Miami (OH) Postgame

[stlnd01]

Fine. I'll start.

1: Gripe if you want but that's way better than losing.
2: I don't know what more to say about Leonard. He's a great runner, tough kid, likeable, but four games into his third season as a major-college QB1 and he's still just missing passes all over the place. I don't know how that gets better, but until it does there's a real ceiling on this team and it's somewhere short of making the playoffs.
3: Which is too bad because our defense is for real. I know it's just Miami of Ohio but aside from one or two drives where they could run, we locked them down. Three points. Fewer than 10 points per game on the season. That's as good as it gets.
4: I've been on the Traore train since he showed up but that kid is a stud. Drayk Bown flashed today too, and Christian Gray. The defense will continue to be good even after the guys who came back for this season are gone.
5: Nice to see the Aussie punter let it loose. Stop aiming shit and just boom them.
6: WTF with special teams otherwise though. Faison I kind of get on his first punt back from being hurt, but we also seem to have a problem executing field goals. Nice that we blocked one of theirs at least.
7: Back to Leonard. It worries me that Freeman seems so committed to doubling down here. Angeli brings a vertical passing game. Minchey and Carr are also talented. We should at least try to work them in to keep defenses on their toes. I do believe Leonard opens up our running game but is Freeman so conservative that he'll focus on that at the expense of any downfield passing threat? That might win us nine games but it won't beat USC or anyone in the playoffs, and gives zero margin for error even against tougher outs like Louisville and Ga. Tech.
8: Beaux Collins is low key our best WR since... ?
9: Enjoy Jeremiyah Love while we have him. Like Audric and Kyren before, he'll be gone too soon.
10: That said, Amil Wagner should absolutely be credited with a touchdown.
11: Next week? I think we win, in hideous fashion. 17-14 or something like that. Just a rock fight. That's fine this team is built for rock fights. It's clearly Freeman's way. For better or worse.

 

[thekid33]

Winning > losing.

I'd still rather see a different QB starting with packages for RL, but that ship seems to have sailed.

Can this team go 11-1 with RL?

 

[ThePiombino]

8: Beaux Collins is low key our best WR since... ?

Beaux Collins is what Kevin Austin would have been had be played his final year of eligibility.

 

[IrishLion]

7: Back to Leonard... I do believe Leonard opens up our running game but is Freeman so conservative that he'll focus on that at the expense of any downfield passing threat? That might win us nine games but it won't beat USC or anyone in the playoffs, and gives zero margin for error even against tougher outs like Louisville and Ga. Tech.

The game USC played yesterday says otherwise in a very literal sense

 

[NDFAN2008]

Ryan Roberts seems to think this is the ceiling under Freeman that a philosical change needs to be made

 

[Hautian Domer]

1. Sloppy, ugly win. The team, again, came out flat and lifeless. I question how engaged and prepared they were.

2. Offense - We have no offensive identity or purpose whatsoever. Nothing builds or catches the opponent off guard. We rely way too much on RL’s feet to pick up 3rd and short. It’s their fallback. It won’t always work against better opponents. We also can’t continually start games and go a quarter or two with no production whatsoever. Better opponents will capitalize and our defense will be worn down. We’ll be behind and this team, offensively, isn’t built to overcome deficits.

3. Defense is really good. I don’t think they are elite, however. The secondary is the overall strength. The linebacker play has some weaknesses, but is good. The line play isn’t as good as I expected. I’m over Mills. He’s just kind of “there.”

4. Special Teams - F@*% me they’re poor. Fumbled punts, blocked kicks, botched snaps, inconsistent punting … they get a F.

5. Leonard/QB - I would say I feel bad for him, but I’d trade places with him and receive the boos and criticism for all the money he’s receiving. He, obviously, has a dud arm and the criticism has gone to his head. I don’t know you do at this point. If the coaches truly believe he’s the best player to win the game then holy s@*t our QB room is in trouble. If something doesn’t change, I’d transfer if I were Angeli and Minchey.

6. Coaching - I’ve got dire concerns. Not sure Freeman can win me over at this point. The team is unprepared, undisciplined, inconsistent, sloppy …. And that falls back on him. We’re in year three and this is Freeman’s staff, players, and product, and I’m not seeing any upward trajectory. If anything, they’ve regressed. I don’t think this veteran team is that good. I truly don’t. Top 20-25? Yes, but definitely not Playoff caliber.

We’ll see how next week goes…I’ve got my tickets and making the trip, but am tapering my expectations.

 

[Hautian Domer]

Ryan Roberts seems to think this is the ceiling under Freeman that a philosical change needs to be made

I’m with him. This is as a good as it’s going to get and that’s sobering.

Did he say that in IB postgame show? If so, do you have an approximate time In the 4hour segment? I’d like to listen on my run today.

 

[ThePiombino]

1. Sloppy, ugly win. The team, again, came out flat and lifeless. I question how engaged and prepared they were.

Did they tho? I wonder how many people would think so if we had a quarterback who could hit the broad side of a barn. Now, I am not absolving Freeman of anything. Ultimately, it is his team and his decision on who to play at quarterback, but I don't think this was a matter of the team not being ready to play. I think this is a team that can only go so far as RL will take them.

 

[T Town Tommy]

The game USC played yesterday says otherwise in a very literal sense

View attachment 3056514

Remember... they got a Riley too. And if there's two Riley's on the field... one is gonna win.... I think.

 

[NDdomer2]

Did they tho? I wonder how many people would think so if we had a quarterback who could hit the broad side of a barn. Now, I am not absolving Freeman of anything. Ultimately, it is his team and his decision on who to play at quarterback, but I don't think this was a matter of the team not being ready to play. I think this is a team that can only go so far as RL will take them.

There are too many negative plays for me to say this team is well coached. Be it fumbles and bad penalties or whatever.

They also don't handle momentum swings well at all.

The moment we muffed that punt I told my cousin it's gonna be minimum a quarter until we get back on track. It was likely a quarter and a half and it carries over past that even.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I’m out on Freeman. This game was the reason.

I hope he proves me wrong because he’s so damn likable, but I said it in the game thread and I’ll repeat it here: his loyalty to Leonard is coaching malpractice and I think he loses the locker room because of it when it costs us our next game.

Good dude. Mediocre football coach.

 

[DillonHall]

I’m out on Freeman. This game was the reason.

I hope he proves me wrong because he’s so damn likable, but I said it in the game thread and I’ll repeat it here: his loyalty to Leonard is coaching malpractice and I think he loses the locker room because of it when it costs us our next game.

Good dude. Mediocre football coach.

I think this is all true if we fall behind Louisville, Leonard struggles, and we end up losing without playing Angeli. Saying this right now is a little premature

 

[texbender]

Too sloppy; can't play that way vs good teams.
Special teams play has to improve.
D is special.
Passing game is a mystery.
No time to rest, have to beat UL.

 

[Irishdawg]

I’m about out on MF, also. Damn, I want the guy to succeed because he seems to be such a likable/cool guy. But, the gameday decisions he makes and sticking with RL to a fault has me concerned for the team’s success. Hope I’m wrong, as well!

 

[NDMD]

I want MF to be successful and won't draw any conclusions about his coaching potential from this season, he's still a very young guy early in his career and can improve.

That said, as long as RL is QB I will find it hard to get excited about this particular team, and that is a shame.

 

[arrowryan]

The positives:
-Rendell had his best game of his short career.
-Junior T took advantage of his playing time and made a couple nice plays.

The negatives:
-everything else was sub par

 

[Terry Jillery]

I share the same concerns as many others regarding our current situation, particularly with the quarterback and Freeman's questionable late-game decision-making. That said, it's important to acknowledge that he did manage to throw a touchdown today, and thankfully, we avoided a collapse like NIU, a team that has proven to be less formidable than anticipated, especially after their loss to Buffalo.

If Leonard can maintain steady progress—perhaps throwing two touchdowns in the next game and then three in the following—we may witness significant growth by the time we face tougher opponents or approach the playoffs. His development as a passer is critical. Let’s not forget, he won the Manning Passing challenge and as a sophomore at Duke had some good passing, yet we haven’t quite seen that level of performance at Notre Dame.

However, if he can start connecting on passes like that (Collin’s) consistently—say three or four times per game—we’ll be in a strong position to score. Of course, this hinges on Freeman not limiting him with overly conservative play-calling. While I was admittedly calling for Angeli at times yesterday, it’s clear Leonard needs the opportunity to grow, and if he can, we may be looking at a truly competitive team by the postseason. This is best case scenario and by no means do I expect that he will grow but one can hope. But if we don’t see that growth and a game is on the line, Steve needs to go in in the second half as he should have against Northern Illinois because we probably win that game.

 

[NDFAN2008]

The positives:
-Rendell had his best game of his short career.
-Junior T took advantage of his playing time and made a couple nice plays.

The negatives:
-everything else was sub par

One positive is Leonard actually made some decent deep throws. Collins, the one to Harrison was a 50/50 ball, then the ball to Kris was a great throw woulda been a TD if not for the pass I

 

[KPENN]

1-1 in the MAC

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I'm still all in on Freeman.

My main worry is he believes Riley gives him the best chance to winning all of the remaining games when in fact, he's the reason we cannot.
The sooner he makes the change the better. We can't take the next step with 13, might as well start the next guy to see if he can. The worst thing that can happen is they drop another game when we're going to anyway. Maybe it lights a fire under 13 and he steps up?

 

[ND88]

Yeah, USC doesn’t intimidate me. Michigan sucks. Louisville and Georgia Tech intimidate more. Minus the athletic running, their quarterbacks can both throw the rock.

 

[stlnd01]

The positives:
-Rendell had his best game of his short career.
-Junior T took advantage of his playing time and made a couple nice plays.

The negatives:
-everything else was sub par

We gave up three points. That is not sub par no matter who you play.

 

[pumpdog20]

Right before fall camp OL was probably our weakest link, so much so that a lot of people wondered if it was going to be the reason we didn't make the playoffs.

Since then, they've lost 3/5 of the group that were starting. No coach worth their salt is going to put an inexperienced QB behind that line. RL is maddening at times, but he's also the best built to handle the negativity that will continue the rest of the season. Some of it his fault a lot isn't.

Maybe angeli could, maybe mincey could, but it would be a confidence disaster for Carr I think.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Yeah, USC doesn’t intimidate me. Michigan sucks. Louisville and Georgia Tech intimidate more. Minus the athletic running, their quarterbacks can both throw the rock.

I’m more worried about Navy and army than UL or USC I think we will run all over USC and they won’t be able to pass against us. Running teams cause us fits

 

[arrowryan]

We gave up three points. That is not sub par no matter who you play.

They gave up 119 rushing yards to a team that averaged less than 2 ypc before the game started.

 

[ND88]

Did they tho? I wonder how many people would think so if we had a quarterback who could hit the broad side of a barn. Now, I am not absolving Freeman of anything. Ultimately, it is his team and his decision on who to play at quarterback, but I don't think this was a matter of the team not being ready to play. I think this is a team that can only go so far as RL will take them.

Yep, and this is where the issue lies. He needs adapt and stop being so f’ing stubborn. It’s long past overdue for getting the other QBs on our squad some legit burn. This isn’t even a situation of armchair QBing. We have diverse talent at the position. Let Denbrock do his thing and call up some packages. If MF is going to dig his heels in, he won’t last long here.

 

[SoIll]

Right before fall camp OL was probably our weakest link, so much so that a lot of people wondered if it was going to be the reason we didn't make the playoffs.

Since then, they've lost 3/5 of the group that were starting. No coach worth their salt is going to put an inexperienced QB behind that line. RL is maddening at times, but he's also the best built to handle the negativity that will continue the rest of the season. Some of it his fault a lot isn't.

Maybe angeli could, maybe mincey could, but it would be a confidence disaster for Carr I think.

And all things considered. They’ve played pretty damn well.

 

[ThePiombino]

One positive is Leonard actually made some decent deep throws. Collins, the one to Harrison was a 50/50 ball, then the ball to Kris was a great throw woulda been a TD if not for the pass I

The one to Harrison was underthrown

 

[ND88]

There were a lot of people on this board with serious reservations about Riley, and now we are being held hostage by this merc process of portal QBs. Did ND not scout his arm or am I forgetting he once had an arm?

 

[Giddyup]

The OL has been our strongest O unit with the RB’s (including Riley running). They had no problem protecting Steve with a young O line in the Sun Bowl and we moved the ball efficiently. Don’t blame the O line for RL.