Post Game Observations (Pitt)...

[kmoose]

1. Really bad game for Tommy Rees. For the first 3 quarters, I was pretty much sure that what I was seeing was this: If you can get a little pressure on Rees; he doesn't exactly panic, but he DOES hurry his throws and completely abandon good mechanics, causing a lot of inaccurate throws. But ND did a good job of protecting, in the 4th, and he was still having problems. Not sure if that was because he was pushing too hard, or what, but you had to feel bad for the kid.

2. I'm still perplexed by SOME of the play calling and/or formations. We empty the backfield way too often with Tommy back there. At that point, the defense can completely sell out out against the pass. They know that there is no threat of Tommy running the ball. And to have an empty backfield on 3rd and 2? WTF?

3. Congratulations to TJ Jones, who had a big game (6 catches, 149 yards, 1 TD). TJ is well on his way to 1,000 yards receiving. He has 891 yards, with 2 games to go. TJ has been a very consistent player on a very inconsistent offense, this year.

4. Jaylon Smith continues to look like he belongs on the field, as a true freshman. He still makes some mistakes, but doesn't look lost at all, out there. Sheldon Day made some big plays, as well, but had the HUGE bonehead play, when he did not realize that the ball was still live. Prince Shembo is hard to block.

5. The secondary is still not tackling well. I've got no explanation for this, other than they just aren't as good as we would like to think they are?

No game ball for a loss, sorry.

 

[drake29]

Targeting call was crap. Pass interference on Jackson was crap after Farley tipped the pass. Tommy lost ND the game as well as poor secondary tackling and lack of depth on the defensive line. TJ has to shoulder some blame as well for fumbling inside the 5. Coaching was bad all around.

 

[gkIrish]

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Can't win if you lose the turnover battle 3-0. End of story.

ND shouldn't have beaten Pitt last year so karma came around.

Also tough break on Tuitt getting tossed. But, I'm cool with the rule.

 

[Ndaccountant]

3-0 TO. That says it all. 14 point swing between the INT in the endzone and that INT over the middle.

Oh, and one HUUUUUUUGE missed tackle by Fairly.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Can't win if you lose the turnover battle 3-0. End of story.

ND shouldn't have beaten Pitt last year so karma came around.

Also tough break on Tuitt getting tossed. But, I'm cool with the rule.

I am not with the auto ejection. It should be thrown to the booth to determine if the player should be tossed, not the opposite.

 

[magogian]

Worst ND game of the year and worst officiating of the year. It took both for us to lose.

Seriously, wtf. TJ Jones fumbles near their goal line. Rees throws an INT in the end zone. Rees throws an INT that is returned inside our ten. Our whole defense just stops playing after the Shembo ball strip and gives that up.

And of course that outrageous call against Tuitt.

F-ing amazingly bad all around.

 

[phillyirish]

Tommy Rees' lofty passes look like a hanging Frisby...

Our defensive line had less penetration than asian porn....

Sheldon Day throwing an air punch at a live fumble....

 

[Junkhead]

Also tough break on Tuitt getting tossed. But, I'm cool with the rule.

That was a garbage call, and it should be sit out a quarter or something.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

The end

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

The worst part is I will wake up tomorrow, and we still will have lost to Pitt.

 

[enrico514]

Refs sucked, Rees choked and can someone explain to me why we declined a penalty in the 1st half...

 

[BGIF]

So, what's Detroit like at Christmas time?

 

[West Coast Domer]

**** brian kelly that is all

 

[returnofthemack]

Remember what BK always says guys, it's hard to win games. Regardless of whether or not you're playing a 4-4 team that was averaging 40 yards rushing and lost to Navy. The only positive from this game is that we can't get skullf*cked in a BCS game again. I'd hope we decline a bowl bid but the extra practices will be good for Everett and the younger players.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

Now we wait for the all the people that have nothing to say when we win and cant stop talking when we lose......

 

[Sherm Sticky]

3-0 TO. That says it all. 14 point swing between the INT in the endzone and that INT over the middle.

Oh, and one HUUUUUUUGE missed tackle by Fairly.

Farly sucks.

 

[phillyirish]

The worst part is I will wake up tomorrow, and we still will have lost to Pitt.

Yea but you don't have to wake up tomorrow...... People have killed themselves for less

 

[IrishLax]

Tommy turns it over in crucial moments and we lose again.

Play calling got really bad in the second half.

Refs were unreal levels of bad. I mean holy hell at that Tuitt ejection and DPI call.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

All the breaks went against us.
I hate to bring up officiating, but that felt one sided also.
How many times was a ND player tackled two or three yards out of bounds without a call?


Even with all of that this game was there to be won.

My only complaint is the refusal to establish a power running game. I'm sick of the lateral movements behind the line of scrimmage on almost every running play. Hit the f-ing hole and run hard.

Regardless of the loss or not, I'm extremely jealous of Stanford football right now.

 

[Irish Insanity]

As if the loss to Pitt isn't bad enough, we still are behind UofM in winning percentage. **** Michigan.

 

[Junkhead]

**** brian kelly that is all

Post of the year. I'm sure he is thrilled too. You rule.

 

[tussin]

You can't defend this team. Every week they play to their opponent. There is absolutely no consistency.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I said this int he game day thread, but Eddie V really screwed the staff. Wouldn't it have been nice to have his big body tonight. What a prick.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Kelly isn't happy either so it's all good.

 

[BGIF]

Turnovers ND 3 PIT 0

Turnovers ND 3 PIT 0

Kelly now 11-13 at ND when losting Turnover Battle. 1-3 this year.

 

[irishtrinity]

2 bad throws. Great game Pitt played a good game, and got a huge help to win.

 

[gkIrish]

I would do unspeakable things if it meant that ND would never have to play an 8pm ABC game against Michigan or Pitt ever again

 

[Senoj13]

My thoughts:

1. Same as last week. Farley needs to sit. End of story.

2. B. Jackson not good in coverage all night. Had no chance on that TD to Street.

3. Amir with another drop. He may be playing at Indiana State next season.

4. Not enough Folston

5. Daniels may have played his best game of the season.

6. Shembo was a beast on the pass rush.

7. Now that BCS is out of the picture, lets see some more youth and gain some experience.

8. This ACC arrangement can't be good. Officiating was suspect. Pitt at 4-4 needs to get bowl eligible. Money talks. Until there is one pool of national officials and they are not employed by a conference, you won't convince me that bias doesn't exist.

 

[Irish Insanity]

At what point does the poor tackling in the secondary become a coaching fault as opposed to a player fault? Serious question.