Blame game

[NDhoosier]

I blame Miss Alabama for giving AJ McCarron extra motivation to win this game...

 

[blackirish]

Yea I this in the post game thread. I love BK, I think he is the right coach for ND.

BUT the ND staff got out freaking coached both in game and especially in game preparation!

what could we have done any different ? because we have a few ND Alumnis and fans here at my place of employment who obviously think the same way and now I'm tired of hearing it especially from the "armchair" DC's who felt that we were in the wrong defensive scheme ,saying we should've went to the 3-4.....instead of the 5-2..look if we would've gone to the 3-4 Lacy/Yeldon would've had 200 yds apiece....guys we loaded 9 in the box against these guys and they still ran up/down the field at will.....hell they started 1 drive @ thier 2 yd line and it didn't even faze them at all...so lets stop it with this we got out coached and that the team wasn't prepaired, BS.!!! !....look nobody would've beat that Alabama team last night not Kansas st not, The Ohio St, and certainly not the glow n the dark Nike "Ducks "and that's just that.......Go Irish

 

[Ndaccountant]

what could we have done any different ? because we have a few ND Alumnis and fans here at my place of employment who obviously think the same way and now I'm tired of hearing it especially from the "armchair" DC's who felt that we were in the wrong defensive scheme ,saying we should've went to the 3-4.....instead of the 5-2..look if we would've gone to the 3-4 Lacy/Yeldon would've had 200 yds apiece....guys we loaded 9 in the box against these guys and they still ran up/down the field at will.....hell they started 1 drive @ thier 2 yd line and it didn't even faze them at all

1, More tackling in bowl prep, something he has acknowledged.
2. Learn from the UGA game. The offense performance of Bama was close to the same. I felt like I was watching the 2nd half of the SEC champ game last night.
3. Better gap control. This isn't the first time we have been pushed around (last year's SC game) by a team when we lose control.
4. having a play other than lob it to the outside.

That is off the top of my head.

 

[blackirish]

We were out coached. I did like that Kelly avoided screeming at Golsen during the game. I thought some of that aggressiveness Kelly talked about needed to be implement in the defensive play calling.

The big issues where not on game day. It was on the preparation. When you tackle much worse than you have all season it points to something wrong with your preparation. Bama players also said how simple it was to get the ND defense into a look they wanted by certain shifts and formations. It was bad game planning and preparation the mouth leading up to the game.

Again I mention I have full faith in this staff. They just were not very good this game.

I agree that the tackling wasn't up to snuff and that's call poor execution and finishing the play from scrimmage, because they were in position a few time to make the plays but they didn't ..... but I think the team was prepaired...it's just that Alabama was just on it last night

 

[chicago51]

what could we have done any different ? because we have a few ND Alumnis and fans here at my place of employment who obviously think the same way and now I'm tired of hearing it especially from the "armchair" DC's who felt that we were in the wrong defensive scheme ,saying we should've went to the 3-4.....instead of the 5-2..look if we would've gone to the 3-4 Lacy/Yeldon would've had 200 yds apiece....guys we loaded 9 in the box against these guys and they still ran up/down the field at will.....hell they started 1 drive @ thier 2 yd line and it didn't even faze them at all...so lets stop it with this we got out coached and that the team wasn't prepaired, BS.!!! !....look nobody would've beat that Alabama team last night not Kansas st not, The Ohio St, and certainly not the glow n the dark Nike "Ducks "and that's just that.......Go Irish

Agree losing by double digits say 28 or even 31 to 17 is one thing. Get taken to woodshed being down 21-0 in the first quarter and losing 42-14 is a different story. You have to attribute that at least some to preparation. If you follow my post I praise Kelly. I think he is the right coach for ND and will learn. He did not do as good of a job as Nick Saban and his staff of getting the team ready to play.

 

[blackirish]

I blame Diaco's defensive play calling. He applied no pressure all night. That was sad.

could it be because Amari Cooper was blazing pass our DB's damner all night !!! and let's not forget he drop 2 sure touchdown catches were he clearly was ahead of our DB's by at least 3 steps

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I think this Bama team would have won a title in any of the last several years. They were just outstanding. We're just not there yet.

 

[blackirish]

Agree losing by double digits say 28 or even 31 to 17 is one thing. Get taken to woodshed being down 21-0 in the first quarter and losing 42-14 is a different story. You have to attribute that at least some to preparation. If you follow my post I praise Kelly. I think he is the right coach for ND and will learn. He did not do as good of a job as Nick Saban and his staff of getting the team ready to play.

listen I see were you're coming from... look in last's year NC game LSU never even cross mid field and they were loaded with as much talent Alabama..were they not prepaired ???? what I did see last nite was the other team had speed to the ball and everywhere else like no other team we face all year not to mention Alabama's l deep at every position....damn even thier kicker was "yolk up". We will get better. Go Irish

 

[chicago51]

listen I see were you're coming from... look in last's year NC game LSU never even cross mid field and they were loaded with as much talent Alabama..were they not prepaired ???? what I did see last nite was the other team had speed to the ball and everywhere else like no other team we face all year not to mention Alabama's l deep at every position....damn even thier kicker was "yolk up". We will get better. Go Irish

LSU beat Alabama during the regular season. So yes they were not as prepared for the game as Alabama. Saban is coaching circles around everyone when it comes to bowl and season opener preparation. Until teams start catching up in this area it is going to keep happening.

Right now we would seem to have a better chance of beating Alabama if we could some schedule them smack dab in the middle of year were both teams only had one week to prepare.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

LSU beat Alabama during the regular season. So yes they were not as prepared for the game as Alabama. Saban is coaching circles around everyone when it comes to bowl and season opener preparation. Until teams start catching up in this area it is going to keep happening.

Right now we would seem to have a better chance of beating Alabama if we could some schedule them smack dab in the middle of year were both teams only had one week to prepare.

Just like every other team not coached by Nick Saban.

 

[blackirish]

Agree losing by double digits say 28 or even 31 to 17 is one thing. Get taken to woodshed being down 21-0 in the first quarter and losing 42-14 is a different story. You have to attribute that at least some to preparation. If you follow my post I praise Kelly. I think he is the right coach for ND and will learn. He did not do as good of a job as Nick Saban and his staff of getting the team ready to play.

listen I see were you're coming from... look in last's year NC game LSU never even cross mid field and they were loaded with as much talent Alabama..were they not prepaired ???? what I did see last nite was the other team had speed to the ball and everywhere else like no other team we face all year not to mention Alabama's l deep at every position....damn even thier kicker was "yolk up". We will get better. Go Irish

 

[blackirish]

1, More tackling in bowl prep, something he has acknowledged.
2. Learn from the UGA game. The offense performance of Bama was close to the same. I felt like I was watching the 2nd half of the SEC champ game last night.
3. Better gap control. This isn't the first time we have been pushed around (last year's SC game) by a team when we lose control.
4. having a play other than lob it to the outside.

That is off the top of my head.

Better gap control ? Bro there is no gap control when you're getting blown of the line of scrimmage by straight 1 on1 blocking and when our d line shifted, Barret Jones would change the signal at the line and soon as the ball was snap they just trapped the hell out of us which resulted in 1st and 10 or 2nd and short or a td.

 

[tadman95]

I'm going to have to come clean I'm afraid. My wife, who has never watched a football game before last night, watched the game last night. So, there you be.

Seriously, as she watched the game, she said Alabama just looked like a professional team, they were so much bigger, seemed much better organized. Again, she had never watched a game before.

I do appreciate her interest in my obsessive fandom.

 

[WaveDomer]

I definitely think there are things to learn for the future. I definitely think ND didn't execute as well as they could have. But Alabama is just better. I think ND was probably as prepared as possible for the game. Do you really think these players were not focused? Did you see Alabama coming out of the tunnel past ND and the ND players looking like they just wanted to mix it up. They were prepared and they believed. Then they just got smacked by a better, bigger, and faster team. People are talking about tackling. There's a reason ND had trouble tackling last night. Just like Georgia had trouble tackling in the SEC Championship. It has more to do with Alabama than with ND's lack of tackling ability. ND got exposed last night. They did amazing this year playing with more heart than talent. CBK said that amazing things happen when you have a close knit team that believes. 12-0 happens. But Alabama is an amazing football program. How many guys do they have rotate in and out and there is hardly a dip in the ability department? Then you take out Lacy in put in Yeldon. Are you kidding me? They are not only big, but they are fast as hell and play disciplined football. Keep Golson in the pocket instead of trying to sack him and let him flush out. That's just an example. Them losing to TAMU was the best thing to happen to them. ND needs to be proud. Great season and they didn't quit, ever. But it's just a different league and ND isn't quite there yet.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

I definitely think there are things to learn for the future. I definitely think ND didn't execute as well as they could have. But Alabama is just better. I think ND was probably as prepared as possible for the game. Do you really think these players were not focused? Did you see Alabama coming out of the tunnel past ND and the ND players looking like they just wanted to mix it up. They were prepared and they believed. Then they just got smacked by a better, bigger, and faster team. People are talking about tackling. There's a reason ND had trouble tackling last night. Just like Georgia had trouble tackling in the SEC Championship. It has more to do with Alabama than with ND's lack of tackling ability. ND got exposed last night. They did amazing this year playing with more heart than talent. CBK said that amazing things happen when you have a close knit team that believes. 12-0 happens. But Alabama is an amazing football program. How many guys do they have rotate in and out and there is hardly a dip in the ability department? Then you take out Lacy in put in Yeldon. Are you kidding me? They are not only big, but they are fast as hell and play disciplined football. Keep Golson in the pocket instead of trying to sack him and let him flush out. That's just an example. Them losing to TAMU was the best thing to happen to them. ND needs to be proud. Great season and they didn't quit, ever. But it's just a different league and ND isn't quite there yet.

^This. All of this.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

I know a lot of people are saying more live tackling should have been done, which I don't disagree with, but it seemed like the excitement of making a huge hit/not breaking down also played a role in the missed tackles.

 

[RubberSoul]

I blame us not being able to score one lousy point in the first half. Well that and giving up 28 in the first half, 21 being in the first 3 drives.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

All year i did not wear a ND shirt the day of the game- except for last night. Sorry ND

 

[ThePiombino]

All year i did not wear a ND shirt the day of the game- except for last night. Sorry ND

D!ck move!

I forgive you already.

 

[palinurus]

I definitely think there are things to learn for the future. I definitely think ND didn't execute as well as they could have. But Alabama is just better. I think ND was probably as prepared as possible for the game. Do you really think these players were not focused? Did you see Alabama coming out of the tunnel past ND and the ND players looking like they just wanted to mix it up. They were prepared and they believed. Then they just got smacked by a better, bigger, and faster team. People are talking about tackling. There's a reason ND had trouble tackling last night. Just like Georgia had trouble tackling in the SEC Championship. It has more to do with Alabama than with ND's lack of tackling ability. ND got exposed last night. They did amazing this year playing with more heart than talent. CBK said that amazing things happen when you have a close knit team that believes. 12-0 happens. But Alabama is an amazing football program. How many guys do they have rotate in and out and there is hardly a dip in the ability department? Then you take out Lacy in put in Yeldon. Are you kidding me? They are not only big, but they are fast as hell and play disciplined football. Keep Golson in the pocket instead of trying to sack him and let him flush out. That's just an example. Them losing to TAMU was the best thing to happen to them. ND needs to be proud. Great season and they didn't quit, ever. But it's just a different league and ND isn't quite there yet.

Yes and no. Much of this is right, but it's a matter of degree, imo.

The gap between an "Alabama is just better right now" score and "Alabama is an @ss-kicking, slaughter rule better" score is a failure somewhere; it's not just they are the next little level up from the Irish. Bama was beaten this year by A&M, and they were lucky to beat an LSU team that lost its bowl game to Clemson. And Georgia, who struggled for three quarters with Nebraska, nearly beat them, too. So, while I agree with a lot of what you say, I don't think Bama is "in a different universe" better, which a score like last night would indicate.

The difference between what the score was and what it should have been, based on talent and coaching ability as shown all year, is a couple of touchdowns, maybe more, meaning I think the talent and intangible differences between the teams warrant a 10-14 point loss, but not that kind of blow out. I think the difference was talent and intangibles, yes, to a point, but also a failure to adapt/adjust, or perhaps just a strategic misjudgment of what would work and when.

Again, I am not "blaming"; in Sept., I would have been happy with 9-4 and a bowl win. So I think the team exceeded expectations and the coaching was superb. I am saying in terms of what/where to improve -- Kelly said as much when he talked in the presser about getting stronger and perhaps improving tackling as a systematic improvement -- they ought to look at what went wrong. Sounded to me like Kelly agrees.

 

[JM-Photo]

I just dont think the players were that focused. Should be about football. They go to Miami and seemed more like politics, interviews non stop, Visiting places, going to hospitals etc. yes some of those gestures are great and uplifting to those recieving it but it can wait til after the game. Keep players and coaches away from mass media. get to miami and practice practice get the body use to weather change.

 

[WaveDomer]

Yes and no. Much of this is right, but it's a matter of degree, imo.

The gap between an "Alabama is just better right now" score and "Alabama is an @ss-kicking, slaughter rule better" score is a failure somewhere; it's not just they are the next little level up from the Irish. Bama was beaten this year by A&M, and they were lucky to beat an LSU team that lost its bowl game to Clemson. And Georgia, who struggled for three quarters with Nebraska, nearly beat them, too. So, while I agree with a lot of what you say, I don't think Bama is "in a different universe" better, which a score like last night would indicate.

The difference between what the score was and what it should have been, based on talent and coaching ability as shown all year, is a couple of touchdowns, maybe more, meaning I think the talent and intangible differences between the teams warrant a 10-14 point loss, but not that kind of blow out. I think the difference was talent and intangibles, yes, to a point, but also a failure to adapt/adjust, or perhaps just a strategic misjudgment of what would work and when.

Again, I am not "blaming"; in Sept., I would have been happy with 9-4 and a bowl win. So I think the team exceeded expectations and the coaching was superb. I am saying in terms of what/where to improve -- Kelly said as much when he talked in the presser about getting stronger and perhaps improving tackling as a systematic improvement -- they ought to look at what went wrong. Sounded to me like Kelly agrees.

IF ND played Bama in a week to week scenario, like Georgia or TAMU, it would have been closer. But they had a month to heal and scheme to attack ND's weaknesses. ND has a ton of heart. That gets you through a game where half your team has the flu. That helps you grind week to week. It also keeps you digging in a game where you are outmatched. While the gap might not be tremendous, it's there. But ND has nothing to be ashamed of, which I think everyone here agrees with. Remember Bama got schooled by Utah before this run. Duke got humiliated by UNLV before reeling off their run. (Musburger was annoying there too) It happens to the best.

 

[palinurus]

IF ND played Bama in a week to week scenario, like Georgia or TAMU, it would have been closer. But they had a month to heal and scheme to attack ND's weaknesses. ND has a ton of heart. That gets you through a game where half your team has the flu. That helps you grind week to week. It also keeps you digging in a game where you are outmatched. While the gap might not be tremendous, it's there. But ND has nothing to be ashamed of, which I think everyone here agrees with. Remember Bama got schooled by Utah before this run. Duke got humiliated by UNLV before reeling off their run. (Musburger was annoying there too) It happens to the best.

Fair points.

 

[RubberSoul]

IF ND played Bama in a week to week scenario, like Georgia or TAMU, it would have been closer. But they had a month to heal and scheme to attack ND's weaknesses. ND has a ton of heart. That gets you through a game where half your team has the flu. That helps you grind week to week. It also keeps you digging in a game where you are outmatched. While the gap might not be tremendous, it's there. But ND has nothing to be ashamed of, which I think everyone here agrees with. Remember Bama got schooled by Utah before this run. Duke got humiliated by UNLV before reeling off their run. (Musburger was annoying there too) It happens to the best.

I think people are frustrated that six years later, we are no closer than we were in '06. Both years were demolished by sec teams.

Maybe its time to start oversigning and moving the dead weight?

 

[ThePiombino]

I think people are frustrated that six years later, we are no closer than we were in '06. Both years were demolished by sec teams.

Maybe its time to start oversigning and moving the dead weight?

Stop trolling. Seriously. Just stop.

 

[Irish#1]

It's really quite simple. We didn't get outcoached. Bama was bigger, faster and stronger across the board. I saw us do a lot of what we did all year and not get yardage and give up yardage.

Kelly's comments afterwards told me he already knew it was going to be hard to match their size, strength and speed. We got the wrong end of a couple of calls at the beginning, but it would have only changed the final score, not the outcome.

The recruits we have coming are bigger, faster and stronger. This is only the beginning of some great seasons to come.

 

[ThePiombino]

It's really quite simple. We didn't get outcoached. Bama was bigger, faster and stronger across the board. I saw us do a lot of what we did all year and not get yardage and give up yardage.

Kelly's comments afterwards told me he already knew it was going to be hard to match their size, strength and speed. We got the wrong end of a couple of calls at the beginning, but it would have only changed the final score, not the outcome.

The recruits we have coming are bigger, faster and stronger. This is only the beginning of some great seasons to come.

Now we're cooking with fire.

 

[RubberSoul]

Stop trolling. Seriously. Just stop.

Dont take it out on me because youre mad about last night. The sec has won 7 titles in a row and they oversign. Maybe we should do the same. Theres nothing wrong with telling a kid be can stay but hes not going to play. Its actualyy being honest and in his bedt interest as a player.

Does anyone know what Diaco said after the game?

 

[ThePiombino]

Dont take it out on me because youre mad about last night. The sec has won 7 titles in a row and they oversign. Maybe we should do the same. Theres nothing wrong with telling a kid be can stay but hes not going to play. Its actualyy being honest and in his bedt interest as a player.

Does anyone know what Diaco said after the game?

That's just the thing- I'm disappointed they didn't win, but not mad. Far from it. I'm quite encouraged by the direction of this team. You're just coming across like an angry ex girlfriend. Sand in the vagina much?

 

[pumpdog20]

I knew it was over when they couldn't get the damn ping pong ball in the cup. Samantha Steel-oops I'm a Ponder, put the jinx in overdrive when she got it in.