How Much Has the Defense Improved Under Hudson/Kelly

[North Buffalo Irish]

Look at their schedule.

They are garbage. #5 in passing doesn't mean you are a great passing team....especially if you are behind in a lot of games or play Colgate.


Thanks for playing.

They beat Virginia Tech 31-17.

 

[IrishBroker]

They beat Virginia Tech 31-17.

You know what? Take back everything I said.

They beat VTech. Holy cow. How did I over look them beating that powerhouse.

You're right. Syracuse has a top passing game. They beat VTech.

 

[Rocket89]

Look at their schedule.

They are garbage. #5 in passing doesn't mean you are a great passing team....especially if you are behind in a lot of games or play Colgate.


Thanks for playing.

S&P+ Offense Ranks:

Texas- 19th
Syracuse- 43rd
Miami- 52nd
NC State- 69th
Michigan State- 76th
Duke- 88th
Stanford- 93rd
Nevada- 104th

 

[NDRock]

The defense is definitely better just for the fact they can tackle and rally to the ball carrier. That alone has made them an average D.

 

[IrishLax]

S&P+ Offense Ranks:

Texas- 19th
Syracuse- 43rd
Miami- 52nd
NC State- 69th
Michigan State- 76th
Duke- 88th
Stanford- 93rd
Nevada- 104th

Aggregated... BVG played average 71.74, post-BVG played average 64.25. So in just surface numbers, our D is much better against harder competition than BVG faced. But obviously that doesn't account for the hurricane game.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I think so, but I also think our recent defensive successes stem from playing some mediocre to downright awful offenses, and weather.

NC State was in the rain, so like others have stated, can't necessarily count that.

Stanford was without Christian McCaffrey and currently ranks DEAD LAST in total offense. They scored all of 5 points against Colorado, 6 against Washington and 16 against Wazzu.

Miami ranks 70th, but most of that stems from their 3 cupcake games to open the season. Other than that, they've scored 21 on Georgia Tech (35 actually, but 2 scores were fumble returns), 19 on FSU, 13 on UNC and 16 on Virginia Tech.

Still, better than giving up more points to Duke in one half than Wake and Northwestern surrendered in both of their matchups combined.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Aggregated... BVG played average 71.74, post-BVG played average 64.25. So in just surface numbers, our D is much better against harder competition than BVG faced. But obviously that doesn't account for the hurricane game.

Miami's numbers are heavily skewed though, because those factor in the 3 games against Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic and Appalachian State. Remove those, and their ranking would be far lower.

 

[dwshade]

You have to include the NCS and Stanford games. They were on the schedule. Team doesn't control weather or who is injured. There were, and are other teams playing in crappy weather and against teams with injuries. If you subtract the NCS and Stanford games, you have to look at every other team and remove games played in crappy weather to get a true comparison.

Bottom line.........Defense is improving every week. Things have been simplified and players aren't worried about having mistakes held against them.

Perfectly stated.

 

[IrishLax]

Miami's numbers are heavily skewed though, because those factor in the 3 games against Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic and Appalachian State. Remove those, and their ranking would be far lower.

Numbers are already opponent adjusted.

 

[kmoose]

It is definitely better but I think there is also a chance the players are trying harder solely to impress whoever the DC will be next year (whether it be Hudson or whoever). I think players typically perform better after a coaching change so let's see how they do by the end of the year.

So the problem wasn't BVG, but the players simply not playing as hard as they could?

 

[gkIrish]

So the problem wasn't BVG, but the players simply not playing as hard as they could?

BVG was the main problem. I am simply wondering how much of this better play is due to motivation due to the coaching change. Teams play better for new coaches frequently.

 

[kmoose]

BVG was the main problem. I am simply wondering how much of this better play is due to motivation due to the coaching change. Teams play better for new coaches frequently.

Then they weren't playing as well as they could, before the coaching change. So the players deserve a significant portion of the blame for the results.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Then they weren't playing as well as they could, before the coaching change. So the players deserve a significant portion of the blame for the results.

You beat me to this - great response.

IF he would have said it was a scheme change, then it's a different scenario thus, a different result...

 

[gkIrish]

Then they weren't playing as well as they could, before the coaching change. So the players deserve a significant portion of the blame for the results.

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying BVG and BK failed to motivate the players to play as well as they could. BVG is fired. Players (as many players do after a coaching change) worry about their playing time under the new coach and turn it up.

Everyone deserves some blame. Coaching deserves the most though.

 

[Dizzyphil]

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying BVG and BK failed to motivate the players to play as well as they could. BVG is fired. Players (as many players do after a coaching change) worry about their playing time under the new coach and turn it up.

Everyone deserves some blame. Coaching deserves the most though.

Everyone deserves some blame - yes.

imo - the scheme has been changed to fit the players the Irish have on the field. I DO NOT believe under the scheme BVG has/had worked; the Freshmen playing on D right now would be getting smoked and we are possibly talking about the wacking from miami

 

[kmoose]

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying BVG and BK failed to motivate the players to play as well as they could. BVG is fired. Players (as many players do after a coaching change) worry about their playing time under the new coach and turn it up.

Everyone deserves some blame. Coaching deserves the most though.

Actually, you are saying that BK HAS motivated them to play better, since he took over the defense...

 

[gkIrish]

Actually, you are saying that BK HAS motivated them to play better, since he took over the defense...

Must have missed that. My understanding is that he "is more hands on with the defense" which could mean anything. And by the way, the offense has suffered as a result.

That being said, I'm not going to get into a pissing match with you about BK in this thread.

 

[Dizzyphil]

I would tend to believe that so far, everyone does agree that the defense has improved since BVG is gone.

With that being said, if the defense continues to improve, does Hudson keep the DC job or does Kelly find someone else or, is it Swarbrick that goes and starts the interviewing process

 

[kmoose]

Must have missed that. My understanding is that he "is more hands on with the defense" which could mean anything. And by the way, the offense has suffered as a result.

That being said, I'm not going to get into a pissing match with you about BK in this thread.

Notre Dame's new defensive coordinator ... might as well be Brian Kelly

Yes. It would be pretty hard to argue that Kelly is responsible for all aspects of both the offense AND the defense, and that he is doing his job poorly because his pick for OC, Mike Sanford, seems to not be able to run the offense as well as him.

It's amazing how bad a coach he is, that wherever he puts his focus, that unit plays better than when other coaches are running them.

 

[stlnd01]

Notre Dame's new defensive coordinator ... might as well be Brian Kelly

Yes. It would be pretty hard to argue that Kelly is responsible for all aspects of both the offense AND the defense, and that he is doing his job poorly because his pick for OC, Mike Sanford, seems to not be able to run the offense as well as him.

It's amazing how bad a coach he is, that wherever he puts his focus, that unit plays better than when other coaches are running them.

HE NEEDS TO HIRE BETTER ASSISTANTS! FIRE KELLY!

 

[stlnd01]

I would tend to believe that so far, everyone does agree that the defense has improved since BVG is gone.

With that being said, if the defense continues to improve, does Hudson keep the DC job or does Kelly find someone else or, is it Swarbrick that goes and starts the interviewing process

I dunno. I think we're playing better under Hudson, probably for various of the reasons stated above. But I'm not sure his track record as a DC in the past suggests he's cut out for the job long term. Kelly under pressure to hire a very good DC (so he can turn his focus back to the offense). He'll have the budget to do so. Given the resources and expectations I think we can probably do better. Though having Hudson as a fallback isn't the end of the world.

 

[drayer54]

It sure looks better than under BVG. Don't forget, we have a talent gap in the secondary.

I think the D-Line has looked better under Hudson, for sure. I wouldn't be upset for a second if they kept him.

 

[Guest]

HE NEEDS TO HIRE BETTER ASSISTANTS! FIRE KELLY!

Intended sarcasm noted, but that is not a bad point. Kelly chose the coaches so even if he is better than them individually, he should do a better job on his coaching hires. As much crap as Kelly gets from me and others, I do find it positive sign to see improvement wherever he puts his personal attention.

 

[ThePiombino]

Yeah it's extremely difficult to make a comparison with the NC St. game and horrendous Stanford offense (WITHOUT MCCAFFREY) included in these numbers.

Why is it that we need to nitpick ND's opponents, but we don't do that for EVERY SINGLE OTHER TEAM being accounted for in the rankings?

 

[irishtrain]

I was discussing this today with someone and it suddenly dawned on me when was the last time Notre Dame had the best defense on the field against a mediocre to above average opponent. 2012 and we know what that season produced sans the semi pro opponent in the NCG. The story here guys is not scheme its recruiting and getting guys in school that are playing at other places. When you play NCState and Duke and they have better defenses than you do something is wrong. They need a guy on defense like Harry H to attract defensive personnel and to make them feel like they are going to the right place to win games. If you think Ala's defensive line coach is some type of genius then you miss the point entirely---they just have better lineman and linebackers. Of course we know the reason why but surely there are kids who would fit Notre Dame and can compete against these top flight teams. They are going somewhere else. Right now Notre Dame has lost its allure and pull for those type of kids and its going to takes years of winning football to get it back. Notre Dame by their thoughts is a thing of the past-I know because I've ask a couple of these kids today and they aren't mildly interested in Notre Dame. The 2 kids I ask this question to went to Mississippi and Va Tech. You don't need to be 3 deep at quarterback you need to be 3 deep on the front 7 of your defense.

 

[Irish#1]

Does Hudson have a realistic chance to keep this job? I hope not, only because I want a proven/big name that will recruit and we know he'll be solid if nothing else. But does he have an actual chance of winning the job?

If Koon was AD, the coaching staff would be

HC: Saban
OC: Urban Meyer
DC: Les Miles
ST: Frank Beamer
S&C: Arnold Schwarzeneggerr

 

[Irish#1]

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying BVG and BK failed to motivate the players to play as well as they could. BVG is fired. Players (as many players do after a coaching change) worry about their playing time under the new coach and turn it up.

Everyone deserves some blame. Coaching deserves the most though.

I pin BVG on BK, but not lack of effort. Turning it up for a new coach, is a short lived reaction/response. These things tend to find their natural level after a short time and we've passed that. These guys are playing better, because they have simplified the defense which is the first thing Hudson did. The second, is the players aren't afraid to make mistakes and being relegated to the bench.

How much of this is Hudson vs. BK? Hard to say, but I would guess Hudson comes up with the original plan, then he and BK tweak along with some input from the coaches.

 

[blackirish]

Pat, Pat, Pat, Pat, Pat.......... new coat, same Pat............ Syracuse is the #5 passing offense in the country. You may think they are a second rate program, but their offense is NOT "$hit", as you asserted.

fair enough but Miami had a POS O line and a damn stiff for a QB ( and thank god because the kid they had @ WR Richards ran past our CB's every time he ran a GO route even playing 10 yards off of him ) not to mention they spotted us 20 points and then took the lead ! This from a team that got blew of the field by V Tech and had already lost 3 in a row
and you say our defense has gotten better ?

 

[Irish#1]

fair enough but Miami had a POS O line and a damn stiff for a QB ( and thank god because the kid they had @ WR Richards ran past our CB's every time he ran a GO route even playing 10 yards off of him ) not to mention they spotted us 20 points and then took the lead ! This from a team that got blew of the field by V Tech and had already lost 3 in a row
and you say our defense has gotten better ?

I may be in a minority, but their QB wasn't bad, especially in the second half when they changed their protection assignments. Kid was throwing some impressive balls.

 

[IrishLax]

fair enough but Miami had a POS O line and a damn stiff for a QB ( and thank god because the kid they had @ WR Richards ran past our CB's every time he ran a GO route even playing 10 yards off of him ) not to mention they spotted us 20 points and then took the lead ! This from a team that got blew of the field by V Tech and had already lost 3 in a row
and you say our defense has gotten better ?

Because it has?