ND held Bama to their Season Low

[Irishize]

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.

That’s fair. I think Clemson has longer pass plays than Bama. They killed ND with short passes.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

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

Yeah I mean 21-7 at halftime. Bama receives the second half kick off and we make them punt. We drive down the field and score a TD only to have it reversed because of an illegal procedure and then turn it over on downs. I’m pretty sure we then got the ball back which is when Book threw that INT as we had a little drive going. Then Bama score to go up 28-7 but that was 3/4 of the way done with the 3rd quarter. So now it’s 28-7. Bama punts a few times, were disfunctional on offense, and punt to Bama into the 4th and they drive down for a FG then we score with like 5 mins left?

Bama clearly controlled the game and it was never in doubt but it wasn’t like a straight blowout where Bama could just skate. Bama scored 21 points in the first like 18 mins. After that we adjusted and actually started tackling and keeping Bama from beating us over the top. Najee was averaging like 14 yards a carry in the first 1.5 quarters then we adjusted and tackled him.

 

[NorthDakota]

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.

Look, its fine to be wrong. I'm wrong all the time. Probably should just admit you are wrong here.

I'm sure Alabama play calling, like any team, adjusted some play calls based on situation throughout the game. But if they gave a shit about injuries they wouldn't have been throwing the ball at all, and wouldn't have had starters in the game late lol.

This is not particularly complicated.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

To be fair, Bama looked like they were playing a preseason scrimmage. After the 1st quarter I thought the play calling on both sides of the ball was very vanilla from Bama. They knew they could turn it back up if they felt threatened.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

Look, its fine to be wrong. I'm wrong all the time. Probably should just admit you are wrong here.

I'm sure Alabama play calling, like any team, adjusted some play calls based on situation throughout the game. But if they gave a shit about injuries they wouldn't have been throwing the ball at all, and wouldn't have had starters in the game late lol.

This is not particularly complicated.

Yeah.... Sabans interviews were very much all about him not being happy with the end of the first half and most of the second half. He specifically stated he was unhappy they didn’t take the air out earlier. I have little doubt that ND was stifling what they were doing on O.

 

[phork]

Look, its fine to be wrong. I'm wrong all the time. Probably should just admit you are wrong here.

I'm sure Alabama play calling, like any team, adjusted some play calls based on situation throughout the game. But if they gave a shit about injuries they wouldn't have been throwing the ball at all, and wouldn't have had starters in the game late lol.

This is not particularly complicated.

Have you played or coached football? I'm asking because I'm curious.

The Michgan game last year when the score was 17-7. Did you think we had a chance to win that game? Again. Curious.

 

[GATTACA!]

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.

This is such a mischaracterization of what happened. Not surprising coming from someone that can't even spell the players name right though.

 

[Valpodoc85]

Tonight we were prey, Alabama was a predator. They played with us like a predator plays with prey. Wish it weren’t so but it was. They had a game plan and executed, we had few answers.
We are closer, but not there.
A marquee quarterback and a pair of talented (read fast) wide receivers and our offense would have a chance. The D needs lock down corners who can take play makers out of the game.
Hats off to Kelly and the team this season was fun when the rest of 2020 sucked a bag of dicks. The game in November literally made my year.

 

[tussin]

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.

Both Quinn and Clausen were elite college players. The challenge is pairing those guys with a similarly elite defense at the same time.

 

[phork]

Tonight we were prey, Alabama was a predator. They played with us like a predator plays with prey. Wish it weren’t so but it was. They had a game plan and executed, we had few answers.
We are closer, but not there.
A marquee quarterback and a pair of talented (read fast) wide receivers and our offense would have a chance. The D needs lock down corners who can take play makers out of the game.
Hats off to Kelly and the team this season was fun when the rest of 2020 sucked a bag of dicks. The game in November literally made my year.

Careful. Apparently you can't disagree that we actually weren't competitive with Alabama.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

This is such a mischaracterization of what happened. Not surprising coming from someone that can't even spell the players name right though.

Ok. Kizer. During an interview did he compare himself to Tom Brady and Cam Newton? By all accounts he was an egomaniac, no? And easy there buddy. Your avatar says “eat my dick”. Don’t throw stones.

 

[GATTACA!]

Ok. Kizer. During an interview did he compare himself to Tom Brady and Cam Newton? By all accounts he was an egomaniac, no? And easy there buddy. Your avatar says “eat my dick”. Don’t throw stones.

Kizer came out because he knew his stock was never going to be higher and he wanted to strike while the iron was hot. After he declared for ht draft Kelly publicly criticized him and said he wasn't ready for the next level. That's why Kizer had to answer that question about how he translated to the NFL. He didn't just randomly say he was a combo of the best QBs of all time. A reporter asked him what he though he could be. What is he supposed to say? "I think I'm unprepared and probably going to blow."

I've never heard a single thing about him being an egomaniac.

 

[Valpodoc85]

Careful. Apparently you can't disagree that we actually weren't competitive with Alabama.

We were more competitive than we’ve been in recent memory. We just couldn’t exert our will on them for more than a string of downs. Nail meet hammer. There is always next year

 

[TXIrish]

We were competitive up until those times in the game when you need that “big play/moment” and it was apparent that we simply didn’t have that type of explosive talent (I think Tyree is one of those guys IMO). We can’t compete on the perimeters (WR and Secondary)And that kills you against teams like Bama. You can only dink and dunk for so long.

 

[phork]

We were competitive up until those times in the game when you need that “big play/moment” and it was apparent that we simply didn’t have that type of explosive talent (I think Tyree is one of those guys IMO). We can’t compete on the perimeters (WR and Secondary)And that kills you against teams like Bama. You can only dink and dunk for so long.

Alabamaa first 3 drives. 2 to 2.5 minutes per RD. Next 3 drives were over 4 minutes each. They purposely slowed the roll. Compared to our 8 minute drive. They didn't score a lot because they didn't want to.
Media reports all suggest the same thing (Check the Athletic for some of those.).

ND played the best game they could. That is running the clock and PA passing to limit Alabamas effective drives.

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

In the trenches we could compete.
Only took 8 years to get to the point where our lines can compete with Bama.

On the edges we couldn't.
Bama's game plan was literally throw it into space and let our speed kill them.

Was like watching Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl at points.

 

[TXIrish]

Alabamaa first 3 drives. 2 to 2.5 minutes per RD. Next 3 drives were over 4 minutes each. They purposely slowed the roll. Compared to our 8 minute drive. They didn't score a lot because they didn't want to.
Media reports all suggest the same thing (Check the Athletic for some of those.).

ND played the best game they could. That is running the clock and PA passing to limit Alabamas effective drives.

I don’t really totally buy that given Bama’s history and behavior. They avg 50 a game. And you can be sure they’d drop 50 if they could’ve on the national stage. I think ND is extremely competitive in the trenches and that had more to do with the slow down of Bama.

 

[TXIrish]

In the trenches we could compete.
Only took 8 years to get to the point where our lines can compete with Bama.

On the edges we couldn't.
Bama's game plan was literally throw it into space and let our speed kill them.

Was like watching Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl at points.

Totally agree

 

[irishfan]

We were competitive in the trenches. Not even close at the skill positions. I unfortunately think we are a great 3-4 years away from contending with Bama, Clemson, OSU.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

We were competitive in the trenches. Not even close at the skill positions. I unfortunately think we are a great 3-4 years away from contending with Bama, Clemson, OSU.

I think 2 years away if Buchner is the guy. Skill positions set up nicely for him on offense. Need 2-3 impact guys in the secondary which I think we can find with our current freshman and incoming class. This is assuming our offensive and defensive lines continue as they have been over the past 3-4 years.

 

[ThePiombino]

I think 2 years away if Buchner is the guy. Skill positions set up nicely for him on offense. Need 2-3 impact guys in the secondary which I think we can find with our current freshman and incoming class. This is assuming our offensive and defensive lines continue as they have been over the past 3-4 years.

Three years away if they bring in a GT and don't give Buchner typical backup QB reps during the season...

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[tommyIRISH23]

Listening to the one foot down podcast. They just posed an interesting question...Claypool had a year of eligibility left, if he stays, does he change the outcome and/or make it closer? Thoughts?

I’m a yes and no. I think we would’ve moved the ball more efficiently and maybe put the defense is better positions or whatever. He may have helped open some running lanes but I don’t think Book would’ve been good enough to really take advantage of Claypools talent. So the score may have been like 31-21 or something like that. A little closer but probably still out of reach

 

[NorthDakota]

Three years away if they bring in a GT and don't give Buchner typical backup QB reps during the season...

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Thats why I dont want a grad transfer unless he's a star.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Three years away if they bring in a GT and don't give Buchner typical backup QB reps during the season...

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Hopefully we have a legit spring practice and get Buckner a ton of reps but also don’t over-coach him. If there’a not the usual spring session, we have to go GT but I agree, if we go that route, probably sets us back

 

[Free Manera]

Listening to the one foot down podcast. They just posed an interesting question...Claypool had a year of eligibility left, if he stays, does he change the outcome and/or make it closer? Thoughts?

I’m a yes and no. I think we would’ve moved the ball more efficiently and maybe put the defense is better positions or whatever. He may have helped open some running lanes but I don’t think Book would’ve been good enough to really take advantage of Claypools talent. So the score may have been like 31-21 or something like that. A little closer but probably still out of reach

No because one guy can be taken away. You need more than one. Maybe ND scores one more TD. But Bama would’ve just scored one more too. Or Bama would’ve realized ND had a big play guy and just just hung 50+ to put it out of reach.

 

[Blazers46]

I will be that guy. In the current format ND will never be able to hoard talent like the top teams can. When or if the current top 3 lose their luster there will be another team to swoop in and hoard talent.

ND is not the type of school that will ever be able to hoard talent. This is the peak for ND.

There... I said it... someone had to say it... it had to be said.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I will be that guy. In the current format ND will never be able to hoard talent like the top teams can. When or if the current top 3 lose their luster there will be another team to swoop in and hoard talent.

ND is not the type of school that will ever be able to hoard talent. This is the peak for ND.

There... I said it... someone had to say it... it had to be said.

I don’t know if I believe that. If our Oline and defense maintain the same consistency as they have the last 4 years and we develop our 4/5 star QB along with the freshman and incoming class WRs to complement our run game...we have the potential to be significantly better than where we are at now. Granted any recruiting misses will make that jump harder but the talent is there. The ceiling is much higher than what we played with at QB and WR now.

 

[TXIrish]

I don’t know if I believe that. If our Oline and defense maintain the same consistency as they have the last 4 years and we develop our 4/5 star QB along with the freshman and incoming class WRs to complement our run game...we have the potential to be significantly better than where we are at now. Granted any recruiting misses will make that jump harder but the talent is there. The ceiling is much higher than what we played with at QB and WR now.

I don’t know. We aren’t a “football factory” like those schools, so it’s that much harder to recruit, this is also why I’ve never been on board with joining a conf, as we need all the help we can get getting athletes and the pool is bigger when you are a national brand. We are a 10 win team, and that’s nice, but we won’t run with schools like Bama when it comes to talent. But that doesn’t mean we can’t beat a team like that every now and again. I feel like we are stuck in purgatory.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

I don’t know. We aren’t a “football factory” like those schools, so it’s that much harder to recruit, this is also why I’ve never been on board with joining a conf, as we need all the help we can get getting athletes and the pool is bigger when you are a national brand. We are a 10 win team, and that’s nice, but we won’t run with schools like Bama when it comes to talent. But that doesn’t mean we can’t beat a team like that every now and again. I feel like we are stuck in purgatory.

I get your points and they’re fair. But I remember the same points were made during the Weis, Ty, and Davey years. Only difference is that we were a perennial 7/8 win program with the possibility of pulling 10 wins every few years. Ty was just a flat out mess. I don’t really remember what Davey’s problems were. CW could put together explosive offenses but couldn’t field a defense to save his life. And the story was ND can’t recruit big defensive linemen...etc. obviously that changed lol.

Imagine a CW offense with this defense. Obviously it comes down to coaching to put it all together consistently. My point is that it’s not that ND can’t get the right talent, they can. It’s just much more difficult for ND to build the depth to cover injuries or busts. Maybe BK isn’t the coach? Or maybe post 2016 BK gets it? I’ve got no idea. But I think the scales are tilted to more of a coach/identifying talent/developing issue vs we can’t get the right talent to compete. Example- not saying this is happening but if Urban Meyer walked in the door to coach ND, he’d be able to pull in a few more star players and also develop the talent we have to compete at an elite level with the way ND is set up in 2020.

Or maybe I am way too optimistic lol.