2018 Northwestern Post Game

[Irish YJ]

Stop being cute in the 1H. Don't wait till the 2H to do what works.

So tired of special teams being overly specialz.

OL not the worst, but a lot less than top 25.

 

[dang227]

What to do about this OL and Special Teams? A win is a win but I would be shocked if we finish undefeated when these two areas have not been fixed all year. On the positive side. Book is a stone cold killer and Boykin and Claypool balled out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[GATTACA!]

9-0 is 9-0

This game shouldn't have been as close as it looks but man we're #3 in the country.

 

[Greenore]

More of a nail biter than it needed to be but the W is always welcome. Claypool had his best career game. The reffing was bizarre. Hope Tranquil got a bit of time to recover.

Big thanks to DONTH8 and YJ for sorting out my viewing problems. I really appreciate that guys.

Cheers and Go Irish!!

 

[GowerND11]

Book kept composure.

D stepped up. Gave up 21 but really played like they gave up less.

ACC Refs man... gotta call a better game.

OL agreed.

Claypool and Boykin had nice days.

I thought JGH filled in alright.

Pride covered well.

This wasn’t a pretty game by ND by any means. But I don’t think too many players played ALL that bad really.

 

[nd_fan]

Got the win but definitely didn’t look like a playoff championship elite team.

Seems like BK can get us to “good enough” team but not that elite status that a historic team like ND should be performing at.

 

[BabyIrish]

I thought the OL was improved. Northwestern sold out on the run. We figured it out in the second half. This game had me scared shitless so I’m happy to get out with a win.
I’m sick of the special teams garbage.

 

[Irish YJ]

Book still 65%, but look at what play calling did in the 1H vs the 2H.
7-15 47%, then 15-19 79%
make it easy on the OL and Book.. just do what works from the start...

 

[irishtrooper]

If our blocker sees that punt block rush coming, this win would’ve been more impressive. Probably end up giving up 14. I like the d line rotating and get a rush on Thorson. I wish the run could’ve been shut down better, would’ve forced them to pass more and the rush could’ve created more negative plays. Wish the run game went better on offense, but the pass game was sharp in 3 quarters. If Long calls a smart game, nobody’s holding this team to under 30 without some lucky turnovers.

Survive and advance. Beat a team by 10 that a team everyone all of a sudden thinks is the greatest (Mich) beat by 3. Need a 17+ point win next week in the hopefully cold weather

 

[Southside Sully]

Great 2nd Half Adjustments. They saw something they liked in 83 and he had a huge game. 12 had a hell of a game again. Fun to watch team right now. We are getting every teams best, and ND always has a target on their back. Just keep winning. Only thing towards end of the game on that last drive is Book kept snapping it with like 20 seconds on the play clock. That can be cleaned up.. Milk that clock son.

 

[ThePiombino]

But 9-0 ISN'T 9-0 when a committee of human beings is determining our fate.

9-0 is 9-0

This game shouldn't have been as close as it looks but man we're #3 in the country.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Southside Sully]

But 9-0 ISN'T 9-0 when a committee of human beings is determining our fate.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

ND keeps winning they are in.. It is as simple as that.

 

[stlnd01]

Book is a ballplayer. He won that game.

I can't tell if the problem with our running game is them loading the box or our O Line not making the holes. Either way, it's worrisome.

Not as worrisome as the special teams though.

It's amazing how short these games get when the other team runs the ball on us. How many possessions did we even have?

Defense was fine. Northwestern had, what, one sustained drive? I wish they'd made a few more plays (turnovers, sacks) and that Houston Griffin had actually played the ball on that touchdown pass. But the D came with it when they needed to.

Not for nothing, Michigan only beat Northwestern by 3.

We beat a tough team on the road. We're 9-0. At this point that's really all that matters.

 

[Irish YJ]

we are absolutely the worst undefeated P5 team this year lol...
9-0
Win, win win win win. Championship goin' dumb

<iframe width="663" height="373" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JrO46CJd9ns" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[irishtrooper]

Nothing to worry about. It doesn’t look like there’s a realistic chance of both Bama and Clemson losing. We’ll be the 2 or 3 seed playing Clemson or someone else (OSU, OK, Mich...). That is if we win out. If we lose (close) to Syracuse (who’ll be top 12-13), we’ll have to hold our breath. Not very complicated in my view

 

[Irishize]

This post is fueled by multiple Michelob Ultras so I reserve the right to amend tomorrow after emotions & cold beer wear off.

ND OL sucks in run blocking. I know NW was loading the box, but it’s pretty obvious Pitt found the blueprint and other teams will follow suit.

Mustipher has regressed.

Shame on Gilman for letting Ruiz run right by him to block that punt.

Newsome is too inconsistent for a senior (isn’t he a grad?). He always seems to shank at least one. He’s solid but nowhere near Guy Award consideration.

Doerer is not worthy of a scholarship.

Houston Griffith should be a huge asset to the D but he’s experiencing a lot of growing pains right now. Not bashing him but we need a nickelback in the worst way.

I fear that Tranquill agitated his ankle just enough to keep him from getting healthy for the stretch run.

On the other injury front, Pride seemed to play damn good compared to last week.

 

[irishtrooper]

we are absolutely the worst undefeated P5 team this year lol...
9-0


Can’t tell if you’re kidding. You actually believe Central Florida is absolutely better than Notre Dame?

 

[Irish YJ]

we are absolutely the worst undefeated P5 team this year lol...
9-0


Can’t tell if you’re kidding. You actually believe Central Florida is absolutely better than Notre Dame?

UCF isn't P5

 

[fightingirish26]

we are absolutely the worst undefeated P5 team this year lol...
9-0


Can’t tell if you’re kidding. You actually believe Central Florida is absolutely better than Notre Dame?

UCF ain't P5

 

[Junkhead]

Unimpressive but needed win. Question is, does anyone think this team has a chance against Bama or Clemson? Assuming we get by FSU, a surprising 7-2 syracuse, and U$C.

 

[ThePiombino]

Regardless, they best Pitt 45-14. I wouldn't fuck with them.

UCF isn't P5

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[ulukinatme]

For a minute there I thought we were going to close out the game with that 3 score lead and it wasn't going to get close. Should have known something crazy was going to happen. How about those refs though? There was some obvious holding that was missed, and I'm pretty sure they clipped Newsome on that punt block. I get that they're the least penalized team, but 0 penalties? Horseshit.

 

[IrishLax]

1. That 4th quarter game sealing playcall ==

No joke it was so unbelievably well designed and executed to perfection. I rewatched it a few times and my god did they punk Fitzgerald & Co. soooooo hard. Play calling was really on point most of the second half... I was certain they'd go conservative on that last drive and instead they really kept attacking to put the game away.

2. Ian Book was fantastic in the second half. In the first half, way too careless with the football and the play calling did him no favors either.

3. Special fucking teams. Nothing to say here that isn't obvious. But they're costing us lots of points right now.

4. OL had too many false starts and too many missed assignments. Also, just flat out didn't play well at times. At other times, I thought they played extremely solid. So the main problems are really just consistency and attention to detail.

5. So many penalties on ND, zero on Northwestern. I'm sorry but that's just a joke considering obvious block in the backs and holdings all game. They also missed a rather clear PI on them. I honestly think the defense could've shut them out (or held them to a max of 7 points) without ref-assist and special teams miscues.

 

[ThePiombino]

Not a snowball's chance in hell

Unimpressive but needed win. Question is, does anyone think this team has a chance against Bama or Clemson? Assuming we get by FSU, a surprising 7-2 syracuse, and U$C.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Rudy89]

9-0 is 9-0 and we can possibly win out. However if we run the table we will be stomped by a much better team much like the natty game.

 

[stlnd01]

Unimpressive but needed win. Question is, does anyone think this team has a chance against Bama or Clemson? Assuming we get by FSU, a surprising 7-2 syracuse, and U$C.

Clemson, yes, we'd certainly have a shot. Bama should be playing on Sundays.

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

Take out the block punt, and they only score 14. NW is tough at home. Take the win move on.

 

[Irish YJ]

Regardless, they best Pitt 45-14. I wouldn't fuck with them.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

honestly i would hate to play UCF the way our DL played tonight.
people can bag on ucf all they want, but they beat a very physical Auburn last year.
they may have a shit schedule, but they play.

 

[irishff1014]

A win is a good start. 9-0 is impressive but we have a long way to go to compete with Clemson and Bama.

Book was overall good tonight.

Special teams is special and Polian should be fired for his lack or progression.

Have to figure out how to run the ball more effective.

D-line showed up more in the second half.

Kmet is going to be a god TE for us going forward.

The defense missed Dru bad tonight

Boykin/Claypool were huge tonight

The coaches adjusted well at halftime and then right back to soft in the 4th.

Can you have a C- win? Because that's how tonight should be graded.

Jonathan Doerer is wasting a scholarship.

 

[irishtrooper]

UCF ain't P5

Ah yes. I’m dumb