General team info

[Irish Insanity]

ND opponents went 7L / 3W / 2 Byes this Saturday.

At least we didn't lose. But there's always next week.

 

[Meatloaf]

This should be helpful:

DI to distribute revenue based on academics | NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">ND believed James Onwualu would be one of the nation's best cover LBs in this year. Been targeted 10 times for 5 catches and 28 yards.✅</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/791713821295390720">October 27, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[phgreek]

This should be helpful:

DI to distribute revenue based on academics | NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA

Good find.

We've been batting this kind of thing around IE for some time now...it is really good to see progress. The next step will be to tie scholarship numbers to academic performance as well. Then I think the NCAA could almost claim to be about Student Athletes.

 

[BobbyMac]

This should be helpful:

DI to distribute revenue based on academics | NCAA.org - The Official Site of the NCAA

This just in:

In an attempt to cash in on higher graduation rates tied to TV contract money, Michigan will now offer Above-water basket weaving stating that their Under-water class was too rigorous.

I'm gonna leave the italics off until I see Michigan's fall semester class schedule.

 

[Dizzyphil]

I have been keeping an eye on Mock draft this year since Kizer was considered by Kiper to go first round -

He still has Kizer going first round. IMO, Kizer needs one more year unless he proves differently these last few games. His timing is a bit off and his decision making is not as quick as last year's.

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bugs Bunny, The Hulk, Batman and more.<br><br>Notre Dame Football showed out on Halloween weekend for a good cause <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BRxND?src=hash">#BRxND</a> <a href="https://t.co/qzlnnh75ao">pic.twitter.com/qzlnnh75ao</a></p>— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/793143063795359744">October 31, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[beryirish]

I have been keeping an eye on Mock draft this year since Kizer was considered by Kiper to go first round -

He still has Kizer going first round. IMO, Kizer needs one more year unless he proves differently these last few games. His timing is a bit off and his decision making is not as quick as last year's.

It's tough though...a lot of kids come back to school to work on those things to improve their stock. Kizer is already being projected 1st QB taken.

Aside from going for a NC and finishing school (if he hasn't) then there's not much incentive to stay.

 

[Dizzyphil]

It's tough though...a lot of kids come back to school to work on those things to improve their stock. Kizer is already being projected 1st QB taken.

Aside from going for a NC and finishing school (if he hasn't) then there's not much incentive to stay.

Agree... my heart wants him to stay but, I wouldn't blame him at all...

I say that too because Wimbush is sitting there like a Jack-in-the-box ready to play....

If Wimbush is not there, my sentiments are not as likely...

 

[connor_in]

It's tough though...a lot of kids come back to school to work on those things to improve their stock. Kizer is already being projected 1st QB taken.

Aside from going for a NC and finishing school (if he hasn't) then there's not much incentive to stay.

Is he still? Even in light of some uneven performances recently (discounting the Hurricane Matthew game completely)?

 

[Irish Insanity]

Is he still? Even in light of some uneven performances recently (discounting the Hurricane Matthew game completely)?

I'm not sure there's been a solid mock put out since the weekend after that game.

 

[NDohio]

10/26

2017 NFL mock draft: updated three-round projections | The Draft Wire

10/27

2017 NFL Mock Draft - WalterFootball.com

10/27

NFC exec: Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer is top-10 pick - NFL.com

 

[Dizzyphil]

I'm not sure there's been a solid mock put out since the weekend after that game.

2017 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Week 8 Round 1 Predictions for All Prospects | Bleacher Report

Dolphins??

 

[Whiskeyjack]

ND's ST performance under Kelly:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/PootND">@PootND</a> <a href="https://t.co/C2s8gG5vCu">https://t.co/C2s8gG5vCu</a><br>2015: 19th<br>2014: 53rd<br>2013: 59th<br>2012: 87th<br>2011: 52nd<br>2010: 24th</p>— Brian Fremeau (@bcfremeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/bcfremeau/status/793155789015875584">October 31, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Two good, three average, and one bad. We're currently ranked 53rd this season, so it looks like we're on track for another average year. Would love to pin this on Booker's short-comings, but these stats don't really support that explanation.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Two good, three average, and one bad. We're currently ranked 53rd this season, so it looks like we're on track for another average year. Would love to pin this on Booker's short-comings, but the trend doesn't really support it.

To me, Booker's issue is wild inconsistency. This year I am not surprised if we run back a KO or punt for a TD, or fumble it in the end zone; get a 70 yard punt, or shank it; kick a 50 yard FG, miss an extra point...

So while we may be average, I think the highs are higher and the lows lower than for most teams I can remember.

It's almost as if we are over-relying on a bunch of talented young guys b/c the coaching staff hasn't recruited consistently enough!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

To me, Booker's issue is wild inconsistency. This year I am not surprised if we run back a KO or punt for a TD, or fumble it in the end zone; get a 70 yard punt, or shank it; kick a 50 yard FG, miss an extra point...

So while we may be average, I think the highs are higher and the lows lower than for most teams I can remember.

It's almost as if we are over-relying on a bunch of talented young guys b/c the coaching staff hasn't recruited consistently enough!

I'm not absolving Booker. But if he's the problem, how do we explain last year's performance?

 

[IrishLion]

I'm not absolving Booker. But if he's the problem, how do we explain last year's performance?

I think it's less about explaining last year's performance, and more about explaining this year's.

The explanation is that a bunch of young, inexperienced players are trying to figure out what they're doing, and that inexperience tends to compound issues when the ball takes a weird bounce and things get screwy.

Also: guys might be pressing in response to how the season is going, like CJ doing too much on a failed fair-catch; coaching isn't hitting on the basic mental aspects of special teams play, like calling out a "PETER PETER PETER" loud enough for your blockers, learning when to make quick decisions like running up to prevent a bad bounce, and/or knowing the basic rules and responsibilities of live balls.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think it's less about explaining last year's performance, and more about explaining this year's.

The explanation is that a bunch of young, inexperienced players are trying to figure out what they're doing, and that inexperience tends to compound issues when the ball takes a weird bounce and things get screwy.

Also: guys might be pressing in response to how the season is going, like CJ doing too much on a failed fair-catch; coaching isn't hitting on the basic mental aspects of special teams play, like calling out a "PETER PETER PETER" loud enough for your blockers, learning when to make quick decisions like running up to prevent a bad bounce, and/or knowing the basic rules and responsibilities of live balls.

Chris Wilson had a similar take in this week's Rake Report:

Is this on special teams coach Scott Booker and Kelly? Yes, because there’s a lack of attention to detail in these situations that has plagued the team all season and that is almost certainly a reflection of inadequate coaching. However, I think we should be fair here and point out that it’s likely no coach specifically told Sanders to attempt to field a bouncing ball inside the ten with a crowd of opponents around him. Nor did they tell Jalen Elliott or his kick return cohorts to ignore a live, bouncing ball if it happened to come their way. This will come up again in the next section, but it’s incorrect to attribute every bad thing that happens to coaches and every good thing that happens to players. Sometimes coaches make the right call and players screw up simple things. Sometimes coaches make the wrong call and players bail them out with sweet football moves. It's a constant dichotomy that needs to be assessed as we go.

 

[ND NYC]

how big of a recruiting weekend was last weekend (Miami) ?

any news good or bad here?

 

[NDinBoston]

Didn't ND put an analyst specifically focused on ST last year? Was it Elliot or Quinn? I think they got some credit for the improvements IIRC. If so, is there still someone helping or were they moved onto something else?

I may be confusing this with the analyst focus on the option but I think there was focus on both.

 

[NDRock]

Two good, three average, and one bad. We're currently ranked 53rd this season, so it looks like we're on track for another average year. Would love to pin this on Booker's short-comings, but these stats don't really support that explanation.

I'm not sure I would call 53rd average (technically yes). Our defense is ranked 54th and I think they've been pretty bad this year (I'll be nice and say mediocre). My problem with our special teams is that it's a place that we can exploit yet we obviously don't care enough. ND has some limitations compared to some of the football factories, which have been well discussed. Playing great special teams is something that doesn't take elite recruiting. It takes good coaching and a commitment to be great at it. I've never gotten the impression Kelly is interested in being great in that phase of the game.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'm not absolving Booker. But if he's the problem, how do we explain last year's performance?

CJ Sanders is electric, and Yoon was a pretty good kicker coming out of high school. Any success we had last year on special teams has more to do with their athleticism imo and less to do with Booker's teaching. Overall special teams wasn't that great last year imo. The bowl game was a great example. The Buckeyes killed us in field position. Our blocking wasn't great, and our coverage wasn't spectacular either. I think Newsome averaged more yards than their punter, but they were getting better returns and conversely stopping CJ before he could work some of his magic. There's a certain amount of luck when it comes to returns, I'll admit that, but overall our blocking could be better and our coverage is not consistently good. That's coaching.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

CJ Sanders is electric, and Yoon was a pretty good kicker coming out of high school. Any success we had last year on special teams has more to do with their athleticism imo and less to do with Booker's teaching. Overall special teams wasn't that great last year imo. The bowl game was a great example. The Buckeyes killed us in field position. Our blocking wasn't great, and our coverage wasn't spectacular either. I think Newsome averaged more yards than their punter, but they were getting better returns and conversely stopping CJ before he could work some of his magic. There's a certain amount of luck when it comes to returns, I'll admit that, but overall our blocking could be better and our coverage is not consistently good. That's coaching.

Fremeau's STE disagrees. Out of 128 FBS programs, we ranked 19th last year. If you think his methodology is flawed, I'm open to reading your critique of it; but cherry-picked comparisons from the bowl game versus OSU certainly isn't going to give a more objective picture of our overall ST performance last year.

 

[ulukinatme]

Fremeau's STE disagrees. Out of 128 FBS programs, we ranked 19th last year. If you think his methodology is flawed, I'm open to reading your critique of it; but cherry-picked comparisons from the bowl game versus OSU certainly isn't going to give a more objective picture of our overall ST performance last year.

Again, my point was that any success we had last year on ST had to do with the injection of Yoon and Sanders into the equation. Yoon's FG kicking was good enough to be 6th in the country in completion percentage. While you obviously need 9 other guys up front to hold a block for 2 seconds and a holder to place the ball, the kicker has the toughest job among those 11 guys. For me, FG team was always the easiest thing you did during a game, it's not very demanding for the guys up front.

As far as Punt Returns, CJ had a couple big runs, but we were 70th in the country last year in average returns. In Punting we were 46th in average yards. Kickoff returns were split between Carlisle and Sanders, with Sanders getting three times as many, but we still averaged 61st in the country in average returns with just one TD. On kickoffs we were 60th in average yards, 49th in Touchback percentage. In Opponent Punt Return yards our average put us at 124th. That's some bad coverage. We were 48th in Opponent Kickoff Return yards on average. We had an exceptionally bad number of long punt returns given up too. The one area we did do well on was long Punt Returns, we had 4 of those, but given the previous numbers it's hard to say that was because we were great as a unit...more likely CJ found his magic.

So, to reiterate my point, it seems like any success we had last year in ST was some magic in CJ's returns, and Yoon's kicking. Overall we weren't consistently leading in any other categories...often middle of the pack or far worse in some cases. I'm not sure where they're getting this 19th ranking, but my guess is they're putting an emphasis on Yoon's FG completion numbers and some of CJ's big runs....maybe Newsome pinning teams deep. As a unit, I'm not seeing this great production you're referring to, especially when we're talking punt/kickoff coverage, and not even consistent return yardage.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I'm not sure I would call 53rd average (technically yes). Our defense is ranked 54th and I think they've been pretty bad this year (I'll be nice and say mediocre). My problem with our special teams is that it's a place that we can exploit yet we obviously don't care enough. ND has some limitations compared to some of the football factories, which have been well discussed. Playing great special teams is something that doesn't take elite recruiting. It takes good coaching and a commitment to be great at it. I've never gotten the impression Kelly is interested in being great in that phase of the game.

My understanding is that college programs simply don't have enough practice time to make consistent ST dominance a realistic priority. Every minute you spend practicing ST is one that you're not spending on fundamentals like tackling, or preparing to schematically counter next week's opponent. So it frequently gets short shrift.

Take a look at the top 10 STE rankings over the last 3 years. There's not a single blue blood program that appears more than once.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

So, to reiterate my point, it seems like any success we had last year in ST was some magic in CJ's returns, and Yoon's kicking. Overall we weren't consistently leading in any other categories...often middle of the pack or far worse in some cases. I'm not sure where they're getting this 19th ranking, but my guess is they're putting an emphasis on Yoon's FG completion numbers and some of CJ's big runs....maybe Newsome pinning teams deep. As a unit, I'm not seeing this great production you're referring to, especially when we're talking punt/kickoff coverage, and not even consistent return yardage.

Did you even look at the ranking? All of it is explained there:

We were strong in Field Goal Efficiency (10th), Punt Return Efficiency (25th), Punting Efficiency (18th), and Defensive Starting Field Position (18th). We were average in Kickoff Efficiency (49th) and Net Starting Field Position (50th). And we were bad in Kickoff Return Efficiency (87th), and Offensive Starting Field Position (90th). Average those out, and our overall STE was 19th in the country.

Look at the top ranked programs from last year, and they were all weak in at least a couple categories. No one dominates across the board in STE.

 

[BGIF]

Bowl projections: Big 12 not out just yet, Tennessee's loss is Nebraska's gain - CBSSports.com
Jerry Palm Oct 30, 2016

This week's bowl projections have the most teams predicted to be eligible of any projection so far this season. I am now up to 75 teams with projected bowl eligibility, meaning I only needed to add five teams from the pool of those predicted to be 5-7. This week, those teams are Cincinnati, NC State, Northern Illinois, Texas and Utah State. Notre Dame is also projected to finish 5-7 and would be on that list, but I don't think the Irish will choose to accept a bowl bid at 5-7.

Based on past decades of ND football that would be true.

Given the Dr White drive for $$$$ and the 15 extra practices, I wouldn't be surprised to see ND accept, if offered.

 

[NDRock]

Did you even look at the ranking? All of it is explained there:

We were strong in Field Goal Efficiency (10th), Punt Return Efficiency (25th), Punting Efficiency (18th), and Defensive Starting Field Position (18th). We were average in Kickoff Efficiency (49th) and Net Starting Field Position (50th). And we were bad in Kickoff Return Efficiency (87th), and Offensive Starting Field Position (90th). Average those out, and our overall STE was 19th in the country.

Look at the top ranked programs from last year, and they were all weak in at least a couple categories. No one dominates across the board in STE.

The problem is, it's costing us games and almost cost us Saturday's game. BTW, Ohio State's ranking the last 3 years is 6th, 28th, and 9th. Of course, as the back-up QB for Oklahoma said, they play a "basic defense". They probably have more time to practice Special Teams.

 

[tko]

Hire Frank Beamer to come in and share his knowledge with the staff.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Hire Frank Beamer to come in and share his knowledge with the staff.

that's a really good idea... all the coaches held camps with him to pick his brain and philosophies for special teams

plus he could probably use a couple extra bucks