ND held Bama to their Season Low

[BabyIrish]

I dont buy that. Nick Saban hangs 50 weekly lol. He's not BK calling off the dogs as soon as he goes up two possessions.

Exactly. They’re point average for the year is 49.7. D did what it needed to do.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Last time we ended the season on two big loses we went 4-8 the next year, I really just hope we don’t fall that bad next year. Still as I said after the acc championship game we have hit the ceiling on what this program is capable of. I just hope we have a good season next year with maybe a good bowl win it’s about what we are capable of.

Do you mean we hit the ceiling for this year? Or in general? I don’t think we’ve hit the program ceiling. Our Achilles heal is QB play and WRs. We have addressed both those needs the last two cycles. Obviously, something needs to change with QB development, but if Buckner lives up to his ranking, then the ceiling without a doubt goes up. A lot of people were swearing our “ceiling” was 8/9 games with a 10 win mixed in every few years, only 5-6 years ago. Before that it was ND can’t recruit offensive linemen, defensive linemen...etc (Ty and CW years). Clearly that’s changed. We’ve won 10 game a year 4 years in a row and have arguably the most talented skilled recruits coming in/are already at SB that we’ve had in 25 years. We’re a few pieces away and if we can maintain the defensive and oline play that we’ve had the last 4 years, there is no reason that our ceiling can’t go higher.

 

[NDisme]

Mac Jones is not good. Ian would do just as well as Mac if he had the weapons Bama has on offense. Mac’s stats are also padded given his high percentage of short passes.

I’m not saying he’s great but that throw to smith in the front corner of the end zone was perfect and indefensible. Book was over throwing swing passed and 5 yard crossing routes

 

[indianamouse]

Is it me, or does Drew Pyne actually look bigger than Ian Book?

 

[ulukinatme]

Book didn't regress.

He simply is who he is. A 3-star talent with great leadership, quality athleticism, and an accurate arm, sees the field but for some reason is not willing to let it fly.

That's always been the problem, and it's not something that can be coached. He needed to get it done on the field and unfortunately, he never could permanently fix it. He had it in him, but he couldn't do it on the biggest stage.

Jones was a 3-star talent, but he has a stronger arm and better confidence. Hard to not have that much confidence when you're throwing to those receivers and behind that line.

Yup, it's easy to be confident when you're throwing to two Heisman finalists and other weapons.

 

[Rudy89]

Do you mean we hit the ceiling for this year? Or in general? I don’t think we’ve hit the program ceiling. Our Achilles heal is QB play and WRs. We have addressed both those needs the last two cycles. Obviously, something needs to change with QB development, but if Buckner lives up to his ranking, then the ceiling without a doubt goes up. A lot of people were swearing our “ceiling” was 8/9 games with a 10 win mixed in every few years, only 5-6 years ago. Before that it was ND can’t recruit offensive linemen, defensive linemen...etc (Ty and CW years). Clearly that’s changed. We’ve won 10 game a year 4 years in a row and have arguably the most talented skilled recruits coming in/are already at SB that we’ve had in 25 years. We’re a few pieces away and if we can maintain the defensive and oline play that we’ve had the last 4 years, there is no reason that our ceiling can’t go higher.

I honestly think we have hit our program ceiling. We have proven we can be a good team that can make the playoffs. But every time we go head to head with a truly elite team with all their weapons ready we get beaten....badly. It happened in the playoffs in 2018, the acc title game, and tonight. We can be a good team capable of winning and maybe even pulling off a bit win in the regular season (usc 2017, Clemson this year) but we have proven every time we make the playoffs, title game, bcs/ny6 we aren’t a team that can beat the elite programs.

Again my biggest fear now is next year because every four years or so we are due for a terrible year I just hope we have another good season next year. Last time we had two big loses to end the year...2016 happened and that was truly awful. I hope we can at the very least keep our 10 win streak going and for the love of god get a favorable ny6 matchup.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Yup, it's easy to be confident when you're throwing to two Heisman finalists and other weapons.

This could just be my perception, but Book started taking chances and throwing 1-1 50/50 balls when the game was out of reach. Why the hell didn’t he do that all game?! Makes me think the mental pressure is a big issue with him. When he had nothing to lose, he was taking chances and moving the ball

 

[BilboBaggins]

Book didn't regress.

He simply is who he is. A 3-star talent with great leadership, quality athleticism, and an accurate arm, sees the field but for some reason is not willing to let it fly.

Because he can't. He has very mediocre arm strength.

I disagree that he saw the field very well too. He would often lock in on a receiver and only throw to him.

IMO Kelly and Rees maximized what they were going to get with Book. But it's time to see what the next QB has.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I honestly think we have hit our program ceiling. We have proven we can be a good team that can make the playoffs. But every time we go head to head with a truly elite team with all their weapons ready we get beaten....badly. It happened in the playoffs in 2018, the acc title game, and tonight. We can be a good team capable of winning and maybe even pulling off a bit win in the regular season (usc 2017, Clemson this year) but we have proven every time we make the playoffs, title game, bcs/ny6 we aren’t a team that can beat the elite programs.

Again my biggest fear now is next year because every four years or so we are due for a terrible year I just hope we have another good season next year. Last time we had two big loses to end the year...2016 happened and that was truly awful. I hope we can at the very least keep our 10 win streak going and for the love of god get a favorable ny6 matchup.

Well the 2018 playoffs we got physically manhandled. We addressed that with depth on the lines. We’re solid on the fronts. Other problem is Book who was also the 2018 problem. Don’t look at our streak of failing as a whole, look at it individually. ND has without a doubt progressed. If we had really good QB with the right physical build/ceiling...this game would’ve been closer. When your QB allows a defense to only worry about defend 25 yards at a time, you won’t beat elite teams

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Because he can't. He has very mediocre arm strength.

I disagree that he saw the field very well too. He would often lock in on a receiver and only throw to him.

IMO Kelly and Rees maximized what they were going to get with Book. But it's time to see what the next QB has.

Exactly.

 

[Rudy89]

Well the 2018 playoffs we got physically manhandled. We addressed that with depth on the lines. We’re solid on the fronts. Other problem is Book who was also the 2018 problem. Don’t look at our streak of failing as a whole, look at it individually. ND has without a doubt progressed. If we had really good QB with the right physical build/ceiling...this game would’ve been closer. When your QB allows a defense to only worry about defend 25 yards at a time, you won’t beat elite teams

Respectfully disagree. Don’t get me wrong we are much better than we were 10 years ago. But when I see my co workers who like the elite teams have what they have compared to us and those teams keep getting better and we stay in the same rut yeah....I can’t say I feel we will ever be on the level of the other three teams in the playoffs this year.

 

[Old Man Mike]

We were very competitive (see most of the stats) except for one thing that all the commentators remarked upon --- we have NO (repeat NO) explosive playmakers. I'm in the minority but this is not on Book. I've said (again a disliked view) that Book does pretty well with what he has to work with. You do not just "let it fling" if your guy is not open. Our guys are rarely open against anyone who is any good. This situation is "on" whoever puts WRs into uniform for ND. There's no Fuller, Claypool, Tate, Eifert, Floyd, etc nor anyone even vaguely resembling them on this team. Ian can't fix that. "Throwing someone open" requires that they be somewhat capable of getting open themselves (My best pass ever couldn't get Sister Mary Constancia open no matter how accurate I was.)

What I'd prefer to ask myself about this game would be: How did our Lines hold up through the 4 quarters? Do people think that THEY backed down from Mighty Bama? Or did they fight the fight all the way? If you thought that they did, then maybe we were only two players away. ... two receivers ,,, Fuller and Tate? Those guys DID play here afterall.

 

[irishtrooper]

I dont buy that. Nick Saban hangs 50 weekly lol. He's not BK calling off the dogs as soon as he goes up two possessions.

I was saying that exactly. I’m of the belief that they actually tried to score, unlike some of us

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Respectfully disagree. Don’t get me wrong we are much better than we were 10 years ago. But when I see my co workers who like the elite teams have what they have compared to us and those teams keep getting better and we stay in the same rut yeah....I can’t say I feel we will ever be on the level of the other three teams in the playoffs this year.

Agree to disagree. We’re much better than we were in 2015 let alone 10 years ago. The maddening part for me is that like it takes a few recruiting cycles for us to bring in the missing pieces and/or wait to play them until they’re Sophs/Jrs. I guess it’s the ND restrictions..etc If our skill talent and QB pan out (big if lol) and our defensive/offensive lines continue the status quo...we’ll be significantly better then we are now. Will we have a historically good offense (Alabama) or a generational QB (TL)...no. Will we be good enough to competitively hang with those teams and win a few games? Yes. We held a historic offense 20 pts below their average. If I would’ve told you at 3:30 today that we would’ve held Alabama to 31 points...you would’ve thought we had a chance to win. That’s also with an inept offense not helping our defense. If our offense had a QB...we would’ve had a real chance for an upset

 

[notredomer23]

It’s so painfully obvious watching the game today and now Clemson-OSU that ND is good, fast WRs away from being able to compete, and a QB who can get it to them. A player like Skowronek is fine if you have a Rondale Moore to compliment him. Unfortunately, Javon McKinley does not do that, and Avery Davis isn’t the elite speed needed for that.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

We were very competitive (see most of the stats) except for one thing that all the commentators remarked upon --- we have NO (repeat NO) explosive playmakers. I'm in the minority but this is not on Book. I've said (again a disliked view) that Book does pretty well with what he has to work with. You do not just "let it fling" if your guy is not open. Our guys are rarely open against anyone who is any good. This situation is "on" whoever puts WRs into uniform for ND. There's no Fuller, Claypool, Tate, Eifert, Floyd, etc nor anyone even vaguely resembling them on this team. Ian can't fix that. "Throwing someone open" requires that they be somewhat capable of getting open themselves (My best pass ever couldn't get Sister Mary Constancia open no matter how accurate I was.)

What I'd prefer to ask myself about this game would be: How did our Lines hold up through the 4 quarters? Do people think that THEY backed down from Mighty Bama? Or did they fight the fight all the way? If you thought that they did, then maybe we were only two players away. ... two receivers ,,, Fuller and Tate? Those guys DID play here afterall.

Agree with everything but Book. Do we have playmakers that can sprint past opposing defenses? No we sure don’t lol. But we do have big bodied WRs who were being covered 1-1 with the safety in the box because Alabama knew we wouldn’t throw it. We should’ve been eating on 1-1 50/50 balls all game and make Bama back off out of the box. We didn’t throw them until we were down by 24 and they worked. We were rolling and book tried to take advantage of Mayer matched up 1-1 with a safety and he underthrew it by 5 yards when it was only a 25 yard throw and it was intercepted. A QB with a stronger arm takes advantage of those 1-1s and doesn’t under throw them for ugly interceptions

 

[dad4aa]

Once again we left 17 points on the field.
1-Missed FG
2-Ian under throwing for an interception where, had he led the TE it would have been a TD bc no one was behind him (or at worst been 1st and goal)
3-Last TD called back for a BS penalty.
31-27 sounds a lot better than 31-10.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Once again we left 17 points on the field.
1-Missed FG
2-Ian under throwing for an interception where, had he led the TE it would have been a TD bc no one was behind him (or at worst been 1st and goal)
3-Last TD called back for a BS penalty.
31-27 sounds a lot better than 31-10.

Yeah

 

[Bishop2b5]

We were very competitive (see most of the stats) except for one thing that all the commentators remarked upon --- we have NO (repeat NO) explosive playmakers. I'm in the minority but this is not on Book. I've said (again a disliked view) that Book does pretty well with what he has to work with. You do not just "let it fling" if your guy is not open. Our guys are rarely open against anyone who is any good. This situation is "on" whoever puts WRs into uniform for ND. There's no Fuller, Claypool, Tate, Eifert, Floyd, etc nor anyone even vaguely resembling them on this team. Ian can't fix that. "Throwing someone open" requires that they be somewhat capable of getting open themselves (My best pass ever couldn't get Sister Mary Constancia open no matter how accurate I was.)

What I'd prefer to ask myself about this game would be: How did our Lines hold up through the 4 quarters? Do people think that THEY backed down from Mighty Bama? Or did they fight the fight all the way? If you thought that they did, then maybe we were only two players away. ... two receivers ,,, Fuller and Tate? Those guys DID play here afterall.

And with the way the game's evolved over the past decade, this is even more important than ever. There was a time when you could win with power, grit, ball control, and good but not great playmakers who executed to perfection. Not anymore. I don't like where the game's gone with its total focus on wide open, high scoring offensive play, but it is what it is. To succeed in this age, you have to have multiple elite skill players.

 

[Henges24]

It’s strange how Book never really improved on his deep pass. He used to miss guys long in the beginning of his term but he soon fell into an odd underthrow habit which resulted in INTs.

He was a good well liked QB to have. He just wasn’t the guy to get ND over the hump. I don’t know if we will ever see that guy, TBH.

 

[BilboBaggins]

It’s strange how Book never really improved on his deep pass. He used to miss guys long in the beginning of his term but he soon fell into an odd underthrow habit which resulted in INTs.

He was a good well liked QB to have. He just wasn’t the guy to get ND over the hump. I don’t know if we will ever see that guy, TBH.

Book isn't a top 3 QB of the last 20 years for Notre Dame.

IMO the one positive from the season is that physically/athletically Notre Dame has come a looooooong way. The program has shown it can recruit QB/WR talent, it just needs to do that again. Not insurmountable.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

It’s strange how Book never really improved on his deep pass. He used to miss guys long in the beginning of his term but he soon fell into an odd underthrow habit which resulted in INTs.

He was a good well liked QB to have. He just wasn’t the guy to get ND over the hump. I don’t know if we will ever see that guy, TBH.

Ever? Kiser could’ve/should’ve been elite. He was just an egomaniac and thought at 19 he was Tom Brady/Cam Newton hybrid. Clausen going back a little further. The question isn’t can ND get those guys (we can/have) it’s if we can develop them. We’ve gotten the studs in and they don’t work out for whatever reason lately. If we can break that habit, we’re good.

 

[Henges24]

Ever?

Ever.

 

[GoIrish41]

I mean, I’m just glad Bama didn’t hang 70 on the Irish. I’m not sure I’m ready to blame the QB who has more wins than any in school history, but this was a great season — far better than I thought it would be. And if we’re being fair, nobody was predicting the Rose Bowl for ND at the beginning of the season. Truth is, Book was the reason we won a bunch of games. He’s much better than I ever thought he’d be, too. So until we get the next generational talent at QB, sign me up for Ian Book every year.

 

[Irishize]

I mean, I’m just glad Bama didn’t hang 70 on the Irish. I’m not sure I’m ready to blame the QB who has more wins than any in school history, but this was a great season — far better than I thought it would be. And if we’re being fair, nobody was predicting the Rose Bowl for ND at the beginning of the season. Truth is, Book was the reason we won a bunch of games. He’s much better than I ever thought he’d be, too. So until we get the next generational talent at QB, sign me up for Ian Book every year.

Then if Buchner isn’t the stud we think he is and doesn’t secure the startingQB position, ND is in for a long season.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I mean, I’m just glad Bama didn’t hang 70 on the Irish. I’m not sure I’m ready to blame the QB who has more wins than any in school history, but this was a great season — far better than I thought it would be. And if we’re being fair, nobody was predicting the Rose Bowl for ND at the beginning of the season. Truth is, Book was the reason we won a bunch of games. He’s much better than I ever thought he’d be, too. So until we get the next generational talent at QB, sign me up for Ian Book every year.

Book has the heart of a lion and I think was coached up way above his talent level but he’s limited physically. I don’t think we need a generational talent. Just a QB 6’2+, strong arm, somewhat mobile, and can read a defense and use the whole field

 

[GoIrish41]

Then if Buchner isn’t the stud we think he is and doesn’t secure the startingQB position, ND is in for a long season.

I’m not talking about Buchner. I’m talking about Book. I have no idea if Buchner is that guy, but having an Ian Book on the squad seems like a more than valuable safety net in case he isn’t.

 

[phork]

meh.

Bama went ball control a bit after they got up big. At 28-7 they were no longer concerned with being aggressive (to their standards).

This 100%. For everyone saying they hang 50 and blah blah blah. The game was over, early. They are playing in the NC game in a week. Why would they do more than just run clock and get out without injuries.

Sorry. Not buying it.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

This 100%. For everyone saying they hang 50 and blah blah blah. The game was over, early. They are playing in the NC game in a week. Why would they do more than just run clock and get out without injuries.

Sorry. Not buying it.

Didn’t they leave their starters in the whole game? I’ve never seen a Bama team not try to demoralize a team. Jones, Najee, and Devonta played the whole game. We adjusted and Mac kept taking the underneath routes and we actually started tackling Najee.

 

[irishtrooper]

Didn’t they leave their starters in the whole game? I’ve never seen a Bama team not try to demoralize a team. Jones, Najee, and Devonta played the whole game. We adjusted and Mac kept taking the underneath routes and we actually started tackling Najee.

Shhhhh...... You’re not allowed to believe in the actual results. You must believe whatever most thought would happen. If that didn’t happen, it’s only because Alabama didn’t want it to......or something. Give me a break with this stuff. They scored 31. They didn’t stop trying just because they were up early. Silly