ND's Offense

[EifertPower]

Just wondering what everyone thinks about ND's offense. It just seems so predictable and limited if you ask me. Is this Brian Kelly's style (the screens and short 5 yard passes) or is this designed around our Quarterback's strengths and weaknesses? Did we complete a pass in the air (not a run after the catch) of more than 10 yards? Did we even try longer throws many times?

I feel like we have a lot of weapons on offense. We have a good line. We have 2 good running backs. We have a very good tight end and maybe a Top 5 wide receiver and two other very good wide receivers. We've stayed healthy this year too so i don't understand why we can pick teams apart.

Under Weis, the offense was great except the defense was brutal and the offensive line was abysmal. But now that our offensive line is better i don't understand why we can't be more unpredictable.

 

[Honey Nut Irish]

In my opinion Rees limits the offense. He can't run, and he can't throw down field. If we are going to use this ridiculous spread offense let's at least use a qb who can run it correctly. We have talent at RB, WR, and TE that is not being exploited. I hate seeing the talent that WEIS stockpiled go to waste.

 

[JoeyGetherall]

In my opinion Rees limits the offense. He can't run, and he can't throw down field. If we are going to use this ridiculous spread offense let's at least use a qb who can run it correctly. We have talent at RB, WR, and TE that is not being exploited. I hate seeing the talent that WEIS stockpiled go to waste.

I don't understand where you see all this talent at. We have one all american WR and a very good receiving TE. Everyone else is at a talent level that you see on every other team in the country. Take off the rose colored glasses for a min.

As for a running Qb I see plenty of schools running this "ridiculous" spread that don't have mobile Qb's. BK even had one in Tony freakin Pike.

 

[t3hjc]

I don't understand why we used so little misdirection tonight. We killed them on misdirection draws last year.

 

[EifertPower]

I don't understand where you see all this talent at. We have one all american WR and a very good receiving TE. Everyone else is at a talent level that you see on every other team in the country. Take off the rose colored glasses for a min.

As for a running Qb I see plenty of schools running this "ridiculous" spread that don't have mobile Qb's. BK even had one in Tony freakin Pike.

Let me preface this by saying we didn't lose the game because of Rees. But i do believe we are either really limited on offense because of Rees or Kelly is a terrible playcaller. It has to be one or the other.

I don't think we have much depth on offense but our top 6 playmakers of Floyd, Eifert, Riddick, TJ Jones, Wood, and Gray are pretty darn good. I'd put that as one of the better groups in the nation. A great QB would make these guys look better.

Rees can't really scramble or improvise to buy extra time for our receivers and he can't throw a long or medium ball, so players don't look as good as they could.

I still think our defense is the more major concern because they got walked all over all game for 30 first downs, but i felt that our predictable, simple offense was also worthy of a mention.

 

[irishff1014]

The playing while Rees got hurt was dumb. I am one that was not on the Rees ban wagon. Kelly using 2 Qbs was dumb. If Rees is in the game we don't even think about it. You have had them spread out and Crist was picking them apart. Same thing spread them out With jonas in the back and use a draw. With the way Jonas has been running why not use him.

 

[OCIrish]

I, for one, did not like the playcalling last night. If one thing has been proven, especially since the beginning of the season, is that anytime we try to run the football, or I should say, anytime we bunch up our offense (short yardage situation) we absolutely end up pissing all over ourselves. USF, UM, SC last night. We run the spread offense, why does BK feel the need to resort to something this team is not?

 

[IrishLax]

I just rewatched the game. Our OL gave Tommy all day to throw. They actually did an incredible job. Our offense sucked because:
1. Tommy missed some wide open throws.
2. We just decided to not run the ball... which blows my mind.
3. A couple players made really crucial mistakes that led to turnovers.

Really... the game is what it is. Sometimes stuff just goes horribly. See Texas Tech beating Oklahoma (and they were up 17 on the Sooners with ~6 minutes to play... it wasn't even as close as the score says). The things I learned last night are that we really miss Ethan Johnson and that Brian Kelly has no idea how to coach from behind. He just throws the playbook and gameplan out the window as soon as we get down by 14+ points even if there is plenty of time left in the game.

 

[PJWhitfield]

Irish had flipped the momentum and were about to tie. Then Crist had his Chicago Cubs moment. That was the game.

 

[IrishLax]

Irish had flipped the momentum and were about to tie. Then Crist had his Chicago Cubs moment. That was the game.

I'd say Bill Buckner would be a more accurate analogy.

 

[Veer option]

2. We just decided to not run the ball... which blows my mind.

Completely blows my mind as well.

 

[ChiefSecond]

I just rewatched the game. Our OL gave Tommy all day to throw. They actually did an incredible job. Our offense sucked because:
1. Tommy missed some wide open throws.
2. We just decided to not run the ball... which blows my mind.
3. A couple players made really crucial mistakes that led to turnovers.

Really... the game is what it is. Sometimes stuff just goes horribly. See Texas Tech beating Oklahoma (and they were up 17 on the Sooners with ~6 minutes to play... it wasn't even as close as the score says). The things I learned last night are that we really miss Ethan Johnson and that Brian Kelly has no idea how to coach from behind. He just throws the playbook and gameplan out the window as soon as we get down by 14+ points even if there is plenty of time left in the game.

Dude, you never seen when cinci came back and erased pitt..they came from something like down 20+...at cinci his o-line was worse, he had less talented rb's and TE's but still was killing it because he had a god damn QB that had two brain cell and could actually throw the ball downfield more than 20yards.

BK's offense was explosive and vertical at cinci...pike was stiff as a board and had no mobility. Mobility is by no means a requirement. He's completely limited by these goons reese and crist. I feel bad for him.

 

[pkt77242]

Dude, you never seen when cinci came back and erased pitt..they came from something like down 20+...at cinci his o-line was worse, he had less talented rb's and TE's but still was killing it because he had a god damn QB that had two brain cell and could actually throw the ball downfield more than 20yards.

BK's offense was explosive and vertical at cinci...pike was stiff as a board and had no mobility. Mobility is by no means a requirement. He's completely limited by these goons reese and crist. I feel bad for him.

First off I am going to guess that any QB at Notre Dame has more than 2 brain cells and I would further bet that they are signifcantly more intelligent than you as you proved by your post. Second, leave and never come back. Calling our QB's goons? Take a ****ing hike.

 

[irishtrinity]

Irish had flipped the momentum and were about to tie. Then Crist had his Chicago Cubs moment. That was the game.

Truth man we had the score and the tie with th whole 4th qrt... We tried very hard i feel... looked like USC worked harder at trying to mess up our night which they did......

i feel just a few playe made a huge difference....I just want to learn from mistakes not keep making them.....GO IRISH BEAT NAVY.....

 

[irishtrinity]

Really tho kelly put in Hendrix should have stayed with him on the one.... thats on kelly...

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Tommy missed throws all night long. He sped through progressions (I thought he was scared, didn't look scared acted scared or tight). Then locked on 1 guy. Then missed WIDE Fricken open players. And then blew a TD pass to Eifert.

Sorry, Tommy isn't even close to an elite QB and we are only going as far as our Defense is going to take us. Even in the bowl game, Harrison's 3 picks and the defense won that game. When Michael Floyd went out the offense stopped.

Tommy is not a good QB, average yes good no. It is my opinion and others will have a difference of opinion. We are just going to be this inconsistant while Tommy is our QB. I will be one happy guy when Tommy isn't our starting QB any longer. I am not saying Dayne is my guy. I have said since last year I think Andrew is a better QB, at least he can run and give the defense something else to think about.

I am a fan of Tommy because he is Irish, I think we are a Sun Bowl type team with him as a QB. Oh well, he is our QB and we are what we are.

Go Irish!!

 

[pkt77242]

Tommy missed throws all night long. He sped through progressions (I thought he was scared, didn't look scared acted scared or tight). Then locked on 1 guy. Then missed WIDE Fricken open players. And then blew a TD pass to Eifert.

Sorry, Tommy isn't even close to an elite QB and we are only going as far as our Defense is going to take us. Even in the bowl game, Harrison's 3 picks and the defense won that game. When Michael Floyd went out the offense stopped.

Tommy is not a good QB, average yes good no. It is my opinion and others will have a difference of opinion. We are just going to be this inconsistant while Tommy is our QB. I will be one happy guy when Tommy isn't our starting QB any longer. I am not saying Dayne is my guy. I have said since last year I think Andrew is a better QB, at least he can run and give the defense something else to think about.

I am a fan of Tommy because he is Irish, I think we are a Sun Bowl type team with him as a QB. Oh well, he is our QB and we are what we are.

Go Irish!!

The rest is your opinion and you can have it but the bolded part doesn't make sense. Do I need to go grab the numbers and post them. He had a very good game against Miami in the bowl game. 15/29 201 yards 2 tds and 0 int. Not great but very good.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Brian Kelly has no idea how to coach from behind. He just throws the playbook and gameplan out the window as soon as we get down by 14+ points even if there is plenty of time left in the game.

Considering the team started out so poorly, and then played back to essentially even the game (only to give it away), I don't think you can say that that is true.

 

[pkt77242]

Notre Dame is no better under Coach Kelly than they were under Coach Weis. The defense is actually decent for a change, which is good to see. The offence is bad to watch most of the time. The Weis offense was exciting to watch and put up good numbers and points and that was with a pro-set offense. I honestly expected more with Kelly's spread offense coming to ND. I realize the team has put up 500+ yards of offense at times, but the team is 4-3. ND's biggest win was against MSU, which was great, but other than that win they've barely got by PITT and beat up on a bad Purdue and Air Force teams. The talent level is definately is there, this class was one of the best recruiting classes in college football. I'm like everyone else here, I just don't get it.
??????????????

The problem is Freshmen almost never win you games (maybe 1-2 a year are good enough to carry a team, think Sammy Watkins at Clemson, but he is a rarity). Most freshmen are role players or solid contributors (think Aaron Lynch and Tuitt. GA III as well). The fact of the matter is that we have some issues depth wise and at certain position because of lack of upperclassmen which isn't Kelly's fault. Is it Kelly's fault that we don't have any Junior CB's on our roster? or that at OLB we have a lack of upperclassmen (besides Flemming and Filer)? You have to give the young players time to grow, and that means this year might be an 8-4 season. Also it is a little early to tell how good the teams we have played so far are because who would have predicted that Perdue would take out Illinois or that Michigan St would beat Wisconsin (without one of their best players)?

 

[Buster Bluth]

Notre Dame is no better under Coach Kelly than they were under Coach Weis. The defense is actually decent for a change, which is good to see. The offence is bad to watch most of the time. The Weis offense was exciting to watch and put up good numbers and points and that was with a pro-set offense. I honestly expected more with Kelly's spread offense coming to ND. I realize the team has put up 500+ yards of offense at times, but the team is 4-3. ND's biggest win was against MSU, which was great, but other than that win they've barely got by PITT and beat up on a bad Purdue and Air Force teams. The talent level is definately is there, this class was one of the best recruiting classes in college football. I'm like everyone else here, I just don't get it.

??????????????

This post is so incorrect I don't even want to dignify it with a real response. If you can't see every game how much better this staff is than Weis', you shouldn't be commenting. It is clear as day.

2011 is just The Year of the Unforced Turnover, and that has very little to do with coaching and much to do with poise and intestinal fortitude.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Notre Dame is no better under Coach Kelly than they were under Coach Weis. The defense is actually decent for a change, which is good to see. The offence is bad to watch most of the time. The Weis offense was exciting to watch and put up good numbers and points and that was with a pro-set offense. I honestly expected more with Kelly's spread offense coming to ND. I realize the team has put up 500+ yards of offense at times, but the team is 4-3. ND's biggest win was against MSU, which was great, but other than that win they've barely got by PITT and beat up on a bad Purdue and Air Force teams. The talent level is definately is there, this class was one of the best recruiting classes in college football. I'm like everyone else here, I just don't get it.

??????????????

SERIOUSLY, HOW IS THIS TROLL STILL HERE. Offense is bad to watch? You know nothing about football. 59 points against air force! 59! Please please please tell me when Weis did that. Call Air Force bad if you want, but they gave the fifth ranked team in the country all they could handle yesterday.

Mods, seriously, you are doing this site and the good posters here a disservice by making them read this trash.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I see Notre Dame's offense as pretty good. What we still lack, in my opinion, are two things:

1). Coach is the sort of guy who believes very strongly in the offensive system that he knows works. His "flaw" is that he calls plays with the assumption that the players will function competently themselves. Frankly, what else can anyone do?? But there MIGHT be one thing that Kelly COULD do better. Some of his guys, and particularly Tommy, but including folks like Cierre and Theo/TJ apparently, have things within the playbook that they do far better than others.

Coach assumes, I think, too much out of some of his horses. If he can just get a better handle on who does what best, maybe the alleged "bad play calling" [which to me is not bad calling but bad individual function] would disappear. People on the board also need to admit that the other teams have good players [teams like USC exceptionally so] and are going to blow up plays all the time.

2). No team would ever be better without Mike Floyd, but there is one sense in which WE would be better if Big Mike was truly considered part of the regular offense. Kelly's foundational passing offense does not list players as "NFL Superstar---Look here first, and sometimes exclusively", then "future NFL tight end---look here a lot regardless", then "very fast tricky slot guy who Coach would like to get the ball to", then "the other guy". Rather than that, the plays are patterns which have timed reads across the field regardless of who is occupying the spots.

I get the feeling watching the game that Tommy usually gets this right, but there are moments, even series, wherein the "social" criteria seem to invade psychology and the wrong guy is targeted or others not looked at. I'll for a change put most of this on Coach rather than Tommy. He needs to make a concession to Tommy's "junior" standing vs the big stars, and keep reminding him that if someone's taking Big Mike away with extreme measures, it's just fine to throw it to TJ, or get it to him right off if that's the first option and it's open. Such a strategy ends up with more yards for Mike and Tyler anyway once the defense gets tired of watching the backs of TJs and Theo's numbers.

 

[Chicago Irish Fan]

Notre Dame is no better under Coach Kelly than they were under Coach Weis. The defense is actually decent for a change, which is good to see. The offence is bad to watch most of the time. The Weis offense was exciting to watch and put up good numbers and points and that was with a pro-set offense. I honestly expected more with Kelly's spread offense coming to ND. I realize the team has put up 500+ yards of offense at times, but the team is 4-3. ND's biggest win was against MSU, which was great, but other than that win they've barely got by PITT and beat up on a bad Purdue and Air Force teams. The talent level is definately is there, this class was one of the best recruiting classes in college football. I'm like everyone else here, I just don't get it.

??????????????

This team is so much better than Charlie Weis teams that it's frankly comical that you don't see it. The defense is twice as good as it ever was under Weis and is only going to get better with all the defensive studs we're bringing in with recruiting. The offense is very good, but has been plagued by freakish turnovers and bad breaks, which are absolutely NOT the fault of the coaching staff. And Kelly did in his first year something that Weis could never do in any of his 5: close out a season. Our team got better as the year went on last year, and we are getting better this year. Every Weis team tanked at the end of the season. If you don't see the improvement, I just don't know what to tell you.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I think Tommy is afraid to go deep. The one deep pass was the missed DPI on Floyd. Giving up on the running game was horribad though.

 

[BurningRiver]

I don't think BK's offense will be able to hit on all cylinders until he has a running QB, and Rees isn't that. Golson is probably our best shot at that--as much as I like Hendrix as our change-of-pace guy, he is too much of a project IMO to be relied on as a safe bet for the future.

 

[irishandy]

ND's offense was out of sync the whole night- Cierre Wood had 5 yards on 5 carries, Floyd was limited to 6 catches of 41 yards (had single coverage for most of the game), and only 1 touchdown was scored the whole game. Our defense was on the field too much last night...the spark our offense had wasn't there against USC.

 

[ChiefSecond]

Of course weis's had a better offense ..he had CLAUSEN AND QUINN!
Bk's got crist and rees...that's it and thats all.

 

[PADOMERNUT]

Of course weis's had a better offense ..he had CLAUSEN AND QUINN!
Bk's got crist and rees...that's it and thats all.

He doesnt.