Positives

[ACamp1900]

obviously there is work to do, but a win is a win...

from a growth standpoint, here are some positives to take from this game...

-play from the corners (Gray and Co.)
-the running game... wow
-no stupid needless mental errors that killed momentum unless you call Mike's fumble one...
-MUCH, MUCH better play from the D in terms of staying in position and making the play when your assignment gets called... straight up 180.
-special teams, Ruffer looked good, return game was solid.
-tackling was still an issue at times but it was not THE issue


go ahead and add...

 

[KPENN]

I thought dayne was a positive. For starting his 1st career game plus coming back from the acl injury I thought he did a good job.

Conditioning!!

 

[Riddickulous]

- Outer run defense was solid, for the most part. Interior run D needs work.

- Smart, safe decision-making by Crist.

- SEVERAL long runs (we had like 8-10 over 10, if memory serves me right).

- Outside linebacker play was fantastic.

 

[MeanGreen]

Conditioning, they did not look gassed in the 4th quarter and the D could have shown it. Now way last years D stops Purdue from driving to tie the score. Tackling was much improved.

 

[ACamp1900]

I would say the outside LB's still over pursue far too much in space... and that will kill us against UM if we don't address that like last year...

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

- Outer run defense was solid, for the most part. Interior run D needs work.

...

Did we watch the same game? I thought the exact opposite. Otherwise, good call ACamp.

 

[Freeman Ara]

I would say the outside LB's still over pursue far too much in space... and that will kill us against UM if we don't address that like last year...

I think Brian Smith was the worst at that. Look at the Marve TD. If Smith just holds his ground instead of biting on the play to the inside then he probably slows down or even makes the play on Marve, instead of a 35 yard TD.

 

[jason_h537]

I think Brian Smith was the worst at that. Look at the Marve TD. If Smith just holds his ground instead of biting on the play to the inside then he probably slows down or even makes the play on Marve, instead of a 35 yard TD.

had at least 4 other plays where he held contain. Big mistake but Te'o made more mistakes

 

[jason_h537]

Walls and Gray were great
D Line was solid
O line played the run great
Allen and Wood
No penalties (expected alot)

 

[ACamp1900]

I think Brian Smith was the worst at that. Look at the Marve TD. If Smith just holds his ground instead of biting on the play to the inside then he probably slows down or even makes the play on Marve, instead of a 35 yard TD.

first two defensive plays of the game Fleming actually stayed home and played well,.... then left his ankles on the field... lol


sad thing is, talent wise, this should have been a top 25 defense last year and should easily by one this year... yet, fairly enough, they get no respect and are no where near that mark...

it's like those who carry out their assignment can't tackle and those who don't are never in position to make one anyway...

BUT,... it looked better today, not anywhere near where it should be, but there was a real difference there... let's hope it continues because at this point, it could be our D, it could be Purdue is just that bad.

 

[Jo Jo the Dog Faced Boy]

Gary Gray was awesome. Best game by a corner in years.

D line played really well too considering they were supposed to be our weak spot. Got enough of a push to keep the blockers off the line backers.

I agree about Brian Smith. He was losing contain way too much, kept biting on the inside fakes. That's going to kill us next week. Think we may see a lot more filer and Mcdonald next week.

Calabrese had a great game for his first start too. Lots of tackles, could improve his coverage, but I love the guy. Total badass.

 

[jason_h537]

first two defensive plays of the game Fleming actually stayed home and played well,.... then left his ankles on the field... lol
.

Fleming and Neal both did a great job of staying home in general

 

[ryno 24]

Overall impressive Floyds fumble was bad and ruined momentum... they need to learn to get over that but other than that it was great

 

[fortwayne_nd]

I thought dayne was a positive. For starting his 1st career game plus coming back from the acl injury I thought he did a good job.

Conditioning!!

And a new offensive scheme...big learning curve all around for the QB.

 

[micROW ANarchy]

Foundation.

Foundation.

My first post, Oh the pressure. I’ve been a reader for quite some time. You folks are awesome!!!! Positives: The Win! The mistakes will be addressed…but this win will be THE cornerstone. I just feel it. GO IRISH!!!!!

 

[The Polish Irishman]

postives..we won

Playmakers: Wood, Jones, Riddick
Oline: no holding calls
Secondary: Can tackle
Special Teams: They were special in a good way

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Special teams stands out as does the pass rush from the defensive line and the running game.

 

[IRISH1645]

Positives

Floyd makes the catch and score, midway through the 3rd and this a non starter, it's 27-3 ND, with 23 minutes to play. Not once did Purdue mount a drive of 50+ OR MORE., Far cry from last year! GO IRISH!

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

postives..we won

Playmakers: Wood, Jones, Riddick
Oline: no holding calls
Secondary: Can tackle
Special Teams: They were special in a good way

I would add Rudolph, Crist, the OLine, and the DLine. The Oline was punishing folks all day.

Biggest positive for all you stated: Brian Kelly. This team looked prepared and disciplined. He handled himself beautifully under the microscope with the friggen cameras in his face all day, and answered questions very well. I almost felt sorry for him for all the scrutiny he is receiving. Very admirable. This has to be the best coached team I have seen in a while. Prayers to Coach Kelly that he can keep it going, and keep his sanity for his herculean efforts.

 

[Junkhead]

I would add Rudolph, Crist, the OLine, and the DLine. The Oline was punishing folks all day.

Biggest positive for all you stated: Brian Kelly. This team looked prepared and disciplined. He handled himself beautifully under the microscope with the friggen cameras in his face all day, and answered questions very well. I almost felt sorry for him for all the scrutiny he is receiving. Very admirable. This has to be the best coached team I have seen in a while. Prayers to Coach Kelly that he can keep it going, and keep his sanity for his herculean efforts.

Our expectations might be too high, but overall it wasn't so bad. It felt a bit too Weis-like after the Floyd fumble, but overall, they are leaps and bounds better than a Weis coached team.

 

[micROW ANarchy]

Our expectations might be too high, but overall it wasn't so bad. It felt a bit too Weis-like after the Floyd fumble, but overall, they are leaps and bounds better than a Weis coached team.

Well put.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Last year, we lose this game. No doubt.

Gray and Walls on the corner were really good. Kamara - big cztch. Braxton Cave is a stud. TJ - hello frosh! Bennet Jackson - special teams MVP this week. The second coming of Mike Anello.

I think Coach Kelly kept a lot secret prior to Michigan. No second option at TE, not too deep at WR this game. We have a lot of weapons and we did not see a lot this game.

Overall, a very good game.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

Last year, we lose this game. No doubt.

Gray and Walls on the corner were really good. Kamara - big cztch. Braxton Cave is a stud. TJ - hello frosh! Bennet Jackson - special teams MVP this week. The second coming of Mike Anello.

I think Coach Kelly kept a lot secret prior to Michigan. No second option at TE, not too deep at WR this game. We have a lot of weapons and we did not see a lot this game.

Overall, a very good game.

I agree on this. I thought the offensive was very vanilla. We kept it simple and executed generally well enough to beat a team we should. Think you'll see some new wrinkles next week.

 

[choo choo]

im wichya microw...welcome aboard

 

[dre1919]

Positives:

1. The defense has a pulse, so yay for that.

2. The new offense is imaginative and fun to watch. Seriously...fastest I have seen them play or "look" in years. I never bought into the "Weis is an offensive genius" thing because his offense, while at times highly productive, was very vanilla and pro-based. With so many things in college football you CAN do, running a no huddle spread attack is far more creative.

3. The run game looked very good, and this owes a lot to the spread as well. I have always liked this type of attack, as well as Texas Tech's Air Raid, because they make good players into better players by the nature of the scheme.

4. We brought back the "ND" on the uniform sleeve. Hell yeah.

5. We won.

 

[GreatGolson]

Right now i think this is an 7-5 or 8-4 team, but if we go 5-1 in our first 6 we can make it to 9-3

 

[sportallyr]

Positives:

1) The interior Offensive Line and the RB's: We will be running inside all year behind T-Rob, Cave and Stewart.

2) Special Teams: Ruffer was awesome...both on field goals and kickoffs. Bennett Jackson reminded me of a faster Mike Anello. The only hickup was Cierre Wood's fumble on the kickoff return late in the game. If Hercules Motta doesn't dive on that ball, we may have well lost this game.

3) Walls and Gray: They played awesome, both in run support and pass protection. Unfortunately, I thought Blanton played poor.

4) TJ Jones: This kid has me super excited. Looks like a future stud in the making. Not ready to annoint him the next Golden Tate, but he could very well be something special.

 

[GreatGolson]

agree with all those TJ statements, this kid is GOOD. just hope he can keep it up for 4 (3?) more years

 

[mgriff]

Kelly definitely kept in simple, most likely for two reasons. 1) He didn't want to get to complicated for the first game of the year, the simpler the better. This also helps with execution and I honestly think he felt they had the ability to win this with that gameplan. 2) Building off of 1, I think he didn't want to show too much with a huge game against Michigan this week. Not revealing too much is most likely a strategy Kelly and DickRod both followed. They know the magnitude of the game.

 

[BGIF]

My first post, Oh the pressure. I’ve been a reader for quite some time. You folks are awesome!!!! Positives: The Win! The mistakes will be addressed…but this win will be THE cornerstone. I just feel it. GO IRISH!!!!!

Welcome Rowan. THE cornerstone. Nice first post.