ND/USF Recap- Frustration

[The Gold Helmets]

I have not read any boards or re-watched the game, so I wanted to write my article before I did any of that. Let me know what you guys think.

Frustrating Day at Notre Dame Stadium Ends in 23-20 Loss.

I guess it's time to switch to Rees permanently; lets get ready for Michigan.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

I agree with Joel.

 

[irishtrinity]

the thing that kills me i mean kills me is beating ourselves.. missed FG, and the fumble beat us our defense did a great job our offense needs to get together..

last yr michigan,mich st, tulsa
this yr south florida

 

[LoveNDFootball]

I too am frustrated. I've been watching ND football since the late 60s and yesterday was one of the most frustrating games I've seen.

IMO, Coach Kelly lost his composure. With the exception of the goal line fumble, ND was running the ball very well, with short passes turned into decent gains. That is what Crist is good at. But as the second quarter went on, BK abandoned the running game and went to a pass offense, which isn't Crist's type of offense. Then the "3 & out" started.

Rees is a good deep passer but with him, ND is a one dimensional offense.

Put Crist back in and run the ball. Keep the ND defense off of the field. Let Crist throw short passes to Floyd and Woods and let them do what they do best. Floyd may not get his yardage but ND will win games.

 

[LoveNDFootball]

Here is an approximate breakdown of ND's 1st half drives.

1st Drive
Crist - pass into the flat (Wood, 32 yard gain)
Jonas - 1 yard run
Crist - 10 yard pass (Floyd, 25 yard gain)
Wood - 8 yard run
Wood - 6 yard run
Wood - 6 yard run, now 1st & goal from 2
Wood - 1 yard run
Grey - fumble, returned for touchdown

2nd Drive
Wood - 8 yard run
Wood - 14 yard run
Wood - 3 yard loss
Wood - 4 yard run
Crist - 5 yard pass (Eifert)
Punt


3rd Drive
Grey - 9 yard run
Crist - incomplete deep pass (Eifert)
Delay of game penalty
Crist - incomplete pass (?)
Punt

4th Drive
Crist - 5 yard pass (Jonas, 12 yard gain)
Wood - 18 yard run
Crist - 2 yard pass (Floyd, 12 yard gain)
Crist - 5 yard pass (Ragone, 16 yard gain)
Wood - 2 yard run
Wood - 15 yard run, touchdown, called back for holding
Crist - 7 yard run
Wood - 3 yard run
Wood - 3 yard loss
Crist - incomplete pass on goal line (Jones)
Crist - interception in end zone

5th Drive
Offsides penalty
Grey - 10 yard run
Crist - incomplete pass (Eifert)
Crist - incomplete pass (Riddick)
Punt

6th Drive
Crist - sack, 11 yard loss
Wood - 11 yard run
Crist - incomplete pass (Eifert)
Punt

7th Drive
Crist - 1 yard pass (Riddick)
Crist - incomplete pass (Eifert)
Wood - run no gain
Punt

 

[NDIrishlover3]

and towards the end I think all but one of those incomplete passes were drops...

 

[Freeman Ara]

I too am frustrated. I've been watching ND football since the late 60s and yesterday was one of the most frustrating games I've seen.

IMO, Coach Kelly lost his composure. With the exception of the goal line fumble, ND was running the ball very well, with short passes turned into decent gains. That is what Crist is good at. But as the second quarter went on, BK abandoned the running game and went to a pass offense, which isn't Crist's type of offense. Then the "3 & out" started.

Rees is a good deep passer but with him, ND is a one dimensional offense.

Put Crist back in and run the ball. Keep the ND defense off of the field. Let Crist throw short passes to Floyd and Woods and let them do what they do best. Floyd may not get his yardage but ND will win games.

How are we one dimensional with Rees at QB? He passed all day out of necessity, not because we refuse to run the ball with him in there. BK knew we were only getting 5-6 possessions in the second half an had to score on just about all of them to win. Rees might not have the arm strength of Crist but he makes better reads and gets the ball out quick, which is more important then being able to throw it on a rope 50 yards.

Let Crist throw short passes to Floyd and Wood? He airmailed one into the first row when Floyd was all alone on a slant. At this point I think we have to assume that even the most basic of passing plays with Crist are 50/50 of being completed, he just doesn't have the accuracy needed to perform at this point.

Honestly, we need to go with Rees to win games this season and start working Hendrix or Golson in to get experience so we have a backup going forward and prepare for the future.

 

[LoveNDFootball]

How are we one dimensional with Rees at QB? He passed all day out of necessity, not because we refuse to run the ball with him in there. BK knew we were only getting 5-6 possessions in the second half an had to score on just about all of them to win. Rees might not have the arm strength of Crist but he makes better reads and gets the ball out quick, which is more important then being able to throw it on a rope 50 yards.

Let Crist throw short passes to Floyd and Wood? He airmailed one into the first row when Floyd was all alone on a slant. At this point I think we have to assume that even the most basic of passing plays with Crist are 50/50 of being completed, he just doesn't have the accuracy needed to perform at this point.

Honestly, we need to go with Rees to win games this season and start working Hendrix or Golson in to get experience so we have a backup going forward and prepare for the future.

IMO, I think Rees quarterbacking is one dimensional because of last year. When he came in and won games, the running game was practically non-existent. Those games weren't "throw or die" situations like yesterday but that's how ND played - throw, throw, throw.

ND has a running game and ND needs to turn that into a powerful running game. Then ND will finally start playing (again) ball control and their defense won't be on the field 20 minutes of each half. Even if they drive 60 yards and don't score, that's better than 3 & out and giving opponents a short field.

Yesterday was the first game and if Crist missed Floyd on one pass and made a stupid interception throw, give him a break. He hit Floyd for at least 2 others. And don't forget, Wood's touchdown run was called back because of Floyd's holding, and there was the fumble and the two face masking calls. Mistakes were made by all. Give him a chance to improve his accuracy and don't make him throw play after play by abandoning a good running game.

Wood turned a pass behind the line of scrimmage into a 32 yard gain. Floyd turned a 10 yard pass into a 25 yard gain. Crist can get them the ball on short throws and they can gain yardage. Combine that with Wood & Grey running, we could have a good offense with Crist, as long as BK commits to the running game. IMO

 

[Freeman Ara]

IMO, I think Rees quarterbacking is one dimensional because of last year. When he came in and won games, the running game was practically non-existent. Those games weren't "throw or die" situations like yesterday but that's how ND played - throw, throw, throw.

ND has a running game and ND needs to turn that into a powerful running game. Then ND will finally start playing (again) ball control and their defense won't be on the field 20 minutes of each half. Even if they drive 60 yards and don't score, that's better than 3 & out and giving opponents a short field.

Yesterday was the first game and if Crist missed Floyd on one pass and made a stupid interception throw, give him a break. He hit Floyd for at least 2 others. And don't forget, Wood's touchdown run was called back because of Floyd's holding, and there was the fumble and the two face masking calls. Mistakes were made by all. Give him a chance to improve his accuracy and don't make him throw play after play by abandoning a good running game.

Wood turned a pass behind the line of scrimmage into a 32 yard gain. Floyd turned a 10 yard pass into a 25 yard gain. Crist can get them the ball on short throws and they can gain yardage. Combine that with Wood & Grey running, we could have a good offense with Crist, as long as BK commits to the running game. IMO

Pretty sure the running game improved dramatically at the end of the year when Rees started. Kelly didn't want Tommy throwing 50 times a game and we relied on the running game more and played good defense, that's how he went 4-0 as a starter.

It's not just that DC airmailed Floyd, he is terrible at getting the ball out on time. Think about the Eifert pass on the crossing route in the first half. Ball should have been out earlier and on the front hip. Instead it was late and behind him, should have been caught, but could have been in a better spot to make it easier. Rees on the other hand has great anticipation. Watch his throws to Riddick or Eifert in the second half. Both perfect throws on time in stride. If your just going to have Crist throw short slants, bubbles, and screens and rely on the running game and defense you might as well run Rees out there. You know he can make the right read and get the ball to the spot on time and accurately.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

IMO, I think Rees quarterbacking is one dimensional because of last year. When he came in and won games, the running game was practically non-existent. Those games weren't "throw or die" situations like yesterday but that's how ND played - throw, throw, throw.

ND has a running game and ND needs to turn that into a powerful running game. Then ND will finally start playing (again) ball control and their defense won't be on the field 20 minutes of each half. Even if they drive 60 yards and don't score, that's better than 3 & out and giving opponents a short field.

Yesterday was the first game and if Crist missed Floyd on one pass and made a stupid interception throw, give him a break. He hit Floyd for at least 2 others. And don't forget, Wood's touchdown run was called back because of Floyd's holding, and there was the fumble and the two face masking calls. Mistakes were made by all. Give him a chance to improve his accuracy and don't make him throw play after play by abandoning a good running game.

Wood turned a pass behind the line of scrimmage into a 32 yard gain. Floyd turned a 10 yard pass into a 25 yard gain. Crist can get them the ball on short throws and they can gain yardage. Combine that with Wood & Grey running, we could have a good offense with Crist, as long as BK commits to the running game. IMO

Dude did you even watch last season? Our rushing yards and attempts per game improved DRAMATICALLY last year down the stretch with Rees at the helm.

 

[kmoose]

Rees is a good deep passer but with him, ND is a one dimensional offense.

Put Crist back in and run the ball.

Are you saying that ND cannot run the ball, with Tommy Rees in the game?

 

[Buster Bluth]

How are we one dimensional with Rees at QB?

I didn't see Rees "extend plays" by moving up and then out of the pocket like Crist does. That's is why he is a bit one-dimensional in the pocket.

With as well as Wood ran and how the OL performed, this offense has enough of a ground game though to put up plenty of points with Rees at the helm.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

IMO, I think Rees quarterbacking is one dimensional because of last year. When he came in and won games, the running game was practically non-existent. Those games weren't "throw or die" situations like yesterday but that's how ND played - throw, throw, throw.

ND has a running game and ND needs to turn that into a powerful running game. Then ND will finally start playing (again) ball control and their defense won't be on the field 20 minutes of each half. Even if they drive 60 yards and don't score, that's better than 3 & out and giving opponents a short field.

Yesterday was the first game and if Crist missed Floyd on one pass and made a stupid interception throw, give him a break. He hit Floyd for at least 2 others. And don't forget, Wood's touchdown run was called back because of Floyd's holding, and there was the fumble and the two face masking calls. Mistakes were made by all. Give him a chance to improve his accuracy and don't make him throw play after play by abandoning a good running game.

Wood turned a pass behind the line of scrimmage into a 32 yard gain. Floyd turned a 10 yard pass into a 25 yard gain. Crist can get them the ball on short throws and they can gain yardage. Combine that with Wood & Grey running, we could have a good offense with Crist, as long as BK commits to the running game. IMO

Nice to see Dayne Crist joined the forum!

Dayne Crist makes Nate Montana look like Joe Montana. He had one good pass all game. Those "drops" were horrible passes way behind the receiver.

 

[kmoose]

I didn't see Rees "extend plays" by moving up and then out of the pocket like Crist does. That's is why he is a bit one-dimensional in the pocket.

Rees doesn't have to "extend plays", because he makes quick (mostly correct) decisions. He gets the ball out on time, so he doesn't have to move out of the pocket. If a 71% completion percentage, 300 yards, and 2 TDs, all in one half of football, is one-dimensional, then I say to hell with 2 dimensional.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Rees doesn't have to "extend plays", because he makes quick (mostly correct) decisions. He gets the ball out on time, so he doesn't have to move out of the pocket. If a 71% completion percentage, 300 yards, and 2 TDs, all in one half of football, is one-dimensional, then I say to hell with 2 dimensional.

Agreed.

 

[LoveNDFootball]

Dude did you even watch last season? Our rushing yards and attempts per game improved DRAMATICALLY last year down the stretch with Rees at the helm.

I’ll concede that ND’s running game was not non-existent under Rees and improved. Also, Crist’s passing production was better than what is thought.

Crist (8 games): 4-4-0 record
238 rushes, 897 yards
191-322-9 passing, 2,263 yards, 8.4 avg., 9 interceptions
TDs: 8 rushing, 16 passing

Rees (5 games) 4-1-0 record
173 rushes, 749 yards
94-157-7 passing, 1,037 yards, 9.0 avg., 7 interceptions
TDs: 3 rushing, 12 passing

 

[rikkitikki08]

Tommy Rees will start next week, say what you will about the kid but he came in and showed some real moxy.....I like what dayne has the ability to do but he looked like a sad puppy on that sideline in the 2nd half, not daynes fault but he just might buckle under pressure. Just might be his personality

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Rees doesn't have to "extend plays", because he makes quick (mostly correct) decisions. He gets the ball out on time, so he doesn't have to move out of the pocket. If a 71% completion percentage, 300 yards, and 2 TDs, all in one half of football, is one-dimensional, then I say to hell with 2 dimensional.

Absolutely correct. Well said.