy made some errant throws, but I am starting to question the playcalling in the Red Zone. It sure seems like we always try to run the ball on 1st and goal. If that doesn't work, then you can bet your a$$ that we are throwing on 2nd and 3rd down. I'd like to see us keep pounding the rock down in there.

4. Michael Floyd is.............well, he's Michael Floyd. What more needs to be said?

5. Tommy Rees is the unquestioned starter, at QB.

6. I hate to speak for others, but I can probably summarize HCTI's views on Tommy's game:


7-1!!!!

 

[no.1IrishFan]

BENCH REES!!!!!!

 

[arndtjc]

It makes me sick to my stomach that this team is 3-2. I hate scUM so much...

 

[IrishinSyria]

I'd add props to Jonas Gray, both running backs looked great tonight. Of course, Purdue was terrible, nothing in their schedule had prepared them for the skill of ND.

 

[kmoose]

I'd add props to Jonas Gray, both running backs looked great tonight.

Good point. But I promised, a couple of weeks, to start off every post game observations thread with giving props to Cierre Wood. I really think that he is the guy who has made the biggest jump, from last year to this year.

 

[Junkhead]

The talent level between this team and 4 years ago is astounding. We are now winning the line of scrimmage, which rarely happened under Weis. Take away the 10 TOs of the first 2 games, and ND is 5-0 and sniffing a top 5 ranking.

 

[IrishLax]

Rees still has a lot of work to do and a lot of progress to be made... but I love his fire and how he seems to be slowly but surely improving.

So freaking happy to see us run the ball like that. Our OL was absolutely dominant in the run game.

George Atkinson is taking that screen pass to the house if he doesn't get tapped on the foot. So sad.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Quiet yet solid job done by Hayseed.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Was anyone else hoping BK would give it to JG a couple more times just to get him a 100+ yard game?

 

[NDPhilly]

Turnovers

USF 5
Michigan. 5
MSU. 3
Pitt. 2
Purdue. 0

That is all...

 

[pkt77242]

I am just happy that we didn't play to the level of our opponent. Too many times in the past this would have been a close game for us as we played down to their level. Good win all around. Ok, the only down side was our special teams was more short bus special then amazing special.

 

[Junkhead]

I am just happy that we didn't play to the level of our opponent. Too many times in the past this would have been a close game for us as we played down to their level.

That was my fear before the game. I am thinking that trend is gone, now with Longo and a training table. And an actual head coach.

 

[kmoose]

Was anyone else hoping BK would give it to JG a couple more times just to get him a 100+ yard game?

I started to think that maybe he was trying to get Cierre to 200....

 

[phork]

Short yardage situations need a lot of work. Those not making 3 & 1s is going to kill us.

 

[Riddickulous]

* Tommy Rees was solid. Throws a bad fade and that near interception was pretty bad, but other than that he looked fairly sharp.

* Cierre Wood is a beast.

* Jonas Gray is awesome.

* Floyd. Nothing else need be said.

* Jones is going to be a solid player for us.

* Eifert continues to produce.

* Offensive line was tremendous.

* Defensive line did a nice job, although Ethan Johnson's absence showed a tad.

* Nice game from the linebackers. Shembo still blows in coverage.

* Passing defense was eh, but a pretty solid game nonetheless.

* Ruffer needs to get back on track.

 

[kmoose]

* Ruffer needs to get back on track.

A block on a bad snap, and a missed 49 yarder. 49 yards is a crap shoot, for probably 90% of college kickers.

 

[GreatGolson]

now we just need to do this 7 more times

 

[Junkhead]

A block on a bad snap, and a missed 49 yarder. 49 yards is a crap shoot, for probably 90% of college kickers.

Whatever the excuses are, he is 2-6 this season.

 

[CarrollVermin]

Short yardage situations need a lot of work. Those not making 3 & 1s is going to kill us.

Yeah, we had seemed to get this under control against Pitt. This was a weaker spot tonight, along with Red Zone production. Still, great performance, great control from start to finish.

 

[Riddickulous]

Wood - 191 yards, TD
Gray - 93 yards, TD

I'd like to see more of this. We undoubtedly will.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Tommy's third TD pass was very exciting for me, because you could see that he went through his progression and checked down to TJ after Floyd was clearly covered. I'm not sure that had happened at all before that throw. In all fairness, Purdue's inability to cover Floyd (especially when he was paired with Eifert) made going through progressions really unnecessary today.

 

[Junkhead]

Wood - 191 yards, TD
Gray - 93 yards, TD

I'd like to see more of this. We undoubtedly will.

The best thing about this is that we haven't had a rushing game like this for years. And whether it was a few years ago, or back in the Holtz days, either way, we never had a passing game to go with it then!!!

 

[Al H.]

Yes and a couple more to Cierre who was at 191.....

 

[kmoose]

Tommy's third TD pass was very exciting for me, because you could see that he went through his progression and checked down to TJ after Floyd was clearly covered. I'm not sure that had happened at all before that throw. In all fairness, Purdue's inability to cover Floyd (especially when he was paired with Eifert) made going through progressions really unnecessary today.

I've heard a lot of people complain that Tommy seems to lock on to Floyd. But, if you think about it; Floyd is probably the first read on 95% of the pass plays in ND's playbook. On nights like tonight, when he is constantly open, it just makes sense to go to him. There's maybe one or two receivers in the country who are as good as Floyd, and none of them wear the Blue and Gold.

 

[Rudy89]

now we just need to do this 7 more times

8....dont forget the bowl game

 

[Al H.]

Regarding adding a run or two to Jonas so he could get to 100; yes and a couple more to Cierre who was at 191.....

 

[Whiskeyjack]

When was the last time we rushed for ~300 yards in one game?

I was definitely hoping Jonas would break 100 yards. When's the last time we had two 100+ yard rushers in a single game?

 

[meowmix]

Does anyone know a site that has defensive stats too? Also, i really wish we scheduled Purdue as a season opener

 

[Riddickulous]

When was the last time we rushed for ~300 yards in one game?

I was definitely hoping Jonas would break 100 yards. When's the last time we had two 100+ yard rushers in a single game?

Years and years. Maybe more than a decade ago.

We have a good chance to get two 100 yard rushers next week.

 

[meowmix]

I almost feel bad for Ricardo Allen. He was getting punked all over the field. My two favorites were Floyd telling him he was smaller with a smile on his face and Cierre jumping clear over him.