BCS title game postgame thoughts

[chicago51]

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.

I'm with you in that I don't know how to feel. I'm dissappointed in the loss but I think the program is headed in the right direction. I see nothing but 10+ win seasons on the horizon. That said unless Nick Saban is your coach trips to the national championship don't come around every single season. Getting completely thumped in the national championship isn't something I can just shake off because getting that opportunity again is not guaranteed, I mean Ohio State, Oregon, Standford, and others want to win as well. I think ND will get another shot but you just don't know. Although not knowing things is what makes life fun. I guess we need to appreciate the journey of life and of this football program.

 

[EddytoNow]

That said unless Nick Saban is your coach trips to the national championship don't come around every single season.

I'm taking nothing away from Saban or Alabama's performance in the NCG, but getting to the championship game requires a combination of timely breaks (many of which are out of your control) and solid performance all around.

Without the losses by Oregon and Kansas State, neither Alabama nor Notre Dame plays in the championship game. Notre Dame was blessed with a number of timely breaks. In addition to the losses by Oregon and Kansas State, Notre Dame benefitted from a missed field goal in the Pittsburgh game and multiple turnovers in the Michigan game. If Denard throws the ball out of bounds instead of to our DB's, the outcome of the Michigan game could have been much different.

Both Notre Dame and Alabama put themselves in a position to benefit from breaks created by other teams. And although Alabama is certainly a favorite to return to the NCG next year, there are no guarantees. One upset and at least two other teams making the most of their seasons, and Alabama is on the outside looking in.

 

[Old Man Mike]

We're getting back to The Game, friends. Whether we win it is another question, but there's no stopping us [with the current head coach] getting back to The Game. Kelly is really loading up the roster with good intuitive scouting and hard work, and he has already nearly completed a roster pipeline.

Then there's the question of who's going to stop us? Let's say that the unlikely circumstance occurs where Alabama goes 100-0, avoids investigations, and secures one NC spot every year. The rest of the SEC is miles away from them now, even though they have a few good teams. They'll always [in this scenario] have a loss and probably a bad one. So who's going to stop us? Michigan? USC? Clemson? Oklahoma? Stanford? Oregon? Kansas State? Florida State? Ohio State?

Those are dangerous opponents several of whom we beat this year. But even those we didn't play, are they unbeatable? There are going to be years where our five-game ACC schedule isn't taxing and we beat "Stanford, USC, Navy, BYU, Texas, Purdue, MSU" or whoever it is, and roll right into The Game. Other years we will beat almost all of them and play a big BCS bowl probably against a different SEC team, and will be ready for that step-down from Alabama.

I've watched this game for a lot of decades --- it's all about giving some patience and free air to a great coach. That builds a program up everytime and lasts many years. We have the guy; he is obviously doing what he calls "The Process"; and we're there for a while. If Alabama breaks up someday, we're RIGHT there.

 

[RubberSoul]

Dont blame the players, its all on the staff. They put our guys in a terroble situation with poor gameplans and playcalling.

The defensive planbwas to run blitz our ILBs and hope we guess right, exposing our weak secondary even more.

The offensive gameplan seemed to be, lets lob the ball down the sideline and hope one of our guys catches it. Evrn on fourth and five. Who does that? No creativity, no imagination. No excuse.

I feel terrible for the players. Especially Riddick. He knows.

 

[koonja]

Dont blame the players, its all on the staff. They put our guys in a terroble situation with poor gameplans and playcalling.

The defensive planbwas to run blitz our ILBs and hope we guess right, exposing our weak secondary even more.

The offensive gameplan seemed to be, lets lob the ball down the sideline and hope one of our guys catches it. Evrn on fourth and five. Who does that? No creativity, no imagination. No excuse.

I feel terrible for the players. Especially Riddick. He knows.

You're being an idiot. Hell, even the player quotes contradict that the staff 'didn't have them ready':

The potentially more insidious issue is knowing what Alabama was going to do — "They didn't do anything we hadn't seen before," tackle Zack Martin said.

Notre Dame football: At least Notre Dame knows how far it has to go - chicagotribune.com

And run blitzing was risky, but what did you want them to do, slow cook the frog? If we didn't run blitz, their OL would have made the second level, no problem, every play.

 

[crimsontroubadour]

from a rabid Bama fan

from a rabid Bama fan

I want to thank the majority of you Irish fans for the class displayed at the game and after. If anyone can relate its Notre Dame since Alabama and Notre Dame are both the most storied and tradition rich programs in college football history. It was our day and thats that. We could play again tomorrow and the outcome could be different. I am a southern born Bama fan from the Bear Bryant days and I bleed crimson but I am also an Irish/Injun so I hold a special place in my heart for Notre Dame and its history. Again the class shown is welcome because as you know most people either love us or hate us with few between. Oklahoma is a classy program and so is TX A&M. The worst fans I ever encountered are LSUs fans but thats probably because Nick Saban is no longer theirs. Anyway, Maybe we meet again soon and it will be a helluva game. Roll Tide!!!

 

[RubberSoul]

You're being an idiot. Hell, even the player quotes contradict that the staff 'didn't have them ready':

The potentially more insidious issue is knowing what Alabama was going to do — "They didn't do anything we hadn't seen before," tackle Zack Martin said.

Notre Dame football: At least Notre Dame knows how far it has to go - chicagotribune.com

And run blitzing was risky, but what did you want them to do, slow cook the frog? If we didn't run blitz, their OL would have made the second level, no problem, every play.

What did you think of the offensive gameplan and playcalling?

 

[ThePiombino]

What did you think of the offensive gameplan and playcalling?

Stop poisoning the site with your blatant negativity.

 

[crimsontroubadour]

about passing tests

about passing tests

One Notre Dame fan here posted something about Bama players being dumber than most so I feel the need to put that fire out now. Which 2 SEC teams graduate the most players? Vandy and Bama. Which 2 school in the nation have the most academic all-Americans? Harvard and Bama. The fan who posted his ignorant opinion was replying to a post about Bama players being on steroids so he added how Bama players broke all rules. This guy clearly knows nothing about Saban. Bama has a great program because of Saban, not drugs. He starts with recruiting and the past 5 recruiting seasons are proof. He then weeds out those not willing to buy into his plan 100%. You dont see many Bama players in trouble anymore. They dont hang out late at night. They are not caught with drugs. They buy into Sabans plan and that is that. Its simple, either you want to be a champion or you dont. Notre Dame can relate to this more than ANY other program and Kelly is going to make you proud. Be patient. Roll Tide

 

[koonja]

What did you think of the offensive gameplan and playcalling?

We couldn't run the ball. At all. We averaged less than 2 yards per carry. Not only that, but we got behind early. I had no problem with them passing so much, if that's what you're getting to.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

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.

• Golson's short stature makes it difficult for him to throw over the middle, which (I assume) is why we didn't pick on their LBs more;
• 'Bama was able to shut down our running game with only 6-7 in the box, so both of their Safeties camped on the hash marks most of the game, effectively taking away Eifert's seam routes; and
• It goes without saying that Golson isn't much of a pocket-passer yet, so he frequently rolls out and targets a WRnear the boundary. Milliner seemed to be in man-coverage a lot, which is why he was targeted so often.

When 'Bama can shut down your ground game without even trying, you aren't gonna have many good looks in the passing game.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Dont blame the players, its all on the staff. They put our guys in a terroble situation with poor gameplans and playcalling.

The offensive gameplan seemed to be, lets lob the ball down the sideline and hope one of our guys catches it. Evrn on fourth and five. Who does that? No creativity, no imagination. No excuse.

This was addressed yesterday in a different thread. The staff's game plan didn't include (1) our LBs and DBs suddenly forgetting how to tackle; and (2) 'Bama scoring at will in the first half. As a result, we never saw our real game plan. Chuck Martin explicitly said as much.

 

[RubberSoul]

This was addressed yesterday in a different thread. The staff's game plan didn't include (1) our LBs and DBs suddenly forgetting how to tackle; and (2) 'Bama scoring at will in the first half. As a result, we never saw our real game plan. Chuck Martin explicitly said as much.

So our O-line isnt even close to sec level either. I hope this is a real eye opener for Kelly.

Has Diaco and Hiestand spoken since the game?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

So our O-line isnt even close to sec level either. I hope this is a real eye opener for Kelly.

Yes. If the 'Bama game exposed us in any way, that was it.

Has Diaco and Hiestand spoken since the game?

Not that I'm aware of.

 

[Silverback]

Performance enhancing substances and questionable academics are the only reason Alabama won?

Stay Classy Notre Dame!

 

[chicago51]

So our O-line isnt even close to sec level either. I hope this is a real eye opener for Kelly.

Has Diaco and Hiestand spoken since the game?

Did something happen between them?

 

[ND NYC]

I think a lot of us are just frustrated that we didnt even TRY to establish ANY kind of running game or use the RBs in any way.

The fear here is that this was Kellys game plan all along.

 

[Rhode Irish]

So our O-line isnt even close to sec level either. I hope this is a real eye opener for Kelly.

Has Diaco and Hiestand spoken since the game?

Yeah, maybe now Coach will instruct them to "be SEC caliber." If only he had though of that BEFORE the game!

It is amazing to me that people can be critical of Coach Kelly in the wake of Monday's game. The guy (along with his entire staff) coached his *** off this year. Not to demean the players at all, because they also performed well beyond our reasonable expectations and all of them should have a special place in ND football history for what they accomplished this year, but based on the pure talent on the respective rosters, Kelly brought a knife to a gun fight against Alabama. What difference does a gameplan make when you get dominated physically like that?

Obviously the coaches are going to bring in the best talent they can, and based on everything I've heard from Kelly he certainly seems aware of the need to keep upgrading the talent. And it's hard for me to imagine why any fan would think he may not be.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Re: the offensive line

1). Kelly said in a press conference some time ago that when thinking about our o-line "Zach Martin laps the field". He elaborated briefly that this meant that ZMart was consistently grading out in the nineties while other starters were more inconsistent in the seventies. With that unusually frank statement [meant mainly to honor Zach] Kelly told us that he doesn't believe that our line was near Alabama's character either. I refuse however to use the generic "SEC quality" as many of those lines are average and not on some kind of pedestal.

2). Cave was apparently never at near 100% this season. His injury seems to have had some lingering effect. Braxton gives away nothing in strength to anyone, being by weight-room measurables one of the ten strongest football players in college. He COULD have been up there with ZMart if healthy.

3). The poor blocking and tackling preparation issue was addressed by Kelly in the early days after season's end. He said that because we were so thin suddenly on the offensive line, he felt that he had to minimize the amount of contact in most of the practices. This was an unusual situation requiring the head coach to make a guess as the best way to proceed. Kelly appears now to think that this was an error and that he should have altered the practice schedule to install more contact even with the risk. This is the sort of thing Saban will have seen before, and, with his depth, doesn't have to worry about anyway.

4). Next year's line will not be much better than this year's but that means it will be a good line just not a great line. For greatness we will just have to wait for Elmer and Biven to elbow their way onto the field, followed shortly by the three M's [and Ronnie Stanley]. For really secure great line play, we will need to wait for the 2014 recruits to come aboard and stand behind the 2013 Mountains. It's coming, but with the exception of Zach ain't quite there.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think a lot of us are just frustrated that we didnt even TRY to establish ANY kind of running game or use the RBs in any way.

The fear here is that this was Kellys game plan all along.

That would be idiotic for several reasons: (1) lack of offensive balance; (2) redshirt freshman QB; (3) changing the offensive identity that got us to the title game in the first place, etc. Kelly's not an idiot.

'Bama was stuffing our rushing attack with only 6-7 defenders in the box because our OL was severely overmatched. That's why we only averaged 1.7 YPC. Can't blame that on play calling.

Not to mention we were down 21-0 before anyone could blink. Playing from behind and with an overmatched OL demanded a pass-heavy attack. Simple as that.

 

[RubberSoul]

Yeah, maybe now Coach will instruct them to "be SEC caliber." If only he had though of that BEFORE the game!

It is amazing to me that people can be critical of Coach Kelly in the wake of Monday's game. The guy (along with his entire staff) coached his *** off this year. Not to demean the players at all, because they also performed well beyond our reasonable expectations and all of them should have a special place in ND football history for what they accomplished this year, but based on the pure talent on the respective rosters, Kelly brought a knife to a gun fight against Alabama. What difference does a gameplan make when you get dominated physically like that?

Obviously the coaches are going to bring in the best talent they can, and based on everything I've heard from Kelly he certainly seems aware of the need to keep upgrading the talent. And it's hard for me to imagine why any fan would think he may not be.

We are allowed to question authority here. No one is saying we didnt have a great season. And our defense carried us.
Here it is after three seasons and many fans still do t know what Kelly is trying to do on offense. What does he want his line to be, to do? Does he want a powerful line like bamas or does he have something else in mind? Whats his goal here?

And on a broader scale, whats the end game for the offense as a whole? Because it just has to get better.

 

[ND NYC]

That would be idiotic for several reasons: (1) lack of offensive balance; (2) redshirt freshman QB; (3) changing the offensive identity that got us to the title game in the first place, etc. Kelly's not an idiot.

'Bama was stuffing our rushing attack with only 6-7 defenders in the box because our OL was severely overmatched. That's why we only averaged 1.7 YPC. Can't blame that on play calling.

Not to mention we were down 21-0 before anyone could blink. Playing from behind and with an overmatched OL demanded a pass-heavy attack. Simple as that.

so what you are really saying here whiskey is that being down 7-0...or 14-0 in the 1Q is the appropriate time time to abandon the game plan you had going into the game

 

[PANDFAN]

That would be idiotic for several reasons: (1) lack of offensive balance; (2) redshirt freshman QB; (3) changing the offensive identity that got us to the title game in the first place, etc. Kelly's not an idiot.

'Bama was stuffing our rushing attack with only 6-7 defenders in the box because our OL was severely overmatched. That's why we only averaged 1.7 YPC. Can't blame that on play calling.

Not to mention we were down 21-0 before anyone could blink. Playing from behind and with an overmatched OL demanded a pass-heavy attack. Simple as that.

so what you are really saying here whiskey is that being down 7-0...or 14-0 in the 1Q is the appropriate time time to abandon the game plan you had going into the game

he said 21-0 ....we were not going to run the ball and open the pass up...we had to pass in order to run...just like at Oklahoma...what did we do??? opened w/ how many passes? then all of a sudden we broke a big run...we couldn't get bama's def on their heels

 

[ND NYC]

none of it matters really i guess like i said just wish we would have tried to establish a running game and use theo and cierre more in space on some high higher percentage plays that maybe could have taken advantage of bama overpursuit. still love kelly and the irish!

 

[RubberSoul]

he said 21-0 ....we were not going to run the ball and open the pass up...we had to pass in order to run...just like at Oklahoma...what did we do??? opened w/ how many passes? then all of a sudden we broke a big run...we couldn't get bama's def on their heels

But why low percentage pass plays? Why not a high percentage passing attack to open up? Why not have a ten play scripted drive that was crisp and concise?

 

[Rhode Irish]

We are allowed to question authority here. No one is saying we didnt have a great season. And our defense carried us.
Here it is after three seasons and many fans still do t know what Kelly is trying to do on offense. What does he want his line to be, to do? Does he want a powerful line like bamas or does he have something else in mind? Whats his goal here?

And on a broader scale, whats the end game for the offense as a whole? Because it just has to get better.

You're "allowed" to question authority, but in this case questioning the coach makes you wrong. You can be within your rights and wrong at the same time. Also, Kelly isn't an "authority" to you, unless you're on the team.

The passing game was the only bright spot in the whole game for the Irish, and people bitching about not running the ball enough are just exposing themselves as the type of people who just have to complain about something. It takes a special kind of person to complain after a 42-14 loss (in which you started down 35-0) that you didn't run the ball enough. Not only did the circumstances dictate that we throw the ball, anyone who watched the game realized within a few rushing attempts that running was going to be pretty much a waste of a down against that defense.

It is unfathomable to me that people are complaining about the coaching! If you watched that game and came away thinking the coaching lost the game, then its only because you blame the coach reflexively no matter what actually happens.

 

[chicago51]

You're "allowed" to question authority, but in this case questioning the coach makes you wrong. You can be within your rights and wrong at the same time. Also, Kelly isn't an "authority" to you, unless you're on the team.

The passing game was the only bright spot in the whole game for the Irish, and people bitching about not running the ball enough are just exposing themselves as the type of people who just have to complain about something. It takes a special kind of person to complain after a 42-14 loss (in which you started down 35-0) that you didn't run the ball enough. Not only did the circumstances dictate that we throw the ball, anyone who watched the game realized within a few rushing attempts that running was going to be pretty much a waste of a down against that defense.

It is unfathomable to me that people are complaining about the coaching! If you watched that game and came away thing the coaching lost the game, then its only because you blame the coach reflexively no matter what actually happens.

I think the staff needs to change some elements of the bowl preparation but the in game coaching was just fine. Coaching is harder than it looks people it is always easy to say stuff in hindsight.

 

[PANDFAN]

But why low percentage pass plays? Why not a high percentage passing attack to open up? Why not have a ten play scripted drive that was crisp and concise?

no idea...but plausible that BK was thinking the only way we were going to beat them was exactly what he said...whoever makes the most mistakes will win or something to that....he knew we couldn't run down their throats but if we went right at them against their best people and got those catches it could give us the confidence we would need and to deflate them...but we didn't execute and we play monday morning or in this case tuesday morning quarterback

 

[Bogtrotter07]

That was the first mistake, remind them of mistakes. Ever ride a motorcycle? When there is a large obstruction in the street you have to train yourself not to look directly at it. If you do, you will run into it.

Second, the defensive plan was arrogance laced dill weed.

Third, there was as others have alluded, no continuity on offense. Looking back, Kelly as much as admitted he found no weak area to attack.

 

[ND NYC]

ouch.

"They're good because they are so simple," Barrett Jones said, "but, also, they're simple. We knew if we had certain shifts, they would get into certain formations that we felt like we would have good runs against. We were right -- every play, almost. This is not a flaw in Notre Dame. We watched a lot of film. We had a lot of time to figure out what they did in certain formations."
Nearly every rushing play in the first quarter went to Warmack's side of the field. Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier loved the matchup that the left side of his line -- Warmack, tackle Cyrus Kouandjio and tight end Michael Williams -- had from the left hash against the Notre Dame 3-4. Williams cleared out Irish linebacker Prince Shembo (one tackle, two assists) at will.
Alabama Crimson Tide offensive line dominates Notre Dame Fighting Irish at line of scrimmage -- college football - ESPN