ND-USC Post Game Thoughts

[SonofOahu]

I would pay to watch a puppet show reenactment of Saturday's game.

Basically this

 

[BGIF]

Basically this

"IT'S GRUDEN!"

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Didn't notice Claypool getting any targets at all against USC?

 

[Cackalacky]

I would pay to watch a puppet show reenactment of Saturday's game.

It should be shot in Team America format.

 

[Cackalacky]

Didn't notice Claypool getting any targets at all against USC?

He had at least two I think. Drops/Incomplete IIRC.

 

[Section20Row27]

Didn't notice Claypool getting any targets at all against USC?

I thought Claypool had one key reception on third and long that sustained a drive.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Correct Claypool had 1 13 yard catch

 

[NDRock]

I thought Claypool had one key reception on third and long that sustained a drive.

He did, it was on our first drive of the 2nd half, after SC had scored to make it 28-7. 3rd and 10 from the USC 44. 13 yard completion. That was a big drive, as it immediately answered SC's TD.

 

[woolybug25]

Does anyone know if the 76 year old man that died in the stands was a Notre Dame fan? If so, what a fine way to go out. It was a beautiful night where even the air felt great. He was under the lights watching us pound USC. I hope my last day is like that.

Fan dies in stands at Notre Dame-USC game, per report | NCAA Football | Sporting News

Either way, may he Rest In Peace.

 

[zelezo vlk]

He had at least two I think. Drops/Incomplete IIRC.

I think for one of the targets Claypool Wimbush etc were looking for a flag. Claypool's lack of stats is not all on him.

Does anyone know if the 76 year old man that died in the stands was a Notre Dame fan? If so, what a fine way to go out. It was a beautiful night where even the air felt great. He was under the lights watching us pound USC. I hope my last day is like that.

Fan dies in stands at Notre Dame-USC game, per report | NCAA Football | Sporting News

Either way, may he Rest In Peace.

On ISD's postgame show they said he was a Trojan fan. I don't know if that was ever confirmed though.

 

[koonja]

Looking at the box score today and it looks so good. We held them to 76 yards rushing, and like 220 passing. That's the best QB we'll see all year too.

Still concerning is our passing game, though. We had 9 completions (9/19). I guess I hadn't realized how bad that was because of how well the game went. Obviously we didn't need to throw a ton, but BW continues to be a 50% completion guy, and that has to go up if we're going to the CFP.

 

[IrishLion]

Looking at the box score today and it looks so good. We held them to 76 yards rushing, and like 220 passing. That's the best QB we'll see all year too.

Still concerning is our passing game, though. We had 9 completions (9/19). I guess I hadn't realized how bad that was because of how well the game went. Obviously we didn't need to throw a ton, but BW continues to be a 50% completion guy, and that has to go up if we're going to the CFP.

Two of those incompletions were big drops. Mack probably should've pulled in that 30/40 yarder.

11/19 for ~160 looks a lot better than 9/19 for 120, especially in an offense that runs so effectively.

Wimbush keeps getting better in all facets. He gets better and more efficient as a runner every week, and the passing game is slooooowly progressing. I think it's as much on Chip Long learning how to call the passing offense as it is on Brandon, but both things seem to be getting better.

NC State will be a nice progress indicator. They'll be wayyyyyy tougher against the run than USC was, meaning Wimbush will have to be on.

 

[GowerND11]

Looking at the box score today and it looks so good. We held them to 76 yards rushing, and like 220 passing. That's the best QB we'll see all year too.

Still concerning is our passing game, though. We had 9 completions (9/19). I guess I hadn't realized how bad that was because of how well the game went. Obviously we didn't need to throw a ton, but BW continues to be a 50% completion guy, and that has to go up if we're going to the CFP.

I discussed this earlier. First two passes he threw were incomplete. One was a shot down the field that is always 50/50, and it was overthrown. Second was a screen that was dropped. I counted, besides that drop, about 3 or 4 more balls that could have been hauled in. Turn half of those into completions and Brandon is sitting 11/19 which is 58%.

Plus, he looked more confident. Bad QBs don't make that throw to Stepherson for the second touchdown. Heck, they don't even hit ESB for the first. It ends up being a floater that the DB makes a play.

 

[woolybug25]

On ISD's postgame show they said he was a Trojan fan. I don't know if that was ever confirmed though.

That's really too bad if its the case.

 

[koonja]

I discussed this earlier. First two passes he threw were incomplete. One was a shot down the field that is always 50/50, and it was overthrown. Second was a screen that was dropped. I counted, besides that drop, about 3 or 4 more balls that could have been hauled in. Turn half of those into completions and Brandon is sitting 11/19 which is 58%.

Plus, he looked more confident. Bad QBs don't make that throw to Stepherson for the second touchdown. Heck, they don't even hit ESB for the first. It ends up being a floater that the DB makes a play.

We can justify the incompletes, but you can do that with any QB. The guys throwing 65% also had drops and near misses. It has to get better. Don't mean to sound harsh, but if we're going to compete with the big dogs in January, we need the offense to be complete and this is the only missing piece.

 

[NDRock]

Looking at the box score today and it looks so good. We held them to 76 yards rushing, and like 220 passing. That's the best QB we'll see all year too.

Still concerning is our passing game, though. We had 9 completions (9/19). I guess I hadn't realized how bad that was because of how well the game went. Obviously we didn't need to throw a ton, but BW continues to be a 50% completion guy, and that has to go up if we're going to the CFP.

He does need to get better. One thing about Wimbush though, is he can run. That needs to be factored in somewhere. If Rees went 9/19, that was all you were getting from him. Wonder how many yards he had on plays where nobody was open and he just took off running. Keeps him from forcing a bad throw when he can just scramble and still get 8.

 

[Southside Sully]

Didn't notice Claypool getting any targets at all against USC?

First series Wimbush had him open on a double move and it was a little too long for him/out of bounds

 

[GowerND11]

We can justify the incompletes, but you can do that with any QB. The guys throwing 65% also had drops and near misses. It has to get better. Don't mean to sound harsh, but if we're going to compete with the big dogs in January, we need the offense to be complete and this is the only missing piece.

You're right. But I was just saying, he threw better than he has. It wasn't balls being thrown into the turf or over guys' heads. He looked more comfortable, threw on time and on target more, and made some nice looking throws IMO. It's not great, but he had a better game than, say BC, throwing the ball.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Didn't notice Claypool getting any targets at all against USC?

Had one catch on a 3rd & 10 for a first down. My ideal line-up from match-up perspective is ESB and Stepherson outside and Claypool in the slot. A whole lotta potency with those three.

 

[koonja]

One thing I really like is the reverse being incorporated with Stepherson now a threat to run it. That makes so much offense for us. You can't handle Josh up the middle and/or Stepherson around the edge, and then you have to deal with when Wimbush keeps it for a pass. Truly a new nightmare wrinkle for defenses based on who's running it (Adams/Stepherson -- if it's Cam Smith, not as impactful).

And you notice how long BW has to throw on those that turn out to be a pass? I really think this play gives our offense a lot more to bring to the table.

 

[IrishLion]

You're right. But I was just saying, he threw better than he has. It wasn't balls being thrown into the turf or over guys' heads. He looked more comfortable, threw on time and on target more, and made some nice looking throws IMO. It's not great, but he had a better game than, say BC, throwing the ball.

This.

Wimbush doesn't need to be a 65% passer in this offense. With his running ability, and the running game in general, he needs to be ~55%. Anything else is gravy.

The USC game showed improvement towards what he needs to be. The TD to EQ was glorious, as was the 50/50 back-should to Stepherson. He even had one or two big 3rd down completions that kept the momentum going.

If he can keep making those few throws, and can start hitting one or two more (which the progression seems to show is on the way), he'll be fine.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Had one catch on a 3rd & 10 for a first down. My ideal line-up from match-up perspective is ESB and Stepherson outside and Claypool in the slot. A whole lotta potency with those three.

Gotta turn that potency into act.

 

[woolybug25]

This.

Wimbush doesn't need to be a 65% passer in this offense. With his running ability, and the running game in general, he needs to be ~55%. Anything else is gravy.

The USC game showed improvement towards what he needs to be. The TD to EQ was glorious, as was the 50/50 back-should to Stepherson. He even had one or two big 3rd down completions that kept the momentum going.

If he can keep making those few throws, and can start hitting one or two more (which the progression seems to show is on the way), he'll be fine.

Totally agree. BK talked about this in his post game. The big thing with completion percentage is that it keeps the defense on it's heels because the QB can make them pay. Well, Wimbush does that on every play that he drops back. They cant just pressure him because it causes seams in the defense and he can make them pay for it. Furthermore, and because of that threat with his legs, he also going to take several downfield shots every game, which of course are add to a poor completion percentage but adds to his "effectiveness".

 

[GowerND11]

Totally agree. BK talked about this in his post game. The big thing with completion percentage is that it keeps the defense on it's heels because the QB can make them pay. Well, Wimbush does that on every play that he drops back. They cant just pressure him because it causes seams in the defense and he can make them pay for it. Furthermore, and because of that threat with his legs, he also going to take several downfield shots every game, which of course are add to a poor completion percentage but adds to his "effectiveness".

I read somewhere, was it on here(?), that the coaches did a self scout on the bye week and found Wimbush to be the most "effect" QB throughout the schedule to date. Basically saying just that, he makes teams pay with his legs, can throw the ball downfield, and he doesn't turn it over.

 

[koonja]

7 TDs, no pissing around with field goals. How insane is that? Chip Long just called an offensive game plan better than anything I've seen since the 2014 FSU game. Absolutely brilliant.

The slow inclusion of Stepherson (especially on jet sweep) is going to make this offense so much more dynamic and make Josh Adams' job even easier, if you can imagine that.

I've never had this much fun watching a ND team. Getting excited to see the defense take the field is the greatest, weird feeling ever.

 

[RDU Irish]

Take out Adams 84 yard scamper (out running USC DBs) and he was over 100 yards on 18 carries. Lots of tough running but my favorite is the when he takes out two USC players to open up a Wimbush TD run.

Barkley was something like 14 for 39 yards if you back out his long run.

 

[IrishLion]

7 TDs, no pissing around with field goals. How insane is that? Chip Long just called an offensive game plan better than anything I've seen since the 2014 FSU game. Absolutely brilliant.

The slow inclusion of Stepherson (especially on jet sweep) is going to make this offense so much more dynamic and make Josh Adams' job even easier, if you can imagine that.

I've never had this much fun watching a ND team. Getting excited to see the defense take the field is the greatest, weird feeling ever.

I still get nervous whenever a defensive drive starts, and I have to remind myself that the defense is actually well-prepared now, and that they are trustworthy.

Strange times.

 

[greyhammer90]

Lots of tough running but my favorite is the when he takes out two USC players to open up a Wimbush TD run.

There was a play early on where Tony Jones Jr. destroyed his blocking assignment on a good Wimbush run. It's the play where he gets motioned outside and lined up as a WR.

 

[GowerND11]

There was a play early on where Tony Jones Jr. destroyed his blocking assignment on a good Wimbush run. It's the play where he gets motioned outside and lined up as a WR.

Tony Jones Jr. hurt people on Saturday. He lowered his shoulder to finish all of his runs. Loved it.

 

[Blaise]

I don't mind Wimbush living around 55% because he isn't really checking down, he is running for those 3-5 yards when nothing is there.. His 19 passes, a lot of throwing deep. Yes hes missing some, but others are big plays like his two TD throws..