I love excuses as to why, NOTRE DAME....again...NOTRE DAME, had problems stopping a service academy.
I don't understand what you mean.
From what I can see I didn't offer an excuse for anything. The
last person I would offer an excuse for is Bob Diaco.
So if you were serious and thought that I was offering an excuse; I was merely explaining what actually happened. Navy was gap blocking much of the game against ND blocking dummies, and because ND players generated so little momentum, they did not have the inertia in playing to stave off injuries. (The greater Mass X Force staves off the lesser.)
If you were being facetious, every other school that beats the Academies uses superior athletes and size to ruthlessly attack the option, and try to end the quarterback's day. I watched the tape of the University of Toledo vs. Navy game. First of all, the Rockets deserved the game, they played even or ahead of the Middies. Second, an understaffed defense, (Rocket recruiters still have a little to do in recruiting on that side of the ball, and they were thinned with injuries), viciously attacked and defeated Navy all day. Yes, the fullback won, but Navy was in the game and the quarterback was harried. If you would stack Toledo's defensive talent against the Irish, the comparison is pitiful and should embarrass any smug know it all Irish fan.
I agree with your statement, I also think that with Coach Kelly's historic offensive prowess, Coach Diaco is not asked to be very creative. I think the defensive philosophy is to simply keep the scoring down. Which might sound unimaginative but is the essence of defense.
Interesting point. Maybe the big problem is the lack of overall coordination between the offense and defense this year. I believe a bend but don't break works well with a ground control offense. If you don't have an offense that can dominate time of possession, the defense needs a lot of players to sub in to get some rest. Even back when I played, I don't remember getting tired on offense very often, it was usually defense that gassed you.
Maybe the problem is as simple as, this year with all the defensive injuries, ND needed the offense to control the ball more. Kelly always seemed like a "get your points quick and get off the field" kind of guy to me. So maybe it is all one thing. Some of the guys that seem not to hit are just gassed or injured. Or maybe they are in over their head talent wise, and the staff is just waiting for some guys to grow into their positions.
