Natty Postgame

[IRISHDODGER]

- They couldn’t tackle for two straight first halves. I don’t have an explanation for that

- Conservative game plan from offense and defense with starts with Freeman doomed them if they didn’t execute on key downs. Lack of aggression is not how the team got here

- Howard balled out. They were not gonna win without a Howard mistake. He didn’t make one all night.

- Offense as a whole played fine. I think only team aside from Oregon to score 21

- Defense felt doomed when you combine the first two points. Just not really any negative plays for 3.5 quarters

Concur.

Freeman will get a lot of questions about “settling for FG” after “going for it” most of the season. I suspect it was more about analytics than anything but if they knew they were going to kick the FG why run that 3rd down play to the right hash? As soon as I saw the angle, I knew Jeter was gonna miss it.

 

[IrishLax]

1. You can’t give up 4 long field TDs on 4 drives to start the game and expect to have any chance of winning. The number one thing you have to question is going away from what got you here to try to “out scheme” Ohio State. Who knows if playing man and blitzing would’ve gone better, but it couldn’t have gone worse.

2. I thought the offensive game plan was quite effective given what I saw Ohio State do to Oregon and Texas recently.

3. Big picture perspective best ND season in a long, long time and fought hard in the championship against a team that was frankly more talented at almost every single position. So I’m not going to act like a little bitch about losing this game as much as it sucks.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Just had to be Ohio St.

God hates me

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

The outcome of this game sucks but at the end of the day we are going home with a bunch of Molly McGraths and they are stuck with bunch of Holly Rowes.

This is legit funny af

 

[Irish4life]

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.

Why are we getting delayed posts from 2013 in 2025?

 

[irishjim]

• Need to retain all 2 deep players
• Sounds like we’ll need a new DC
• Freeman has to shore up decisiveness in games. Can’t rush plays because of play calls
• Have to continue to build talent on the outside and defensive line

 

[IrishLax]

Concur.

Freeman will get a lot of questions about “settling for FG” after “going for it” most of the season. I suspect it was more about analytics than anything but if they knew they were going to kick the FG why run that 3rd down play to the right hash? As soon as I saw the angle, I knew Jeter was gonna miss it.

Analytics definitely say kick it knowing the odds of conversion and time + score. It should be a chip shot regardless of angle, glad it isn't the reason we lost.

I think the 1st down execution and 2nd down play call were the mistakes. 3rd down execution missing Love open in the flat was also really bad to get it to (at worst) 4th and manageable.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Remarkable season.
-could have lost the team after NIU
-lost numerous key players including your best overall player.
-horribly inexperienced o-line
-Star running back injures knee going into the playoffs

And with all that, they earned they way to the national championship and made a game out of a potential blowout.

Bravo boys.

 

[ColinKSU]

I didn’t watch a single second of the game because it went basically how I assumed it would go. I’ve got enough to be upset about in my life to worry about a football game.

Castlevania: Noctune Season 2 was kind of a bummer though.

 

[rtrn2glory]

If Russia wants to start WWIII tonight in Ohio, I graciously accept the consequences

 

[calvegas04]

Not as upset or angry as I thought I would be.... But I will be avoiding ESPN and down voting anyone posting Cam Newton videos

 

[IA4irish]

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.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

If Russia wants to start WWIII tonight in Ohio, I graciously accept the consequences

Look at the bright side, domestic violence in Ohio households will hold steady tonight w/ a Buckeyes’ victory VS skyrocketing after a Bucks loss

 

[Kak7304]

This team has so much fight and will the better for it after experiencing this.

 

[Huntr]

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.

 

[IA4irish]

Our defensive line needs to be significantly upgraded. If Penn state can have a bunch of studs, so can we

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Look at the bright side, domestic violence in Ohio households will hold steady tonight w/ a Buckeyes’ victory.

Dogs and cats and all pets in Ohio need to watch their asses.

 

[EvilleIrish]

I’m as pessimistic as anybody on this site and I am really proud right now. Don’t get me wrong, really bummed that we shit down our leg in the first half…but this team and this run was the most fun this 38 year old has ever had watching.

 

[NDMatt91]

Our defensive line needs to be significantly upgraded. If Penn state can have a bunch of studs, so can we

It's a put-up or shut-up year for Al Washington on the recruiting trail, IMO. Particularly at DT.

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

Fuck it Purdue game IE tail gate to commiserate over how this season ended and to prepare for next season.

 

[WildMan1]

It’s criminal how little Love was given the ball.. I don’t care what you need to do but he can’t touch the ball as little as he did.

Riley was off almost the entire 1st half.. missed multiple open receivers & we simply couldn’t withstand those 0 or negative plays against Ohio State.

Defensively we never hit home on the blitz & again we simply couldn’t absorb that.

But all in all our boys fought back & I’m proud.. a through all the injuries & all that.

Proud & gutted.. ND fans really showed up tonight. We were partying & rocking especially after that first drive.

Fuck.. this really sucks.

 

[SDIrishFan]

We won the second half AND finished with the same record. Does that mean we get half a Natty?!?

#AlabamaMath

 

[NDFAN2008]

From what I’ve seen from our pass rush I wouldn’t be surprised if Burgess starts next year

 

[IrishLax]

Final two takeaways... this is the first game where not having Morrison and Mills really reared its ugly head. Ohio State's kryptonite all year were teams that could rush the passer (especially from the DT position) and if you couldn't do that Howard was *elite* beating the blitz. Given what Morrison did to Marvin Harrison a year ago, I have no doubt we would've been more comfortable with an aggressive game plan with him available.

Ohio State ran Will Howard more in this game than they had virtually all year. Which was really smart given ND's man tendencies and also since it just in general made us account for another offensive player at all times.

 

[GoldenAura]

I think I’d have an easier time coping if it wasn’t Ohio State. That spoiled, arrogant fanbase makes me sick.

Proud of our guys but I need a long break after tonight.

 

[BleedingGold]

Where do you start.

Great season. Great effort and grit. Impressive performance by those who stepped up when we lost some starters.

The offensive line was much better than i expected.

Riley was a talented runner.

Love & Price are fun to watch.

Some areas in need of improvement:

Punter & Kicking. Anyone satisfied with the overall season performance isn’t chasing championships.

DB’s. Gray is average. We have to improve at cb if we want to compete against dynamic offenses. The USC and Ohio State games made me curse losing Ben Mo.

Offensive line. Yes it was surprisingly good, but it must be better next year. Too many times we were relying on Riley’s legs because we didn’t have much else working in games against solid opponents.

 

[notredomer23]

If we’re ranked lower than 3 tomorrow I’m throwing a fit

 

[Dizzyphil]

If we’re ranked lower than 3 tomorrow I’m throwing a fit

Start now

 

[MacIrish75]

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.

 

[tussin]

- Great season… the most memorable, likable, and successful team since I was a baby in the 90s.

- This is another instance where I’m sure a BK team would have completely folded after the 3Q start. We have a great coach.

- I’ll never speak poorly of Riley Leonard. Dude was a total warrior all season and straight up played well tonight. His play this season was “frustrating” yet completely awesome at the same time.

- OSU was just better. I can’t really shit on any of the players. I somewhat question why Al didn’t just stick with what got him here all year but maybe that would have just meant more 65 yard bombs to Smith. This is an impossible team to stop when Howard is dialed like he was in the first half.

- Our team will be beastly next year if one of these QBs work out.