Interesting talking points

[LOVEMYIRISH]

The below came from The House that Rock Built. I thought they were interesting talking points.

1) McKnight is a significant drop-off from Stovall. Not sure what's up from shark, but he's not getting separation. Stovall was our best receiver last year.
2) Quinn is just off. That first interception was thrown high and behind. Mark this down. I think Clausen will be better than Quinn in this offense by his sophomore year. We have a nervous quarterback.
3) We have zero game-breaking ability... which means if you're not controlling the clock on offense, no one's going to bail you out. We have no game-changers. We have little downfield capability.
4) Our offensive line might be the weakest mentally that I've seen run-blocking. Here's where we desperately needed more numbers to knock the dead weight out of there. There isn't one OL in our junior classs. Not one. Top teams have sophomore and junior AA recruits as backups. We don't even have a junior OL recruit.
5) Darius Walker is a fine complementary back, but I watched USC's freshmen the other night. They're simply at a different level. I believe Walker is a good counter type back, but ND needs to land someone that causes defensive coordinators to change their game plans to control. No one respects our running game.
6) We need some shutdown players on defense. Hopefully Gray is a start.
7) As someone opined on Rock's House yesterday, the Willingham "it's okay" influence is still pervasive.
8) Why do we not try to block a punt? Zibby's a great threat, but we're not giving him adequate blocking. If we try to block a punt we might open something up. Neither West or Grimes is that fast... both are quick.
9) I see many people writing about Weis's demeanor, good or bad, as if it matters. I believe he's been trying to project an air of confidence whether or not there are talent deficiencies. He refuses to make excuses, but that doesn't mean he truly thinks we're world beaters.

1) I am not sure I agree about McKnight. I think he is our best receiver so far...but I see a lot of crap being thrown vaguely near him
2) I could not agree more. He's just off. I do not know what to make of it.
3) Against good teams, this is SO true. We simply don't have the power to burn clock.
4 & 5) Our Achilles heel. No one respects our run-game. We have no blocking...and even when we do, our running game cannot take us more than 20 yards.
6) True, but only to a point. We limited UM to 340 yards. That's good in any book. Turnovers killed us.
7) I don't know.
8) I disagree, I think they are both fast and quick, but are very young and learning to play in the big leagues.
9) Weis is not blowing smoke. He is calm, collected, and confident. He knows we CAN win any game...but he also knows we can lose them too. He's an even keel, but I would not want to piss him off behind closed doors.

 

[marv81s]

I think Quinn is nervous because that O-line is not giving him all that much time to block. As I said earlier, I don't recall his feet being squarely planted and looking comfortable in the pocket yet this year. Well, maybe when we went to the no huddle/2 minute offense, then he looked good and in rhythm, but other than that, he has been taking an asswhoopin this year again.

 

[sblxdoc]

1) McKnight is a significant drop-off from Stovall. Not sure what's up from shark, but he's not getting separation. Stovall was our best receiver last year.
2) Quinn is just off. That first interception was thrown high and behind. Mark this down. I think Clausen will be better than Quinn in this offense by his sophomore year. We have a nervous quarterback.
3) We have zero game-breaking ability... which means if you're not controlling the clock on offense, no one's going to bail you out. We have no game-changers. We have little downfield capability.
4) Our offensive line might be the weakest mentally that I've seen run-blocking. Here's where we desperately needed more numbers to knock the dead weight out of there. There isn't one OL in our junior classs. Not one. Top teams have sophomore and junior AA recruits as backups. We don't even have a junior OL recruit.
5) Darius Walker is a fine complementary back, but I watched USC's freshmen the other night. They're simply at a different level. I believe Walker is a good counter type back, but ND needs to land someone that causes defensive coordinators to change their game plans to control. No one respects our running game.
6) We need some shutdown players on defense. Hopefully Gray is a start.
7) As someone opined on Rock's House yesterday, the Willingham "it's okay" influence is still pervasive.
8) Why do we not try to block a punt? Zibby's a great threat, but we're not giving him adequate blocking. If we try to block a punt we might open something up. Neither West or Grimes is that fast... both are quick.
9) I see many people writing about Weis's demeanor, good or bad, as if it matters. I believe he's been trying to project an air of confidence whether or not there are talent deficiencies. He refuses to make excuses, but that doesn't mean he truly thinks we're world beaters.

1. Wrong. Shark was our best receiver last year IMO.
2. Quinn so far has tried living up to the hype. Its called TRYING TOO HARD. Let the game come to you and just relax. The numbers will come.
3. No blue-chippers. Thank Willingham.
4. Thank Willingham's golf game.
5. Hope Prince or Aldridge change all of this.
6. Agree. Walls+McNeil+Gray= shutdown defense.
7. Coaching problem.
8. Agree. Not sure why Prince aint back there, considering his wicked speed.
9. I'm very confident in Weis. It just takes some years for him to bring in "his" type of players that work great in "his" system.

 

[solo]

My take:

1. I don't think that McNight is a big drop off from Stovall. But time will tell.
2. BQ is off. I think it is from all the expectations. Last year, people expected nothing. This year, they expect a Heisman and NC contention. It has him nervous. Some is also the caliber of defenses we've played. If you recall, BQ looked bad against the good D's we played last year. 2 of 3 games have been against good defenses this year.
3. We have no superstar/difference makers. We don't have anyone that can take it to the house every time they touch the ball. We have some great offensive players and a couple on D, but no superstars.
4. Our OL is just mediocre. Sad to say but true.
5. DW...Not sure. If the OL isn't opening holes, how can we fairly assess the job he is doing? I do think he is not a good power runner. He tries to bounce everything outside.
6. We ansolutely need some cover corners. Our D gives up way too many big plays through the air.
7. It's not OK. I guarantee that CW had some choice words for the team this week. Weis is not s softy. He's all business. 9-3 is not good enough and I guarantee you he doesn't have an "it's OK attitude".
8. Going for a block leaves you succeptible to the fake. But I do think wee need to put a little more pressure on the kicks. Look at how Beamner and VT have made a living off of specialt teams. We need some of that.
9. Demeanor means nothing. I could care less if he looks over conident, confident, scared, or "deer in the headlights". So long as we win...

 

[onenybrother]

The below came from The House that Rock Built. I thought they were interesting talking points.



1) I am not sure I agree about McKnight. I think he is our best receiver so far...but I see a lot of crap being thrown vaguely near him
2) I could not agree more. He's just off. I do not know what to make of it.
3) Against good teams, this is SO true. We simply don't have the power to burn clock.
4 & 5) Our Achilles heel. No one respects our run-game. We have no blocking...and even when we do, our running game cannot take us more than 20 yards.
6) True, but only to a point. We limited UM to 340 yards. That's good in any book. Turnovers killed us.
7) I don't know.
8) I disagree, I think they are both fast and quick, but are very young and learning to play in the big leagues.
9) Weis is not blowing smoke. He is calm, collected, and confident. He knows we CAN win any game...but he also knows we can lose them too. He's an even keel, but I would not want to piss him off behind closed doors.

A writer in the NY Daily News had this quote. If Chalrie Weis the best coach since Ara Parseghian can't win a Championship at Notre Dame then nobody can.

 

[tgolden]

with the Stovall/Samardjiza comparison, I think Samardjiza was the best receiver in the 1st half of the season, and Stovall was better in the 2nd half. and I don't think McKnight is a drop off of either one of them.

 

[tommy]

i was kind of thinking along those lines if we cant win with wies who could we win with but damn its only his 2cnd year i mean can any one name a coach that totaly turned a team around in one year and won it all in the second year i cant think of one

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

with the Stovall/Samardjiza comparison, I think Samardjiza was the best receiver in the 1st half of the season, and Stovall was better in the 2nd half. and I don't think McKnight is a drop off of either one of them.

Agreed on all points.

It's not the quality of receiver...or their potential...it's execution (both WR and QB)