Post Game Observations (Navy '14)...

[phgreek]

1. Ugly, but a win is a win. It may not score points with the Playoff Committee, but it scores more points than a loss.

2. I think we all need to face the fact that we are not as good as we had hoped that we were. Navy pretty much dominated both Lines of Scrimmage. The offensive line did a good job of run blocking, but pass blocking was lacking. And they didn't do either well, with any consistency. We have good talent, but not the elite talent that can just line up and overwhelm the guy across from him. I think that says even more about the coaching, considering that we have had some great games from both lines.

3. Both injuries came from guys running into, or getting rolled up by, a teammate. So no whining about cut blocking and injuries.

4. Nyles Morgan looks like he is physically ready to play. But the first thing I noticed is that he was lined up almost a full 6 yards off of the LOS. Schmidt is normally about 4 yards deep. This is almost certainly because Morgan takes more time to read the play, so he has to play deeper, in order to have time to read. Once he figures that out, he should be a very good LB.

5. Golson looked great, early. He didn't look as good, late. But that was probably as much a function of the play calling(and down and distance) as any lack of focus.

6. Against a triple option team, one thing that really helps is to have corners that play run support very well. We (the fans) have been clamoring for better cover corners for years. It seems that we have those now, but at the cost of them not being as good in run support as previous CBs were. That leaves you less room for error in outside contain, against the option. I think that partially explains Navy's surprisingly successful running game tonight.

7. Game ball goes to........... Everett Golson. 3 Touchdowns passing, 3 Touchdowns rushing. He wasn't always perfect, but he never gave up, not even a little.

agree...

would only add that run blocking wasn't so good in the two possessions we needed it the most...4th quarter, inside the opponents 35, we got 0 points. Yes I know Navy assumed ND would run, and tried to take it away...but that tells me we will be able to exert our will on exactly no one, and the key to this offense is EG, and the multiple threats he poses. Thats not all bad, but a little disappointing at this point.

 

[returnofthemack]

Coach Kelly post game via BGI

Notre Dame suffered a number of injuries along its defense Saturday night against Navy. A quick summary of such:
— Brian Kelly on Joe Schmidt (ankle): “We’ll get a better feel once we get an x-ray. It’s an ankle right now, we just don’t know what the severity is.”
— Kelly on Sheldon Day (shoulder): “Day, more of a celiac plexus. It looked like he got hit in the shoulder. He seemed to be okay.
— Kelly on Jarron Jones (ankle): “He’s been nursing a bit of a ankle, and I think a couple of times that’s what we saw there, a couple of ankles that he was fighting through.”
— Kelly on James Onwualu: "James did not pass his on-field concussion protocol, so he was held out. I don’t have any further information relative to where he is right now. He was up singing the fight song in the locker room. I don’t know if that’s passing the second phase of the concussion tests. He looked pretty good to me, but I’m not a doctor."

That has to be a misquote. I think it's supposed to say brachial plexus - the celiac plexus supplies abdominal organs.

 

[returnofthemack]

Giving up a big lead was definitely frustrating and you are correct, the INT gave them new life.

After the game Golson mentioned he was expecting Carlisle to cut in front of the safety, but the INT is on EG. If Carlisle doesn't make the right cut, don't throw it to him.

I've seen all the top teams this year. Granted I've haven't seen any of them very much, but I don't see any team that is heads and tails above ND. We can compete with any of them.

If you wait until after the cut to throw the ball, you're just asking for somebody to jump the route. Timing is a huge part of those throws, and with a more experienced receiver, it would have worked perfectly.

 

[Old Man Mike]

p.s. on the better side: we won that game by seven more points than the scoreboard showed. The offensive pass interference by the Navy receiver on Riggs was one of the most blatant incompetencies that I've ever seen by a ref looking right at the play from about ten feet away. Guy should be fired.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

p.s. on the better side: we won that game by seven more points than the scoreboard showed. The offensive pass interference by the Navy receiver on Riggs was one of the most blatant incompetencies that I've ever seen by a ref looking right at the play from about ten feet away. Guy should be fired.

Even more frustrating was how close the official was, and was clearly watching the two players... Unreal. No excuse.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

That has to be a misquote. I think it's supposed to say brachial plexus - the celiac plexus supplies abdominal organs.

Learning the brachial plexus in nursing school was a bitch. So many innervations.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Actually, that's not true. The Defense did make adjustments, but they were called, and executed, by the safeties. Kelly said he kept to pretty much their base Defense, to make it easier on Morgan. With a whole week of taking reps with the first team, I think Kelly and VanGorder will have Morgan able to run more than just one defensive alignment against ASU.

Maybe you have info I don't. Kelly said they had one defensive call with Schmidt out. No one on that depth chart will be able to duplicate what Schmidt does defensively.

 

[kmoose]

That has to be a misquote. I think it's supposed to say brachial plexus - the celiac plexus supplies abdominal organs.

Perhaps it is a gluten-intolerant plexus?

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

AC set up the back end, no?

Forget Navy. It's over. If you guys feel comfortable with Morgan aligning the front 7 against ASU, Louisville, and USC, go for it.

AC did set up the back end for the whole two games he's played this year. After that Schmidt took over.

 

[Classic Irish]

Coach Kelly post game via BGI

Notre Dame suffered a number of injuries along its defense Saturday night against Navy. A quick summary of such:
— Kelly on Sheldon Day (shoulder): “Day, more of a celiac plexus. It looked like he got hit in the shoulder. He seemed to be okay.

Kelly must have meant to say the brachial plexus. The celiac plexus innervates the digestive tract and other parts of the abdomen.

 

[BGIF]

Actually, that's not true. The Defense did make adjustments, but they were called, and executed, by the safeties. Kelly said he kept to pretty much their base Defense, to make it easier on Morgan. With a whole week of taking reps with the first team, I think Kelly and VanGorder will have Morgan able to run more than just one defensive alignment against ASU.

Maybe you have info I don't. Kelly said they had one defensive call with Schmidt out. No one on that depth chart will be able to duplicate what Schmidt does defensively.

Clarification:

I watched the post game PC this morning. Kelly did say they had one defensive call with Schmidt out. He also said the safeties made adjustments in their OWN positioning.

Kelly did NOT say the safeties called adjustments for any of the other 9 defenders.

 

[kmoose]

Forget Navy. It's over. If you guys feel comfortable with Morgan aligning the front 7 against ASU, Louisville, and USC, go for it.

AC did set up the back end for the whole two games he's played this year. After that Schmidt took over.

There is nothing that says that the MLB has to call the plays, defensively. It doesn't have to be Morgan. It could be Jones or Day, even.

 

[returnofthemack]

Perhaps it is a gluten-intolerant plexus?

that would give you an incredible reputation haha: "I once hit a guy so hard he got celiac disease"

 

[OCIrish]

Well......while I watched the game in its entirety, I thought the OL should've gotten the game ball. Yes, Golson ended up with 6 TD's, but the line really did a great job. I didn't care for Kelly's play calling at the end of the game......twice with the ball on the 30, and you proceed to pull your cock out and piss all over yourself. Terrible.

The defense gave up yardage, and by alot, probably more than they should've, however, with the number of Frosh, and sophomores......it could've been much, much worse. I hope Schmidt isn't terribly injured.....he's the QB of the defense, and no, he's not nearly as athletic as Nyles, but he's got the defense down inside and out. He is responsible for not only his position, bit most other positions on the field as well. That's not teachable, that's living in the film room when not doing homework.

I get the respect for The Naval Academy, I really do, but every year when we play them, we seem to come out with more injuries, than I feel it's worth at times. Anyway, I thought it was a good win against a team that plays as hard as anyone in the country.

 

[Grahambo]

The secondary wont make adjustments for the whole defense, they do it for themselves. The MLB is the one who gets everyone else set. It's just different reads, etc.

In regards to the Schmidt/Morgan debate, just because you haven't seen someone in action doesn't mean they can't handle it. Morgan actually impressed me a bit yesterday. Coming in cold against the Triple O is not easy and he held his own. Athletically, it's a huge upgrade and he was very active. I'm looking forward to him going up against a normal looking offense.

As for getting the calls correct, Jaylon should be able to handle it. He's been playing long enough and should have a grasp of it. However, maybe Morgan can do it. We are well into the season that maybe he could do it.

Just some food for thought.

 

[Irish Jacky]

Probability we go 11-1? I'd say no more than 40% at this point.

Virtually EVERYBODY projected this team at 8-4 for the year pre-season, and that was before the academic investigation suspensions. People should chill that we're not destroying the world a la 'Bama 2012. We're not there yet.

And I'm not upset about it. We are a very young team and are simply not as good as the fans want us to be. In the financial context, Alan Greenspan spoke of this herd mentality as "irrational exuberance". After Purdue, Syracuse, UNC and Navy, people should get realistic about what this 2014 team is and isn't.

I for one will be very happy if we finish regular season 10-2 and win a respectable bowl game.

We should be scary good next year.

Irrational exuberance only sets you up for the negative payoff.

Just my 2 c.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

p.s. on the better side: we won that game by seven more points than the scoreboard showed. The offensive pass interference by the Navy receiver on Riggs was one of the most blatant incompetencies that I've ever seen by a ref looking right at the play from about ten feet away. Guy should be fired.

Anyone have this clip? I've read about it a couple of times but haven't seen it.

 

[Grahambo]

Anyone have this clip? I've read about it a couple of times but haven't seen it.

Dude straight shoved Riggs to the ground. Arms extended and all.

 

[KPENN]

Anyone have this clip? I've read about it a couple of times but haven't seen it.

Here's a link to the full replay. Its 1st quarter about 13:25 mark.

2014 Navy vs. #10 Notre Dame | NOONKICK

 

[phgreek]

Well......while I watched the game in its entirety, I thought the OL should've gotten the game ball. Yes, Golson ended up with 6 TD's, but the line really did a great job. I didn't care for Kelly's play calling at the end of the game......twice with the ball on the 30, and you proceed to pull your cock out and piss all over yourself. Terrible.

The defense gave up yardage, and by alot, probably more than they should've, however, with the number of Frosh, and sophomores......it could've been much, much worse. I hope Schmidt isn't terribly injured.....he's the QB of the defense, and no, he's not nearly as athletic as Nyles, but he's got the defense down inside and out. He is responsible for not only his position, bit most other positions on the field as well. That's not teachable, that's living in the film room when not doing homework.

I get the respect for The Naval Academy, I really do, but every year when we play them, we seem to come out with more injuries, than I feel it's worth at times. Anyway, I thought it was a good win against a team that plays as hard as anyone in the country.

How many SEC teams have had Navy on their schedule in the last decade? Can't tell me thats because they worry about beating them too badly...Its clear no one wants to face that meat grinder...

 

[kmoose]

How many SEC teams have had Navy on their schedule in the last decade? Can't tell me thats because they worry about beating them too badly...Its clear no one wants to face that meat grinder...

Navy is clearly not the caliber of team that the SEC schedules, OOC. There is just too much of a gap between Navy and teams like Charleston Southern, South Alabama, Samford, Presbyterian, and Sam Houston.

Maybe when Navy drops to the same level as those other quality opponents, then the SEC will start scheduling them?

 

[GoldenDomer]

I do remember South Carolina nearly losing to Navy a few years ago

 

[kmoose]

Clarification:

I watched the post game PC this morning. Kelly did say they had one defensive call with Schmidt out. He also said the safeties made adjustments in their OWN positioning.

Kelly did NOT say the safeties called adjustments for any of the other 9 defenders.

Yes, that's true. But the initial assertion that ND had only one call for the rest of the game made it sound like the defense made no presnap adjustments, when they did. It might have only been in the secondary, but they did make some adjustments.

 

[BeatSC]

As usual ND played just good enough to win. FYI, it's official Joe out for season. Can he return next year? Joe was solid but Morgan already made a more spectacular plat than Joe has made so far all season. He looked like Teo as a freshman over pursuing. Rees was a good reader of the defense but EG had the talent. Joe is Rees and Morgan is EG in 2012. Morgan will step up and make us a faster and more athletic and heavier hitting defense. Riggs was on his man like glue but navy made some good throws and good catches. EG should have kept the ball on a few more design runs in all go our failed drives. It was also confirmed what I believed and that was that EG could have scored on his final run against fSU if he hadn't been coached to hit the ground to avoid a fumble, just teach him to hooks onto the ball and anticipate the hits.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Kelly knows that Nyles is a great athlete who runs fast and brings thunder. He also knows that he has no chance of doing what Joe Schmidt did as Captain/Organizer anytime soon, and said so at his press conference{s}. Coach said specifically that BVG called only one alignment for the whole time that Nyles was playing so as not to confuse him, and that vs ASU "the other guys will have to step up." He said that he and the D-staff do not yet know what they're going to do there, and don't even know who Nyles' back-up will be. He seemed to specifically rule out [or at least doubt at this time] that it would be Martini, who the staff thinks is Schmidt-Smart, but I wonder if BVG will want to play both Jaylon and Martini {his back-up} at the same time.

 

[Irish YJ]

As usual ND played just good enough to win. FYI, it's official Joe out for season. Can he return next year? Joe was solid but Morgan already made a more spectacular plat than Joe has made so far all season. He looked like Teo as a freshman over pursuing. Rees was a good reader of the defense but EG had the talent. Joe is Rees and Morgan is EG in 2012. Morgan will step up and make us a faster and more athletic and heavier hitting defense. Riggs was on his man like glue but navy made some good throws and good catches. EG should have kept the ball on a few more design runs in all go our failed drives. It was also confirmed what I believed and that was that EG could have scored on his final run against fSU if he hadn't been coached to hit the ground to avoid a fumble, just teach him to hooks onto the ball and anticipate the hits.

yes

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

There is nothing that says that the MLB has to call the plays, defensively. It doesn't have to be Morgan. It could be Jones or Day, even.

Are you saying we're gonna see a DL get the entire front 7 in place for the rest of the year? This is a huge loss for the defense. I'm not calling doomsday, but pretending that ND's defense will be able to do everything it's done so far without Schmidt is silly.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I would think that Jaylon (especially with his close relationship with Joe) would be the likely candidate to fill the communication void for the defense. Would he not?

 

[Grahambo]

There is nothing that says that the MLB has to call the plays, defensively. It doesn't have to be Morgan. It could be Jones or Day, even.

I agree and disagree. Agree that its not necessary for Morgan to be the guy to make the calls but disagree that its the DL that will do it. I think it is a LB that has to be the one as they can see more of the field.

Are you saying we're gonna see a DL get the entire front 7 in place for the rest of the year? This is a huge loss for the defense. I'm not calling doomsday, but pretending that ND's defense will be able to do everything it's done so far without Schmidt is silly.

As Kelly said and even I mentioned last night, what it does is it causes everyone to elevate their game mentally. Will it be the same? No. But it doesn't mean it will be worse. Guys might spend just a little more time film studying or staying with coaches to get assignments down. We are deep enough into the season where most of the guys should have a pretty good idea as it is. Schmidt wasn't making the calls for the secondary anyway as they have their own responsibilities. Jaylon is more then capable at making the calls. He's played about 20 games so far into his career, he's not really a young guy anymore. Even Morgan might be able to handle some of those duties. Instead of one guy, its just gonna take a team effort mentally.

Different doesn't always necessarily mean bad or worse. This is not to discredit anything Joe Schmidt has done up to this point. Athletically its an upgrade. Before we talk about it being a huge loss, lets give it a chance.

 

[kmoose]

Are you saying we're gonna see a DL get the entire front 7 in place for the rest of the year? This is a huge loss for the defense. I'm not calling doomsday, but pretending that ND's defense will be able to do everything it's done so far without Schmidt is silly.

Automatically assuming that Morgan will not be able to do what is necessary is just as silly. What I'm saying is that a DB could take over the defensive calls. It's not ideal, but it certainly can be done.