In All Four Losses

[IrishLax]

ND has been within 4 points or less with under 5 minutes left in the game. Every single game has been very winnable. You can point at the kicking game (which alone could account for at least 2 if not 3 of the losses), but there's a much bigger overarching reason for the losses which can best be summarized as a lack of leadership and execution a key moments.

The team lacks the "clutch" of previous Kelly teams. There's always going to be one or two "WTF?" games but ND for the most part has done a really good job of closing out games in the 4th and otherwise "stealing" games. Not this team.

There's one moment in the game that really stood out to me. As part of a string of Golson mistakes, Golson comes off the field after throwing short of the sticks on 3rd and long. Kelly asks him, rather reasonably (not purple face) why he was throwing short of the first down line on 3rd down. Golson just turns and walks away from him and Kelly has to grab him and say what appeared to be "don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you."

That's terrible. Terrible leadership, terrible accountability. The four captains this year are a guy who can't hold onto the ball while trying to ice the game, an injured guy who gives 100% effort but can't make plays in his condition, a decent lineman, and an injured DL. How can that crop lead? Certainly not by example when you look a the play of three of them and the injury to the other. And then you have your senior QB acting like he just gives zero sh*ts about anything. Joe Schmidt was probably the best leader on the team in terms of "by example" and he's obviously out. There's just really no one to step up and "refuse to lose"... there is no KLM, no Manti, no Harrison Smith, No ZMart...

Anyways, it's just weird to think that for all the problems and all the issues we could've won every single one of these games. But we didn't, and I think the reason is a lot deeper than special teams woes. It's bad game/personnel management at the top and a lack of leaders among veterans. Disappointing.

 

[irishtrain]

What really gets my %$#@ hot is now all around the country all the people who hate will come out of the woodwork to slam Notre Dame. We just keep making other teams offensive players look like Heisman invitees. I'm ^%$$#@ and need someone to talk me off the ledge. This is unacceptable.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Leadership has been horrendous, there have been a thousand discussions over the Kelly era about how much the transfers/decommitments/recruiting misses have sucked but really haven't hurt the program in a tangible way. Well we're paying for that with interest right now, especially when you consider NFL entries, injuries, suspensions.

Eddie Vanderdoes, Tommy Schutt, Stephen Tuitt, and even Louis Nix could be on this roster right now. A totally different defense.

The suspensions of Russell, Williams, Moore, Hardy...damn.

Injuries to Grace and Councell...fuckin A.

Even guys like Joe Bolden would be great depth right now.

This defense, from a program-building perspective, is at square one again. Some of it is definitely the coaching staff's fault (read: recruiting), some of it is the hand you're dealt and you deal with it.

 

[Irish2155]

7 - 5 seems very realistic. In that case, I'll take any bowl.

 

[GBdomer]

No leaders, no badasses, no guys who just fire up everyone else, no guys who just are natural leaders. Just seems besides Nyles Morgan on defense there just isn't anybody who gives a damn and you can see that watching the game. There are many problems with this football team right now, coaching just isn't taking place but I don't blame it all on the coaches.The players need to look in the mirror and realize what jersey they put on everyday.

 

[dang227]

No leaders, no badasses, no guys who just fire up everyone else, no guys who just are natural leaders. Just seems besides Nyles Morgan on defense there just isn't anybody who gives a damn and you can see that watching the game. There are many problems with this football team right now, coaching just isn't taking place but I don't blame it all on the coaches.The players need to look in the mirror and realize what jersey they put on everyday.

And everyone just keeps saying wait until next year. Same kids who are going to end losing 5 of 6 will be playing next year. Not a great recipe for success.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[ARALOU]

Leadership has been horrendous, there have been a thousand discussions over the Kelly era about how much the transfers/decommitments/recruiting misses have sucked but really haven't hurt the program in a tangible way. Well we're paying for that with interest right now, especially when you consider NFL entries, injuries, suspensions.

Eddie Vanderdoes, Tommy Schutt, Stephen Tuitt, and even Louis Nix could be on this roster right now. A totally different defense.

The suspensions of Russell, Williams, Moore, Hardy...damn.

Injuries to Grace and Councell...fuckin A.

Even guys like Joe Bolden would be great depth right now.

This defense, from a program-building perspective, is at square one again. Some of it is definitely the coaching staff's fault (read: recruiting), some of it is the hand you're dealt and you deal with it.

Don't forget Aaron Lynch. We just had some key personnel go away that is hard to replace. At least we are not getting blown off the field like 6 to 10 years ago.

 

[GBdomer]

And everyone just keeps saying wait until next year. Same kids who are going to end losing 5 of 6 will be playing next year. Not a great recipe for success.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I said this to Damefan and then he ended up blocking me on facebook. You are right let's wait till next year when the same softies come back and nothing changes.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

There's no reason to be optimistic about a lot of these guys getting it. A lot of them weren't even big recruits.

 

[GBdomer]

There's no reason to be optimistic about a lot of these guys getting it. A lot of them weren't even big recruits.

Defensive recruiting last couple years have been shit for our standards and at a championship level and it's really showing.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Notre Dame may as well cheat and be on probation b/c when you factor in the suspensions, transfers & injuries; the roster seems to be so depleted that it rivals what SCum is dealing with now w/ coming off schollie limitations. The thing w/ SCum (under Kiffin & now Sark) is that they've maximized the scholarships they do have and waste very few. Turn your tv to your local ABC station & you'll see the athleticism immediately. They don't have depth but they have talent. ND has neither at this point....just a list of excuses.

 

[Wild Bill]

There's no reason to be optimistic about a lot of these guys getting it. A lot of them weren't even big recruits.

Cmon man. Max and Shumate were both top five safeties coming out. Russell is a stud. Luke is highly rated. Jaylon was all everything. Nyles a top five at his position. Jarron Jones was a five star, right? Trumbetti an all american.

The offensive line is a who's who of high school football recruiting. Folston is a stud, Bryant is a five star, fuller is on pace to lead the nation in TDs.

Talent is there. Whether they start playing like it is another story.

I do agree with the OP. There is a leadership issue. Someone needs to step up. Jarron would be a good one on the defensive side of the ball. We really need an offensive linemen and EG on the offensive side. EG's demeanor today was just awful. I'm not trying to pile on the kid, but man, pick your head up and lead a team that wants to follow you.

 

[Irish2155]

Margin of error is thin. We could easily be a one loss team....that'll happen next year.

 

[Irish2155]

Cmon man. Max and Shumate were both top five safeties coming out. Russell is a stud. Luke is highly rated. Jaylon was all everything. Nyles a top five at his position. Jarron Jones was a five star, right? Trumbetti an all american.

The offensive line is a who's who of high school football recruiting. Folston is a stud, Bryant is a five star, fuller is on pace to lead the nation in TDs.

Talent is there. Whether they start playing like it is another story.

Yes, yes, yes, and yes again...

 

[TheChosen1]

There was a thread started last year when a bunch of players letf early..Tuitt, Nicklas, etc. It formed into a who will be the captains/who will lead thread. The thread never obviously got an answer.

You don't walk off the field last at halftime because you're upset, you are the starting Quarterback at the University of Notre Dame and being that you are expected to be a leader.

You, Everett, are not a leader.
And you, Brian Kelly, did a bad job at finding leadership on your team.

 

[Redbar]

ND has been within 4 points or less with under 5 minutes left in the game. Every single game has been very winnable. You can point at the kicking game (which alone could account for at least 2 if not 3 of the losses), but there's a much bigger overarching reason for the losses which can best be summarized as a lack of leadership and execution a key moments.

The team lacks the "clutch" of previous Kelly teams. There's always going to be one or two "WTF?" games but ND for the most part has done a really good job of closing out games in the 4th and otherwise "stealing" games. Not this team.

There's one moment in the game that really stood out to me. As part of a string of Golson mistakes, Golson comes off the field after throwing short of the sticks on 3rd and long. Kelly asks him, rather reasonably (not purple face) why he was throwing short of the first down line on 3rd down. Golson just turns and walks away from him and Kelly has to grab him and say what appeared to be "don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you."

That's terrible. Terrible leadership, terrible accountability. The four captains this year are a guy who can't hold onto the ball while trying to ice the game, an injured guy who gives 100% effort but can't make plays in his condition, a decent lineman, and an injured DL. How can that crop lead? Certainly not by example when you look a the play of three of them and the injury to the other. And then you have your senior QB acting like he just gives zero sh*ts about anything. Joe Schmidt was probably the best leader on the team in terms of "by example" and he's obviously out. There's just really no one to step up and "refuse to lose"... there is no KLM, no Manti, no Harrison Smith, No ZMart...

Anyways, it's just weird to think that for all the problems and all the issues we could've won every single one of these games. But we didn't, and I think the reason is a lot deeper than special teams woes. It's bad game/personnel management at the top and a lack of leaders among veterans. Disappointing.

Agree 100%

 

[Old Man Mike]

LAX is correct in the OP.

The other thing though is that one of the things that a coach cannot force out of any player is "leadership". Leadership is something special inside you, which you are willing to allow to come out. For me, the worst barrier that we have to effective leadership on this team is a quarterback who doesn't look like he has confidence most of the time, and looks like a petulant child WAY too much of the time.

Our "natural" offensive leader doesn't have quite the street cred [I'm talking about Cam here] and seems too nice a guy to give Everett and the OLine hell when they deserve it. None of the bigs seem to vocally stand up. Nick is apparently still Zack's little brother. On defense it WAS Joe, and he was doing it despite not having the "C". Now he's gone. There was a brief moment [Florida State] when I thought that the most unlikely guy [Jarron Jones] was going to rise up on fire. Then....

What little leadership that we had went up in injury smoke.

 

[Wild Bill]

LAX is correct in the OP.

The other thing though is that one of the things that a coach cannot force out of any player is "leadership". Leadership is something special inside you, which you are willing to allow to come out. For me, the worst barrier that we have to effective leadership on this team is a quarterback who doesn't look like he has confidence most of the time, and looks like a petulant child WAY too much of the time.

Our "natural" offensive leader doesn't have quite the street cred [I'm talking about Cam here] and seems too nice a guy to give Everett and the OLine hell when they deserve it. None of the bigs seem to vocally stand up. Nick is apparently still Zack's little brother. On defense it WAS Joe, and he was doing it despite not having the "C". Now he's gone. There was a brief moment [Florida State] when I thought that the most unlikely guy [Jarron Jones] was going to rise up on fire. Then....

What little leadership that we had went up in injury smoke.

Suspension and draft smoke too. Troy would be the perfect leader for this offense. We desperately need a big to start kicking ass and setting a tone. He was the man for the the job but the kid took a pay day. Can't blame him. Russell would be nice to have in the defensive backfield right now too.

 

[IrishinSyria]

I'm not willing to write off Golson's leadership right now. Like you said, we've been in every single one of these games. We've had a chance to win. And for as bad as EG's been at times, he usually is great when the game's on the line.

 

[Irish2155]

Haven't read any of this post.

I bet we beat USC.

Vbets anyone...?

 

[AllGoldEverything]

It's something that most people don't think about, but I really think that lack of leadership has hurt this team in a big way this year. Great post LAX.

 

[TheChosen1]

ND has been within 4 points or less with under 5 minutes left in the game. Every single game has been very winnable. You can point at the kicking game (which alone could account for at least 2 if not 3 of the losses), but there's a much bigger overarching reason for the losses which can best be summarized as a lack of leadership and execution a key moments.
The team lacks the "clutch" of previous Kelly teams. There's always going to be one or two "WTF?" games but ND for the most part has done a really good job of closing out games in the 4th and otherwise "stealing" games. Not this team.

There's one moment in the game that really stood out to me. As part of a string of Golson mistakes, Golson comes off the field after throwing short of the sticks on 3rd and long. Kelly asks him, rather reasonably (not purple face) why he was throwing short of the first down line on 3rd down. Golson just turns and walks away from him and Kelly has to grab him and say what appeared to be "don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you."

That's terrible. Terrible leadership, terrible accountability. The four captains this year are a guy who can't hold onto the ball while trying to ice the game, an injured guy who gives 100% effort but can't make plays in his condition, a decent lineman, and an injured DL. How can that crop lead? Certainly not by example when you look a the play of three of them and the injury to the other. And then you have your senior QB acting like he just gives zero sh*ts about anything. Joe Schmidt was probably the best leader on the team in terms of "by example" and he's obviously out. There's just really no one to step up and "refuse to lose"... there is no KLM, no Manti, no Harrison Smith, No ZMart...

Anyways, it's just weird to think that for all the problems and all the issues we could've won every single one of these games. But we didn't, and I think the reason is a lot deeper than special teams woes. It's bad game/personnel management at the top and a lack of leaders among veterans. Disappointing.

There was a thread started last year when a bunch of players letf early..Tuitt, Nicklas, etc. It formed into a who will be the captains/who will lead thread. The thread never obviously got an answer.

You don't walk off the field last at halftime because you're upset, you are the starting Quarterback at the University of Notre Dame and being that you are expected to be a leader.

You, Everett, are not a leader.
And you, Brian Kelly, did a bad job at finding leadership on your team.

Lax while I obviously can agree with your post..See above..Can't I look at another aspect and say :

ND has been within 4 points or less with under 5 minutes left in the game. Every single game has been very winnable. You can point at the kicking game (which alone could account for at least 2 if not 3 of the losses), but there's a much bigger overarching reason for the losses which can best be summarized as a lack of leadership and execution a key moments.

And we are right there because 75% of the players on the field are underclassman, the future is really bright; this experience they are gaining is extremely valuable. We are developing leaders on this team and in time this is all growing pains. We have been within 4 points or less with under 5 minutes left in each game and we are playing 17 and 18 year olds.

 

[Crazy Balki]

ND has been within 4 points or less with under 5 minutes left in the game. Every single game has been very winnable. You can point at the kicking game (which alone could account for at least 2 if not 3 of the losses), but there's a much bigger overarching reason for the losses which can best be summarized as a lack of leadership and execution a key moments.

The team lacks the "clutch" of previous Kelly teams. There's always going to be one or two "WTF?" games but ND for the most part has done a really good job of closing out games in the 4th and otherwise "stealing" games. Not this team.

There's one moment in the game that really stood out to me. As part of a string of Golson mistakes, Golson comes off the field after throwing short of the sticks on 3rd and long. Kelly asks him, rather reasonably (not purple face) why he was throwing short of the first down line on 3rd down. Golson just turns and walks away from him and Kelly has to grab him and say what appeared to be "don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you."

That's terrible. Terrible leadership, terrible accountability. The four captains this year are a guy who can't hold onto the ball while trying to ice the game, an injured guy who gives 100% effort but can't make plays in his condition, a decent lineman, and an injured DL. How can that crop lead? Certainly not by example when you look a the play of three of them and the injury to the other. And then you have your senior QB acting like he just gives zero sh*ts about anything. Joe Schmidt was probably the best leader on the team in terms of "by example" and he's obviously out. There's just really no one to step up and "refuse to lose"... there is no KLM, no Manti, no Harrison Smith, No ZMart...

Anyways, it's just weird to think that for all the problems and all the issues we could've won every single one of these games. But we didn't, and I think the reason is a lot deeper than special teams woes. It's bad game/personnel management at the top and a lack of leaders among veterans. Disappointing.

That to a T. I thought last year lacked leadership, but this year's team is making last year's leaders look like Churchill, FDR and Stalin.

Golson is showing me week in and week out, that he's not the man who should be leading us next year. He's an athletic QB with horrible decision making skills and piss poor leadership skills. Honestly, I wonder what the Hell he actually learned from Whitfield, because I'm not seeing him translate any of that to the field. I feel sorry for Malik, because he should be starting for us. Golson wasn't terrible today, but he left a lot to be desired, and as you said, was moping around and showing little to no interest on the field. Honestly, it's time to start Zaire. He at least wants to be here.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Haven't read any of this post.

I bet we beat USC.

Vbets anyone...?

You're on. All of your bank.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Margin of error is thin. We could easily be a one loss team....that'll happen next year.

I love the optimism but this fanbase is setting itself up for disappointment based on returning starters. ND fans should know by now that too much out of ND's control seems to happen EVERY year that hold us back. There's always some damn scandal or suspension. Transfers/decommits and injuries. Then there's the precarious position of QB. Some think this season is one where EG is just shaking off the rust and the TOs will be eliminated next year. Others think that he is who he is & that means more turnovers.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

You're on. All of your bank.

Me, too. After SCum gets embarrassed tonight, they will embarrass ND next week.

 

[Dizzyphil]

as the title of this thread indicates............. In All 4 Loses...... all I can say is............ turnovers.....

Diz

 

[IrishLax]

Lax while I obviously can agree with your post..See above..Can't I look at another aspect and say :

And we are right there because 75% of the players on the field are underclassman, the future is really bright; this experience they are gaining is extremely valuable. We are developing leaders on this team and in time this is all growing pains. We have been within 4 points or less with under 5 minutes left in each game and we are playing 17 and 18 year olds.

I completely agree and am optimistic for next year (especially if KVR returns). I really like the group of guys recruited in '13 and '14. At this point, it's just about holding on to this recruiting class as best as possible and working towards '15.

 

[Dizzyphil]

I completely agree and am optimistic for next year (especially if KVR returns). I really like the group of guys recruited in '13 and '14. At this point, it's just about holding on to this recruiting class as best as possible and working towards '15.

This - and........ the Irish are playing many Freshmen that gives the Irish depth and available starters if (God forbid) there are injuries next year.....

Diz

 

[BeauBenken]

And everyone just keeps saying wait until next year. Same kids who are going to end losing 5 of 6 will be playing next year. Not a great recipe for success.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I said this to Damefan and then he ended up blocking me on facebook. You are right let's wait till next year when the same softies come back and nothing changes.

Young kids taking lumps early and sticking around are dangerous...in only the best way possible. If you want guys who are tough and want to claw and fight for every inch, it's those guys who know what getting kicked in the teeth feels like.

Seriously, you guys are ridiculous. Kap, Teo, all those guys saw some of the toughest years of ND football and it molded them into great leaders. I want guys who know what it feels like to lose. It makes them appreciate winning even more.