Natty Postgame

[greyhammer90]

Remember prior to the 2013 season was the frozen 5 including our young starting QB Everrett Golson which was a massive blow to that season

The first 8 years of BK's tenure it always felt like there was some new fresh hell when I came to this website.

 

[KPENN]

The first 8 years of BK's tenure it always felt like there was some new fresh hell when I came to this website.

Seriously. There was always something

 

[RDU Irish]

ND's 5* problem remains and doesn't appear to be going away.

We'll see how injuries look next year. If it's actually luck rather than something else, we shouldn't have multiple backbreaking injuries again. And we shouldn't have a turf field.

I am not convinced in the NIL era that ND will not end up with advantages. A roster loaded with 4th to UDFA NFL talent for depth and rotational energy is going to be a tough out. I still think we end up with massive national advertisers supplementing NIL with advertising opportunities such that your elite players will get paid more at ND when they produce.

How much would Carter make as the figurehead of the ND defense leading us on a title run? J Love had the quietest 1100 yard season in ND history. We know he is great but he it seems he is getting less than half the snaps and Leonard is the biggest TD vulture on the planet. Pump him up out the gates to have 1000 yards and a dozen TDs by the end of October and see what his marketing rake looks like as a Heisman contender. Then the next Jeanty knows he needs to transfer to ND to get the bag and the trophy - and contend for a title. Trifecta baby.

 

[FOTY977]

Seriously. There was always something

Needed to keep the “excuses” hopper full

 

[NDRock]

Not to be a victim or recency bias...but I'm curious as to how you feel about the program now as opposed to post Bama after the 2012 season? I remember still feeling really good then.

I felt great about the program right after. Seemed like we finally hired an elite coach and we were on our way up. I followed recruiting more back then and was very excited that we were replacing 3 of our top guys (Manti, KLM, Mona) with three 5* recruits, Jaylon, Redfield, Vanderdoes. Everything seemed great. Then Kelly/Eagles, Eddie's grandmother, and the Golson suspension happened...

 

[BeatSC]

Don’t know if it was scheme, size or talent but our D basically didn’t stop them once. We got a turnover after a nice run and what no doubt would have been at least another FG or TD and the one punt happened because Howard finally made a bad throw. If Allar had played only a skosh better we would have lost to Penn State by two scores. Allar totally sucked balls that night and it wasn’t because of immense pressure. Our D got massively pushed around these last two games in a way that Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State have not. All Ohio State had to do was make mostly easy throws without pressure or run through wide open holes like Howard was doing. Howard had as easy a time as you can ask for and Leonard was up against it all night.
Our Dline needs to hit the weight room and training table hard as they wither against the top level Olines.

Our offense finally found itself and Leonard looked like a QB who should be drafted no later than the 4th round.

We win the first and fourth quarters and got demolished the second and third. Lots of great execution on some second half drives but the series of plays leading up to the doinked FG were just shitty and lacking imagination. They knew Riley was keeping that first one. Freeman has two reasons to question the FG decision: why? And now you made Jeter the Mo killer. Totally out of Freeman character especially down by 16. Imagine if we scored there. Was our best chance to get some mental pressure in Day and Howard but instead that was it. This team has played in spurts all year and never played 4 quarters against real competition (end of Indiana game).

If Golden wants to leave so be it. Maybe it’s because I’m a domer but how is the DC for the Bengals better than DC on a rejuvenated ND program? We sell out every game. We have a culture that has to be better than being around anything in the NFL. You have young men you can help, mentor and shape into great human beings and fans that cross the entire country. Pay him a little more if you have to but the last two games should not be part of his audition tape.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Remember prior to the 2013 season was the frozen 5 including our young starting QB Everrett Golson which was a massive blow to that season

Golson was 2013. Frozen Five was 2014.

 

[NDRock]

Golson was 2013. Frozen Five was 2014.

Forgot that they were separate issues.

 

[IrishTusker]

Don’t know if it was scheme, size or talent but our D basically didn’t stop them once. We got a turnover after a nice run and what no doubt would have been at least another FG or TD and the one punt happened because Howard finally made a bad throw. If Allar had played only a skosh better we would have lost to Penn State by two scores. Allar totally sucked balls that night and it wasn’t because of immense pressure. Our D got massively pushed around these last two games in a way that Michigan, Penn State and Ohio State have not. All Ohio State had to do was make mostly easy throws without pressure or run through wide open holes like Howard was doing. Howard had as easy a time as you can ask for and Leonard was up against it all night.
Our Dline needs to hit the weight room and training table hard as they wither against the top level Olines.

Most of the problem is that three DL starters were out and one was basically on one leg, I don't think it's that complicated. And as for Allar, he threw two picks to our D that were negated because of very fortunate holding and PI calls that are basically never made in that situation. If those calls aren't made we probably win 27-14 or something.

 

[RDU Irish]

Most of the problem is that three DL starters were out and one was basically on one leg, I don't think it's that complicated. And as for Allar, he threw two picks to our D that were negated because of very fortunate holding and PI calls that are basically never made in that situation. If those calls aren't made we probably win 27-14 or something.

We pressured Allar enough and WRs had 0 catches b/c our DBs blanketed them. Watching that one in person - our D did their job well.

Howard was never pressured and there were wide open receivers all over the field as it we seemed content to just keep it in front of us. It was terribly depressing and uncharacteristic of our D.

 

[PigtownIrish]

My confidence for the future is predicated entirely on being able to recruit (high school and portal) better on the DL. If we have to spend more on these positions then so be it.

 

[NDPhilly]

Ok so Leonard Moore might run a 4.3.

He’s going to be a top 15 pick lmao. Literally is a perfect CB prospect. Crazy he was an overlooked 3 star.

 

[RDU Irish]

Ok so Leonard Moore might run a 4.3.

He’s going to be a top 15 pick lmao. Literally is a perfect CB prospect. Crazy he was an overlooked 3 star.

Love the wind up for a solid punch at the ball at the end.

 

[IrishinSyria]

He isn't the best player. Love got the ball very little. That said, awesome to see him turn up and make plays. We got a good one there. Nice to see.

I was being a little tongue in cheek there but I do think it’s possible that with Love’s knee he wasn’t our best player on Monday. Obviously the way our d got shredded in the first half this was never going to be a 25 carry game for him but I suspect the staff would have found a way to get him the ball more if they thought he was close to 100%.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Ok so Leonard Moore might run a 4.3.

He’s going to be a top 15 pick lmao. Literally is a perfect CB prospect. Crazy he was an overlooked 3 star.

Kind of looked like Judkins ran out of gas at the end there.

 

[IrishinSyria]

My confidence for the future is predicated entirely on being able to recruit (high school and portal) better on the DL. If we have to spend more on these positions then so be it.

Not coincidentally, I remember this being the concern after 2012 too. Question was could we get more players like Tuitt and Nix who could really hold their own against an elite line, and the answer back then at least turned out to be no.

 

[sixstar]

This is awesome.

would've been awesome to see the players acknowledge that fans took time out of their day to stand in the freezing cold and show them support after a tough loss. that lack of gratitude sucks.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Josh Burnham accounting for HALF of all sacks against Ohio State in the entire playoffs is maybe my favorite obscure stat of all time.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

ND's 5* problem remains and doesn't appear to be going away.

We'll see how injuries look next year. If it's actually luck rather than something else, we shouldn't have multiple backbreaking injuries again. And we shouldn't have a turf field.

What will hopefully offset that is the end of the “super teams”. I think the 2024 OSU will be the last of its kind similar to 2020 Bama, 2018 Clemson, etc. With NIL, those teams can’t afford to stockpile 4/5 stars to keep them away from everyone else.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Kind of looked like Judkins ran out of gas at the end there.

Small solace but did ND ever give up a long (50+ yd) TD this year. Seems like one of our guys always ran them down short of the EZ.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Small solace but did ND ever give up a long (50+ yd) TD this year. Seems like one of our guys always ran them down short of the EZ.

The NIU game

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Yeah Driskell said the same thing about the defense. Maybe we still lose because of the talent gap, but ND was outcoached badly. It's strange because we did get a pass rush against PSU and UGA, despite the injuries.

I agree & have said as much but heard a former player make a key point. He asked what would happen if you took away some of Chip Kelly’s playmakers due to injury & Golden had all his healthy? I think it’s fair to say Golden would fare better. Not taking away from Kelly’s play calling b/c injuries are a part of the game

 

[IrishinSyria]

I agree & have said as much but heard a former player make a key point. He asked what would happen if you took away some of Chip Kelly’s playmakers due to injury & Golden had all his healthy? I think it’s fair to say Golden would fare better. Not taking away from Kelly’s play calling b/c injuries are a part of the game

Golden would fare better but Chip Kelly is arguably the best offensive play caller in the sport in the past twenty years and Ohio State having him as an assistant was just crazy.

 

[forkbeard3777]

I intentionally wanted to wait a couple of days before providing my thoughts. I'm the most biased "neutral" or "impartial" fan out there, but still wanted to provide a few thoughts...

• I've watched all the ND games this year and some of the bigger Ohio State games (Oregon, Penn State, Indiana, Michigan, and their Playoff games). To me, Ohio State is the better team. Talent wise, Ohio State, collectively, is the best team in the country - and there's 20 million reasons why... It was disappointing, however, as I don't think they got Notre Dame's best. Ohio State played and coached at an elite level. In my opinion, Notre Dame could have played better. Notre Dame just didn't execute at its usual level.
• Chip Kelly really outcoached Al Golden all night. That said, Howard played phenomenal. I didn't think he could be that efficient against the ND defense.
• I'm not too sure what was going on with the running game. Love, evidentially, is not full strength. 3 carries for Price? 4 carries for Love? No carries for Williams?
• Greathouse is a beast. Notre Dame has to make it a priority to get him his catches next year. It'll only make the running game that much more effective.
• It's impossible not to like Riley Leonard. He is just that tough, relentless player that gives it his all. He's a tremendous athlete that just battles constantly. Major props to him. He really shine the latter portion of the season.
• I hated the 4th and 2 attempt. The defense was not fooled whatsoever. Faison almost had it, but it was too early and you were too deep in your territory. If you were that determined to go for it, keep your offense out there and roll with Leonard to pick up the two yards - not a rollout pass with a punter...
• Was the 4th and goal field goal the right call? I don't know .... I'm sure there's an analytical chart saying yes, but it's a 16 point game, and a made field goal still requires two touchdowns ... it would have been hard, but I think I would have gone for it. Try and find Evans in the middle or Greathouse on a comeback or something. The miss was just a dagger.
• I wish the offense would have played more aggressive and attacking. I think Leonard-Greathouse could have lit them up. That TD throw to Greathouse late in the 4th quarter was a thing of beauty.
• Defense took some poor angles and sloppy arm tackling.
• Team never quit. Shit, down 31-7 and with 4 minutes left, it's an 8 point game. Major, major props. Most teams would have mailed it in at the 31-7 mark. You made them sweat and earn it.
• Without naming names, there's a few older/senior players that need to be thanked and commended for their commitment and time, but ultimately, you need to have better talent at those positions. Them moving on will help. Notre Dame is so damn close and a few new, younger guys in there will work wonders.
• You had a great season with a lot of great wins (Georgia, Penn State, Texas A&M, Louisville, Indiana, USC ...), regrettably, the better team won. As much as it pains me to say this, OSU is the best in the country. ND's not too far off. The talent is definitely there. Just a few spots to plug in and they'll be back.
• Ryan Day is a goober and Ledouche is well...a douche.

 

[Kingbish01]

My son and I re-watched the game last night and were breaking down the film like we always do. And the one thing that jumped out at us, and if you haven't seen it...you gotta go back and watch. On the Bowen FF, he was being double teamed by two OL 2 yards behind the LOS (when the ball was thrown) and was about 20 yards behind the play at one point. Kid showed absolute hustle on that one. And I didn't notice it live.

 

[ulukinatme]

Not to be a victim or recency bias...but I'm curious as to how you feel about the program now as opposed to post Bama after the 2012 season? I remember still feeling really good then.

I generally feel a lot better after this game than the Alabama game. For one, we kind of scraped by at the end of that 2012 season to get in. Our offense was pretty shaky in reality. I think the Oklahoma win was a bit of a misnomer, it was a real good win, but not as impressive in hindsight as they had already lost to K State and they would later get demolished by A&M. It was pretty clear that we didn't belong on the field with Alabama, they beat us in all facets handedly.

However, despite missing 7-8 key players against OSU we held our own pretty well (Although we put ourselves in a decent hole in the 2nd and 3rd quarters). Even decimated by injuries our OL Monday was better as a unit than the 2012 team imo (Although there were individuals like Martin that were much better on the 2012 team). Our skill players this year were generally better than 2012, although the WR group is hard to gauge. I easily take Riley over Golson, and while I love Theo Riddick I still take a banged up Love and Co. over the 2012 backs. Defensively we didn't have a Manti Teo to lead that group spiritually, but our banged up defense did a great job throughout the year as a unit.

I feel like the future is bright with the young players we have waiting in the wings. We definitely need some more WRs and maybe a few DTs, but otherwise I feel like this team is deeper than 2012. I like our coordinators and head coach a lot more too, although it looks like we'll have to replace Golden.

 

[JamIrish]

My son and I re-watched the game last night and were breaking down the film like we always do. And the one thing that jumped out at us, and if you haven't seen it...you gotta go back and watch. On the Bowen FF, he was being double teamed by two OL 2 yards behind the LOS (when the ball was thrown) and was about 20 yards behind the play at one point. Kid showed absolute hustle on that one. And I didn't notice it live.

I was going to mention this as well...there were like 4 or 5 other guys on D just kinda going through the motions waiting for someone else to make the tackle...then you see Bowen come into the screen like "Guys WTF? Really???" and as Egbuka finally starts going down...Bowen was like "I did not run all this way for nothing...gimme that ball."

 

[Rasputin]

I generally feel a lot better after this game than the Alabama game. For one, we kind of scraped by at the end of that 2012 season to get in. Our offense was pretty shaky in reality. I think the Oklahoma win was a bit of a misnomer, it was a real good win, but not as impressive in hindsight as they had already lost to K State and they would later get demolished by A&M. It was pretty clear that we didn't belong on the field with Alabama, they beat us in all facets handedly.

However, despite missing 7-8 key players against OSU we held our own pretty well (Although we put ourselves in a decent hole in the 2nd and 3rd quarters). Even decimated by injuries our OL Monday was better as a unit than the 2012 team imo (Although there were individuals like Martin that were much better on the 2012 team). Our skill players this year were generally better than 2012, although the WR group is hard to gauge. I easily take Riley over Golson, and while I love Theo Riddick I still take a banged up Love and Co. over the 2012 backs. Defensively we didn't have a Manti Teo to lead that group spiritually, but our banged up defense did a great job throughout the year as a unit.

I feel like the future is bright with the young players we have waiting in the wings. We definitely need some more WRs and maybe a few DTs, but otherwise I feel like this team is deeper than 2012. I like our coordinators and head coach a lot more too, although it looks like we'll have to replace Golden.

All of this, plus the fact that there was so much depth on display across the roster this season. Significant contributions from players with multiple years of eligibility ahead of them. Given the number of injuries in 2024 a reasonable drop off in team performance could have been expected but it just never happened.

This program is talented, deep and well coached. Not all of that could have been said after the 2012 season.

 

[IrishWayDomer]

My son and I re-watched the game last night and were breaking down the film like we always do. And the one thing that jumped out at us, and if you haven't seen it...you gotta go back and watch. On the Bowen FF, he was being double teamed by two OL 2 yards behind the LOS (when the ball was thrown) and was about 20 yards behind the play at one point. Kid showed absolute hustle on that one. And I didn't notice it live.

If it weren't for Jeremiyah Love calling PSU "little cats" Bowen would enter 2025 as my favorite player.

 

[Rambler09]

At the game I saw Zack Martin, Tyler Eifert, and another lineman hanging out (just near concessions). I was walking right behind Estime (who looked smaller than I expected) and he walked up and they all greeted each other.

100 feet farther down I saw Brian Urlacher with a group of dudes around him chatting. I was tempted to walk over and tell him we’re grateful to have his son on the team and that he’s clearly a baller (but left him alone). That was all within 3 minutes of entering the stadium. Pretty cool.