My thoughts:
1. Our team fell into a panic when they got down 14-0. The players, the coaches...everyone. On offense, BK got away from what got us here. He abandoned the run and started throwing bombs to get points. When stressed, he reverted back to his earlier days as a cinci coach...trying to throw it all over the field. You can't do that against a team like Alabama. We did exactly what they wanted us to do.
2. Fundamentals. All season we prided ourselves on wrapping up and technique on defense. To Diaco's credit, he did adjust and there were dozens of times he had the defense in the right place at the right time but we started arm tackling and just whiffing.
3. I wish we could get a mulligan for this and start over. I think if we had stuck with our game and used our capabilities to keep Alabama on their heals it wouldve been much closer. Eifert was used terribly.
I hope BK learns from this. I still think he's an awesome coach, and will have ND back here again, but he's got to trust himself and his assitants. There was no reason to panic down 14-0. He became one-dimensional and predictable, next thing we know its 28-0.
Teo? Man. I love him, but the biggest game of his career and he doesn't show up. Noone did. It like we were in awe of Alabama. We played scared, overrmatched, and got outcoached. Saban the wizard stole our mojo from the openning bell.
Oh well. Great season. Hopefully our recruiting class holds together and we reload with more depth. Everything in life is a learning experience, we'll be back.
Also, I couldnt help but think...how different would this have been with Aaron Lynch still on the team? He fiesty attitude wouldve been welcomed.
