NDFan4Life
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Thanks for doing these, i saw this one via the NBC stream (not great) but will need something for the USC/Arizona games as i think i have to work those nights.
I don't mean this negatively or mean but do some of you guys actually re watch them? I would rip out my eyes, drink a bottle, and smoke a quad to make it through this game again. I did enjoy watching our running game though.
I don't mean this negatively or mean but do some of you guys actually re watch them? I would rip out my eyes, drink a bottle, and smoke a quad to make it through this game again. I did enjoy watching our running game though.
Some people may not have even watched the game. I'm just posting them more as a convenience to them than for anyone who has already seen it.
There are about 6 different threads I could put this in, but since the video evidence is conveniently above, it's going right here...
1. There's no reason to take a shot on the first play of the game against a favorable box. As the announcers are talking about ND wanting to establish the run, they take a shot down field on first down. Great game plan, coach.
3. On the 2nd series, again, why are we throwing the ball on 1st down against a favorable box? Not only do we throw the ball, but we throw it into man coverage against one of the best CBs in the country.
7. Tommy isn't going to win us any games down 14 points late in the 4th quarter. He's a game manager and a damn good one at that. Let's not pretend like we were down 14 because of Tommy.
No like I said I was just curious if people re watch the games if they already watched it on Saturday.
You're criticizing the game plan based on the first play of the game?
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It works both ways, if you run on first down they load it next time. It's not like Kelly/Martin see the box before the play gets in, and you'd be arguing against all the fools clamoring for a more creative gameplan. Which one of you is correct?
4. The second INT is on TJ Jones. The ball is put exactly where it's supposed to be thrown. TJ adjusts his route around the defender covering the slot and doesn't look for the ball quick enough.
I disagree. I agree that TJ didn't look for the ball quickly enough, but it doesn't change the fact that the ball was thrown too high into a tight window. If the ball is thrown into his numbers, TJ makes a catch but still maybe gets plastered by the defender coming to help from the middle of the field.
And I'm not trying to pile on Tommy and blame all of Notre Dame's misfortune on him. I just think the INT is avoided if not for a poorly-placed throw.
It's a perfectly placed throw if TJ locates it a half second earlier. It's at his helmet and he wouldn't have had to leave his feet to catch it (i.e. not too high). We can agree to disagree though.
Can we all agree though that its possible GA3 was flying on that 80 yard TD and his feet never made contact with the ground?
Yes, in a way, I am. But if you'd like to look at the first three drives we can do that as well: 6 passes, two INTs, two incompletions, one completion for -5 yards, one pass interference, two rushes for 13 yards.
BK told the announcers they wanted to establish the run, so why not do that right off the bat against a team you know you can run against? That's what we did last year and Cierre broke a 62 yard run on our 5th offensive play (five straight runs).
What did we do on our 4th drive after falling behind 14-0? We ran the freaking ball! We were 12 for 88 yards on the ground in the first quarter. Unfortunately, we started the game with passes on 3 of our first 4 plays (6 of the first 8 counting the 3rd drive) and found ourselves in a 14 point hole.
I have not criticized the staff all year, but their plan against Oklahoma sucked and is one of the biggest reasons why we lost.
p.s. Thanks for the gif. She's one of my favorites.
BK and Martin knew exactly how Oklahoma would line up if we spread them out and they still chose to call a fade into man coverage on the first play of the game. We gave them a similar look on 1st down of the next drive and again we throw the ball. And I don't care if they load the box on the next first down. Now you have better numbers on the outside and can run play action if you really want to throw it, which they obviously did.
And please spare me the "they don't see the box before the play gets in" garbage. Our offense has been checking in/out of plays all season. You trying to tell me they couldn't have scripted two plays (one run/one pass) for the first play of the game? GTFOH.
Overall, the Oklahoma game was a step in the right direction for many units, especially the run game, but the QB play and the defense did leave something to be desired as we can see from the plays above. I do take some solace in the fact that the defensive issues can be corrected with simply some adjustments. We're not overmatched, just lacking in execution. Against a team like Oklahoma, those mistakes in execution are enough to cost you the game. These plays should give the Irish some of the keys they need to improve in order to win against an Arizona State team built similar to Oklahoma run at warp speed. Notre Dame has the athletes to compete, now we need to see the execution take root on both sides of the ball if we want to see a strong second half of the season.