Duke Post Game

[Rudy89]

I won’t be totally negative but I will be real. Also sorry if someone else is supposed to make this.

1. If we want to be taken seriously as a true elite team this team should’ve battered, beaten, and embarrassed a team like duke. That’s what elite teams do to lower tier teams.
2. The QB play was suspect and this grave inconsistency will not get us an ACC title or National title
3.We potentially have our best Defensive player out. Thankfully this was Duke and not Clemson and the rest of the D stepped up. Can that happen the rest of the year I can understand skepticism.
4. The OL was very suspect. Again this was Duke and we could make up for it but we have to improve otherwise our first and possibly only year as part of a conference will be a memorable one....for the wrong reasons.
5. We did still pull out a win while the world was in its most uncertain time so while this didn’t feel great ND wins always make me smile but that smile will fade quickly knowing we have a lot of work to do.
6. Defense is great. Hopefully our boy is ok tho.
Go Irish 1-0 avenge 2011 next week!

 

[BabyIrish]

We came out slow and asleep. Picked it up after the fake punt. It’s a weird year. I’m gonna give these teenagers and very young adults a break. They aren’t machines. They are human beings. They got a game under in there belt in an empty stadium basically and can learn and grow from there. Glad we got the W.

 

[frankenonsense]

https://media0.giphy.com/media/NBPhWGmDS1Kuc/giphy.gif

 

[PANDFAN]

*Our online couldn't create holes but they also had a great front
*Foskey was even better than advertised, great job getting to qb
*Thought rees called a good game, poor execution
*Wr's other than wilkins and davis please stand up, nothing
*Mayer looked like a vet
*Our kicking and punting game are legit (laugh, but this is so important)

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

*Our online couldn't create holes but they also had a great front
*Foskey was even better than advertised, great job getting to qb
*Thought rees called a good game, poor execution
*Wr's other than wilkins and davis please stand up, nothing
*Mayer looked like a vet
*Our kicking and punting game are legit (laugh, but this is so important)

I am surprised to see so little of Keys considering the state of the WR corps.

 

[fightingirish26]

Week one is always rusty.

Kyren Williams was an absolutely massive positive coming out of this game. OL play got better as the game went on. Tyree and Mayer are already flashing.

Defense started out with some atrocious tackling but got a lot better after the first couple drives. Foskey and of course JOK looked great. Crawford looked solid. Bauer got a lot more snaps than I expected him to.

Book was bad. Really discouraging to be honest. Hopefully the additions of Lenzy and eventually Austin make a real difference. McKinley can't get open. Wilkins looked promising and looked like an athlete who we should be looking to get on the field more often.

Then, the injuries...oh boy. Skowronek was also showing an inability to get open, but as an ND fan who by all accounts was working as hard as anyone, you hate to see that. Hopefully nothing too serious.

And it goes without saying, but please please please let Hamilton be okay. I think it's encouraging to hear that it might be an ankle injury. I thought it looked like a broken leg/possible knee injury.

 

[MacIrish75]

I am surprised to see so little of Keys considering the state of the WR corps.

+ OL play was underwhelming.
+ Tackling improved drastically as the game moved on.
+ Lots of different positional groupings utilized in the 1H. I get it. Gotta give guys some meaningful reps to see what they’ve got.
+ Defense really played well, overall. Gotta hope Hamilton is alright.
+ Can anyone expound upon the lack of Lenzy? No reps to me shows either an injury or COVID protocol?
+ Book was pedestrian. He is what we thought he was.
+ TE U is really going to have to live up to that monicker this year.
+ Our best WR are a converted DB and QB. Paging Jordan Jefferson. Hey Deion Colzie...are you watching?

A win is a win, this year.

 

[notredomer23]

Not gonna focus on the negatives after one week, but Book needs to chill out in the pocket. Major happy feet, and this is nitpicking but so many times in his career when he is scrambling, all he has to do is throw it away, but he will run out of bounds for 2-3 yard losses. Seems small, but that can be the difference between a first down and a drive stopping.

Jordan Johnson and Braden Lenzy please stand up.

Onto the positives...

The offensive line in the second half needs to be the line we see every half.

Williams is that dude

Mayer will be a first round pick.

Oh and lastly and the biggest positive, Michigan and the BIG look dumb.

 

[NDdomer2]

We have the skill players on both sides of the ball needed to achieve the team goals, can they execute?

Tom Rees called a good game, offense didn't execute. Mostly OL and Book which is inexcusible considering they are our most experienced group on the entire team.

 

[Riddickulous]

Excited by all the breakout performers today. Kyren Williams, Isaiah Foskey, and Michael Mayer, especially.

 

[Irish YJ]

The Good
- Mayer is a bad man
- Kyren with 200+ all purpose yards and most on his own. Anyone still doubting him especially with how bad the OL was.
- Wilkins with some good grabs
- The D after the first possession or so
- STs with Tyree returning, Doerer nailing a 48 yarder, and the fake punt
- Foskey. Is he really 3rd string lol.
- JOK and Kyle


The Bad
- Book and his happy feet. Pocket was inconsistent, but still.
- WRs were spotty at best getting separation. Starters Skowronek and McKinley weren't factors.


The Ugly
- The OL. Several individuals got worked, but Kraemer was simply toyed with at times. Almost zero interior push early for RBs.
- Tremble totally whiffing on pass blocking
- Kyle going down

 

[Riddickulous]

I was surprised by how much Bo Bauer played at LB. He's not just the special teams king anymore.

 

[Irish YJ]

I was surprised by how much Bo Bauer played at LB. He's not just the special teams king anymore.

I've always been a fan, and happy he's getting PT. I thought he'd be the starter, but White got the nod. Looks more and more like co-starters. Maybe it's situational, but today's game was not a game I expected to see him in as much as he was.

 

[greyhammer90]

Not gonna focus on the negatives after one week, but Book needs to chill out in the pocket. Major happy feet, and this is nitpicking but so many times in his career when he is scrambling, all he has to do is throw it away, but he will run out of bounds for 2-3 yard losses. Seems small, but that can be the difference between a first down and a drive stopping.

Jordan Johnson and Braden Lenzy please stand up.

Onto the positives...

The offensive line in the second half needs to be the line we see every half.

Williams is that dude

Mayer will be a first round pick.

Oh and lastly and the biggest positive, Michigan and the BIG look dumb.

The refusal to throw out of bounds and just casually run out of bounds to make it 2nd and 12 is maddening.

 

[GATTACA!]

The refusal to throw out of bounds and just casually run out of bounds to make it 2nd and 12 is maddening.

I'm screaming at my TV every time. I don't understand how he doesn't get it.

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

Knee Jerk thoughts:

Pros
-Kyren Williams, Mayer, Wilkins, McCloud were pleasant surprises from new faces
-JOK, Foskey, Doerer, Hamilton, Crawford were solid
-Avery Davis with an awesome TD catch when he wasn't open
-Special teams - great fake and smooth operation on FGs, XPs, and swarming coverage
-Offense and Defense improved as game went on
-Tough offensive PI on Tremble negating McKinley's 3rd down catch, mostly penalty free for a rusty looking team (no off sides by OL!)

Cons
-Ian Book, he wasn't the best QB on the field and that can't be the case for 9 of the next 10 games if ND is going to have sustained success. Still running out of bounds for 3 yard losses vs throwing it away.
-run blocking when the defense knows a run is coming, we've seen this one before
-sluggish start, three 3 and outs was a tough watch
-injuries to Hamilton (luckily ankle and he should recover soon) and Skowronek (hammy, who knows - days or months)
-Jordan Johnson, 2nd highest rated recruit in Freshman Class, didn't see action despite offense, pass game specifically, struggling

Looking into the numbers further:
-Book was 61% with 2 bad picks (1 came back on a penalty)
-Kyren with over 200 yards and 2 TDs on 21 touches
-2-2 on 4th downs
-D held duke to 4-15 on 3rd down and 2.5 yards per rush
-Besides Dukes short field TD in the 2nd half, their other drives after half time were 3 and FUMBLE, 4 and out, 3 and out, 9 plays for 35 yards before fumble.
-ND forced four 3 and outs and two 4 and outs. (6 total drives)
-After three 3 and outs to start game, only had one more and two 4 and outs rest of game. (6 total drives)

Take Aways
-Lots of slop out there early from other teams not named ND across the country, with excuses galore. Kansas St and Iowa St lost to Group of 5 teams and UNC, with their touted offense, lead Syracuse 10-6 in the 4th
-Passing game needs more practice, timing, and Lenzy/Austin back. WRs didn't free up often enough or break off routes, and when there was a bust, Book couldn't find it
-Everyone wants ND to cover and blow out every team, but if Book makes a couple more accurate throws, including that red zone pick, then ND wins by 17-24 instead of 14. Duke's D had something to do with making the rust look worse and our offense more inefficient. Their DLine and DBs looked fast and sharp. Chase Brice is an upper conference QB with one of the bet Offensive Coaches in the country. There are 2 more games and 4 more weeks before FSU comes to town (and so far against GT, voted as the worst team in the conference, they're not looking like world beaters either, up 10-0 at half). Celebrate the WIN with the maelstrom of distractions and obstacles during the off season/preseason. Enjoy that football is back, at least for now. Today could've been worse - the rain (for the most part) and thunderstorms held off!

 

[SoIll]

Chip was smiling during that somewhere

 

[sportallyr]

Loved what I saw from Kyren, JOK, Foskey, Hamilton and Mayer. Those guys came to play today and really carried the team.

Special Teams was pretty awesome all around. Doerer has become incredibly reliable. Bramblet had a few good punts and some bad ones, but I'll give him a break because the fake punt was a HUGE momentum shift play. No big kick or punt returns and Tyree & Keys did a solid job in the return game.

 

[NDVirginia19]

I'm calling it, something seems Fishy about Lenzy not playing. If it was an injury thing, it would have been called out by the team. If it was a COVID thing, he wouldn't be out there with the team. I'm thinking it's a team-suspension based on some sort of infraction.

 

[greyhammer90]

Mayer... my goodness. He’s going to be our offensive security blanket for the next 3 years.

 

[greyhammer90]

I'm calling it, something seems Fishy about Lenzy not playing. If it was an injury thing, it would have been called out by the team. If it was a COVID thing, he wouldn't be out there with the team. I'm thinking it's a team-suspension based on some sort of infraction.

Covid thing doesn’t mean he actively has it. It’s a virus that can have pretty notable effects on strength and stamina. Makes sense if he had it 3 weeks ago that he wouldn’t be ready to contribute.

 

[SoIll]

Lenzy is an outspoken kid. That has gotten him in trouble in the past. I wouldn't doubt he did or said something stupid. Also, what exactly would he have done to help today? 1 or 2 jet sweeps? He's never once shown he's more than that.

BTW. He wasn't hurt.. I can tell you that much

 

[NDBoiler]

Covid thing doesn’t mean he actively has it. It’s a virus that can have pretty notable effects on strength and stamina. Makes sense if he had it 3 weeks ago that he wouldn’t be ready to contribute.

I thought I saw somewhere in the gameday thread where he also had a minor injury too

 

[Blazers46]

1 - Brian Kelly needs to outsource his QB development.

Thats all I got...

 

[NDMIA]

Notable Non-Players

RB C’Bo Flemister
TE Brock Wright
TE George Takacs
WR Kevin Austin
WR Braden Lenzy
OL Josh Lugg
LB Shayne Simon
LB Jack Lamb
DB Houston Griffith

This is from the participation chart. Let me know if some of these dudes got in. Kind of surprised Lugg wasn’t part of field goal formation or something like that. Maybe they didn’t count special teams??? Wonder what’s up with Brock Wright

 

[Henges24]

Notable Non-Players

RB C’Bo Flemister
TE Brock Wright
TE George Takacs
WR Kevin Austin
WR Braden Lenzy
OL Josh Lugg
LB Shayne Simon
LB Jack Lamb
DB Houston Griffith

This is from the participation chart. Let me know if some of these dudes got in. Kind of surprised Lugg wasn’t part of field goal formation or something like that. Maybe they didn’t count special teams??? Wonder what’s up with Brock Wright

Austin is hurt, rumors that Lenzy was too. I could have sworn I seen Simon in during the first half.

 

[notredomer23]

On duke’s big pass in the first quarter, that was one of the worst non-call offensive pass interferences I’ve ever seen

 

[greyhammer90]

On duke’s big pass in the first quarter, that was one of the worst non-call offensive pass interferences I’ve ever seen

That was my first blood pressure moment of the season lol.

 

[Irishize]

I'm calling it, something seems Fishy about Lenzy not playing. If it was an injury thing, it would have been called out by the team. If it was a COVID thing, he wouldn't be out there with the team. I'm thinking it's a team-suspension based on some sort of infraction.

Prister quoted BK saying he was available to play.

 

[Riddickulous]

Notable Non-Players

RB C’Bo Flemister
TE Brock Wright
TE George Takacs
WR Kevin Austin
WR Braden Lenzy
OL Josh Lugg
LB Shayne Simon
LB Jack Lamb
DB Houston Griffith

This is from the participation chart. Let me know if some of these dudes got in. Kind of surprised Lugg wasn’t part of field goal formation or something like that. Maybe they didn’t count special teams??? Wonder what’s up with Brock Wright

Wright, Takacs, Simon, and Griffith all played, for sure.