Couple of Things.

[TheTurningPoint]

1. BK is the man for the job. Room for improvement, certainly. Most of the team is playing for him and the few that aren't they will be gone. Though, the records aren't too different from a year ago, this team is light years ahead of last year and previous teams. Example: Pitt/Wake/BC...those are games we would have lost previously...example: Syracuse/Navy/Uconn/november collapses.

2. Defense is improving. Sure they gave up some yards vs Stanford, but that game could have been very very ugly. "The Almighty" Andrew Luck was given chance after chance to put that game out of reach, yet the D kept giving him 110%. When was the last time a ND defense kept battling in that type of situation? Sure, things could have been better, but head and shoulders above what we witnessed last year vs Stanford.

3. Offense gave you a taste of what is in store with Mr. Hendrix or Mr. Golson next fall.....or both. I love Tommy, but last night was just a coming of age of his limitations. Kid has heart, guts, leadership, smarts, but just lacks the athletic ability to extend plays to beat the top programs. usc/stanford the two best teams we played, he struggled with the athletes on the front 7, and thats the difference. Luck/Barkley have enough athletic ability to just extend plays. They are not Denard but got the Quinn/Clausen mobility to just make a play. Not news breaking info by any means, but it did show where this offense is going, and how it can change a defense.

4. With that said, Rees was the best man for the job. Hendrix played well considering the circumstances, but left plays on the field. I dont blame him, but that is the exactly why he wasnt ready, but common sense says that will come with game experience. Rees knows pass pro, hendrix doesnt. This was just the game where we were effed bc even the right pass pro wouldnt have helped.

5. Louis Nix. Aaron Lynch. Stephon Tuitt. Troy Niklas are going to be fun to watch for the next 3 years.

6. People need to get off Ishaq Williams. The kid is a hard worker, and it will come. As the saying goes "cant teach size and ability"...he has it. He is getting taught the finer points of the game, and learning the position. I mean Flemming looked terrible at times last year...difference is we have Ishaq for 3 more years.

7. I am going to miss Michael Floyd. What he did this year with essentially going through 3 QBs and a offense that was watered down, and yet to have the stats he put up is remarkable.

8. The team is becoming a team. They are finally playing to the whistle. They are being physical. They are making plays. We are getting playmakers coming in. We are headed in the right direction. Next year is going to be tough as hell, but it will also force the team to become even tighter.

9. NEEDS: We have to get some LBs that can play in space. That is the major difference in our defense and the elite. ND is almost there on the dline. Bringing in Day/Jones will improve, then another good class in 2013 will get us to the point of some of the SEC teams. But, LBs that can play space and the run will help immensely. Locking down some more WRs/athletes in the 2012 is a need. Getting a Nelson/Neal/Diggs/Marshall/Russell is a must. We have to get 2.

10. This season isn't what we as fan visioned, but I know that its sure as hell not what the players saw. Talking **** about certain players isnt going to make anything better. What I saw last night was a team that competed reguardless of the situation. ND is hurting with injuries, inexperience, yet they didn't back down. Sure it was ugly, but can't say they didnt leave it on the field.

11. We will be fine. Rome wasn't built in a day!









ps. Chris Brown might be the most underrated player in the 2012 class.

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Excellent post. reps

 

[IrishLax]

1. BK is the man for the job. Room for improvement, certainly. Most of the team is playing for him and the few that aren't they will be gone. Though, the records aren't too different from a year ago, this team is light years ahead of last year and previous teams. Example: Pitt/Wake/BC...those are games we would have lost previously...example: Syracuse/Navy/Uconn/november collapses.

2. Defense is improving. Sure they gave up some yards vs Stanford, but that game could have been very very ugly. "The Almighty" Andrew Luck was given chance after chance to put that game out of reach, yet the D kept giving him 110%. When was the last time a ND defense kept battling in that type of situation? Sure, things could have been better, but head and shoulders above what we witnessed last year vs Stanford.

3. Offense gave you a taste of what is in store with Mr. Hendrix or Mr. Golson next fall.....or both. I love Tommy, but last night was just a coming of age of his limitations. Kid has heart, guts, leadership, smarts, but just lacks the athletic ability to extend plays to beat the top programs. usc/stanford the two best teams we played, he struggled with the athletes on the front 7, and thats the difference. Luck/Barkley have enough athletic ability to just extend plays. They are not Denard but got the Quinn/Clausen mobility to just make a play. Not news breaking info by any means, but it did show where this offense is going, and how it can change a defense.

4. With that said, Rees was the best man for the job. Hendrix played well considering the circumstances, but left plays on the field. I dont blame him, but that is the exactly why he wasnt ready, but common sense says that will come with game experience. Rees knows pass pro, hendrix doesnt. This was just the game where we were effed bc even the right pass pro wouldnt have helped.

5. Louis Nix. Aaron Lynch. Stephon Tuitt. Troy Niklas are going to be fun to watch for the next 3 years.

6. People need to get off Ishaq Williams. The kid is a hard worker, and it will come. As the saying goes "cant teach size and ability"...he has it. He is getting taught the finer points of the game, and learning the position. I mean Flemming looked terrible at times last year...difference is we have Ishaq for 3 more years.

7. I am going to miss Michael Floyd. What he did this year with essentially going through 3 QBs and a offense that was watered down, and yet to have the stats he put up is remarkable.

8. The team is becoming a team. They are finally playing to the whistle. They are being physical. They are making plays. We are getting playmakers coming in. We are headed in the right direction. Next year is going to be tough as hell, but it will also force the team to become even tighter.

9. NEEDS: We have to get some LBs that can play in space. That is the major difference in our defense and the elite. ND is almost there on the dline. Bringing in Day/Jones will improve, then another good class in 2013 will get us to the point of some of the SEC teams. But, LBs that can play space and the run will help immensely. Locking down some more WRs/athletes in the 2012 is a need. Getting a Nelson/Neal/Diggs/Marshall/Russell is a must. We have to get 2.

10. This season isn't what we as fan visioned, but I know that its sure as hell not what the players saw. Talking **** about certain players isnt going to make anything better. What I saw last night was a team that competed reguardless of the situation. ND is hurting with injuries, inexperience, yet they didn't back down. Sure it was ugly, but can't say they didnt leave it on the field.

11. We will be fine. Rome wasn't built in a day!









ps. Chris Brown might be the most underrated player in the 2012 class.

I feel you on that (and Coach D over on ISD rated him extremely high months ago before he ever committed to ND, so this isn't homer speak). I'd also throw Nicky Barratti in there as a high upside kind of guy who might be a huge difference maker in years to come.

 

[ndyeater]

Props...makes me feel better lol

 

[NDPhilly]

Losing Perkins really hurts because of his speed. Let's hope we get Odenigbo or at least McCalister. I think if Meyer goes OSU so will Ifeadi. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Perkins is an athletic freak. Football player long way to go. Ifeadi is raw.

 

[Irish Man3]

Losing Perkins really hurts because of his speed. Let's hope we get Odenigbo or at least McCalister. I think if Meyer goes OSU so will Ifeadi. Hope I'm wrong.

I said this a week ago and was bascially called an idiot for it.

In the end, I think we have a much better chance with Ekanem than we do McCallister.

 

[N_D_Fighting_Irish]

1. BK is the man for the job. Room for improvement, certainly. Most of the team is playing for him and the few that aren't they will be gone. Though, the records aren't too different from a year ago, this team is light years ahead of last year and previous teams. Example: Pitt/Wake/BC...those are games we would have lost previously...example: Syracuse/Navy/Uconn/november collapses.

2. Defense is improving. Sure they gave up some yards vs Stanford, but that game could have been very very ugly. "The Almighty" Andrew Luck was given chance after chance to put that game out of reach, yet the D kept giving him 110%. When was the last time a ND defense kept battling in that type of situation? Sure, things could have been better, but head and shoulders above what we witnessed last year vs Stanford.

3. Offense gave you a taste of what is in store with Mr. Hendrix or Mr. Golson next fall.....or both. I love Tommy, but last night was just a coming of age of his limitations. Kid has heart, guts, leadership, smarts, but just lacks the athletic ability to extend plays to beat the top programs. usc/stanford the two best teams we played, he struggled with the athletes on the front 7, and thats the difference. Luck/Barkley have enough athletic ability to just extend plays. They are not Denard but got the Quinn/Clausen mobility to just make a play. Not news breaking info by any means, but it did show where this offense is going, and how it can change a defense.

4. With that said, Rees was the best man for the job. Hendrix played well considering the circumstances, but left plays on the field. I dont blame him, but that is the exactly why he wasnt ready, but common sense says that will come with game experience. Rees knows pass pro, hendrix doesnt. This was just the game where we were effed bc even the right pass pro wouldnt have helped.

5. Louis Nix. Aaron Lynch. Stephon Tuitt. Troy Niklas are going to be fun to watch for the next 3 years.

6. People need to get off Ishaq Williams. The kid is a hard worker, and it will come. As the saying goes "cant teach size and ability"...he has it. He is getting taught the finer points of the game, and learning the position. I mean Flemming looked terrible at times last year...difference is we have Ishaq for 3 more years.

7. I am going to miss Michael Floyd. What he did this year with essentially going through 3 QBs and a offense that was watered down, and yet to have the stats he put up is remarkable.

8. The team is becoming a team. They are finally playing to the whistle. They are being physical. They are making plays. We are getting playmakers coming in. We are headed in the right direction. Next year is going to be tough as hell, but it will also force the team to become even tighter.

9. NEEDS: We have to get some LBs that can play in space. That is the major difference in our defense and the elite. ND is almost there on the dline. Bringing in Day/Jones will improve, then another good class in 2013 will get us to the point of some of the SEC teams. But, LBs that can play space and the run will help immensely. Locking down some more WRs/athletes in the 2012 is a need. Getting a Nelson/Neal/Diggs/Marshall/Russell is a must. We have to get 2.

10. This season isn't what we as fan visioned, but I know that its sure as hell not what the players saw. Talking **** about certain players isnt going to make anything better. What I saw last night was a team that competed reguardless of the situation. ND is hurting with injuries, inexperience, yet they didn't back down. Sure it was ugly, but can't say they didnt leave it on the field.

11. We will be fine. Rome wasn't built in a day!








ps. Chris Brown might be the most underrated player in the 2012 class.

Good post but some points I disagree with.

Most of the team are playing for him? Do you know of a player who isn't? If you don't know then it is an unreasonable remark you made.

We had one QB this season not three: Tommy Rees. Tommy's limitations were not just discovered against Stanford. It had been known for quite some time. The only discovery was on the part of some who ignored them and some who vociferously argued that he didn't have any.

Hendrix played damn well for a young man who has NO game experience...against a solid defense. Furthermore, I have said in the past and I will say again the QB play falls solely on the shoulder of Kelly. Tommy has played his @ss off. When he was struggling against Pitt, BC, Maryland, it might have done him some good to have a seat and let another QB get some experience or offer a change of pace. Many posters here have argued for Kelly to give another QB a chance...an oppurtunity to play...not necessarily to start. For whatever reason, Kelly played Rees 99.9% of the team. His decision to do so handicapped us against Stanford.

I agree that our defense has improved..especially our front seven. We stood up to Stanford in the trenches. I hope we keep our secondary recruits...because we DESPERATELY need them.

In terms of recruiting, Kelly is leading us in the right direction. In terms of gameday planning and playcalling, I don't know. Though I don't agree with his offensive philosophy, I haven't given up on Kelly. I just hope he learns from his mistakes...which if he does, we should be winning these matchups.

 

[CanadalovesND]

If we can make the statement that we are better than last year's team and showing signs of improvement this year, then we are on the right track.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Good post but some points I disagree with.

Most of the team are playing for him? Do you know of a player who isn't? If you don't know then it is an unreasonable remark you made.

We had one QB this season not three: Tommy Rees. Tommy's limitations were not just discovered against Stanford. It had been known for quite some time. The only discovery was on the part of some who ignored them and some who vociferously argued that he didn't have any.

Hendrix played damn well for a young man who has NO game experience...against a solid defense. Furthermore, I have said in the past and I will say again the QB play falls solely on the shoulder of Kelly. Tommy has played his @ss off. When he was struggling against Pitt, BC, Maryland, it might have done him some good to have a seat and let another QB get some experience or offer a change of pace. Many posters here have argued for Kelly to give another QB a chance...an oppurtunity to play...not necessarily to start. For whatever reason, Kelly played Rees 99.9% of the team. His decision to do so handicapped us against Stanford.

I agree that our defense has improved..especially our front seven. We stood up to Stanford in the trenches. I hope we keep our secondary recruits...because we DESPERATELY need them.

In terms of recruiting, Kelly is leading us in the right direction. In terms of gameday planning and playcalling, I don't know. Though I don't agree with his offensive philosophy, I haven't given up on Kelly. I just hope he learns from his mistakes...which if he does, we should be winning these matchups.

I do know for a fact there are a few that arent playing for him. They are playing to play. I cant argue that they have hindered the team in general but they are not playing for ND or BK. They do not see that what BK is doing is bigger than the players, and that they arent mature enough to understand the opportunity ND has given them at the moment. As stated earlier they are not being disruptive but its the fact BK was unable to reel them into buying into what he was selling.

Hendrix played well for his first extended play in a live situation and his limitations with the playbook. Playing someone other than Rees in those games Wake/BC/Maryland wouldnt have been that big of a difference in my opinion. Teams are going to have games where they just have to grind it out. Rees wasnt really the problem in those games other than the Pitt game. BC wasn't his best, but there was a lack of urgency from the entire team.

As I have stated in previous posts.....BK has won every where he has gone. There is no reason he cant win at ND. Just give him a chance to in a position to have success. ND is close very close to that point and could be there now but we just didnt get breaks and create breaks when we needed to in the season.

And why wouldnt we keep our secondary recruits? Clearly, they can see that there is opportunities to play, and they know Blanton/Gray are not going to be back. There hasnt been one indication that anyone is having second thoughts.

 

[Irish2015]

TP, out of those 5 of Nelson, Diggs, Neal, Marshall, and Russell what do you think the chances are with those elite prospects?

 

[Irishman77]

T.P. whom would you add in addition to Teo, Dever,Fleming,and Rees?

 

[jmurphy75]

Good post my friend, I believe we are heading down the right road and picking up more and more of the right people to join us.

 

[JadeBrecks]

Agree with everything but the qb part. I was amazed by hendricks performance. He played the 4 ranked team in the nation with no experience and had a few plays where the defenders were untouched. I think he played amazing for where he is and what he was thrown into.

 

[AKRowdy]

I do know for a fact there are a few that arent playing for him. They are playing to play. I cant argue that they have hindered the team in general but they are not playing for ND or BK.

Stuff like this gets under my skin. You are playing for the University of NOTRE DAME! One of the best schools on the country, with some of the best fans in the country. And they are so selfish that they don't care!? Are you kidding me!? How can you not feel abliged to play your hardest for a school like Notre Dame and its great community. There are high school players who would do anything to play on the practice squad at ND and we have players who could care less. This is a problem that can't be coached and it seems like Kelly was right by saying you can tell who I recruited to play at Notre Dame

 

[IrishLax]

Stuff like this gets under my skin. You are playing for the University of NOTRE DAME! One of the best schools on the country, with some of the best fans in the country. And they are so selfish that they don't care!? Are you kidding me!? How can you not feel abliged to play your hardest for a school like Notre Dame and its great community. There are high school players who would do anything to play on the practice squad at ND and we have players who could care less. This is a problem that can't be coached and it seems like Kelly was right by saying you can tell who I recruited to play at Notre Dame

Settle down. Players don't owe fans a damn thing. You owe it to your teammates to play hard, and you owe it to the University giving you $50k/year to show up for work. That's it.

 

[mrmiller8]

Stuff like this gets under my skin. You are playing for the University of NOTRE DAME! One of the best schools on the country, with some of the best fans in the country. And they are so selfish that they don't care!? Are you kidding me!? How can you not feel abliged to play your hardest for a school like Notre Dame and its great community. There are high school players who would do anything to play on the practice squad at ND and we have players who could care less. This is a problem that can't be coached and it seems like Kelly was right by saying you can tell who I recruited to play at Notre Dame

Notre dame is not what it used to be so to say that Nd is a place where kids just want to play on the practice squad is arrogant.....ND hasnt been a national power since 1993 and the kids coming out of school now dont resonate with ND......Still love em but lets get real..

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Settle down. Players don't owe fans a damn thing. You owe it to your teammates to play hard, and you owe it to the University giving you $50k/year to show up for work. That's it.

Throw the fans part of it out, and I think you boys are saying the same, damning thing....There might indeed be a problem there.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

They dont owe the fan base ****. The ND fanbase is unreal sometimes when it comes to ripping an 20 year old lol

 

[phgreek]

Settle down. Players don't owe fans a damn thing. You owe it to your teammates to play hard, and you owe it to the University giving you $50k/year to show up for work. That's it.

Scholarship athletes like to think that way...its a fantasy.

FANS and Alum/Boosters make the program possible, they are the stockholders...players and coaches owe the stockholders competence, class, and continued development toward excellence...The ink on those "50K checks" may say Notre Dame, but .... dude, who is the source of $$$. Put it to you this way...if ND fans stopped going to Football games, and donors stopped writing checks...how long before the program ends (as well as other programs)...We all know that won't ever come to fruition, and that fact allows scholly athletes to perpetuatue the "we don't owe fans anything", when in reality they owe them EVERYTHING!

I'll give you this...to the degree it is not appropriate for stockholders to directly ask anything of company employees, your comment is accurate...