Natty Postgame

IRISHDODGER

Blue Chip Recruit
Messages
6,368
Reaction score
4,106
Defense was most frustrating thing to me. Very little push up front. Didn’t set the edge well. Injuries finally caught up to us. Golden bringing the house and not getting home on that late pass to smith was so predictable.

4 touches for Love was frustrating. I just don’t understand kicking the field goal down 16. Play calling there was like we were going for it.

Obviously if you told me we would make the national championship at the beginning of the year, I would’ve been thrilled. This one hurts though. I don’t feel like we put our best foot forward.
same regarding the D. It’s the one area the ND media wasn’t as worried about. Poor Howard Cross never had a chance on one wheel. He didn’t deserve to go out that way. So appreciate his effort & leadership at ND.

We all called what OSU was gonna do on that 3rd down. Golden’s blitzes never got home all night & he went to the well again w/ the game on the line. Live by it…die by it.

It’s not fair b/c I don’t think Golden was derelict in his duties but I guarantee some fans’ will claim he lost focus to listen to NFL offer. Thing is it was probably only the Bengals & they already know him & how he fit into that organization so would there really be some exhaustive interview that couldn’t wait until the NC was over?
 

CoachB

Well-known member
Messages
810
Reaction score
958
Super proud of this team. Unfortunately, we just didn't execute like we needed to until it was too late. We needed to bring our A game like we have been doing so many times, and today was more like our D game for the first 2 1/2 quarters and our A game for the rest. We are right there, gentlemen. Credit to our coaches, our boys, our culture, etc. We just didn't quite execute. Sorry if I frustrated some of you with my optimism when it wasn't looking so good. I just knew if we started playing like we were capable, we would make a run. And we did. All the gushing about how amazing OSU was and we don't belong on the field just frustrated me. We will be back and better than ever! So proud of this team. Love thee!
 

IRISHDODGER

Blue Chip Recruit
Messages
6,368
Reaction score
4,106
In hindsight the biggest play of the entire game was Leonard not being able to corral Smith on 3rd & 5 on their very first offensive drive.
So many uncharacteristic missed tackles these last two games. Maybe even a 10 day layoff wasn’t long enough to recharge the batteries? This is uncharted territory. ND is one of two teams to ever play 16 games (the equivalent of an NFL regular season). I like our chances w/ a healthy Cross & Mills. Everyone else seemed to hold up well enough to compete w/ OSU tonight. That poor DL got swallowed up on every play.
 

TracyGraham

Active member
Messages
182
Reaction score
178
I completely expected them to quit and get blown out by 30+. It would be completely understandable, imo. Obviously a win was the goal but I've never felt more that Freeman has this team on the right trajectory and ND will get their natty in the near future.
 

GrangerIrish24

I bring nothing to the table
Messages
5,555
Reaction score
9,155
If we’re ranked lower than 3 tomorrow I’m throwing a fit
This was my first thought at half time. You would hope the fact that we made a comeback would erase any doubts. I say this fully expecting the Rutgers best writer to have us outside the 25.
 

Connman89

Active member
Messages
86
Reaction score
134
In hindsight the biggest play of the entire game was Leonard not being able to corral Smith on 3rd & 5 on their very first offensive drive.
Kinda disagree. I think our third drive where we had 3rd and five where the snap hit Mitch. Use a TO there and get set up to convert. Play was rushed obviously and added to the blitzkrieg.
 

stlnd01

Was away. Now returned.
Messages
11,959
Reaction score
7,744
Well, they didn't quit and ended up making it respectable. I think the guys that come back will learn a lot from this game.

I watched a shit ton of enjoyable football this year, and that is always my goal. They got over the NY6 bowl hump, and that was huge for me. Best ND team I've seen in decades.

The program is headed in the right direction. I think they need to put more emphasis on HS recruiting, going forward, but the sky's the limit with Freeman. I believe that. They have as good a chance as anyone. Go Irish.
We didn't quit. We battled back. If Jeter makes that totally makeable field goal...
But this was the first game all year where I felt like we were outcoached. Just schematically there were too many spots where we dropped the ball.
So many plays didn't go our way. But if 3-5 of them do, we're driving at the end for OT.

Regardless, so proud of this team. Good things coming next year.
 

IRISHDODGER

Blue Chip Recruit
Messages
6,368
Reaction score
4,106
If we’re ranked lower than 3 tomorrow I’m throwing a fit
We all know ND should be ranked 2 but we also know it’s out of the players’ hands and back in the hands of the media/CFP committee. I could see them putting Oregon at 2 b/c they beat them in regular season before getting boatraced by them in the CFP. I think it’s horseshit if they do that but nothing surprises me.

ND was one of only two teams to score more than 21 points vs OSU this season. ND has the lowest margin of loss in all of OSU’s wins. I don’t know how you can put anyone else at two Other than ND>
 

irishff1014

Well-known member
Messages
24,536
Reaction score
7,158
Just don't see it right now...you have to win 14+ games (over a 16 game season) to win a title...unless ND starts seriously paying players you just won't have the horses to compete.

Dude we are 14-2. We have picked up what 8 players in portal and one of the happens to be a really good WR.

Yes we have to recruit better and get them to see that they can come here and make Nil money they just won’t be handed it.
 

Gladiator

Well-known member
Messages
732
Reaction score
643
Does anyone else feel like if we just attack OSUs DBs all game we win? They seemed to really suck in the second half. Or was it because they were playing conservative or other reasons? I really don’t know.
Prevent, and zone will give us the benefit. RL hit some great passes. Greathouse is a great receiver going into next year.
 

Dizzyphil

Well-known member
Messages
3,836
Reaction score
1,263
Dude we are 14-2. We have picked up what 8 players in portal and one of the happens to be a really good WR.

Yes we have to recruit better and get them to see that they can come here and make Nil money they just won’t be handed it.
Better hope those 8 transfers and those that stay can handle this first four games next year...
 

Irishbounty28

Beastmode
Messages
1,117
Reaction score
272
Coaches miscalculated in the game plan. Obviously with hindsight it’s easy to say, but kids were not placed in a position to succeed for the first 3 quarters on defense.

When you add to that some miscues that stalled some early drives you get the outcome of today. Silver lining is they were competitive with a decent amount of youth starting, or as major contributors. Hopefully everyone, including the staff, decides to take this as a challenge, and returns to make a run next year.

PS: Greathouse is a dude! Steps up in big moments and need someone who can get him the ball.
 

notredomer23

Staph Member
Messages
16,229
Reaction score
13,646
It’s going to feel like a pretty bad few days IMO with the loss, likely a small transfer portal exodus, and maybe a coach or two leaving. With that said, this team absolutely *should* be reloading next year. I can’t help but look ahead.

Offense

  • Entire 2 deep on the offensive line is likely back besides backup Baker
  • Receiving room is looking pretty damn good all of a sudden. Faison and Greathouse are studs, Fields should come in and be the outside big body, and some of the other young guys may be ready to contribute.
  • I feel pretty good about TE
  • RB Room is the best in the country. I’m holding my breath on some departures though.
  • Really the only question is QB, but that had a fairly high ceiling IMO.
Defense
  • Healthy Traore and a more developed Bryce Young should give the edges a really good presence.
  • Interior is fine but thin. It won’t be elite and could be the weak point of the defense but is good enough for the regular season schedule.
  • LBs should absolutely be better next year.
  • Secondary I’m really excited for. Moore and Gray will only get better. Excited to see what Dallas Golden can do. Shuler keeps making plays. Stroman should be a stud at safety and Smith will be a great nickel.
On paper, the team is probably better than this years but is missing that magnetic leader in Riley Leonard. If they have better injury luck they will absolutely be in the quarterfinals at least again.
 

NDShark

Well-known member
Messages
1,225
Reaction score
389
1) Take a breath

2) Hold

3) Release

+ These dudes didn’t fold. They didn’t quit. That’s a reflection of our coach. We obviously didn’t reach the pinnacle tonight. Okay. But we’re closer.

+ If you want to blame Al? Fine. If you want to blame Christian Gray, fuck you.

+ It’s not Jeter’s fault either.

+ This season was awesome. I love you guys. Let’s tailgate for the spring game.

Hope springs eternal. WE ARE ND! ☘️

IE tailgate would be sick
 

Connman89

Active member
Messages
86
Reaction score
134
Dude we are 14-2. We have picked up what 8 players in portal and one of the happens to be a really good WR.

Yes we have to recruit better and get them to see that they can come here and make Nil money they just won’t be handed it.
10000% agree with this. 14-2 and being the second best team in the land is going to land the top prospects. MFMF will help cement that.
 

FDNYIrish1

ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE OF THESE ONESIES???
Messages
2,630
Reaction score
4,188
I don’t think Golden called as bad a game as it seems. We weren’t setting the edge well and when our LBs were in position to make tackles they whiffed a bunch tonight and against PSU. I think a lot of that has to do with the quality of the backs on those teams.
Incredibly happy with this season. I loved watching this team and am sad it’s over. These kids are tough AF and relentless. The future is bright. Learn from this
 

IrishTusker

Well-known member
Messages
1,014
Reaction score
770
We didn't quit. We battled back. If Jeter makes that totally makeable field goal...
But this was the first game all year where I felt like we were outcoached. Just schematically there were too many spots where we dropped the ball.
So many plays didn't go our way. But if 3-5 of them do, we're driving at the end for OT.

Regardless, so proud of this team. Good things coming next year.
Correct, absolutely outcoached. And that's granting that OSU is the better team.

That said, we're unlikely to ever have the most talent of any team in the country. So an advantage at the coaching position might help.
 

IRISHDODGER

Blue Chip Recruit
Messages
6,368
Reaction score
4,106
I don’t think Golden called as bad a game as it seems. We weren’t setting the edge well and when our LBs were in position to make tackles they whiffed a bunch tonight and against PSU. I think a lot of that has to do with the quality of the backs on those teams.
Incredibly happy with this season. I loved watching this team and am sad it’s over. These kids are tough AF and relentless. The future is bright. Learn from this
May have been the worst game by the LB corps yet but I love what the future looks like.
 

NDShark

Well-known member
Messages
1,225
Reaction score
389
Jesus that felt achievable. I'm very sad it didn't happen and hope Marcus can capitalize from a recruiting and transfer perspective.
 
Top