Post Game Observations (Stanford)....

[TheTurningPoint]

Dline played great for 4 quarters. They got a consistent push and made the plays go sideline to sideline. Inside backers had trouble getting off blocks and shooting the gaps. Jaylon struggled, but its just a freshman going against one of the best Olines in the country. Once he gets in the weight room and understands leverage and angles more it will correct his mistakes from last night. Safeties didnt play horrible. Farley missed some tackles and had a hell of a feet first slide, but made some great plays as well. It still baffles me why the Diaco has the safeties off the ball so far in some situations.

Oline played good. Struggled some in the the run game, but that was expected going against their run D, and having 3 non starters in the interior. Pass Pro was good. The difference was NDs dline didnt get constant pressure to throw off timing on Stanford and their Qb was able to get his feet set on 3rd down. Like I said, NDs oline played good in pass pro, but Stanford still got enough pressure to make Rees rush more 3rd down throws than his counterpart.

The INTs hurt, but the game was lost on first down on both sides of the ball for ND. Stanford was consistently under 5 yards on 2nd down more times than not, and ND was in 2nd and more than 7 more times than not.

I will be very interested to see a healthy ND team in the bowl game and just see the differences in the team when healthy vs not. Folston is going to be good. His pass pro needs a lot of work, but he showed running the ball that in games vs good teams, there is a diff between him and Cam/GA3.

I was surprised Stanford forced everything to the outside on passes. Maybe its Rees lack of arm strength to hit the throws on the wide side, but a lot of teams have left the middle of the field open for Rees. Its a little mind boggling to see so many mis-communications on routes in game 12. No, I dont think it has to deal with presnap things. Tommy was communicating with the line and not giving signals to the WRs. You can tell when they do change the play bc there is a clear signal to the WRs vs line checks. I dont have a problem with presnap from Rees, as much as I do with the time it takes to get the play in. Its been a problem since season 1 with Kelly. They have got to figure a way to cut that down. Whether Martin moves down to the field, or they cut the hand signals out/down, something has got to change there.

 

[GowerND11]

Dline played great for 4 quarters. They got a consistent push and made the plays go sideline to sideline. Inside backers had trouble getting off blocks and shooting the gaps. Jaylon struggled, but its just a freshman going against one of the best Olines in the country. Once he gets in the weight room and understands leverage and angles more it will correct his mistakes from last night. Safeties didnt play horrible. Farley missed some tackles and had a hell of a feet first slide, but made some great plays as well. It still baffles me why the Diaco has the safeties off the ball so far in some situations.

Oline played good. Struggled some in the the run game, but that was expected going against their run D, and having 3 non starters in the interior. Pass Pro was good. The difference was NDs dline didnt get constant pressure to throw off timing on Stanford and their Qb was able to get his feet set on 3rd down. Like I said, NDs oline played good in pass pro, but Stanford still got enough pressure to make Rees rush more 3rd down throws than his counterpart.

The INTs hurt, but the game was lost on first down on both sides of the ball for ND. Stanford was consistently under 5 yards on 2nd down more times than not, and ND was in 2nd and more than 7 more times than not.

I will be very interested to see a healthy ND team in the bowl game and just see the differences in the team when healthy vs not. Folston is going to be good. His pass pro needs a lot of work, but he showed running the ball that in games vs good teams, there is a diff between him and Cam/GA3.

I was surprised Stanford forced everything to the outside on passes. Maybe its Rees lack of arm strength to hit the throws on the wide side, but a lot of teams have left the middle of the field open for Rees. Its a little mind boggling to see so many mis-communications on routes in game 12. No, I dont think it has to deal with presnap things. Tommy was communicating with the line and not giving signals to the WRs. You can tell when they do change the play bc there is a clear signal to the WRs vs line checks. I dont have a problem with presnap from Rees, as much as I do with the time it takes to get the play in. Its been a problem since season 1 with Kelly. They have got to figure a way to cut that down. Whether Martin moves down to the field, or they cut the hand signals out/down, something has got to change there.

To the bolded. I thought Fox and Carlo were doing a good job of filling the holes, but the problem was they were consistently met by a pulling guard or fullback. It seems to me that there was something missing that could have helped them (IE Nix). It was frustrating to see them crash into a blocker and watch Gaffney go another 5 yards or more untouched because no one else was around.

 

[koonja]

Farley's been playing with a severly injured shoulder throughout most of the season that will likely require surgery after the season.

What's your source on that? Just curious because I've never heard anything about it outside of Ironman's speculation that that might be contributing to his poor play.

And if it's true, why on earth is he playing (if it's not true, I still ask this question lol).

 

[TheTurningPoint]

To the bolded. I thought Fox and Carlo were doing a good job of filling the holes, but the problem was they were consistently met by a pulling guard or fullback. It seems to me that there was something missing that could have helped them (IE Nix). It was frustrating to see them crash into a blocker and watch Gaffney go another 5 yards or more untouched because no one else was around.

Not shooting quick enough to get in the hole before the guard, or not blowing the guard up to fill it. Nix wouldnt have done anything that Jarron/Kona werent doing. They were the gaps. Example last year, Manti would fill the hole and not get essentially pancaked, or he would make the tackle by getting off the block. Carlo seems more of trying to just take on the block and not make the tackle. Which is good if there is someone there to make the tackle lol. On screens/stretch plays that effective. You see a LB/CB take out the blocker bc there is someone there most times so its 1-on-1 with the ball carrier and the free defender. Fox/Carlo have trouble scraping over the top of the point of attack/los and thats something Manti excelled at. Grace struggled the first few weeks, but once he got used to the speed and trusted his reads that where he was really coming on.

Fox and Carlo playing along with a Manti/athletic counterpart do a lot better. Its just they dont play well together just bc they are the same type of player. Carlo is made for that style. I just thought the LBs would be a little better vs a straight power team. Esp with stanford not utilizing the TE this year.

Remember the national title game and all the tackles manti missed in the backfield though? He was shooting those gaps, he just didnt make the tackle. I dont know if its instincts or just inability to get to spots, but it was a huge problem vs Michigan. Itll be interesting to see how well they progress next year. Jaylon will be a year older, Ishaq plays the run well for the most part, Romeo played it well last night, Councell plays the run well (but will he be healthy), and obviously Grace can play the run well. Randolph/Deeb/Moore/Yeargin/etc are all upgrades athletically so we will see!

 

[irishff1014]

Dline played great for 4 quarters. They got a consistent push and made the plays go sideline to sideline. Inside backers had trouble getting off blocks and shooting the gaps. Jaylon struggled, but its just a freshman going against one of the best Olines in the country. Once he gets in the weight room and understands leverage and angles more it will correct his mistakes from last night. Safeties didnt play horrible. Farley missed some tackles and had a hell of a feet first slide, but made some great plays as well. It still baffles me why the Diaco has the safeties off the ball so far in some situations.

Oline played good. Struggled some in the the run game, but that was expected going against their run D, and having 3 non starters in the interior. Pass Pro was good. The difference was NDs dline didnt get constant pressure to throw off timing on Stanford and their Qb was able to get his feet set on 3rd down. Like I said, NDs oline played good in pass pro, but Stanford still got enough pressure to make Rees rush more 3rd down throws than his counterpart.

The INTs hurt, but the game was lost on first down on both sides of the ball for ND. Stanford was consistently under 5 yards on 2nd down more times than not, and ND was in 2nd and more than 7 more times than not.

I will be very interested to see a healthy ND team in the bowl game and just see the differences in the team when healthy vs not. Folston is going to be good. His pass pro needs a lot of work, but he showed running the ball that in games vs good teams, there is a diff between him and Cam/GA3.

I was surprised Stanford forced everything to the outside on passes. Maybe its Rees lack of arm strength to hit the throws on the wide side, but a lot of teams have left the middle of the field open for Rees. Its a little mind boggling to see so many mis-communications on routes in game 12. No, I dont think it has to deal with presnap things. Tommy was communicating with the line and not giving signals to the WRs. You can tell when they do change the play bc there is a clear signal to the WRs vs line checks. I dont have a problem with presnap from Rees, as much as I do with the time it takes to get the play in. Its been a problem since season 1 with Kelly. They have got to figure a way to cut that down. Whether Martin moves down to the field, or they cut the hand signals out/down, something has got to change there.

One of my favorite post of yours.

This has been terrible all around. It can't be that freaking hard. 2 different QBs this is a coaching problem.

 

[Andy in Sactown]

It's sad because the schedule becomes infinitely more manageable with no ASU and Wake instead. Really can't believe we couldn't get out of that ASU game. One of the very few mistakes Jack made in his tenure is not having an easy out clause in that contract.

Are you sure Kevin White didn't ink that deal?

 

[Kak7304]

To the bolded. I thought Fox and Carlo were doing a good job of filling the holes, but the problem was they were consistently met by a pulling guard or fullback. It seems to me that there was something missing that could have helped them (IE Nix). It was frustrating to see them crash into a blocker and watch Gaffney go another 5 yards or more untouched because no one else was around.

Exactly and this is why what Nix does best doesn't show up on the stat sheet. He consistently ties up two blockers at the LOS which clogs up the hole and frees up a LB to make a play.

 

[Wild Bill]

Farley's been playing with a severly injured shoulder throughout most of the season that will likely require surgery after the season.

How's his tailbone?

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

If it was that bad, why was he playing? Tackling issues, coverage issues. Why? We had other options.

 

[NDinL.A.]

What's your source on that? Just curious because I've never heard anything about it outside of Ironman's speculation that that might be contributing to his poor play.

And if it's true, why on earth is he playing (if it's not true, I still ask this question lol).

Pete Sampson said it a couple of weeks ago, and I believe I heard Dan Murphy (BGI) say something about it as well on a podcast recently. It's a pretty well-known 'secret' by now (same with Dan Fox, who apparently is also playing through an injury).

 

[Emcee77]

Farley's been playing with a severly injured shoulder throughout most of the season that will likely require surgery after the season.

I believe it. It certainly explains his tackling issues -- I didn't think he was a poor tackler last year -- and Kelly did say at a recent media session that there were a few guys who had nagging injuries that would require off-season surgery. Evidently Farley's one of them.

Its a little mind boggling to see so many mis-communications on routes in game 12.

It really is. I just can't understand it.

This... Lol

On a side note this was the best 'who should play' debate this side Jones vs Grant... THAT was epic shizzz

Lol ... Julius vs. Ryan? IE wouldn't even have been around back then. Funny to think about.

 

[IrishLion]

Pete Sampson said it a couple of weeks ago, and I believe I heard Dan Murphy (BGI) say something about it as well on a podcast recently. It's a pretty well-known 'secret' by now (same with Dan Fox, who apparently is also playing through an injury).

It's a bit perplexing that we didn't see much of Redfield the past few weeks if the injury is affecting Farley enough to seriously hamper his ability to make tackles.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

If Farley is hurt and is this terrible, then Redfield and the other backup safeties must be terrible. How can they play him through that while he's 100% ineffective unless the backups are somehow so bad that it's worth risking his health while getting terrible play?

 

[TheTurningPoint]

2013 just wasnt NDs year and they still managed to pull out an 8-4 record. Hell there was some debate whether Tommy was going to be able to play Friday night bc he was gettin IVs.

Heres to a better 2014! Haha

 

[NDohio]

Haven't read all the way through this thread so I am sure there are many repeats:

1. Folston is going to be a lot of fun to watch the next few years. I love the way he cuts through holes that don't even seem to be there. He already has great vision and does not get tackled easily. And Bryant is supposed to be the better back? Wow.

2. Tommy played a pretty good game. The last int was a really bad play call and his worst throw of the game. The first int. was PI I thought.

3. Daniels was very confused on the check-offs Tommy was calling at the line. I payed close attention to him in the second half and there were numerous times he was making gestures with his hands pre-snap indicating he didn't know what the play was. I don't know if this is on him or Tommy not relaying the message to him well enough.

4. Part of the above problem is Tommy runs out of time on EVERY play. It causes a few of issues. A) Does Tommy have enough time to relay the change to everybody? B) Tommy has to rush himself and I don't believe he is always ready for the snap but it has to happen or it will be a delay penalty. C) It gives the defense a huge advantage on jumping the snap. We consistently snap the ball at zero and the defense can jump that. We never have time to attempt to do a hard count and get the defensive timing off balance. Drives me nuts.

5. The play calling has to get to the QB much, much quicker in the future. I don't understand why it is an issue here. BK didn't have this problem in Cinci. It causes so much stress to the QB that I thnk it effects their ability to play calm and settled. Opposing defenses put enough stress on our QB, our own coaching staff shouldn't be adding to it by being slow on the play calling.

6. JJ played pretty well. It makes me feel better about the D-Line for next year with the way he showed up the last two weeks. We still missed Nix - a lot - but good for JJ for finally showing us something.

7. I look forward to LB's having more athleticism next year. They didn't play badly last night, they just weren't special. Blah would be my description.

 

[koonja]

2013 just wasnt NDs year and they still managed to pull out an 8-4 record. Hell there was some debate whether Tommy was going to be able to play Friday night bc he was gettin IVs.

Heres to a better 2014! Haha

Do you think Farley will be a starter for game 1 of 2014 season?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

About injuries. It was after last season that 99% of the people knew about BJax's shoulder. Farley has been injured and like someone just said, it is "the worst kept secret!"

Rightfully, people have commented on what the team would have been with a mobile quarterback in Everett Golson. Similarly, the best safety prospect we may have had this year was out before the season. Nicky Baratti is bigger, faster, stronger, and obviously a better decision maker than the other options.

He is at least 6'2", and was 220lbs. He has run a documented laser timed 4.45 second forty. That is way beyond the kind of speed we have had at safety, even Harrison Smith, who was reputed to be faster than light showed up at the combine much slower. And Harrison was the best in recent years.

As far as the adjustment to the speed of the game and decision making, Nicky intercepted a pass in the end zone to stop a Michigan scoring drive in his second game as a true freshman. Just having him this year would have made a marked difference. No I am not saying he could run the whole defense as a second game freshman, and I don't care if the time of his sprint was off a little. Having that kind of boom n an obviously depleted secondary would have been a huge help.

Nicky - shoulder
Eilar - coming off knee
Elijah - various and ankle
Austin - coming off shoulder and back
Mathias - looks like bad shoulder, back, or both.

Next year if we have the "even year blessing," as opposed to the odd year curse, I think with a little work "Smith ~ Grace ~ Moore ~ Okwara" could be a lights out linebacker corps. As duly noted Okwara had a great game against Stanford. But he has been building. Playing multiple positions, getting more physical down in the trenches, that youngster is ready to take over Princes position. I say youngster; even though he has an additional year on campus, he is three days younger than Jaylon Smith. Gemini : "twins at linebacker."

 

[phgreek]

About injuries. It was after last season that 99% of the people knew about BJax's shoulder. Farley has been injured and like someone just said, it is "the worst kept secret!"

Rightfully, people have commented on what the team would have been with a mobile quarterback in Everett Golson. Similarly, the best safety prospect we may have had this year was out before the season. Nicky Baratti is bigger, faster, stronger, and obviously a better decision maker than the other options.

He is at least 6'2", and was 220lbs. He has run a documented laser timed 4.45 second forty. That is way beyond the kind of speed we have had at safety, even Harrison Smith, who was reputed to be faster than light showed up at the combine much slower. And Harrison was the best in recent years.

As far as the adjustment to the speed of the game and decision making, Nicky intercepted a pass in the end zone to stop a Michigan scoring drive in his second game as a true freshman. Just having him this year would have made a marked difference. No I am not saying he could run the whole defense as a second game freshman, and I don't care if the time of his sprint was off a little. Having that kind of boom n an obviously depleted secondary would have been a huge help.

Nicky - shoulder
Eilar - coming off knee
Elijah - various and ankle
Austin - coming off shoulder and back
Mathias - looks like bad shoulder, back, or both.

Next year if we have the "even year blessing," as opposed to the odd year curse, I think with a little work "Smith ~ Grace ~ Moore ~ Okwara" could be a lights out linebacker corps. As duly noted Okwara had a great game against Stanford. But he has been building. Playing multiple positions, getting more physical down in the trenches, that youngster is ready to take over Princes position. I say youngster; even though he has an additional year on campus, he is three days younger than Jaylon Smith. Gemini : "twins at linebacker."

...I can't tell with Baratti yet. On the play you cited, I can't even tell his skill because the run fake was awful (ie the back did not sell it), and the ball was underthrown. He didn't need coverage skills or closing speed...he did need vision/awareness, and testicular fortitude to make that play as a youngster. Had it been a play like Bjax (nice to see him make one) made on his last int. I'd be sold on that point.

I'm down with the rest...although whats the "Princes" position...

 

[Bogtrotter07]

...I can't tell with Baratti yet. On the play you cited, I can't even tell his skill because the run fake was awful (ie the back did not sell it), and the ball was underthrown. He didn't need coverage skills or closing speed...he did need vision/awareness, and testicular fortitude to make that play as a youngster. Had it been a play like Bjax (nice to see him make one) made on his last int. I'd be sold on that point.

I'm down with the rest...although whats the "Princes" position...

Forget the aspect of the play; I am not saying that it was an athletic milestone. I am saying here is a true freshman who, in the second game of the season in his freshman year, had something that the coaches trusted him to be on the field during a key period in the game. ND had not established a lead or anything. And he had the presence to step in front of the ball, under the lights with 80,000 watching.

Each point I made about Nicky can be explained away, but together they point to real potential, and not just down the road. But, ready to exploit.

Prince's as in Prince Shembo's position.

 

[phgreek]

Forget the aspect of the play; I am not saying that it was an athletic milestone. I am saying here is a true freshman who, in the second game of the season in his freshman year, had something that the coaches trusted him to be on the field during a key period in the game. ND had not established a lead or anything. And he had the presence to step in front of the ball, under the lights with 80,000 watching.

Each point I made about Nicky can be explained away, but together they point to real potential, and not just down the road. But, ready to exploit.

Prince's as in Prince Shembo's position.

I see the trust point...coaches saw enough to throw him out there. I agreed on the presence part. I was breaking your balls on the "princes" thing...I knew what you meant.

 

[wizards8507]

No, I mean has it been confirmed that they would let us drop Wake? Otherwise, the FSU game doesn't happen, correct?

Also, is this someting that has mutual interest or did the ACC just offer it?

It's on the FSU "official" athletics site, though no date.

Florida State University Official Athletic Site - Football

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Do you think Farley will be a starter for game 1 of 2014 season?

Not a clue. Thats 9months away. As we found out this year, a lot can happenin 9months.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Not a clue. Thats 9months away. As we found out this year, a lot can happenin 9months.

Are you 'hinting' to the fact we have a player with a child on the way? Is this one of those cryptic messages.?

 

[returnofthemack]

Sad, but still kind of funny.

 

[koonja]

Sad, but still kind of funny.

That was actually better than his average tackle attempt of the season, lol.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Classic Bennett lol

 

[Buster Bluth]

2. Tommy played a pretty good game. The last int was a really bad play call and his worst throw of the game. The first int. was PI I thought.

It was five wide. Kelly didn't force him to throw it to Fuller, there are four other guys running around.

 

[NDPhilly]

Really bad play call? If Tommy had any arm strength at all he reaches Fuller on that. Fuller had the CB beat by a couple yards and would have scored a TD if a tommy hit him in stride.

 

[stlnd01]

Really bad play call? If Tommy had any arm strength at all he reaches Fuller on that. Fuller had the CB beat by a couple yards and would have scored a TD if a tommy hit him in stride.

Something went wrong in his delivery. He was totally throwing off his back foot, you could see it as soon as he wound up. But, yeah.

 

[Irish8248]

Really bad play call? If Tommy had any arm strength at all he reaches Fuller on that. Fuller had the CB beat by a couple yards and would have scored a TD if a tommy hit him in stride.

Exxxxxxxxxxactly!!! 100% ... Smh at some of these posts