Nov 29 | Southern Cal

pumpdog20

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My insight is limited to the first half. It was, honest to God, the first ND game I've ever turned off, and there have been some real stinkers through the years. I can handle a loss, even a blowout, but it was absolutely unbearable to watch an uninterested team go through the motions, even when the issue was still slightly in doubt. I don't feel bad at all quitting on Saturday, because that's exactly what the players and coaches did.

It happened, and it's done. Refocus, win the GD bowl game, and salvage what's left in a whirlwind of a season.

I appreciate the feedback. A BK team quitting just about seems to be about the most absurd thing I think I've ever seen. That's one thing he's always shown is that his guys fight. Highly disappointing.
 
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Cackalacky

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I appreciate the feedback. A BK team quitting just about seems to be about the most absurd thing I think I've ever seen. That's one thing he's always shown is that his guys fight. Highly disappointing.

IMO that game was so bad it was worth forgetting And was not even worthy of dissecting or looking for some good. At 21-0 the team obviously mailed it in. Tough to watch.
 

Sherm Sticky

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Nov 29 | Southern Cal

I don't think they quit, once Malik came in they played hard. Just thinking about Martini making a the great stop in the backfield and getting hurt.

I think we have a really good player in Martini guys.
 

Whiskeyjack

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Here's Murtaugh's review of the USC game. From his "Final Thoughts" section:

Golson's qualities as a player are coming under a lot of criticism. I recently reviewed his pocket presence on the site and that's still something that needs work. Beyond taking care of the ball (still largely more so with fumbling) there are things I believe he needs to tighten up, as well. That said, I honestly believe his running style is hampering almost everything he does. Put another way, he's just not a good runner. If Golson was a running back he'd never play. In a weird way his athleticism is becoming his Achilles heel. Now, don't get me wrong Golson's legs still allow him to do some great things on the field. Nevertheless, he's not fast for someone his size. He's rarely decisive when running, doesn't hits holes with quickness, powers down after making cuts, and worst of all doubles back and dances around inside and on the fringes of the pocket. With good and competent line play I still think Golson's passing abilities are beyond fine. He can and will carve up a secondary with his arm and there's part of me that thinks Irish fans are taking this talent for granted. But this season has brought out Mr. Hyde with his running skills (and belief that they'll consistently get him out of trouble) bleeding into his passing skills. There's only one way to move forward. Stress the read option during all of bowl practice and commit to Golson running with purpose. If he keeps fumbling or gets hurt into next year so be it. Then Zaire will go in and play.

I've been beating this drum for a long time now, but Kelly's offense simply can't be effective without the Zone Read. Its absence has been painfully obvious over the last two seasons. Golson needs to practice it ad nauseum in the run up to the bowl game. If he gets hurt or keeps fumbling, next man in. EG can't be Kelly's QB if he can't play option football.

The future of the offensive line is going to be highly interesting. Redshirt freshman Mike McGlinchey came in and replaced Christian Lombard at right tackle. At minimum I'd assume those two will be sharing snaps during the bowl game if McGlinchey doesn't flat out take all of the snaps. Hegarty's play all season at center has not inspired much confidence. Truthfully neither has captain Nick Martin at left guard. If Vegas made odds on such things it would seem a Stanley-Nelson-Martin-Elmer-McGlinchey line is what is in store for 2015. Of course that means not bringing back a starter which has never happened up front on offense under Kelly.

I hope a major OL shake-up is in the cards. With the talent we've got on our bench, our inexplicably mediocre line play this season has been a major source of frustration.

And this comes from the SBT's Eric Hansen:

If Kelly does move forward with Zaire as his No. 1 QB for the bowl game, he has to ask himself why each of the starting quarterbacks he’s had at Notre Dame — Dayne Crist, Tommy Rees and possibly Golson — eventually topped out and lost their starting jobs for reasons other than injury.

It’s a question QB prospects in the 2016 class should be asking too.

The Irish offense, unlike the defense, has not been depleted by injuries in 2014. But it sure played that way Saturday against a USC team that ranks 66th nationally in total defense, three spots ahead of the free-falling Irish D.

Golson looked tight, looked defeated before Kelly pulled him. The bigger problem is that a lot of the players around him looked similar on Saturday — wound too tight, afraid to make a mistake. Even the young players. Make that especially the young players.

Kelly hired a dedicated, full-time quarterbacks coach, Matt LaFleur, in the offseason. If he’s as good as Kelly purported him to be last winter, maybe the head coach needs to give him some room to make a difference. If not, Kelly, heavily involved with the QBs on a daily basis, needs to figure out why it isn’t working.
 

Emcee77

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And this comes from the SBT's Eric Hansen:

If Kelly does move forward with Zaire as his No. 1 QB for the bowl game, he has to ask himself why each of the starting quarterbacks he’s had at Notre Dame — Dayne Crist, Tommy Rees and possibly Golson — eventually topped out and lost their starting jobs for reasons other than injury.
It’s a question QB prospects in the 2016 class should be asking too.
The Irish offense, unlike the defense, has not been depleted by injuries in 2014. But it sure played that way Saturday against a USC team that ranks 66th nationally in total defense, three spots ahead of the free-falling Irish D.
Golson looked tight, looked defeated before Kelly pulled him. The bigger problem is that a lot of the players around him looked similar on Saturday — wound too tight, afraid to make a mistake. Even the young players. Make that especially the young players.

This is something that really worries me too. I can't tell if it is a coincidence or a disturbing pattern, but players seem to LOSE confidence under Kelly. It's not just the QBs. I might add that last year, in the Michigan game, Amir looked like a bona fide starting running back. He was outstanding. Then there were some fumbles and drops and all of a sudden he was an after-thought. I'm getting a little uneasy about it, now that players losing confidence appears to be a trend.
 

Whiskeyjack

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This is something that really worries me too. I can't tell if it is a coincidence or a disturbing pattern, but players seem to LOSE confidence under Kelly. It's not just the QBs. I might add that last year, in the Michigan game, Amir looked like a bona fide starting running back. He was outstanding. Then there were some fumbles and drops and all of a sudden he was an after-thought. I'm getting a little uneasy about it, now that players losing confidence appears to be a trend.

Add Brindza to that list as well. Kelly benched the kid's holder in a fit of pique after the ASU game, our place-kicking goes in the tank, and we drop a couple winnable games (NW and UL) as a result. And for what? Because Kelly needed to convey a harsh message about personal responsibility to Hunter Smith? There's got to be a better way to hold kids accountable.
 

Ndaccountant

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Add Brindza to that list as well. Kelly benched the kid's holder in a fit of pique after the ASU game, our place-kicking goes in the tank, and we drop a couple winnable games (NW and UL) as a result. And for what? Because Kelly needed to convey a harsh message about personal responsibility to Hunter Smith? There's got to be a better way to hold kids accountable.

FG SEQUENCE BY GAME
Rice 39,(36),(29)
Michigan (43)
Purdue 50,(19), (48), (39)
Syracuse (37)
Stanford 41,27,(45)
North Carolina -
Florida State (34),(46) (28)
Navy 46,44
Arizona State (46)
Northwestern 38,42
Louisville (28),(37),32
USC 44

Numbers in (parentheses) indicate field goal was made.


Hard to believe that post FSU, Kyle was 3-9, not counting the ASU holding problem. I do think Kelly made it worse with the holding change.
 
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gkIrish

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Brindza has the 9th worst FG% in the country, 3rd worst among anyone with >15 attempts, and WORST among any power 5 team. I don't buy any excuses whatsoever for his season. Kid just failed to do his job.
 

Sherm Sticky

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Forgot Brindza missed 2 against Navy. Can't blame that on changing holders.

Guess change holders also effected his punting.
 

Huntr

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powers down after making cuts

re:Golson running...


I cannot express how much this bugs me when I see it. He often will make a run down field, but he'll pull up and run out of bounds very early. I'm not saying he needs to blast into defenders, but he gives up yards on runs because he will slow up while defenders aren't anywhere near him (although they are pursuing).

It may not be, it looks like a lack of effort and it's frustrating to watch.
 

Rocket89

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re:Golson running...


I cannot express how much this bugs me when I see it. He often will make a run down field, but he'll pull up and run out of bounds very early. I'm not saying he needs to blast into defenders, but he gives up yards on runs because he will slow up while defenders aren't anywhere near him (although they are pursuing).

It may not be, it looks like a lack of effort and it's frustrating to watch.

I don't find that to be a big problem. Every quarterback steps out of bounds when they could have taken some contact and gained a couple extra yards. Heck, Zaire had a blatant run on Saturday where he stepped out really early. Especially in situations where they've gained 5 yards stepping out is fine.

My thing with Golson is that he runs like he's playing point guard in basketball. I don't think that part of his blood has washed away as he's stopped playing hoops. He's like Steve Nash (darting around, getting in the paint, backing out, obsessively trying to distribute) when we need him to be Russell Westbrook (distributing but also going to the rim with zero hesitation).

When he's behind the line I think we just have to accept that this is part of his DNA as a football player. I can live with that. There's still room for improvement on decision making and when to take some easy yards, though. On one snap against USC, Golson found space between the line with daylight in front of him and could have had 5 yards but he saw a linebacker 7 yards away and went east/west before (If I remember it correctly) throwing an incompletion. He's athletic enough where he should be taking those 5 yards with his legs.

But more so when he's past the line he just doesn't run hard. It's almost like you can see him mentally thinking to himself, "Gotta make that guy miss. Oh, made a nice cut there Ev. What's next? Oh, maybe some room over there." You know, like he's making his way up the court in basketball except, well, now people can tackle him.

He needs more urgency as a runner. I guess that's as simple as I can put it.
 

gkIrish

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When 2012 Golson started running I jumped out of my seat because I thought something good would happen.

When 2014 Golson started running I hid my eyes.

Give me 2012 Golson the runner and 2014 Golson the passer and let's go to war.
 
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