BCS title game postgame thoughts

[Whiskeyjack]

I think our schedule did end up being overrated by the end of the year. Several teams underachieved. We still had excellent wins at OU and against Stanford. But the strength of schedule went from one of the best to just above average.

I can't find an objective SoS metric that bears this out. Sagarin ranks our schedule as the 21st most difficult ('Bama's was 19th). FEI ranks our schedule as the 10th most difficult ("Bama's was 31st). There's no way our schedule was anything close to "average".

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I can't find an objective SoS metric that bears this out. Sagarin ranks our schedule as the 21st most difficult ('Bama's was 19th). FEI ranks our schedule as the 10th most difficult ("Bama's was 31st). There's no way our schedule was anything close to "average".

I understated it. It was clearly a difficult schedule.

But not nearly what it was thought to be at the beginning of the year. Several teams (see Michigan, Michigan State, and USC) turned out to be worse than originally projected.

As tough as the schedule was week in and week out, it was supposed to be a lot tougher.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Yep. They have said things to that effect frequently on this site since the game last night ... the courteous ones are saying that the reason they blew us away last night is in part because this was the healthiest they've been all season.

I think this is very true. We would have had a much better shot had we played on Dec. 15. The layoff definitely seemed to have benefited them and hurt us. Not usually a big believer in momentum, but that ND team that showed up last night was not the same team I watched all year.

Brian Fremeau ‏@bcfremeau
Almost 2900 FBS team performances over the last two seasons. Alabama's BCS title games per FEI rank No.1 and No.2.

I think this really says it all. Alabama is a better team than Notre Dame. I knew that going in, but I still thought we had a shot. I did not see that *** whooping coming because I didn't predict our worst game of the season and their best game. If someone had told me that is what would happen, I would have said that 42-14 sounds about right. If they played next weekend, I don't know whether we could win after having seen that game last night, but I do believe we would be much more competitive.

 

[Rizzophil]

I think Alabama would have crushed anyone in the country last night. To big, to fast, to experienced, and to much depth.

I can't get over how disciplined that they played. 2 incomplete passes in the first half. One penalty. And they played as a team. They have all of their #1 recruits and they play within the team scheme and play disciplined. It's super impressive. It's a dynasty.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

I can't even remember our offense being on the field. It's weird. Just a weird night all around. Still feel like I am dreaming.

 

[ALLGATOR]

The one question I had was why did Kelly not use the RB's in the passing game more. Sal Sunseri is terrible in coverage, why did he not motion the RB's out of the backfield into the slot? Instead we got WR's running verts and throwing at D. Milliner

 

[Cogs]

I think Kelly needs to run his O he did at Cincy with the personnel we have on offense now. If not, I'd like to see a new Offensive Coordinator come in and mix it up a bit. I seem to find myself predicting ND's next play almost every time. This team is just a step away from winning it all, and it will be proven next year. ND will be 2014 National Champions, no doubt in my mind.

 

[Cogs]

And what? 8 people returning on both sides? Come on now... A golson to jones/daniels combo next year will be LETHAL! Bring some speed back into the secondary and OLB's. Come on guys, this team will be the team to beat next year.

 

[RubberSoul]

The one question I had was why did Kelly not use the RB's in the passing game more. Sal Sunseri is terrible in coverage, why did he not motion the RB's out of the backfield into the slot? Instead we got WR's running verts and throwing at D. Milliner

His gameplan and play calling were a trainwreck.

 

[BobD]

I have a question for you guys and its definitely a question NOT an accusation or an excuse for our loss.

Today I was talking to a friend and he said "Our guys aren't juiced enough to play with those guys". He feels that Alabama players are juiced on roids and amphetamines.

How do you feel about it? Do you agree or disagree? How prevalent do you think it is in CFB? What's the testing policies?

 

[irishff1014]

I disagree that have a good staff too. And as you know they get the top recruits in the country alot of them come to bama big.

 

[RubberSoul]

I have a question for you guys and its definitely a question NOT an accusation or an excuse for our loss.

Today I was talking to a friend and he said "Our guys aren't juiced enough to play with those guys". He feels that Alabama players are juiced on roids and amphetamines.

How do you feel about it? Do you agree or disagree? How prevalent do you think it is in CFB? What's the testing policies?

Anything is possible I suppose. I mean, watching that game was like watching the Tyson/Spinks fight. In fact, ive seen that comparison several times on alabama forums. The hype and the result.

 

[phgreek]

I have a question for you guys and its definitely a question NOT an accusation or an excuse for our loss.

Today I was talking to a friend and he said "Our guys aren't juiced enough to play with those guys". He feels that Alabama players are juiced on roids and amphetamines.

How do you feel about it? Do you agree or disagree? How prevalent do you think it is in CFB? What's the testing policies?

...I feel a little weird talking it based on the timing...they did just pants us, and spank our bare ***...and some would take it as us making excuses.

That said, anything is possible. The more sustained their dominance...the more this is going to come up anyway.

The ability of folks to chemically mask things like HGH, and other substances makes it possible, but I'm not willing to make a charge they "did".

I can say from experience(well beyond my playing days) that even low doses of HGH measureably increase healing/recovery, and they also help brain "fatigue"...ie it can have the same effect as ADD drugs...albeit via different chemistry. Steroids tend to make folks nutts...so if I were looking I'd be looking for a form of HGH.

I think it could be prevalent...look, if coaches and Dr.s have gotten over the moral issue regarding pain killers on game day...wht would stop them from pumping kids w/ HGH???

 

[C!C!4oND]

The one question I had was why did Kelly not use the RB's in the passing game more. Sal Sunseri is terrible in coverage, why did he not motion the RB's out of the backfield into the slot? Instead we got WR's running verts and throwing at D. Milliner

Am I the only one that thinks throwing at Milliner wasnt as bad as everyone is claiming it was? That we just didnt execute the plays? A couple of the plays that stood out the most to me:

- The first two passes in the first series with Eifert. The first one was thrown too far outside and the second one was a perfect throw up over the top of Milliner, Eifert just couldnt haul it in.

- The 4th and 5, Daniels was 1 on 1 on the outside but Golson just hung the ball up in the air on him.

- The tipped pass for an INT to open the second half, almost the same kind of throw. This one was obviously tougher for Golson to make, but he hung it up too much.

This isnt to take anything away from Milliner, for most of the game he shut us down. I just feel like on the majority of the key plays that we went his way, it was more our lack of execution than his playmaking. In other words, the play wasnt very difficult for him to make.

 

[jobu]

I said it once and ill say it again. Bama might be able to pass a drug test. they might be able to pass a steroid test but there is no way not one person on that team could pass an apptitude test! Having lived in Bama for 25 years, played my highschool football there you do learn one thing Bama is a win at any cost state! There is a reason back in the 90's they were put on probation twice

 

[BleedBlueGold]

BK speaks of Alabama and how they're a model team. I hope he used his up close and personal experience to learn a few things. Bama would've beaten anyone that night. How'd they do it? By not being cute. By punching us in the face over and over. Bama scouted ND well and took every advantage they needed. You hear Cooper talk about how all we run is zone and how they knew there would be huge holes. They took advantage of our poor tackling to break huge runs. Which in turn opened up the play action. Someone posted yesterday how we blitzed, but w/ soft coverage. You hear Spond say the defense was calling out Bama's plays but still couldn't stop it. Bama knew exactly what they were doing, because it's what they do every single game. They executed it to perfection and made us look like idiots in the process.

Bama truly is the model team. Can they be stopped? Sure. But not the way we played them. I give a lot of credit to our guys for not quitting. But when you miss that many tackles, take such poor angles in pursuit, and just flat out don't execute, you can't expect to win many games.

My mind is still unable to process what I saw during that game in terms of Alabama's offensive line and running backs. I still have no words for what happened.

 

[phork]

You've got to be kidding me on some of these. We played Alabama even in the second half... How is that quitting?

You really going there? The entire second half was garbage time.

 

[PANDFAN]

...I feel a little weird talking it based on the timing...they did just pants us, and spank our bare ***...and some would take it as us making excuses.

That said, anything is possible. The more sustained their dominance...the more this is going to come up anyway.

The ability of folks to chemically mask things like HGH, and other substances makes it possible, but I'm not willing to make a charge they "did".

I can say from experience(well beyond my playing days) that even low doses of HGH measureably increase healing/recovery, and they also help brain "fatigue"...ie it can have the same effect as ADD drugs...albeit via different chemistry. Steroids tend to make folks nutts...so if I were looking I'd be looking for a form of HGH.

I think it could be prevalent...look, if coaches and Dr.s have gotten over the moral issue regarding pain killers on game day...wht would stop them from pumping kids w/ HGH???

i have used them and know of many others who have....they will increase your aggression due to an increase in test...but the whole thing of roid rage is nothing more than media hype....much like alcohol...if your a dick to begin w/ and get drunk...you tend to be more of a dick....same thing...

 

[ThePiombino]

You really going there? The entire second half was garbage time.

No it wasn't. Saban had his 1s in there for most of the 2nd half.

 

[RubberSoul]

You really going there? The entire second half was garbage time.

Exactly. Saban called off the dogs. it could have been. worse.

 

[ALLGATOR]

Am I the only one that thinks throwing at Milliner wasnt as bad as everyone is claiming it was? That we just didnt execute the plays? A couple of the plays that stood out the most to me:

- The first two passes in the first series with Eifert. The first one was thrown too far outside and the second one was a perfect throw up over the top of Milliner, Eifert just couldnt haul it in.

- The 4th and 5, Daniels was 1 on 1 on the outside but Golson just hung the ball up in the air on him.

- The tipped pass for an INT to open the second half, almost the same kind of throw. This one was obviously tougher for Golson to make, but he hung it up too much.

This isnt to take anything away from Milliner, for most of the game he shut us down. I just feel like on the majority of the key plays that we went his way, it was more our lack of execution than his play making. In other words, the play wasnt very difficult for him to make.

When there are more favorable match ups on the field why not go to them? Why go at the best secondary player on Bama? If you watched Bama all year their biggest weakness is their LB's and Sunseri in coverage. You would think Kelly would attack the middle of the field with the RB's and Eifert. We got almost none of that. I just wonder what was Kelly looking at when he reviewed the tape and prepping for the game.

After hearing BK's quote "the team that makes the most mistake will win the game" and then seeing the game I think the moment might have just been too big for him. As crazy as that sounds. ND had favorable match ups and Kelly didn't use them.

 

[phork]

No it wasn't. Saban had his 1s in there for most of the 2nd half.

Just because the 1s were in doesn't mean the foot was off the gas. They were marching at will.

 

[ThePiombino]

Just because the 1s were in doesn't mean the foot was off the gas. They were marching at will.

ND made some adjustments by the 2nd half and it showed. That's not to say that we were as good as them in the 2nd half, but don't confuse that with them toying with us at that point.

 

[ND NYC]

The one question I had was why did Kelly not use the RB's in the passing game more. Sal Sunseri is terrible in coverage, why did he not motion the RB's out of the backfield into the slot? Instead we got WR's running verts and throwing at D. Milliner

dont disagree

 

[C!C!4oND]

When there are more favorable match ups on the field why not go to them? Why go at the best secondary player on Bama? If you watched Bama all year their biggest weakness is their LB's and Sunseri in coverage. You would think Kelly would attack the middle of the field with the RB's and Eifert. We got almost none of that. I just wonder what was Kelly looking at when he reviewed the tape and prepping for the game.

After hearing BK's quote "the team that makes the most mistake will win the game" and then seeing the game I think the moment might have just been too big for him. As crazy as that sounds. ND had favorable match ups and Kelly didn't use them.

We didnt go after Milliner every down. But, I think Golson made the right reads on those specific plays, he just didnt make the throw. They werent bad decisions, just bad execution. Nothing else was really available on the field. Alabama did a perfect job of baiting us to throw his direction. All season how many times did we have designed plays to go over the middle? Quick slants? RB wheel routes? Not many. Bama knew this.

I agree with you. Even though I felt for the most part our passing was effective, we didnt have enough variety. It was too much of the same.

 

[kmoose]

Am I the only one that thinks throwing at Milliner wasnt as bad as everyone is claiming it was? That we just didnt execute the plays?

It's funny, because almost every time they challenged Milliner down the sidelines, the receiver had him beat. It was just a series of poor throws that kept those from being completions, some of which would have been "explosive plays". The game plan was sound; the execution was not.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Gentlemen, I know that this is extremely unpopular, but Everett doesn't see the middle of the field nearly as well as he sees the edges, or if he rolls out [or ad hoc "escapes" the pocket]. When a QB rolls or escapes towards a sideline significantly outside the tackle box, both the concept of "middle" of the field changes, and coverage changes --- and obviously timing becomes much more chaotic as to the routes.


As to whether Alabama engages in any performance-enhancement ["better things for better living through chemistry"], there is no sense going there without any evidence. That is an empty road.

One thing which is not quite empty though which could play a role is this simple reality: one has more time to do whatever one wants when one has only one "job". If one is at Stanford [just to make this something larger than a "Notre Dame thing"], and wants to get anything out of the academic institution, one gets up in the morning in or out of season with the idea that there are many things on one's agenda other than hitting the weight room, or conditioning, or "voluntary" skill development.

I saw the astonishing pace of power increase up close when my little family town of New Martinsville, WV had a guy who wanted to create a national power-lifting championship team. He created a dedicated gym, and gave non-local studs "a living" to do not much else but get powerful. Several national champions emerged from that team. Hopefully the analogy here is not too difficult to see.

 

[NDLS_USMC]

1. Thanks, OMM. Totally agree. If one focus area is significantly predominant for the majority of participants in a group effort...lots, lots easier. This is why it is so awesome when ND is dominating in fb. It will come, but that is a much steeper mountaint to climb.

2. Adding to kmoose and C!C!: TOTALLY. Our WR's had full steps on their db's and Everett underthrew them. Not saying we would have won, but hit two of those (I recall at least three or four opportunities) and the whole game changes. Leading me to:

3. Complex outcome, complex inputs. So many things went wrong for ND. The team and coaches will learn from it.

We're on the way!! Go Irish.

2013 and beyond are going to be great to watch.

 

[koonja]

I'm somewhere between the 'we're never going to get this opportunity again for a long time' and the 'this is just the stepping stone and we're well on our way' argument...

I think it's important to say this, though... If KSU had gone undefeated (hell, even Oregon), I think we are national champions right now. We ran into a team that was going to handle anyone they played.

 

[IrishLax]

You really going there? The entire second half was garbage time.

So what? How is that quitting? The OP said the team didn't "fight hard"... I dare you or him to go say that to Theo Riddick, Louis Nix, or KLM.

You can question execution, questioning effort is really messed up.