2015 PRE SEASON CAMP THREAD

[dublinirish]

Ha this almost happened to my team in high school. We were out for the coin toss, which the opposing team won. Their captains looked at their head coach...

Their coach: "We want to kick."

Our coach: "No you don't."

Their coach: *look of confusion and disbelief* "Yes, we want to kick. We won the toss."

Our coach: "No, you do not want to kick the ball. You want to defer. Or else you will kick off to start both halves."

Their coach: "We defer."

west virginia did this a few years back lol the quote from their guilty captain was " i had a brainfart"

 

[dublinirish]

I'd rather have more information than less. I think the element of surprise is overrated. "They are who we thought they were." I'd rather maximize my control of the ball (and therefore the clock) in the second half, when you have the most possible information about how the game is playing out.

i agree with this. and after half time your team should be more settled and less affected by the occasion and conditions. Execution should be sharper.

 

[woolybug25]

I'd rather have more information than less. I think the element of surprise is overrated. "They are who we thought they were." I'd rather maximize my control of the ball (and therefore the clock) in the second half, when you have the most possible information about how the game is playing out.

How do you maximize the control over the clock when the first thing you do is hand over that control to your opponent?

Sure you have information, that doesn't mean that you necessarily have an answer for that information. At least in the first drive, you have the ability to script based off of unknown factors like players.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Given the complexities of different teams and different games this is probably irrelevant, but mathematically speaking, if you wanted to give yourself a better chance of leading at the end of the first half, then you'd receive, because 50% of the games you'd have one more first half possession than the opponent.

The fact that they get it first in the second half evens out the simple math, but one might prefer to have an extra possession before they saw what you were doing, and they the extra possession after you saw what they were doing. If you think that you can outcoach them at halftime, then you'd receive the opening kick-off. Lou almost always outcoached them at halftime.

 

[wizards8507]

How do you maximize the control over the clock when the first thing you do is hand over that control to your opponent?

Because managing the second half clock is much more important than managing the first half clock. If you run out of time in the first half, you still get to come back out for 30 minutes of football to try and make up for it. If you run out of time in the second half, you lose.

 

[IrishLion]

Because managing the second half clock is much more important than managing the first half clock. If you run out of time in the first half, you still get to come back out for 30 minutes of football to try and make up for it. If you run out of time in the second half, you lose.

This point is moot, though, because if you give that control to your opponent in the first half, they can drain the clock and minimize your chances to start the game strong.

I don't think there is a correct answer, aside from maybe the statistics Wooly referenced earlier.

Disclaimer: I prefer to see ND defer and try to force a quick change of possession, but if the offense really is run-orientated in the way we think [hope], I'd rather see them receive the ball and demoralize the defense with the run game from the outset.

 

[NDTH91]

You guys remember that one time when we got updates and videos about how practice was going, and we all discussed how rad the team was going to be?

Yeah... I miss those days...

The lack of informational flow out of practice is making the last 2 weeks before the season seem like an eternity. In fact, I just woke up from a dream where I was finally watching all of the buildup to the game. The hype was real and right as it was about to start I woke up... what a tease.

(I always prefer to defer)

 

[woolybug25]

Because managing the second half clock is much more important than managing the first half clock. If you run out of time in the first half, you still get to come back out for 30 minutes of football to try and make up for it. If you run out of time in the second half, you lose.

That's not necessarily true. If you win the first half, you can dictate the second half by simply controlling the ball. If you're up two TD's at the half, then you can drop into a zone and force them to score slowly. A 9 minute TD drive in the second half is almost a kiss of death for them if we can still score. There simply isn't enough time for the opponent to make up the point differential with slow drives. It's also a heck of a lot easier to stop big plays than "3 and a cloud of dust".

 

[koonja]

You know we're close when we're discussing if we should kick or receive. I don't think one game this year will be won or lost by what we choose to do at the coin flip, but I'm glad we're that close to kick off!

 

[Booslum31]

Ha this almost happened to my team in high school. We were out for the coin toss, which the opposing team won. Their captains looked at their head coach...

Their coach: "We want to kick."

Our coach: "No you don't."

Their coach: *look of confusion and disbelief* "Yes, we want to kick. We won the toss."

Our coach: "No, you do not want to kick the ball. You want to defer. Or else you will kick off to start both halves."

Their coach: "We defer."

That's Classic! I was defensive captain of my college team and this shat used to confuse the heck out of me. When we won the toss I had to look at the sidelines to see if the coach was signaling for kick or receive. It always seemed like a spur of the moment decision for him.

 

[IrishLion]

That's Classic! I was defensive captain of my college team and this shat used to confuse the heck out of me. When we won the toss I had to look at the sidelines to see if the coach was signaling for kick or receive. It always seemed like a spur of the moment decision for him.

Ha, I was actually unclear on the idea of "deferring" myself until the exchange I mentioned. I thought electing to defer and kick were basically the same thing.

However, our coach always told us before the coin toss which option we wanted if we won it, but he was also always out there with us, so it didn't matter lol.

 

[ulukinatme]

For the Texas game, it doesn't matter. We should get the ball to start both halves...

Texas couldn't have had a worse start vs. No. 12 UCLA

Ha, I was just going to post this too. The best part is the ref turned off his mic to explain to the Texas players that they would be kicking off to start both halfs and he STILL said "yes."

 

[connor_in]

This point is moot, though, because if you give that control to your opponent in the first half, they can drain the clock and minimize your chances to start the game strong.

I don't think there is a correct answer, aside from maybe the statistics Wooly referenced earlier.

Disclaimer: I prefer to see ND defer and try to force a quick change of possession, but if the offense really is run-orientated in the way we think [hope], I'd rather see them receive the ball and demoralize the defense with the run game from the outset.

 

[IrishLax]

Cool graphic in a Grantland article I'm reading right now about common traits shared between recent champs. Summing up the last four classes, ND comes in right at #10 in total 247 composite points.

All 13 national champions since 2002 are represented in that group; in fact, the only teams from outside of the group that have played for a championship in the past decade are Oklahoma (2008) and Oregon (2010, 2014), both of which narrowly missed the cut.5 It may seem like an obvious point to make — like, wow, who could have guessed that the teams that have assembled the deepest talent base over a number of years are the teams that tend to win big? — but for all the devoted acolytes of blue-collar intangibles out there who forever insist that shiny recruiting stars don’t mean anything compared to old-fashioned grit, it still bears repeating: Yeah, they do. The most fundamental criterion for building a serious contender is depth of talent, and the recruiting sites, flawed as they may be, remain the best tools we have to measure that.

Reverse Engineering a Champion: Five Traits That the Last 10 College Football Kings Have Shared — And What That Tells Us About This Year’s Favorites «

 

[tussin]

Cool graphic in a Grantland article I'm reading right now about common traits shared between recent champs. Summing up the last four classes, ND comes in right at #10 in total 247 composite points.



Reverse Engineering a Champion: Five Traits That the Last 10 College Football Kings Have Shared — And What That Tells Us About This Year’s Favorites «

Great article, although I would argue that ND fits the criteria of "elite secondary."

 

[IrishLax]

Great article, although I would argue that ND fits the criteria of "elite secondary."

Yeah, the secondary was utterly terrible last year, but looking at this year's personnel there seems to be 1 truly elite player, and 2 possibly elite players. And then ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ at SS. There's no reason besides scheme that they should be anything other than "very good."

 

[Wild Bill]

Cool graphic in a Grantland article I'm reading right now about common traits shared between recent champs. Summing up the last four classes, ND comes in right at #10 in total 247 composite points.



Reverse Engineering a Champion: Five Traits That the Last 10 College Football Kings Have Shared — And What That Tells Us About This Year’s Favorites «

Watch out for Auburn. Recruiting, coaching, offense manufactures points and they could have a ridiculous D-line with Lawson and Adams.

 

[woolybug25]

Yeah, the secondary was utterly terrible last year, but looking at this year's personnel there seems to be 1 truly elite player, and 2 possibly elite players. And then ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ at SS. There's no reason besides scheme that they should be anything other than "very good."

I would add that our depth situation in the secondary is very good as well.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Shouldn't we be getting updates about now? Where is lucky? or anyone else for that matter? LAST MEDIA DAY BEFORE KICKOFF!!!

 

[NDPhilly]

Cool graphic in a Grantland article I'm reading right now about common traits shared between recent champs. Summing up the last four classes, ND comes in right at #10 in total 247 composite points.



Reverse Engineering a Champion: Five Traits That the Last 10 College Football Kings Have Shared — And What That Tells Us About This Year’s Favorites «

I would argue that the average players composite rank is a better measure then the overall total but still interesting. Didn't think Auburn recruited that well.

 

[jerboski]

Shouldn't we be getting updates about now? Where is lucky? or anyone else for that matter? LAST MEDIA DAY BEFORE KICKOFF!!!

Day, Farley, Smith, Joe S., Martin are the captains

 

[jerboski]

Shouldn't we be getting updates about now? Where is lucky? or anyone else for that matter? LAST MEDIA DAY BEFORE KICKOFF!!!

Ishaq denied by the NCAA... bummer

 

[pkt77242]

Day, Farley, Smith, Joe S., Martin are the captains

That seems really lopsided towards defense. Kind of surprised that Stanley didn't get it.

 

[jerboski]

That seems really lopsided towards defense. Kind of surprised that Stanley didn't get it.

Williams can workout at the Gug but thats it... His college football days are over

 

[NDPhilly]

smh Ishaq is to physically talented to have his football career end this way. I know he never showed much at ND but I feel bad for him.

 

[Huntr]

for all the devoted acolytes of blue-collar intangibles out there who forever insist that shiny recruiting stars don’t mean anything compared to old-fashioned grit, it still bears repeating: Yeah, they do. The most fundamental criterion for building a serious contender is depth of talent, and the recruiting sites, flawed as they may be, remain the best tools we have to measure that.

Yes and this isn't the 1st study to find that out, either (although it certainly bears repeating). Championships are positively correlated with stars. Been that way for quite a while.


would rep you if I could Lax. Gotta spread some around.

 

[koonja]

Jesus Nyles, come on.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Schmidt and Grace at MIKE. Smith and Coney at WILL. Onwulau and Martini at SAM.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637038750858641408">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[woolybug25]

Jesus Nyles, come on.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Schmidt and Grace at MIKE. Smith and Coney at WILL. Onwulau and Martini at SAM.</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/637038750858641408">August 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Where is this coming from? I can't imagine Nyles not being in the two deep in at least one of the LB spots. Ridiculous.

 

[Luckylucci]

Shumate is starting SS with Sebastian behind him.

 

[koonja]

Where is this coming from? I can't imagine Nyles not being in the two deep in at least one of the LB spots. Ridiculous.

What do you mean? These are live tweets from BK's presser happening now.