Post Game Observations (Stanford '15)...

kmoose

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1. Heartbreaking loss. This one really hurts because so much was on the line. But the game played out just about how you would have expected it to. A lot of offense, and one or two defensive plays really made the difference.

2. One thing that I think I noticed about this game........ It looked the coaching staff put the game on Kizer's shoulders, and said "win it or lose it for us". So you saw what you would expect from a very talented young QB; a gutty performance that was almost good enough, but not quite. I think this program is in very good hands for the near future.

3. The Secondary was once again subpar. And it wasn't even their top guys that killed us. Cajuste was their 4th leading receiver. And he just abused whomever the Irish put across from him. Some big plays were mental mistakes, which is infuriating, but part of the game. Other big plays were just mystifying........ How do you let Cajuste run down the middle of the field on that last catch? Should have treated that guy like a gunner on a punt return; line up two guys across from him and beat the living hell out of him off of the line.

4. Terry Jillery played a very good game, I thought. I think he is going to be a very sturdy anchor on the DL for the next couple of seasons. He looks like he is in elite shape. He even had that play in the 4th Q, where he looked like he was shot out of a cannon. If you look at the offense that Kelly has built, and look at the core of the defense....... once the recruiting catches up, I think future defenses will rival the 2012 one.

5. As disappointing as this loss was, let's not lose sight of the fact that this team has won 10 games. And that was a number that this board almost unanimously decreed would be a successful season, back in July and August. We're going to miss the playoffs, but will be in a New Years Day bowl game against a quality opponent. Win that game, and there will be plenty of reason for optimism heading into the Spring.

6. My game ball goes to DeShone Kizer. 13/25, 234, 1TD. 16 carries for 128 yards and 1TD.
 
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My game ball goes to Hogan, who had a ridiculous game against our defense.
 

ickythump1225

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Defense was a letdown. Oh well, we were very close to be the #1 ranked team in the country...4 points away to be exact. We'll get a nice bowl game and hopefully get to 11 wins. All in all not a bad year considering the injuries.

Also, F**K Shaw, that is one smugass prick. Also you know your program is a joke when beating a 1 loss team ranked outside the top 5 is "rush the field" worthy. I never have, and will continue not to, respect Stanford as a program. They are a good team but a horrible program.
 

brewdog_14527

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Completely agree. When you look at the injuries that this team had this year, the fact that their 2 losses came on the road by a total of 4 points to 2 teams that will be in the top 6 of the rankings next week. Not too bad. If it helps, I am not sure that we would have made the playoff anyway with the way Oklahoma is laying to Okie St. I just really hope that our loss, combined with Baylor's, doesn't let an OSU team back into the race for the playoffs, considering how crappy they have looked up until today. Bama should be able to take care of Florida, given that "offense." Let's go Clemson!!!!!
 

dang227

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We made Stanford look much better than they are.

Joe Schmidt played his worst game of the year and that is really saying something. He was directly responsible for that last long pass.

10-2 is a good year considering all the injuries but will always be know as a "what if" year. There is not one dominant team so who knows what would have happened in a playoff.

Who the heck is going to start in this secondary next year?

Nice job on McCaffrey by the defense.

Years of subpar LB and DE recruiting came back to haunt us this year.

A Fire Zone heavy defense may not be the right fit at ND. It definitely isn't forcing any turnovers. Teams marched up and down the field at will.

Jaylon should stay. He needs more work to be a dominating defensive player.

Love Sheldon Day. He had a heck of a year.
 

IrishYYC

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Extremely tough loss. I feel for the team, especially guys like Sheldon and Stanley who came back to win a Championship.

They battled hard all game and lost on a last second FG. With all the injuries this team has suffered and for them to go 10-2 with only 2 losses coming to the #1 and possibly a top 5 ranked team is really impressive.

The defense was very frustrating to watch not only this game, but all season. I can't fathom a situation in which Van Gorder is brought back.

It's been a fun season and hopefully they can end it off with NY6 bowl win.

On a side note, Kizer vs Zaire is going to be one heck of a QB battle come Spring.

I love this team. Go Irish!
 

Sherm Sticky

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The offense next year is going to be unstoppable. Lose Nick Martin, Ronnie Stanley and Chris Brown and Carlisle.

Bring back a ton of talent at WR and TE. Ton of depth on the oline, crazy amount of horses at RB. Offense is gong to be unstoppable next year.

Defense will suck again next year. No Day and no Smith I just can't see how this defense will be better next year.


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nd_fan

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I agree its really a heart breaking loss

Being overseas and having to wake up at odd times at night even including at 330am in the morning just to watch ND play and sometimes even just following it on ESPN gamecast because other games are being shown, to see an ending like this where we won't even make the playoffs just plain sucks.

The team played so well in the beginning of the year, overcame so many injuries and continued to win, only to fall apart in the last 3 games. In the end I'll take the 10 win season and good bowl game.

Just gotta make sure we win our bowl game now.
 
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Junkhead

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Actual game aside, it was a breath of fresh air to have announcers that seem impartial. They didn't seem disappointed when ND scored....as the ND NBC announcers always do.
 

NDRock

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Was a fun season and a great team to root for.

Many of the same issues crept up in this game:

- Red zone issues on both sides of the ball
- Costly turnover
- Poor tackling and big plays conceded by the D

That being said, the team fought the whole way and almost pulled it out. Was actually hoping they overturned Kizer's TD to get a few more seconds off the clock. On to the bowl game...
 

GoldenDomer

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We went on our shields. Proud of them.

But boy, Elijah Shumate, I got some questions.
 

Tejas

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I was pretty unimpressed by Stanford. I felt ND gave them more than they were able to take. All Hogan had to do was hit some wide open guys, or throw a 1 yard pass and wait for an ND missed tackle.

We shot ourselves in the foot again, in a game that we could have easily won.

But, young QB, young RB's, all the injuries suffered this season, these guys stepped up and made it happen in every game. Got a lot of young guys some plays, except Morgan, who is not allowed to play.
 

NDgradstudent

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1. Heartbreaking loss. This one really hurts because so much was on the line. But the game played out just about how you would have expected it to. A lot of offense, and one or two defensive plays really made the difference.

Not that much was on the line. OU winning meant that we weren't going to be in.
 

Jerry

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Wish they would have reversed the Kizer TD at the end. Then we could have ran some more time off the clock.
 

IrishinSyria

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We made Stanford look much better than they are.

Joe Schmidt played his worst game of the year and that is really saying something. He was directly responsible for that last long pass.

10-2 is a good year considering all the injuries but will always be know as a "what if" year. There is not one dominant team so who knows what would have happened in a playoff.

Who the heck is going to start in this secondary next year?

Nice job on McCaffrey by the defense.

Years of subpar LB and DE recruiting came back to haunt us this year.

A Fire Zone heavy defense may not be the right fit at ND. It definitely isn't forcing any turnovers. Teams marched up and down the field at will.

Jaylon should stay. He needs more work to be a dominating defensive player.

Love Sheldon Day. He had a heck of a year.

I haven't had the stomach to watch the play, but it's tough for me to see how a deep pass to a WR whose playing out of his mind is ever on a LB. If that was his man, that's on the coaches for thinking he can win that battle.
 

IrishYYC

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Jaylon should stay. He needs more work to be a dominating defensive player.
He's already a dominant player. Just ask the NFL scouts and draft pundits that have him as a top 10 pick.

I would love it if he came back but I don't see it.
 

IrishHokie22

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- Kizer is a stud. I honestly don't see Zaire getting his job back next year. Nothing against him at all, but Kizer has been so unexpectedly good in filling in this year. He makes freshman mistakes at times, sure, but he has a cannon for an arm, can run, has size, and fucking battles. ND absolutely needs to roll with him for the foreseeable future. He will be a Heisman candidate as early as next season.

- The running game was fantastic tonight. Adams is a stud. I hope Prosise/Folston come back next year, but the future is very bright with Adams regardless. Offensive line brought it tonight.

- BVG has to go. His defenses have consistently underwhelmed and his play calling is abysmal. The decision to rush 3 and go into prevent mode cost us that damn game. I'm not sure if it's him, Kelly, or both who made the decision to roll with QB Joe all year but as much as you have to like the kid, he simply is a bad football player. I have no idea what we were doing on defense tonight, and I have no idea what we've been doing all season.

- BK's decision to go for two early bit us in the ass, yet again. Going for two was too early at that point. Kick the XP, and go for two when you absolutely have to. Don't go chasing points...

- No idea why we can't move the ball in the red zone. No words.

- Silver lining to this game is that we can't bitch about the committee screwing us over and we no longer have to scoreboard watch. That was exhausting. I think we're still in good shape to play in a NY6 bowl.

- If Smith comes back I think this team has a chance to be special next season. The offense will be loaded. The defense is a huge question mark but we will have the best player in the country, should he return.

- It was a good year. Could have been better, but given the injuries, you can't really complain. A couple of breaks here, a couple there, and we're 12-0. That's the way it goes. Like I said, I'm really, really hoping Smith comes back next season.
 

IrishSteelhead

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Post Game Observations (Stanford '15)...

1. Officiating was terrible, but using that as excuse is weak.
2. Kizer showed some big balls, and I feel absolutely terrible for him and the guys. They fought hard until the bitter end.
3. 10-2 is nothing to sneeze at, just a shame this is how we got to said 10-2
4. I'm very proud to say I'm a fan of this team
5. The blueprint BK has laid out is finally starting to pay dividends
6. This was an absolutely crushing defeat, but it is what it is. 3 years ago we lose that game 20.
7. Onward. Win the bowl, and finish strong
 

Tejas

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Actual game aside, it was a breath of fresh air to have announcers that seem impartial. They didn't seem disappointed when ND scored....as the ND NBC announcers always do.

I like Joel Klatt, though, he's pretty knowledgeable covering college football, does a weekly interview with a local radio show in Dallas. he's pretty good to listen to
 

rtrn2glory

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Bgsu would score 60 on our defense

It's dad cuz I'd put our offense up against any defense in the country but or defense simply gives up too many big plays and is division 2 at best in the secondary. Yea we had guys hurt but Russell would have been worse tonight.

Just sucks that jaylon and Sheldon day have to be tagged as being a part of that fucking circus called a defense

Red zone field goals and turnover before half fucked us as well

What do you do.... Its called being a fan of Notre Dame
 

dang227

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Anyone else think was a fast season? I can't believe it's over.
 

NDRock

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He's already a dominant player. Just ask the NFL scouts and draft pundits that have him as a top 10 pick.

I would love it if he came back but I don't see it.

Agree, people act like you can't get better from going Pro. There are some pretty good coaches in the NFL. Not like Elson and BVG are world beaters.
 

Senoj13

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My Observations:

1. Kizer played with tons of heart and showed leadership beyond expected from a freshman. The QB battle is going to be interesting in the spring but I have to think its Kizer's to lose.

2. Another solid game for Josh Adams. Even his bad looking runs went for 4 yards.

3. I thought Max Redfield played his best game in run support tonight. Seemed to be tackling properly and not going for the knockout shot.

4. Still too many mental mistakes to overcome to win big games. Butler has to make that tackle on the screen or at least hold him up to help arrives. The blown coverage by Schumate is another that comes to mind. Kizer's fumble also was huge seeing the final score.

5. The offensive line was outstanding. The rushing yards were off the chart and I don't recall Kizer being sacked at all.

6. As much as I'd like to see Jaylon come back, can't imagine it will happen. He's already projected as a top 10 pick. His stock won't rise much higher.
 
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