BYU Postgame

FDNYIrish1 said:

We lost on the road on the last play to a team that’s about to be ranked #2 or 3 in the country and we can point out a million ways we should have won the game. I personally think BYU was a tough opponent and played very well. And I’m still pissed at our mistakes costing us the game which gives me hope they can be fixed. The talent is there. Put asses in the right seats and LFG. It should be an absolute nightmare for Miami coming into South Bend in November. We’re pissed and are only fans. I’ll assume this team is very angry moving forward. We hung in to the very end. Don’t give up the ship just yet.

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We lost way before the last play.

I was on the road a bit yesterday so rewatched the game and here are my thoughts (full disclosure, I'm no coach or expert analyst):

- What stood out was that the D played uninspired and slow most of the time; BYU receivers catch in space, ND defenders not in good position, and BYU would have blockers in place to spring their WRs for big pickups; no swarming to the ball at all (like BYU's D was doing)
- We got torched with throws across the middle and on the seams; we did stopped the run decently except when it counted
- Overall, we couldn't stop BYU's offense, I saw that they were 8 for 12 on third downs and they had the one interception so they only punted three times with the one bad fake punt trying to run for the 1st down
- Carr was obviously off (I saw the stat flashed that he hit his career hight TEN overthrown passes); he's not frazzled like Arch but something was off with his timing with WRs; certainly moved well in the pocket and evaded blitzing lineman well. It's like this was one of our first Miami or TAMU games last year, except it was game 7 this year so that's worrisome with Miami three weeks away
- As much as Carr overthrew / mad bad throws, I think there were 5 to 6 passes right to the WRs hands that were not made last night; sure, for most of them there was tight BYU coverage, hands flying around but our WRs needed to aggressively go after the ball with their hands and catch those throws
- WR corps just not as impressive as a top team's receivers should be and why isn't CJ throwing in the middle and more crossing routes?
- With the above stated, it doesn't make for the best come-from-behind and two-minute offense; it was pins and needles on that last drive and felt like there was no reliable play calling or play execution that was gonna win it for us; after the thwarted fake punt, it took ND almost a minute of clock to go from midfield to just outside the 20; low yardage plays taking forever to execute and not yielding much by way of points
- That series after the interception when the ND O was deep in its own territory was pathetic--play calling and execution. Negative yardage plays and literally BYU went from having the ball with 8 minutes left and then getting it right back with about 6 minutes left and good field position; we needed to move the ball and kill more clock there
- Timekeeping was pathetic; enough said there
- As always, in hindsight, for these big losses, we look back and say what happened to the ND running game? Why couldn't we spring Walton (or even James Jr.) for some big runs? O line was moving the BYU D on a lot of plays from what I could see, but we also kind of abandoned the running game, likely with getting behind 21-10.
- BYU came to play and were motivated to kick our ass; they did and mostly dominated the LOS and the game

BYU is mid tier at best and surprisingly a rather dirty team. They went low at Carr’s knees enough times to leave no doubt it was intentional. Their QB is a poor man’s Riley Leonard. We lost because of our coordinators basically telegraphed every play on both sides of the ball. Officiating neutralized our athleticism by “letting them play”.

Nothing in this game made any sense. It almost had the feeling of being choreographed. At what point do stop throwing fades?!

benneboy said:

Literally taking this

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Yepp me too. Got it at +700

BYU committed two delay of game penalties on spike play:

I want to make the playoff and play these clowns again.

thekid33 said:

I want to make the playoff and play these clowns again.

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You know, somehow, I'm not pissed at Bear's comments (he did kind of walk them back and state he "loves ND") and the "fuck ND, you're nothing" attitude they had because that's the attitude you want your team to have (especially at home!). We deserved what we got based on how the staff prepared and how the team played.

Nonetheless, it would be sweet "payback is a bitch" revenge to get them in the playoffs and absolutely throttle them!

BeatSC said:

Kirby was 1-7 against Bama until he got a gift this year.

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A) the one you’re referencing is (likely) a little bowl called the National Championship.

B) It’s not true anyways because UGA beat the brakes off of Bama in the SECCG last year.

YonkersEejit said:

A few random thoughts from the Hyatt House in Provo.
1. I told my buddies from the day-1 in the Wisconsin game, something seems "off" with this team. They just don't have that fire. Players may have the "C" Captain logo, but we don't have a captain. We don't have leadership. They looked off. They did against Wisconsin, Michigan State, UNC...something just doesn't seem there. They just don't look great. Sloppy, going through the motions.
2. When BYU got the ball back with 5 or so minutes, I just knew they would score. We made defensive adjustments at halftime that helped, but Ash's defenses always fold like a cheap suit when the game is on the line. Just like when Texas A&M marched 80 yards in 2 minutes, the defense crumbles. They never rise to the occasion. They never get the stop.
3. Ash's defense is garbage. I do not understand why some fans think this guy, who constantly looks like he sharted his pants, isa good coordinator. Notre Dame generally just out talents the opponents. He's played 3 teams with a pulse. He's 0-3. This off zone, passive approach just allowed them to move the ball at will.
4. Denbrock has no "feel" for the game and game flow. He never calls plays establishing a rhythm. It's always clunky, predictable play calling. When something is working, Jonaz Walton for example, he never gets the ball again. And if a play doesn't work, he'll try it again a thousand times. What's the definition of insanity?
5. Carr, Moore, Shuler had their worst games.
6. Knapp whiffed on ... oh, I dont know, 5 pass blocks against Uluave?
7. KVA was largely nonexistent.
8. Spare me from the 16-win streak shit. It isn't impressive against Purdue, Navy, Seabees, and Merchant Marine Academy...with this group/staff, we're, to date, 0-3 in our "bigger games". The "Notre Dame is a fraud" or "Notre Dame loses its big games" moniker is true until proven differently.
9. MF did not have this team ready to go, again...he failed. Giving up 21 in the first half to that quality of a team and QB is a joke. He looked like Danny Wuerffel out there.
10. Let's shelf the "welp, gotta regroup and show up against Miami talk." At this point, can we definitely say we'll beat SMU?
11. I'm tired of the "Leave No Doubt", "Revenge Tour" b.s. Spare me. At halftime, as I'm munching on ice cream and a 4ft long donut Cougar tail, I'm just dying for a beer and none it to be found, I thought "what am I doing with my life ... why do I continually put myself through this shit? Same old, same old...."

Oh well, the Always Irish postgame call in podcast should entertain me on the flight back.

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Points 2-4 I agree fully.

It seems we got the treatment usually reserved for the SEC out of the AP voters. BYU up 6 to #2, us only down 2 to #4. I certainly didn’t expect that. (BYU to 2 didn’t shock me given all the other carnage yesterday, but us staying top 5 is shocking.

I accepted the spike fumble in the moment. But the more I see the replay it seems like splitting hairs in slow motion.

He still spiked the ball. CJ’s hand catches back up and he has it like a passing grip in his right hand.

At full speed it is 100% a spike.

That said, even a close escape win over BYU would be ominous for title hopes. I don’t think they are very good.

I think someone reads IE

This loss has one person to blame: @Irish#1

Changing the banner and site colors in the middle of a winning streak. I haven't changed my underwear since A&M and you do something this crazy???

Let’s use the bye week get our shit together and get guys healthy if people are hurt no reason to play them against Navy. Hopefully Tae is back for Miami

Jimmy3Putt said:

This loss has one person to blame: @Irish#1

Changing the banner and site colors in the middle of a winning streak. I haven't changed my underwear since A&M and you do something this crazy???

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If he had any integrity, he'd give himself a 3 day vacation to think about what he did.

After a night to chew on this game:

The Irish played with very little intensity or sense of urgency. The defense were on their heels in the first half, the quarterback was not seeing the field well nor throwing it well, and the coaches were late to adjust. Carr was incredibly off - it's to the point where I wonder if he was not physically 100% in this game. The balls did not look clean and crisp coming out of his hand when throwing, and the blown spike was inexcusable. If you want to know where this game was lost, it was the five possessions from the end of the first half to the end of the third quarter. They had the chance to double up with a score at the end of the first, and taking possession to start the second half and score again. They turn sure points at the end of the half into a turnover because the QB panicked, get one first down and then punt to start the second half, three and out after that, and then were gifted great field position by the special teams twice. What did they do with the ball in plus territory? Settle for two field goals.

Yes, the defense sucked in the first half. But, the offense was given plenty of chances and did little to nothing with them. Some was bad play selection, a lot was just poor play by Carr. The defense got the game stabilized, and after the go ahead TD, they got the offense the ball back again with a turnover. What does the offense do? Go three and out. Can't do that and expect to win on the road. The defense needed to be better on that last drive, but the offense stuck the defense with the bill all night long.

Thumbs up to Will Black, Jaden Greathouse, Nolan James and Luke Talich for really solid play last night. The rest of the roster needs to look in the mirror. The coaching staff needs to join them.

The good news is that all is not lost. Beat Miami, and the Irish are in a very good place. I suspect that they will come out for that one more focused and with more intensity and purpose than last night.

On to Navy.

This is one downfall about Freeman. He comes across arrogant and then is team plays the way they did. This is not a great look.

Haven’t re-watched but I don’t remember 1 screen pass which is an effective way to counter blitzes.

thekid33 said:

I want to make the playoff and play these clowns again.

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Gimme BYU again, even in Provo.

thekid33 said:

I want to make the playoff and play these clowns again.

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Gonna make the playoffs at 10-2??

Can’t wait to see Walton go off for 200 against Navy only to ride the bench against Miami cuz biG gAmE pAsS pruTEccT

irishff1014 said:

This is one downfall about Freeman. He comes across arrogant and then is team plays the way they did. This is not a great look.

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Last night ND was every stereotype that has ever been meme, tweeted, posted discussed on studio shows, you name it. We all wanted Herbstreit to ear his words after his statenent about ND schedule. The irish proved him right.

IRISHDODGER said:

Last night ND was every stereotype that has ever been meme, tweeted, posted discussed on studio shows, you name it. We all wanted Herbstreit to ear his words after his statenent about ND schedule. The irish proved him right.

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Say what you will about Nd’s schedule but we’re the only team in the country who plays the number one and two ranked teams in the AP poll as of the middle of the season.

IRISHDODGER said:

Last night ND was every stereotype that has ever been meme, tweeted, posted discussed on studio shows, you name it. We all wanted Herbstreit to ear his words after his statenent about ND schedule. The irish proved him right.

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I don’t mean any disrespect, but who cares? We know listening to what the media says will just piss us off - so why do it? Just ignore them

I finally brought myself to reading some of these posts. It was mostly as expected. Last night pissed me off and today has been difficult so trust me, I get it. ND is the better team and should have won. ND might be the best team in the country and found a way to blow it (with some assistance of course).
Fortunately, the most important thing is being overlooked- ND is sitting at #4 in the AP poll and is in line to not only be in the playoffs, but possibly have a bye! There are 4 undefeated teams after week 7, and that will certainly be changing in the coming weeks. If we win out, and this is our WTF game, then maybe u guys will finally be able to look back at this game and realize that going 15-0 is incredibly difficult.

MPClinton22 said:

I don’t mean any disrespect, but who cares? We know listening to what the media says will just piss us off - so why do it? Just ignore them

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none taken. You’re 100% correct.Im just venting frustration.

317Irish said:

I finally brought myself to reading some of these posts. It was mostly as expected. Last night pissed me off and today has been difficult so trust me, I get it. ND is the better team and should have won. ND might be the best team in the country and found a way to blow it (with some assistance of course).
Fortunately, the most important thing is being overlooked- ND is sitting at #4 in the AP poll and is in line to not only be in the playoffs, but possibly have a bye! There are 4 undefeated teams after week 7, and that will certainly be changing in the coming weeks. If we win out, and this is our WTF game, then maybe u guys will finally be able to look back at this game and realize that going 15-0 is incredibly difficult.

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Going 15-0 is incredibly difficult - 100% agree.

It just sucks on a bunch of levels

As bad as we played we still could have won and we didn't get it done.

And, therefore it's a missed opportunity to change the perception of the program. Instead, it feeds into the narrative.

We can say that the perception that we play a weak schedule is unfair and untrue. We can post statistics to support that it's not fair or true. But, doing that is preaching to the choir. Fair, or not, it is the national perception. It's part of the price we pay for keeping the letter I next to our name.

But, that makes the opportunities when we do play a perceived quality opponent so much more important for us. And, as we found out last year it gives us much less margin for error in the 12 team playoff. We barely lost those games last year - but we still lost. We barely lost last night, but we still lost. If we barely lose to Miami or SMU it won't matter that it was close. 10-2 isn't getting us in. Which sucks, because last year and maybe even this year we could legit win if we are in it. Nobody else looks like they are unbeatable. But, we need to get in. Now we put ourselves into a situation where we have zero margin for error and have to win out because the committee will 100% put in 3 loss SEC and/or Big10 teams over 2 loss ND.

Moving forward, 10-2 gets us in. But, we had legit chances last year and this year to win it all and we are looking at being shut out both times if we don't win the games that the national media says are more important.

Idk if this post even makes sense. I have lasagna brain at this point and it's pretty much stream of consciousness. So, sorry if it's incoherent.

Updated Sagarin is out. We’re #2 to OSU and one spot above Miami.

http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.this

So of what I consider to be the big 4 most accurate power ratings systems, we’re still #1 on Dok Entropy and Teamrankings.com and #2 to OSU on FPI and Sagarin.

You can be disgusted by the performance but, this team isn’t a bunch of pretenders bc of one game.

Matt Freeman of ISD was telling one of the II guys that Faison was so gassed by the end of the game, that he asked out on that last drive. I think that’s why we saw Graham come in. It’s game 7 and they still haven’t developed even a few of the WR depth to rotate with the starters? With Faison & Greathouse likely gone after this year, that WR is gonna be a huge question mark.

The thing that has me down more than any other thing is the appearance of physical deficiencies. They look slow and got outmuscled on the edges. Both sides of the ball