Nov 7 | Miami

Dale

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InKellyWeTrust said:
If the defense was playing at the elite level we expected, the offensive philosophy of limiting mistakes at the expense of taking chances would be perfect. But against better teams, our defense has been good, not great. So a more explosive offense is likely needed against Miami and in the playoffs.
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A better offense or a more explosive offense?

Indiana for example is far more explosive, they are averaging 16 PPG over their last 3.
 
NorthDakota

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CANONIZEFATHERSORIN said:
if we lose this game I don't think I can be a fan anymore. The biggest trip of my college career was the 2017 Miami game, I had my bachelor party at the 2025 game, college football is literally the only sport I care about. Miami has DOMINATED us over the last decade. If we lose here we have to start re-evaluating the entire Freeman era. I'm going to need to find a new hobby.
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Miami and Notre Dame have played twice in the last decade.
 
NDohio

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Bane said:
I could just never respect Freeman if he bitched and complained about every little thing the way Kiffin does. ESPN absolutely fucked us with that Stanford kickoff time last year and Freeman didn't say a word about it, at least publicly.
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I agree, yet a number of people on here wanted his last press conference to be a bitch session.
 
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PutuporShutup

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NDohio said:
I agree, yet a number of people on here wanted his last press conference to be a bitch session.
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No one expected or wanted Freeman to be "bitching" in the Monday Presser

Myself and others want Freeman and Staff to feel some serious heat for what they did and didn't do as a coaching staff. He's not going to give the 100% real answers, but the staff needs called out significantly more than they are. They're pretty much getting a pass by the beat in that presser.

Questions with facts like

Your 3 wrs played 74-79 snaps each in altitude, took plays off, were gassed over many drives. Was your staff not watching them and seeing how they could barely run their routes at times? How did you think that was a good idea?

Why does a substitute on offense have to be in during a specific series, why won't you sub them in or out within a series when your starter is gassed after running many long routes?

Walton is probably your best RB and clearly your most dynamic, you were struggling to move the ball a lot vs byu, don't you think having one of your best players on the field more than 10 snaps out of 80 would have helped?

Craig for the third game in a row had slow snaps and a last second tell if it was a run or pass allowing the LBs to be more aggressive - Did your staff not notice this obvious issue and why was it not important to get it fixed?

Your team ran 75% zone and Bear completed 80% of his throws vs less than 40% vs man. Did your staff not know the discrepancy in the game and why did they continue to run the defense that clearly wasn't working, especially the last byu drive of the game?

Your defense struggled to get lined up many times while BYU was not doing really anything new. Is the staff not able to make adjustments and coach fixes on the sideline? It kept happening over multiple series, and BYU clearly knew how to get you into looks.

Byu stated your defense was very simplistic and easy to identify and go against. What are you doing or not doing that's making it so easy for other teams offenses to know what D you are in.

On the last play of the game, BYU stated they got CJ to check into the exact play they wanted. Why are you letting teams dictate what plays you run, and do you think CJ's constant checks are becoming a hinderance at times vs a weapon?

Secondary question to that, it's obvious CJ is struggling with his post snap reads and missing throws he can easily make, do you think his focus on checks up until the last second of the play clock is having a negative impact on his post snap ability?


Freeman would never answer these with 100% of the truth, that's fine and expected. But these questions would put the heat on the staff, the heat they need on them.

The beat should be writing articles how 2 years in a row there is a clear run pass tell over multiple games this staff was unable to identify and fix, that may have cost them a game each season. Articles on the failure of zone D under Ash 2 seasons in a row.
 
stlnd01

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PutuporShutup said:
No one expected or wanted Freeman to be "bitching" in the Monday Presser

Myself and others want Freeman and Staff to feel some serious heat for what they did and didn't do as a coaching staff. He's not going to give the 100% real answers, but the staff needs called out significantly more than they are. They're pretty much getting a pass by the beat in that presser.
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These are all interesting tactical questions about issues that I certainly hope the staff is reflecting on. But I'm not sure Mike Berardino and Eric Hansen playing prosecuting attorney at a press conference will make much difference here.
 
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PutuporShutup

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stlnd01 said:
These are all interesting tactical questions about issues that I certainly hope the staff is reflecting on. But I'm not sure Mike Berardino and Eric Hansen playing prosecuting attorney at a press conference will make much difference here.
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Is anyone's questions worse than Mike Berardino? He's a moron.

I'm not sure of the relationship with the beat and the athletic department/football program. It just seems like it's more focused on having a great relationship for most of them vs actually doing their job and reporting on what's going on good or bad.

If the beat isn't asking these questions publicly hopefully some of them are privately to ensure the ND Football staff knows things that are going on they might be missing. Example - the beat pretty much had to tell them about CJ's tell last year, and I'm guessing the ND staff didn't know Craig's tell. I'm beside myself that for 3 weeks they didn't at minimum fix the low snapping issue. His snaps are almost always perfect on running plays, but terrible on passing plays. Freeman didn't know there should have been a second on the clock until back on the plane hours later, when the rest of the world watching the game knew it almost immediately after the game. They have a zillion coaches, someone should be watching the tv version live, there should have been about 5 more seconds on the clock. Freeman should have been getting on the officials for the clock way before the last play.
 
jpachuta33

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CANONIZEFATHERSORIN said:
if we lose this game I don't think I can be a fan anymore. The biggest trip of my college career was the 2017 Miami game, I had my bachelor party at the 2025 game, college football is literally the only sport I care about. Miami has DOMINATED us over the last decade. If we lose here we have to start re-evaluating the entire Freeman era. I'm going to need to find a new hobby.
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IMG_3091.gif
 
Free Manera

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Media members calling coaches to the carpet doesn't do anything besides get them less access. I get that it would be cathartic for some people, but it's not an effective way for the media to do their jobs or to bring about changes.

They have an obligation to ask hard questions about the WR rotation, defensive gameplan, etc., which they largely did. But launching vitriolic leading questions is not going to result in real answers. The media guys do write scathing articles at times, which is the proper venue for voicing their opinions. Prister, O'Malley, Jamie U., all these guys destroyed various aspects of the BYU coaching performance. They aren't giving anyone a pass.
 
Dale

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PutuporShutup said:
No one expected or wanted Freeman to be "bitching" in the Monday Presser

Myself and others want Freeman and Staff to feel some serious heat for what they did and didn't do as a coaching staff. He's not going to give the 100% real answers, but the staff needs called out significantly more than they are. They're pretty much getting a pass by the beat in that presser.

Questions with facts like

Your 3 wrs played 74-79 snaps each in altitude, took plays off, were gassed over many drives. Was your staff not watching them and seeing how they could barely run their routes at times? How did you think that was a good idea?

Why does a substitute on offense have to be in during a specific series, why won't you sub them in or out within a series when your starter is gassed after running many long routes?

Walton is probably your best RB and clearly your most dynamic, you were struggling to move the ball a lot vs byu, don't you think having one of your best players on the field more than 10 snaps out of 80 would have helped?

Craig for the third game in a row had slow snaps and a last second tell if it was a run or pass allowing the LBs to be more aggressive - Did your staff not notice this obvious issue and why was it not important to get it fixed?

Your team ran 75% zone and Bear completed 80% of his throws vs less than 40% vs man. Did your staff not know the discrepancy in the game and why did they continue to run the defense that clearly wasn't working, especially the last byu drive of the game?

Your defense struggled to get lined up many times while BYU was not doing really anything new. Is the staff not able to make adjustments and coach fixes on the sideline? It kept happening over multiple series, and BYU clearly knew how to get you into looks.

Byu stated your defense was very simplistic and easy to identify and go against. What are you doing or not doing that's making it so easy for other teams offenses to know what D you are in.

On the last play of the game, BYU stated they got CJ to check into the exact play they wanted. Why are you letting teams dictate what plays you run, and do you think CJ's constant checks are becoming a hinderance at times vs a weapon?

Secondary question to that, it's obvious CJ is struggling with his post snap reads and missing throws he can easily make, do you think his focus on checks up until the last second of the play clock is having a negative impact on his post snap ability?


Freeman would never answer these with 100% of the truth, that's fine and expected. But these questions would put the heat on the staff, the heat they need on them.

The beat should be writing articles how 2 years in a row there is a clear run pass tell over multiple games this staff was unable to identify and fix, that may have cost them a game each season. Articles on the failure of zone D under Ash 2 seasons in a row.
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I’m shocked this guy doesn’t have a press pass
 
jerseyborn1971

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CANONIZEFATHERSORIN said:
if we lose this game I don't think I can be a fan anymore. The biggest trip of my college career was the 2017 Miami game, I had my bachelor party at the 2025 game, college football is literally the only sport I care about. Miami has DOMINATED us over the last decade. If we lose here we have to start re-evaluating the entire Freeman era. I'm going to need to find a new hobby.
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Do everyone a favor a just start now.
 
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PutuporShutup

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Dale said:
I’m shocked this guy doesn’t have a press pass
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It's how you get a situation where you have Prister covering ND football for 45 years and he still doesn't have a clue.

It's a weird beat/press relationship covering ND football where it seems they have a handshake agreement or heck probably financial agreement to not ask any fair tough questions even, and they'll get access and a cushy job for the rest of their professional career.
 
The Backer

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PutuporShutup said:
No one expected or wanted Freeman to be "bitching" in the Monday Presser

Myself and others want Freeman and Staff to feel some serious heat for what they did and didn't do as a coaching staff. He's not going to give the 100% real answers, but the staff needs called out significantly more than they are. They're pretty much getting a pass by the beat in that presser.

Questions with facts like

Your 3 wrs played 74-79 snaps each in altitude, took plays off, were gassed over many drives. Was your staff not watching them and seeing how they could barely run their routes at times? How did you think that was a good idea?

Why does a substitute on offense have to be in during a specific series, why won't you sub them in or out within a series when your starter is gassed after running many long routes?

Walton is probably your best RB and clearly your most dynamic, you were struggling to move the ball a lot vs byu, don't you think having one of your best players on the field more than 10 snaps out of 80 would have helped?

Craig for the third game in a row had slow snaps and a last second tell if it was a run or pass allowing the LBs to be more aggressive - Did your staff not notice this obvious issue and why was it not important to get it fixed?

Your team ran 75% zone and Bear completed 80% of his throws vs less than 40% vs man. Did your staff not know the discrepancy in the game and why did they continue to run the defense that clearly wasn't working, especially the last byu drive of the game?

Your defense struggled to get lined up many times while BYU was not doing really anything new. Is the staff not able to make adjustments and coach fixes on the sideline? It kept happening over multiple series, and BYU clearly knew how to get you into looks.

Byu stated your defense was very simplistic and easy to identify and go against. What are you doing or not doing that's making it so easy for other teams offenses to know what D you are in.

On the last play of the game, BYU stated they got CJ to check into the exact play they wanted. Why are you letting teams dictate what plays you run, and do you think CJ's constant checks are becoming a hinderance at times vs a weapon?

Secondary question to that, it's obvious CJ is struggling with his post snap reads and missing throws he can easily make, do you think his focus on checks up until the last second of the play clock is having a negative impact on his post snap ability?


Freeman would never answer these with 100% of the truth, that's fine and expected. But these questions would put the heat on the staff, the heat they need on them.

The beat should be writing articles how 2 years in a row there is a clear run pass tell over multiple games this staff was unable to identify and fix, that may have cost them a game each season. Articles on the failure of zone D under Ash 2 seasons in a row.
Click to expand...


The vast majority of these questions were answered to some degree either in the post game or Monday presser, the questions just weren't asked as antagonistically.
 
Dale

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Pressure Rate by Game:

44% vs FSU - 42% season average
22% vs Pitt - 26% season average
47% vs Clemson - 36% season average
53% vs Wake - 41% season average
16% vs Stanford - 32% season average

Tough to gauge how far the pass rush has dropped off, FSU and Wake in particular the dual threat QBs kinda take on pressure themselves naturally. UNC will be most natural comparison. Stanford I remember it being pretty underwhelming as shown but idk if they were just mailing it in/playing vanilla
 
Dale

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Their backup nickel Thornton has really been torched but he will likely not play as much versus ND. They moved Fitzgerald to CB during injuries but back to Nickel for Pitt game. If they get Lucas, Fitzgerald and O’Conner that is decent group. Lucas could still be playing banged up though

Their LBs are big bulking guys that hit hard in the hole but really struggle laterally and in coverage. Slow.
 
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Dale said:
Their backup nickel Thornton has really been torched but he will likely not play as much versus ND. They moved Fitzgerald to CB during injuries but back to Nickel for Pitt game. If they get Lucas, Fitzgerald and O’Conner that is decent group. Lucas could still be playing banged up though

Their LBs are big bulking guys that hit hard in the hole but really struggle laterally and in coverage. Slow.
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So we should expect a bunch of TE motion behind the guard and run the RB into a brick wall
 
Dale

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arrowryan said:
So we should expect a bunch of TE motion behind the guard and run the RB into a brick wall
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I see you’re still feeling chipper lol

I think they will target the TEs and RBs a decent amount in the pass game and likely have more success than they did against BYU. BYU likes playing 3 linebackers and have recruited as such. Glasker covering Larsen, James in space is not a real mismatch for them. Toure/Smith covering in space is. There is a reason Raridon had the biggest game last year. They are really gonna need the TEs to step up to beat Miami, whether people like it or not.

If our OL holds up well on their DL, they will resort to the nickel blitz to generate pressure. They need to have some creative screen game crafted up for this game. Not the WK 1 stuff from last year. Something creative from backfield like Louisville, Arkansas game type stuff
 
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PutuporShutup

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The checkdowns to RBs were there all game vs BYU, and I think CJ hit a check down once. A number of first down throws out of bounds and WRs covered well we could have checked it down for good gains.

Watching a bit more of the byu game it was odd how he would never check it down but had all day to find the checkdown. Instead, he locked on first read and a lot of incompletions when 5-7yds on first down would have been just fine.

Miami at times will cover our first option based on our formation, he has to go through his progressions and not just throw to that receiver when not open even if they're 1-1. We don't have burners or a player that you know will be open every time if they're left 1-1. Faison can get open in short range pretty good almost every play 1-1 (when he's not gassed), but not vert routes.
 
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Dale said:
I see you’re still feeling chipper lol

I think they will target the TEs and RBs a decent amount in the pass game and likely have more success than they did against BYU. BYU likes playing 3 linebackers and have recruited as such. Glasker covering Larsen, James in space is not a real mismatch for them. Toure/Smith covering in space is. There is a reason Raridon had the biggest game last year. They are really gonna need the TEs to step up to beat Miami, whether people like it or not.

If our OL holds up well on their DL, they will resort to the nickel blitz to generate pressure. They need to have some creative screen game crafted up for this game. Not the WK 1 stuff from last year. Something creative from backfield like Louisville, Arkansas game type stuff
Click to expand...

Lol yeah the BYU game hurt me pretty bad. I 100% bought into the “best team since ‘93” bs. Well, the best team since ‘93 wouldn’t have lost to that bullshit team. That’s the last thing I’ll say. But I have my doubts this team can finish 11-1.
 
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Irish#1

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CANONIZEFATHERSORIN said:
if we lose this game I don't think I can be a fan anymore. The biggest trip of my college career was the 2017 Miami game, I had my bachelor party at the 2025 game, college football is literally the only sport I care about. Miami has DOMINATED us over the last decade. If we lose here we have to start re-evaluating the entire Freeman era. I'm going to need to find a new hobby.
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