State of the Irish

[Buster Bluth]

Step off the ledge folks...

Seriously.

Holy hell people calm down.

 

[JoeyGetherall]

Seriously.

Holy hell people calm down.

It's a bit ridiculous.

 

[beryirish]

I can't take morons freaking out. TWO YEARS. It's been two years of BK and everyone is jumping ship saying they will never amount to anything or we should go get Meyer. Shutup! Dumbest thread ever.

 

[GreatGolson]

i gotta say it, realistically i think Jack gives Kelly 1-2 more seasons to get to the BCS before we start this whole thing over again.

BTW, im not a ledge jumper, this is just my honest opinion. i believe Kelly is the right guy, his recruits have been outstanding (See GAIII) and that will only continue as players like Devaris Daniels and Golson progress to the point where they are major players on the team. Bottom line, chill the hell out, 2 years ago #6 Clemson went 8-5, as did #3 Stanford.

 

[Irish Fam]

hahahah my girlfriend (not a sports person by any means, but has watched the games with me) just laughed when I told her about people freaking out about Brian Kelly... Her response, "he can't do anything about the quarterback letting the ball fall between his legs and throwing it to the other team. There is only so much he can do from the sideline."

Just a little perspective for some of you jumping off the cliff today.

 

[CarrollVermin]

I can't take morons freaking out. TWO YEARS. It's been two years of BK and everyone is jumping ship saying they will never amount to anything or we should go get Meyer. Shutup! Dumbest thread ever.

Is it Meyer?? I swear I heard the name Nick Saban come up a few times in the section that I was sitting in.

 

[kmoose]

I agree. I think there's blame there for Rees and/or Wood, no doubt, but as I was watching the game and as soon as I saw that play, I said to myself, "Why would you even have that play in your playbook? Why have a lateral swing pass like that with the RB running out into the flat?"

Despite its simplistic looking nature, that's actually kind of a difficult throw for the QB to make and the RB to catch. I was wondering why it was called myself...particularly as a lateral (or even what could be construed as a lateral).

Were you thinking the same thing, when they ran the exact same play in the 1st quarter for an 8 yard gain?

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

And if pigs could fly we wouldn't have bacon for breakfast.

Thats not true. I could easily shoot down a flying pig.

EDIT: I am proud as hell that this is my 500th...

 

[Irish52]

The only thing i find fault with coaching is putting Crist in for the most crucial play of the game. We score and the momentum swings to the Irish. What did we expect out of Crist that Hendrix couldn't do? And if it was a run play, Rees could hand off just as well...

 

[Irish Fam]

I believe kelly said in his presser that it was play action...

 

[Old North State Irish]

EVERYONE, PLEASE RELAX. I garuntee that no one was more upset last night as me (maybe some of us tied). Having said that Coach Kelly is going to get it done-write it down.

I have a friend that played WR for him at Grand Valley State. He was asst-coach and his head coach (for one year I think-b/f he graduated). When I tell him my worries about Kelly/ND he laughs at me and tells me to just wait. I do know that we can't keep going through a coaching carosel every few years. Our problems b/g when Nd hired Bob Davie with no HC experience, then on to Coach Ty. Look at IU. After they fired Knight, they hired Davis with no HC experience, then the President forced the AD to hire Sampson (against his wishes). It has set back IU for several years as we have seen. I believe Crean will bring IU back (he landed Zeller and has a monster class coming in next year-all Indiana kids (and possibly the best of all Gary Harris). I type all of that to say this. We need stability and time. It just can't come quick enough for us.

Kelly will right this ship and we will all be smiling when we look back! IMO

 

[DCirishfan]

We are no better than we were with CW. Our team has more talent than anyone on our schedule. The fact that we continue to have serious fundamental issues is a direct reflection of BK. We are coming off a bye week for crying out loud. There is no reason that we should be flat in the first quater. The horrible play is representative of the coaching...

We are better than with CW, but still unacceptable. We are a very, very, very, average team. I am concerned.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

We are better than with CW, but still unacceptable. We are a very, very, very, average team. I am concerned.

Completely agree. CW didn't know how to handle young guys, and was way to pompous. I still can't decide if the empty sick feeling I had this morning was worse than the Michigan game, but the forum has brought me closer to reality: I trust BK and his decision making. Our role players take the most blame for last night, not BK.

 

[nlroma1o]

This loss doesnt hurt anywhere near as badly as the scUM loss. We were beating the hell out of them and we blew it in the 4th qtr. usc had control of this game from the get go.

BK is NOT the problem. I cant understand how anyone could rationally blame BK for our losses this year... Especially when we turn the ball over like they are getting paid to do it!

Just wait until BK has Golson in there running the show! Thats when the fireworks will start to happen.

GO IRISH!!!

 

[Kingbish01]

Here comes my 2 cents:

We need a QB that can run BK offense. And until that happens we may struggle. I'm sure Reese is a great kid, but I would be shocked if he could break the starting lineup on any team in the top 25. It's like any sport, the players touching the ball all the time (pitchers, catchers, point guards, QB's and centers) need to be really good and teams with great players in those positions usually wins Championships. BK is in no danger of losing his job, ND is going in the right direction.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Here comes my 2 cents:

We need a QB that can run BK offense. And until that happens we may struggle. I'm sure Reese is a great kid, but I would be shocked if he could break the starting lineup on any team in the top 25. It's like any sport, the players touching the ball all the time (pitchers, catchers, point guards, QB's and centers) need to be really good and teams with great players in those positions usually wins Championships. BK is in no danger of losing his job, ND is going in the right direction.

Pike isn't a "BK type QB" and he was phenomenal. What we need is a good QB, whether it's a running one or not, and like you said, Rees just isn't getting the job done consistently enough right now. Still the best option THIS YEAR in my opinion, but certainly not getting the job done at a high enough level yet.

 

[Kingbish01]

Pike isn't a "BK type QB" and he was phenomenal. What we need is a good QB, whether it's a running one or not, and like you said, Rees just isn't getting the job done consistently enough right now. Still the best option THIS YEAR in my opinion, but certainly not getting the job done at a high enough level yet.

Jimmy Pickles isn't a BK type guy either, but could you imagine. It would have been special. Since he will never be a starter unless something happens to Cam, I wonder if he wishes he would have waited a year. He still would have become rich enough and maybe even ended up in an Aaron Rodgers situation in Indy.

 

[koonja]

We just lost to the worst Trojan team we've played in years. We start 4 senior DBs, have an All-American MLB paired with a solid D-line. On offense we have one of the best receivers in football, a veteran O-line and 2 great RBs.

That being said, we're 4-3. I don't know what the state of the Irish is right now, but it's not good.

 

[irishtrinity]

I just feel we need to start winning the big games.... Every yr. it seems we have a few back breaker games (USF MICHIGAN USC) all yr. we look back and think what if?? Can we please beat Michigan!!!!

Anyways i love ND will always believe give the fans a reason to get up and cheer....

HOW MANY YRS. TILL WE EVEN WIN A BCS GAME? thats all i want....

Go IRISH BEAT NAVY..

 

[wahoo]

One thing I noticed in the USC game was the ability of USC to get the ball to their playmakers, Woods in particular.
Why can't the Irish find a way to get Floyd the ball?
Also their offensive line just manhandled the D-Line. This team needs to get better at the point-of-attack.

 

[irishtrinity]

Game is on VS. right now...

Forget Floyd we had eveyone open watch the game work with what they give you we kept trying to force it to floyd we have 5 more playmakers....

 

[Irish4Life09]

One thing I noticed in the USC game was the ability of USC to get the ball to their playmakers, Woods in particular.
Why can't the Irish find a way to get Floyd the ball?
Also their offensive line just manhandled the D-Line. This team needs to get better at the point-of-attack.

They were able to double and triple team Floyd all game without it hurting them. We don't have a single DB,other than maybe Blanton that can do that.That's why Floyd never saw the ball.

 

[NDFan4Life]

One thing I noticed in the USC game was the ability of USC to get the ball to their playmakers, Woods in particular.
Why can't the Irish find a way to get Floyd the ball?Also their offensive line just manhandled the D-Line. This team needs to get better at the point-of-attack.

Then you'll have everybody complaining that Rees always keys in on Floyd and doesn't spread the ball around. I got into an argument yesterday on another forum on this exact thing. Although the game stats showed that Rees had indeed spread the ball around, it always came back to Rees keying on Floyd.

 

[WaveDomer]

I really think the bottom line is the team laid an egg. It happens. For whatever reason they came out, got punched in the mouth, and took a bit to settle in. By the time they settled in it was the second half and then that fumble happens. Even after that they still fight but then another unreal turnover. They laid an egg. They don't know how to win on a daily basis yet. I wouldn't be shocked to see them put it together by the end of the year and win out. Wouldn't be shocked it they didn't either. This is where they are at though. They are a good team, but what separates the best from the pack is mental toughness. The top 5 tennis players in the world are really only slightly better skillwise than the guys ranked 50 - 100. It's the mental aspect that separates them. The same here.

 

[EddytoNow]

It's easy to blame the coaches, but the truth is we could be 7 and 0 right now if the players had executed. It wasn't Brian Kelly fumbling away a touchdown inside the five yard line against USF amd USC. It was a fourth year player. It wasn't Brian Kelly making all the needless turnovers, getting called for a false starts, etc. It wasn't Brian Kelly failing to see the ball because he never turned his head while defending a pass. It has been a player or players making crucial mistakes at the wrong time that have cost us three games. The sign says "Play Like A Champion Today". Coaching had us in a position to win all seven of our games this year. The playmakers failed to play like champions. There should be no excuses. We just didn't get the job done on the field. Victory was there for the taking in all seven games.

Kelly is a stand up guy. He could be blaming the players and rightfully so, but it is a team loss. Kelly has been defending his team and his players and giving them every opportunity to redeem themselves. If I were playing, I'd love to play for Coach Kelly. He'd get me ready to play on Saturdays. My on-field production would be on me, and that's the way it should be.

 

[irishtrinity]

It's easy to blame the coaches, but the truth is we could be 7 and 0 right now if the players had executed. It wasn't Brian Kelly fumbling away a touchdown inside the five yard line against USF amd USC. It was a fourth year player. It wasn't Brian Kelly making all the needless turnovers, getting called for a false starts, etc. It wasn't Brian Kelly failing to see the ball because he never turned his head while defending a pass. It has been a player or players making crucial mistakes at the wrong time that have cost us three games.

PREACH ON BROTHER.. Our player need to feed off the crowd and complete the rest of the season the right way.... Go Irish......BEAT TURNOVERS....lol

 

[irishff1014]

At some point some of the younf DB's need to get some playing time. We are going to be very young back there need to get them in there now so next year they have some idea of game time. Yes there is alot of season left but at some point you have to start moving foward to next year.

 

[irishtrinity]

4TH QRT: defensive 3rd down stop.... Trogans miss 32 yrd field goal 9:13 4TH QRT...

now we gave up one touchdown so we should be up ND 24 USC 17 at this time.. o-well it's not! we need to score and tie the game now...

4TH QRT: 8:46 backward pass ND turnover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now if we look big picture it should have been ND 24/ USC 17 in 4th qrt.. We. run the ball score a TD or FG and we win the game... IT'S THAT SIMPLE.....

GO IRISH fix these little problems and were going to be great...

 

[CarrollVermin]

At some point some of the younf DB's need to get some playing time. We are going to be very young back there need to get them in there now so next year they have some idea of game time. Yes there is alot of season left but at some point you have to start moving foward to next year.

That is a tough balance though. I think BK has been clear that the best player is going to play. I think he needs to stick to that so that he does not lose credibility within the program.

 

[irishff1014]

4TH QRT: defensive 3rd down stop.... Trogans miss 32 yrd field goal 9:13 4TH QRT...

now we gave up one touchdown so we should be up ND 24 USC 17 at this time.. o-well it's not! we need to score and tie the game now...

4TH QRT: 8:46 backward pass ND turnover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now if we look big picture it should have been ND 24/ USC 17 in 4th qrt.. We. run the ball score a TD or FG and we win the game... IT'S THAT SIMPLE.....

GO IRISH fix these little problems and were going to be great...

Once again this is where the run game should have been used instead of the screen pass. It was friggin 2 and 4 with alot of time onthe clock perfect time to run the ball to late now though. But like others said we CAN'T give up on the running game.