Post Game Observations Michigan '14

[Irish Insanity]

It can if it's declined

You can't decline a personal foul.

 

[Kak7304]

My postgame observations:
1) Rice scores 17 and Michigan scores 0. This says something about our defense.
2) Will Fuller is developing into a nice receiver.
3) Total punt return yards in 2013: 106 yards and total punt return yards in 2014: 107 yards. Special teams is starting to feel special.
4) I don't see any improvements this team needs to make, but when we get our 3 starters back (hopefully) we will get quite a nice upgrade.

Seriously? Way too many drops. Not a big deal during blowouts but could kill us in a close game.

 

[irishtrain]

I'm glad this series is over for a long time. Too many hose jobs by they big 10 refs. It was almost like this set of refs went out of there way to be ultra carefull and fair-much different than many past games. What a win for Kelly by his smart tough disciplined football team. I am proud. What a young athletic group. I may change my mind on my 8/4prediction this year but no matter what they made a statement for college guys playing college football. Kelly and that staff deserve big respect for what they've gone thru and having started a tough schedule this way. Nice very nice.

 

[irishandy]

Seriously? Way too many drops. Not a big deal during blowouts but could kill us in a close game.

That's an easy fix. This offense is filled with weapons.

 

[irishandy]

Our running game was awful last night. Ran 31 times for only 54 yards.

I agree on that, under 2 yards per carry.

 

[NDBoiler]

Went to the game. Great atmosphere so I'm sure the recruits were digging it.

Obviously, overall a great game.

Golson looked great on those fake handoffs followed by quick throws over the middle. For some reason he still looks nervous to me at the beginning of games though. It would be nice to take the opening drive down for some points if we keep planning on receiving the opening kickoff.

Receivers missed some catchable balls again. That's going to have to be cleaned up if there is a chance of beating the good teams left on the schedule.

Jaylon and Shumate looked great on D. When Jaylon made that play where he knifed through the middle of the backfield to tackle the RB for a loss, you could see it develop perfectly from my view. It was awesome. He was so fast. Jarron Jones had another solid game too. Trumbetti needs to learn to wrap guys up a little better, he probably should've had a sack and a TFL that slipped through his fingers. Watching the defense communicate pre-snap was great compared to the Rice game. Jaylon and Joe were on it getting everyone in position. Did I mention that Jaylon is awesome?

Tailgating note - I noticed a lot of the girls are wearing the cutoff shorts with a real high waist. I don't like that style, it looks weird. Carry on...

 

[Kak7304]

That's an easy fix. This offense is filled with weapons.

How's it an easy fix? Lots of drops in both games. Sometimes that's a skill thing. We have guys who can fly and are a a threat to take it to the house every time they touch it, if they can catch it, that is.

 

[Seanthornton]

Other than a few dropped passes and a couple of bad throws......what's not to like ?? They will only get better each week. They had intensity tonight.

We need to do a better job selling the fake hand off. Michigan did that well........that's about the only thing ................

 

[Irishman77]

Our running game was awful last night. Ran 31 times for only 54 yards.

Michigan stacked the box all night. Sometimes 7 on the line. We continued to run for the following reasons.
1. We are much stronger than them and it would pay off in the fourth.
2. Our D needed time to catch their breath a lot! We were gassed big time the first half.
3. We were up big and wanted to limit the amount of possessions Michigan would get.
4. Statistically you turn the ball over much less with runs and we again were playing defense with our offense.

 

[Pachuco]

This was a very effective strategy against Rees and 2012 Golson. Not so much against 2014 Golson. As Kelly said in his post-game press conference:



He liked the matchups he was getting against Michigan's secondary, so he continued calling running plays into an almost always stacked box in order to keep the passing game going.



It's very telling that Cam's number gets called in the red zone.

This, Bog's and Irishman77's quick analysis on why we didn't run quite so well is all anyone really needs to know.

There was strategy involved to push the rock against Michigan's front.

Last week, there were complaints about the pass protection and praise for the OL's run development.

Give it time. Both elements at once will evolve more cohesively...

 

[Buster Bluth]

Other than a few dropped passes and a couple of bad throws......what's not to like ?? They will only get better each week. They had intensity tonight.

Not according to more than a century of football history.

 

[kmoose]

The view from Section 18:

1. ND played a TON of 3-4 defense, with Jaylon Smith moving inside and playing alongside Joe Schmidt.

2. Devin Funchess is REALLY good. ND actually did a pretty good job of covering him, and he still caught just about everything thrown near him.

3. Golson had a great game, but it could have been better. He couldn't hit the out route to save his life. Also, I am not sure if this was Golson falling short, or just the game plan, but; Michigan was playing 2-deep on both sides of the field, all night. This left a LB on our TE. The TE Seam route was open quite a bit, and Golson didn't appear to even look that way. Not sure if Golson missed the read, or if the TE was just the last read in the progression, and he just never got that far.

4. Too many drops. As someone pointed out, earlier, that could really hurt us, against the tougher part of our schedule. Fuller made a nice grab on his TD catch, but he also bobbled, and damn near lost, a simple WR screen pass on the first possession. That cost us probably about 15-20 yards.

Overall, I would call it one whale of a game, but we will still have to play MUCH better, to beat the FSUs and USCs on our schedule. From what I have seen so far, I think I have faith in this coaching staff, to get it figured out!

 

[phork]

I am going to miss Riggs next year. He has been such a spark plug on ST and D already.

 

[mtnd15]

Tailgating note - I noticed a lot of the girls are wearing the cutoff shorts with a real high waist. I don't like that style, it looks weird. Carry on...

Read my damn mind...

 

[woolybug25]

I am going to miss Riggs next year. He has been such a spark plug on ST and D already.

Fer real! I'm going to try to just enjoy the year we do have him, and hope that the way he goes about his business is something that rubs off on the young guys like Watkins and Tranquill.

That's one terrific thing about our youth on this team. If our early success continues, we have an ubelievable opportunity to build the types of deeply talented rosters we have seen lately south of the mason dixie.

 

[Irish#1]

Michigan stacked the box all night. Sometimes 7 on the line. We continued to run for the following reasons.
1. We are much stronger than them and it would pay off in the fourth.
2. Our D needed time to catch their breath a lot! We were gassed big time the first half.
3. We were up big and wanted to limit the amount of possessions Michigan would get.
4. Statistically you turn the ball over much less with runs and we again were playing defense with our offense.

This, Bog's and Irishman77's quick analysis on why we didn't run quite so well is all anyone really needs to know.

There was strategy involved to push the rock against Michigan's front.

Last week, there were complaints about the pass protection and praise for the OL's run development.

Give it time. Both elements at once will evolve more cohesively...

The good news is we can run and throw, so if teams take one away, we still have a way to move the ball.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Tailgating note - I noticed a lot of the girls are wearing the cutoff shorts with a real high waist. I don't like that style, it looks weird. Carry on...

Agreed. I'm not the world's foremost fashion expert, but when it comes to women's clothing, the lower the waistline the better in all cases. And I'm not saying that in a creepy way because there is more to look at. I'm saying that because it is just awkward to look at, like white socks with black shoes. Even those old-school g-strings with the high waists that you see in pictures from the 80s....I'd rather look at the same woman with low-waisted jeans on than in a 80s g-string.

 

[BobD]

Agreed. I'm not the world's foremost fashion expert, but when it comes to women's clothing, the lower the waistline the better in all cases. And I'm not saying that in a creepy way because there is more to look at. I'm saying that because it is just awkward to look at, like white socks with black shoes. Even those old-school g-strings with the high waists that you see in pictures from the 80s....I'd rather look at the same woman with low-waisted jeans on than in a 80s g-string.

High waisted womens clothing means no more:

 

[N_D_Fighting_Irish]

Here's the most important post-game observation, in my opinion:

Last year Michigan went 7-6.

I loved what I saw on Saturday, and Notre Dame should cruise to 4-0...but the real season starts when Stanford comes to town.

True, but we have rarely played a complete game like Saturday's game. I agree Stanford will be the litmus test. How will our D line hold up against an offense capable and willing to grind out yards? Michigan had a decent amount of success running the ball. It didn't matter as they had no outside threat.

What I find notable about the game is the considerable upgrade @ the safety positions. Shumate's physicality was refreshing. He plugged holes. Red is gaining confidence. The defense is no longer playing 10 vs 11.

Golson's accuracy and pocket presence is impressive. What could have been last year...

 

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

High waisted womens clothing means no more:

Girls who wear high waist shorts dont have dirty socks?

 

[gkIrish]

Random thoughts:

1. Best game I have been to at Notre Dame Stadium. Electric crowd. Everyone was there by kickoff. The entire crowd was on their feet for any remotely important play. The 4th quarter was just as loud as the first as blood was in the water and we wanted the shutout so much.

2. Did I mention how great the crowd was? Student body was rocking and the stadium music was great. The players clearly fed off our energy. The 5 minutes of na na na na were amazing. Got faster and louder and the players were into that too.

3. The butthurt from the Michigan fans sitting around me was so enjoyable. They looked miserable starting from the blocked field goal. You can't erase the pick 6 from my mind even if you can erase it from the scoreboard.

4. Field looks really great. Classic look.

5. This team has swag. I'm glad they put Gardner on his ass. They knew at halftime that it was over.

6. I wore my Jaylon jersey proudly. I said it when he committed and will repeat it now. He will be better than Manti.

7. Rewatched the game on TV and I can't get over what a joke Hoke is. Dude literally just roams the sidelines clapping and wondering what the hell is going on. I would fire him immediately before any more long term damage is done.

8. That crowd tho...

 

[yankeeND]

Random thoughts:

1. Best game I have been to at Notre Dame Stadium. Electric crowd. Everyone was there by kickoff. The entire crowd was on their feet for any remotely important play. The 4th quarter was just as loud as the first as blood was in the water and we wanted the shutout so much.

2. Did I mention how great the crowd was? Student body was rocking and the stadium music was great. The players clearly fed off our energy. The 5 minutes of na na na na were amazing. Got faster and louder and the players were into that too.

3. The butthurt from the Michigan fans sitting around me was so enjoyable. They looked miserable starting from the blocked field goal. You can't erase the pick 6 from my mind even if you can erase it from the scoreboard.

4. Field looks really great. Classic look.


5. This team has swag. I'm glad they put Gardner on his ass. They knew at halftime that it was over.

6. I wore my Jaylon jersey proudly. I said it when he committed and will repeat it now. He will be better than Manti.

7. Rewatched the game on TV and I can't get over what a joke Hoke is. Dude literally just roams the sidelines clapping and wondering what the hell is going on. I would fire him immediately before any more long term damage is done.

8. That crowd tho...

That's awesome brother! Glad you had a great time! I do not think I have ever felt this good after a game before. To shut out Michigan is truly an amazing feet as they have been a thorn in our side for awhile now. Then add all the buzz in recruiting right now and things are looking up big time. I can't stop thinking about how good this can be and what our recruiting class is going to look like. Very optimistic at the moment to say the least!

 

[koonja]

Haven't seen the replay yet (will tonight) and I was under TDJ's left arm pit so most of the action was on the far side for me but here are my observations:

- Stadium atmosphere A+. Well done everyone. Tailgaiting was amazing, loud, proud, drunk Irish fans everywhere. Stadium music was a great mix, including 'Turn down for what'.

- Golson was poised, stayed in the pocket longer than I expected, and overall perfect.

- Seemed like the running game couldn't get going. I think Michigan's front 7 is pretty strong, so it's great to get our OL tested like this and still have a lopsided victory.

- WRs are all #2's at best, and I don't mean that in a terrible way, just is what it is. Not a lot of separation and a ton of dropped balls. Chris Brown, did he even play?

- Not a lot to take from the running game. Held on to the ball and seemed to run hard. Not a lot of room.

- I see we didn't take shots down field. Hard to tell if it was there or not since we didn't test them, but with the outcome, hard to argue with the strategy.

- Defense - unreal. Schmidt, Riggs, Jaylon, Shummate, Redfield, Farley, Jarron Jones, Day, just absolute animals. And here's to you, coach BVG. Also, pretty sure I saw Tranquill basically play DE a couple of times, lol. He's going to be very important in the future and even this year.

- Gardner sucks.

- Golson is the best QB in CFB. I'll take him right now over Winston who's playing with a more talented offense.

- Not much else to say, I will see more when I Watch replay tonight.

- GKIrish, Condomnsuck, Greyhammer, Clashmore Mike were all great to hangout with. Clash and I were running around right before the game, hunting for beer like a couple of 19 year old sophomores, lol.

- Go Irish and for old time's sake, FUCK MICHIGAN.

 

[T Town Tommy]

True, but we have rarely played a complete game like Saturday's game. I agree Stanford will be the litmus test. How will our D line hold up against an offense capable and willing to grind out yards? Michigan had a decent amount of success running the ball. It didn't matter as they had no outside threat.

What I find notable about the game is the considerable upgrade @ the safety positions. Shumate's physicality was refreshing. He plugged holes. Red is gaining confidence. The defense is no longer playing 10 vs 11.

Golson's accuracy and pocket presence is impressive. What could have been last year...

Watched some of Stanford and USC. From what I saw, Stanford doesn't have a RB that is consistent enough yet to be a major threat. When you have to put your best WR in the backfield to run the ball, that's typically not a good sign. Stanford has a ways to go to be the Stanford of the last few years.

 

[ab2cmiller]

First Drive - Quick Screen to Fuller that he bobbled and caught and lost a yard on, he could've taken it to the house with a clean catch. Michigan came with a blitz from that side and the free safety bit hard on the play action. Robinson had already kicked out his block to the sideline and Koyack was all over his guy. Nothing but open field.

 

[FLDomer]

Awesome and fun game to watch! Proud of the Irish and D especially. Like many others the drops is a big concern to me as Fuller, Brown and CJ concern me in the ole hands department. I hope DD comes back.

 

[IrishLion]

I'm still in disbelief over this game.

When michigan started running the ball straight at the line with 9 minutes to play, and was clearly conceding, I was STILL worried that something bad would happen and didn't feel like the lead was safe. My friends think I'm insane.

Not sure what that says about being an ND fan haha.

I thought ND would finally put together the dominant big game performance we were waiting to see.... but I was wayyyyyyy off on my score prediction. I said ND would win by 17 in a game that wasn't that close. 31-0 shutout will do.

(And it's still 37-0 in my heart)

 

[#1rish]

Anyone have a good pic of Shumate's pick six? (Yeah it's a pick six to me)

 

[koonja]

Anyone have a good pic of Shumate's pick six? (Yeah it's a pick six to me)

No, but I got a pic of Bryant's six pack if that counts.

 

[Wingman Ray]

The ND play by play lists, PENALTY RO (Redfield). I guess that's supposed to be Roughing the passer but obviously Gardner was not in the act of passing nor was the hitter a step or two from Gardner's passing motion and proceeded into him. Wrong description but still a foul.

Redfield's hit was a foul despite the testerone laments to the contrary on this site. Before the Targeting and Defenseless player rules went into effect it would probably have been called a clip, block in the back, or unsportsmanlike conduct ... they're interpretative calls.

Posters here are arguing Redfield didn't hit Gardner in the head or neck which applies to the Targeting Rule. He didn't but the primary objective of Targting/Defenseless is to prevent head and neck injury. Watch Gardner's head snap on the hit.

Lax argued Redfield hit him in the chest. He didn't touch his chest. He was behind him. Redfield hit him on the side in the upper shoulder, snapping Gardner's head and neck back.

Redfield also hit him with a BLIND HIT and he crouched and launched himself.

His hit comes under Rule 9-1-4 addresses hitting Defenseless players. For the past two years this type of hit has been addressed and targeted by the refs. Had the refs called Targeting Redfield would have been ejected.

Had Redfield NOT launched himself there might have been no call. And Onwualu would have kept Gardner out of the play.

Had Redfield taken one step to the left of Gardner there might not have been a call but Gardner still couldn't see him, BLIND HIT.

Argue to the semantics until the cows come home but the refs are going to FLAG this type of hit. They did last year and continue to this year.

Had this not occurred on the last play, it might have been explained better. The game was over and the BIG officiating crew wanted to get out of the stadium quicker than Hoke did.


Here's a link to a SBNation article on the play. It includes to videos, one it real time and one in slomo.

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-fo...dame-fighting-irish-michigan-wolverines-video

Does anyone remember when ND lost to BC when Jimmy was QB? I remember watching a DL of theirs just crush him and keep hammering him whenever he began to get up after he threw a pick 6. I always wondered why there was no flag thrown then. Of course, no ND lineman came to his defense either...probably due to the rumors that no one on the team could stand him other than the coach.