Post Game Observations (North Carolina '14)

[jmurphy75]

our D Line got held....ALOT, our O Line was lacking. It was obvious, where our problems were. Simply can not have that next week, don't think we will everyone will be dialed in.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>.<a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBrianKelly">@CoachBrianKelly</a> now 6-10 in <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball">@NDFootball</a> career when trailing after 3Q .. .375 win percentage is 7th-best in FBS since 2010 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BertschyBits?src=hash">#BertschyBits</a></p>— Michael Bertsch (@NDsidBertschy) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDsidBertschy/status/521107120427909120">October 12, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[RallySonsOfND]

I'm feeling Oklahoma 2012 is going to happen

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I'm feeling Oklahoma 2012 is going to happen

I hope you're right

 

[Fbolt]

Seems like we all keep waiting for ND to tune up their game -at least for the last 3 weeks. We're left holding our cranks - still waiting....

However, I'll always take the "W".

 

[Old Man Mike]

Usually I have multipoint opinions, but this time [other than handing out gameballs to Fuller, Folston, Luke, and Riggs --- with nods to Jones, Day, Rochell, Utupo for holding up to the pace] I'm going to make my most enraging comment in my few years here.

Everett is unteachable.

I've wondered what has been bothering me so much about this fantastic athlete who can do so much. Today, due to my long years playing Basketball, it dawned on me. Golson is a basketball player who happens to be playing football. All my time playing BBall indicated to me that you rarely could teach a basketball player how to excel at offensive scoring --- all the RollsRoyces that I played with or against had learned their sugar moves and their when-to-do-what by playing street ball, not by coaching. You could coach them to break a press [maybe], run a defense [maybe], set up an offense and MAYBE execute ONE play, but when the moving started, it was all the imprinted non-thinking instincts learned "in the street."

So here's Kelly with his masterful offensive designs. He knows that if his QB will just run the playbook properly [this includes sussing the defense pre-snap and getting into a better option], step up into the pocket and deliver rapidly, then he cannot be stopped. Especially when there are people named Fuller, Robinson, Carlisle, Prosise, Koyack out there, he cannot be stopped.

But Everett can't do it. It's not him. Kelly tells him that he'd like him to step up into the pocket, and Everett's instincts are SCREAMING otherwise. Like a good soldier he tries to do it, and we have a first quarter against UNC --- catastrophe. Kelly says "Everett, don't hold the ball so long!". Like a good soldier, Everett tries both to stay in the pocket AND deliver, but he can't interpret the defense accurately [or actually isn't seeing all of it due to height] and we get several nerve-jangling flub throws which might just ALL have been picked.

Practice for a real football quarterback is very effective, as is filmroom. Practice for a basketball player is good for conditioning, getting insight on how to defend your opponent, and maybe trying to polish up a couple of plays which the coach knows have worked with these guys in past games. The tip goes up, and the instincts of the street rise to the surface [at least after the initial two mechanical passes.]

Why then do we succeed? We have the finest athlete playing QB in the nation. When the circumstances of "play-called" and "middle blocked" and "field seen" mesh, then the great arm finds the great weapons, almost always at least one of which has been open. And we have Kelly, who keeps calling the plays which can't be consistently defended and then crosses his fingers that Everett will occasionally make the correct adjustment, see the open weapon, and deliver the ball on time.

Kelly's stomach must be ironclad. He is constantly counting on the amazing fact that the weapons and the plays are so good that all we need to do is get one success every three downs, almost regardless of down and distance.

Maybe mere time on the field will get Everett the street-tools to game it on the turf just like the hardwood. If you watched the eyes and the demeanor of the UNC QB you saw the correct look of a QB who had the game by the throat, even with an inferior team.

This is an interesting season. Can mere incredible athleticism at the critical position continue to win them all? Fingers crossed. Antacid tablets in hand.

 

[Grahambo]

we live by the O Line, we die by the O Line......not Golson

Or Golson dies by the OL...whichever comes first.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Usually I have multipoint opinions, but this time [other than handing out gameballs to Fuller, Folston, Luke, and Riggs --- with nods to Jones, Day, Rochell, Utupo for holding up to the pace] I'm going to make my most enraging comment in my few years here.

Everett is unteachable.

I've wondered what has been bothering me so much about this fantastic athlete who can do so much. Today, due to my long years playing Basketball, it dawned on me. Golson is a basketball player who happens to be playing football. All my time playing BBall indicated to me that you rarely could teach a basketball player how to excel at offensive scoring --- all the RollsRoyces that I played with or against had learned their sugar moves and their when-to-do-what by playing street ball, not by coaching. You could coach them to break a press [maybe], run a defense [maybe], set up an offense and MAYBE execute ONE play, but when the moving started, it was all the imprinted non-thinking instincts learned "in the street."

So here's Kelly with his masterful offensive designs. He knows that if his QB will just run the playbook properly [this includes sussing the defense pre-snap and getting into a better option], step up into the pocket and deliver rapidly, then he cannot be stopped. Especially when there are people named Fuller, Robinson, Carlisle, Prosise, Koyack out there, he cannot be stopped.

But Everett can't do it. It's not him. Kelly tells him that he'd like him to step up into the pocket, and Everett's instincts are SCREAMING otherwise. Like a good soldier he tries to do it, and we have a first quarter against UNC --- catastrophe. Kelly says "Everett, don't hold the ball so long!". Like a good soldier, Everett tries both to stay in the pocket AND deliver, but he can't interpret the defense accurately [or actually isn't seeing all of it due to height] and we get several nerve-jangling flub throws which might just ALL have been picked.

Practice for a real football quarterback is very effective, as is filmroom. Practice for a basketball player is good for conditioning, getting insight on how to defend your opponent, and maybe trying to polish up a couple of plays which the coach knows have worked with these guys in past games. The tip goes up, and the instincts of the street rise to the surface [at least after the initial two mechanical passes.]

Why then do we succeed? We have the finest athlete playing QB in the nation. When the circumstances of "play-called" and "middle blocked" and "field seen" mesh, then the great arm finds the great weapons, almost always at least one of which has been open. And we have Kelly, who keeps calling the plays which can't be consistently defended and then crosses his fingers that Everett will occasionally make the correct adjustment, see the open weapon, and deliver the ball on time.

Kelly's stomach must be ironclad. He is constantly counting on the amazing fact that the weapons and the plays are so good that all we need to do is get one success every three downs, almost regardless of down and distance.

Maybe mere time on the field will get Everett the street-tools to game it on the turf just like the hardwood. If you watched the eyes and the demeanor of the UNC QB you saw the correct look of a QB who had the game by the throat, even with an inferior team.

This is an interesting season. Can mere incredible athleticism at the critical position continue to win them all? Fingers crossed. Antacid tablets in hand.

Rarely do I disagree with you so strongly (which, to be fair, you predicted.) EG has advanced a lot since he arrived on campus. You're right that he'll never be a prototypical pocket passer (too short) but he's learned a lot. You're talking about a guy who holds the ND record for consecutive completions and is one off the NCAA record, after all. That's not simply a product of instinctual street ball, that's the product of a ton of film study and practice.

50 points today. 2012 EG would not have done that.

 

[chicago51]

I thought the tempo of the NC offense kind of took Van Gorder out of the game. ND couldn't get lined up right quick enough. The defense is so complex. Probably not the best defense for the no huddle, especially in its first year of installment. BVG was still bringing the heat at times but when the tempo is that fast it does limit the playbook and the impact of the DC.

Fortunately FSU's head coach is Jimbo Fisher who comes from the Nick Saban coaching tree and thus does not believe in going no huddle a bunch, maybe just for a change of pace here and there.

 

[Redbar]

Mistakes before today seemed to just be a young team/ or Golson getting reacclimated to full speed. Mistakes today seemed like a team that was not mentally locked in to the fact that this was a dangerous game opponent.

Golson has to speed up his maturation as a leader. It is probably not a good idea for him to think he has to carry this team to victory. He continues to play great in spots and really poor in others.

Matt Hegarty continues to struggle, but I think Elmer played better today. The holding calls on Stanley were pretty weak.

Special Teams bottled up a really good Tarheel return game.

Defense really looked flat today with the exception of Isaac Rochelle who has been turning it up each week. Schmidt was solid again, Sheldon struggled with UNC linemen holding him what seemed like all afternoon. Jaylon, and the Dbacks looked a little out of sorts. The majority of their offense whether it was passing or running was done right in the middle of our defense. I think we will put this one behind us and come back more focused next week. It is good to be 6-0 and there is no way we win a game like this a few years ago. I still say we are a pretty good team.

Game balls go to Folston and Fuller on offense.
Rochelle on defense.

 

[Cackalacky]

I will say this. If Golson cannot manage the TOs better he must be benched. Rees was blasted for all the TOs last year and we did not have a defense to help him out. 10 TOs in 3 games is unacceptable. I have zero faith in his ability run with the ball and maintain possession. It's downright scary. IDK what can be done but if you lose the TO battle you typically lose. Our defense had a shit game tonight and we managed to do enough offensively to win. That will not happen against FSU. Got to get that fixed Tomorrow.

 

[ickythump1225]

Usually I have multipoint opinions, but this time [other than handing out gameballs to Fuller, Folston, Luke, and Riggs --- with nods to Jones, Day, Rochell, Utupo for holding up to the pace] I'm going to make my most enraging comment in my few years here.

Everett is unteachable.

I've wondered what has been bothering me so much about this fantastic athlete who can do so much. Today, due to my long years playing Basketball, it dawned on me. Golson is a basketball player who happens to be playing football. All my time playing BBall indicated to me that you rarely could teach a basketball player how to excel at offensive scoring --- all the RollsRoyces that I played with or against had learned their sugar moves and their when-to-do-what by playing street ball, not by coaching. You could coach them to break a press [maybe], run a defense [maybe], set up an offense and MAYBE execute ONE play, but when the moving started, it was all the imprinted non-thinking instincts learned "in the street."

So here's Kelly with his masterful offensive designs. He knows that if his QB will just run the playbook properly [this includes sussing the defense pre-snap and getting into a better option], step up into the pocket and deliver rapidly, then he cannot be stopped. Especially when there are people named Fuller, Robinson, Carlisle, Prosise, Koyack out there, he cannot be stopped.

But Everett can't do it. It's not him. Kelly tells him that he'd like him to step up into the pocket, and Everett's instincts are SCREAMING otherwise. Like a good soldier he tries to do it, and we have a first quarter against UNC --- catastrophe. Kelly says "Everett, don't hold the ball so long!". Like a good soldier, Everett tries both to stay in the pocket AND deliver, but he can't interpret the defense accurately [or actually isn't seeing all of it due to height] and we get several nerve-jangling flub throws which might just ALL have been picked.

Practice for a real football quarterback is very effective, as is filmroom. Practice for a basketball player is good for conditioning, getting insight on how to defend your opponent, and maybe trying to polish up a couple of plays which the coach knows have worked with these guys in past games. The tip goes up, and the instincts of the street rise to the surface [at least after the initial two mechanical passes.]

Why then do we succeed? We have the finest athlete playing QB in the nation. When the circumstances of "play-called" and "middle blocked" and "field seen" mesh, then the great arm finds the great weapons, almost always at least one of which has been open. And we have Kelly, who keeps calling the plays which can't be consistently defended and then crosses his fingers that Everett will occasionally make the correct adjustment, see the open weapon, and deliver the ball on time.

Kelly's stomach must be ironclad. He is constantly counting on the amazing fact that the weapons and the plays are so good that all we need to do is get one success every three downs, almost regardless of down and distance.

Maybe mere time on the field will get Everett the street-tools to game it on the turf just like the hardwood. If you watched the eyes and the demeanor of the UNC QB you saw the correct look of a QB who had the game by the throat, even with an inferior team.

This is an interesting season. Can mere incredible athleticism at the critical position continue to win them all? Fingers crossed. Antacid tablets in hand.

Eh. Unteachable? That's way too harsh. Golson is WAY better this season than 2012. I mean there is no comparison really. Cut the guy some slack. This is only his 17th game played for ND and he missed a whole season last year of games, film study, practice, etc.

 

[tussin]

I will say this. If Golson cannot manage the TOs better he must be benched. Rees was blasted for all the TOs last year and we did not have a defense to help him out. 10 TOs in 3 games is unacceptable. I have zero faith in his ability run with the ball and maintain possession. It's downright scary. IDK what can be done but if you lose the TO battle you typically lose. Our defense had a shit game tonight and we managed to do enough offensively to win. That will not happen against FSU. Got to get that fixed Tomorrow.

I don't see any scenario where Golson is benched. He is the straw that stirs the drink. Regardless of TOs, he makes the offense go.

 

[chicago51]

I do think the D got exposed today. Part of it was the tempo as I mentioned but a large part was not facing an offense who has had really had their act together.

Going into the season I expect a young ND defense to struggle at times and be carried the offense at times. Up to this point they had exceeded my expectations but maybe they are somewhat closer to being who I thought they where.

I don't want to overreact about the defense after a bad game. I've been involved in this game a long time, sometimes you have days when you just stink. That said some weaknesses may have been exposed.

 

[Cackalacky]

I don't see any scenario where Golson is benched. He is the straw that stirs the drink. Regardless of TOs, he makes the offense go.

I can for sure. I am not saying will. His TOs are unacceptable. They are bad. All of them. They are not mistakes or flukes. They are bad decisions. You can't have a QB making those throws or diving head first for a run. I defended Tommy and I will support Everett but dagum.... Three weeks in a row he is showing really poor decisions.

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

I'm not willing to jump on the "exposed" train just yet. I feel that UNC runs a gimmicky type offense. Plus let's not forget we handed them 21 points. Potentially 24.

I will say this, I played this game at the medium level we will say ( ohio U). It was easier to play against better teams in my opinion. Not that you can "play" with them, but the ins and outs of the game was easier. Van gorder will be better prepared for Florida state in part because they have a identity. UNC, they're just trying to survive and use the athletes they have. Take that, trap type game snd spotting them all those points, just screamed for a blah afternoon.

We'll jump to 5 and FSU will go 2. In my opinion

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

I can for sure. I am not saying will. His TOs are unacceptable. They are bad. All of them. They are not mistakes or flukes. They are bad decisions. You can't have a QB making those throws or diving head first for a run. I defended Tommy and I will support Everett but dagum.... Three weeks in a row he is showing really poor decisions.

It's interesting to me. Dayne Crist lasted 3min because of turnovers, Golson got yanked in 2012 for whatever mistake he made throughout the year, And Tommy, is, well, Tommy. Golson is just being careless. Either Kelly just really like Everett or Malik is just not ready. Period.

 

[tussin]

I can for sure. I am not saying will. His TOs are unacceptable. They are bad. All of them. They are not mistakes or flukes. They are bad decisions. You can't have a QB making those throws or diving head first for a run. I defended Tommy and I will support Everett but dagum.... Three weeks in a row he is showing really poor decisions.

Golson also makes plays to win games and extend drives that no one else on the roster can make.

 

[pkt77242]

Mistakes before today seemed to just be a young team/ or Golson getting reacclimated to full speed. Mistakes today seemed like a team that was not mentally locked in to the fact that this was a dangerous game opponent.

Golson has to speed up his maturation as a leader. It is probably not a good idea for him to think he has to carry this team to victory. He continues to play great in spots and really poor in others.

Matt Hegarty continues to struggle, but I think Elmer played better today. The holding calls on Stanley were pretty weak.

Special Teams bottled up a really good Tarheel return game.

Defense really looked flat today with the exception of Isaac Rochelle who has been turning it up each week. Schmidt was solid again, Sheldon struggled with UNC linemen holding him what seemed like all afternoon. Jaylon, and the Dbacks looked a little out of sorts. The majority of their offense whether it was passing or running was done right in the middle of our defense. I think we will put this one behind us and come back more focused next week. It is good to be 6-0 and there is no way we win a game like this a few years ago. I still say we are a pretty good team.

Game balls go to Folston and Fuller on offense.
Rochelle on defense.

I would add that Luke should get a gameball as he had great coverage and the interception.

 

[IrishinSyria]

It's interesting to me. Dayne Crist lasted 3min because of turnovers, Golson got yanked in 2012 for whatever mistake he made throughout the year, And Tommy, is, well, Tommy. Golson is just being careless. Either Kelly just really like Everett or Malik is just not ready. Period.

50 points, 500 yards. No mystery here, Golson gets results even with the mistakes.

 

[chicago51]

I'm not willing to jump on the "exposed" train just yet. I feel that UNC runs a gimmicky type offense. Plus let's not forget we handed them 21 points. Potentially 24.

I will say this, I played this game at the medium level we will say ( ohio U). It was easier to play against better teams in my opinion. Not that you can "play" with them, but the ins and outs of the game was easier. Van gorder will be better prepared for Florida state in part because they have a identity. UNC, they're just trying to survive and use the athletes they have. Take that, trap type game snd spotting them all those points, just screamed for a blah afternoon.

We'll jump to 5 and FSU will go 2. In my opinion

UNC has identity they are basically a crappy Baylor. The game was about execution and UNC executed, ND's D did not and had plenty of busted coverages, and missed tackles. Blown coverages are blown coverages, and missed tackles translated negatively regardless of who you play.

I will say Van Gorder will be much better off against FSU do the fact FSU does not do a whole lot of no huddle up tempo offense. FSU may go up tempo occasionally in a 2 min situation, or for a change of pace. Jimbo Fisher comes from the Nick Saban school of coaching and that school of coaching has never been big on the no huddle rapid pace offense.

BVG should be able to run his D which is very very complicated for the college much better against a slower tempo.

 

[pkt77242]

50 points, 500 yards. No mystery here, Golson gets results even with the mistakes.

Yes and no.

North Carolina has given up
70 points and 789 yards to ECU
50 points and 528 yards to Clemson
they gave up 509 yards to San Diego St

N.C. gives up lots of yards, their defense sucks. Yes Golson helped us get them but that is about par for the course for a N.C. defense.

 

[pkt77242]

Golson also makes plays to win games and extend drives that no one else on the roster can make.

I see your point but to be fair we don't really know that for sure. Zaire seems to be a good scrambler but I would agree that he doesn't seem to have Golson's accuracy or knowledge of the offense, then again he might not have Golson's fumbling problem either.

 

[GoIrish41]

UNC has identity they are basically a crappy Baylor. The game was about execution and UNC executed, ND's D did not and had plenty of busted coverages, and missed tackles. Blown coverages are blown coverages, and missed tackles translated negatively regardless of who you play.

I will say Van Gorder will be much better off against FSU do the fact FSU does not do a whole lot of no huddle up tempo offense. FSU may go up tempo occasionally in a 2 min situation, or for a change of pace. Jimbo Fisher comes from the Nick Saban school of coaching and that school of coaching has never been big on the no huddle rapid pace offense.

BVG should be able to run his D which is very very complicated for the college much better against a slower tempo.

Chicago!!!!! Where you been?

 

[Hammer Of The Gods]

Granted he had issues against Stanford, but I wonder how much of it is maybe just an attitude of, I'm better than you, I can throw all over Syracuse, I can do what I want against North Carolina. Then these sub par teams make him look like an ass. I am team Golson, but these turnovers are killing me.

 

[chicago51]

Chicago!!!!! Where you been?

If you must know, my friend I've just been swapped:

I had a big internship this summer.

I've been studying hard to pass my physical therapy license exam.

Working my crummy airport security job.

I have coaching my 7th/8th grade team like I do every year. Helping with some high school coaching.

Getting ready to the Chicagoland 8th grade all star team. The association I coach at is one of 20 or so travel programs in the league. Every year there is a league wide all star team that is made and plays other All Star teams around the country. This year I'm going to be coaching the defense for it. Been having meetings and get prep for that.

BUT I have missed IE and felt I was due for a return.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Our fans react to every game like the sky is falling, even when we win. I think someone said after each of the first four games that if we play like that against Stanford we would get killed. Well, either we did and he didn't get killed or we didn't. But either way, the lesson is that you can't really know anything for sure about how a future game will go based on what you think you saw in a previous game. They are all different. Different matchups, different gameplans and different performances by players (good and bad).

I'm not saying that ND has nothing to worry about. Clearly they have a ton to clean up and improve on. But they're winning. People act like every other good team is perfect every week, but the reality is that every team struggles some games. No team is perfect, and you don't have to be. You just have to be better than the team you play each week.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Our fans react to every game like the sky is falling, even when we win. I think someone said after each of the first four games that if we play like that against Stanford we would get killed. Well, either we did and he didn't get killed or we didn't. But either way, the lesson is that you can't really know anything for sure about how a future game will go based on what you think you saw in a previous game. They are all different. Different matchups, different gameplans and different performances by players (good and bad).

I'm not saying that ND has nothing to worry about. Clearly they have a ton to clean up and improve on. But they're winning. People act like every other good team is perfect every week, but the reality is that every team struggles some games. No team is perfect, and you don't have to be. You just have to be better than the team you play each week.

Yes

 

[rocket66]

Our fans react to every game like the sky is falling, even when we win. I think someone said after each of the first four games that if we play like that against Stanford we would get killed. Well, either we did and he didn't get killed or we didn't. But either way, the lesson is that you can't really know anything for sure about how a future game will go based on what you think you saw in a previous game. They are all different. Different matchups, different gameplans and different performances by players (good and bad).



I'm not saying that ND has nothing to worry about. Clearly they have a ton to clean up and improve on. But they're winning. People act like every other good team is perfect every week, but the reality is that every team struggles some games. No team is perfect, and you don't have to be. You just have to be better than the team you play each week.

Yo. Perfect post.

 

[phgreek]

In many ways EG has grown...some he has not. When he has some things go wrong, he starts to hang on to the ball for 1 beat too long...which causes pass plays to fuller et al to be PI instead of TDs. Some of the receivers...I'm concerned...as they seem to fight the ball with their hands, and struggle unless they can run under a nicely feathered ball...thats something that needs run the hell out of the receiver corps. Its DIV I football for crying out loud.

The offensive line had some ok moments, but I still saw some guys just flat get MANHANDLED...I'm sure Longo is taking notes, but the youth movement on the line has not been up to the task with strength and agility...could be some part of indecisiveness, but I saw a couple more blocking bag ass whippings...

Tackling ... straight out of 2008/2009/NCS...Throw up in your mouth awful. Thats just not having yourself locked in...hope that was just a this week thing...

Pass coverage...some situationally goofy mistakes...like a safety that gets EATEN by a double move with hardly any time left...Like Keshawn says COME ON MAN! Some of the other "toastings" are helped by a pass rush that gets home...gonna need it to get Winston off his game

Running game...was nice to see something that looked like a running game...

The slow starts...I'm actually glad for the chances these guys have gotten (albeit by their own hand) to play through adversity...they are pretty battle hardened already...if they hit the switch next week and cut out the early keystone cops routine...they are mentally ready to be in a dog fight with Winston.