Post Game Observations

[Riddickulous]

Let's hear 'em.

- WE'RE BOWL BOUND!

- Offense: Nice first half, sloppy second half.

- Defense: Very solid. Great job.

- Tommy Rees made some nice plays. He still needs a lot of work, but he's calm and cool and never gets rattled. Also some nice touch.

- Cierre Wood is going to be a beast when he perfects his vision and technique. Incredible burst through the hole.

- Give Toma the ball. He's sick in the slot.

- Tyler Eifert has exceptional hands. He's going to be great.

- Manti Te'o is a stud machine.

- Our secondary's pretty sweet.

- Harrison Smith is studly.

- RUFFER!!!!

 

[IrishinSyria]

Brian Smith has been one of our best players over the past 3 weeks.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Can anyone remember the last time in recent historty when we've had a kicker better than Ruffer?

 

[IrishinSyria]

Can anyone remember the last time in recent historty when we've had a kicker better than Ruffer?

He's made 20 field goals in a row. Forget recent history, he's got to be one of the best kickers in ND history period.

 

[GreatGolson]

Honestly, this kid has a shot a going pro, he hasnt missed....ever. Someone is bound to pick him up. If not, he still has an ND degree and a name in the record books.

 

[military_irish]

Ruffer is a great kicker but the real test is when ND will be down by one with 1 second left and the whole game is determined on him.

that is when the men are seperated from the boys

 

[Dizzyphil]

I wouldn't necessarily say sloppy second half. We got called on an offensive pass interference that negated first and goal from the one, we worked on the running game and got called for an iffy holding call - was holding but have seen worse that's not called. Second half gave Cierre and Hughes some valuable running plays. Defense did a complete 180 on defending the option. Special teams needs props for really playing well this year.

Diz

 

[jonesman]

KUDOS to every guy on D!!! Our D settled down after the first drive and plain and simpled dominated.

Was not impressed with the O-line run blocking today.

Great FG's by Ruffer again.

Since a few guys talking about kicking, I thought I would bring up a recruit tidbit. A friend was one of the refs this past week at Kyle Brindza's game. He has been doing games for 20 years and said he NEVER has seen a kicker like him. He blew every KO thru the FG. He said the kid has an insane leg.

 

[chyrspchuck]

Collinsworth and Bennett seam to be in on every single special teams play, it's like anello from last year......

 

[Dizzyphil]

Ruffer is a great kicker but the real test is when ND will be down by one with 1 second left and the whole game is determined on him.

that is when the men are seperated from the boys

Really good way to turn a positive into a negative.... How about commending Ruffer on being one of the best kickers ND has ever had. - ever been in his shoes?????


Diz

 

[phork]

Want to know how to stop the option? Thats how.

Anyone else think Floyd is just playing to get through the year so he can bolt to the NFL? I think he is definitely gone, but I think Rudolph is back.

 

[chyrspchuck]

the more i think about the game, the less concerned I am with the O, I think we were just very conservative in the 2nd half to keep the lead. At least we kept them from coming back, something our teams in the past 2 years have been susceptible against.

 

[military_irish]

Really good way to turn a positive into a negative.... How about commending Ruffer on being one of the best kickers ND has ever had. - ever been in his shoes?????


Diz

Read the whole post first, i said he is a great kicker he will make anything he is set up to do, but its common fact that most kickers get rattled when the game is on the line. So that is the real test.

I never once said he was bad or that he is negative. He is great and makes kicks throughout the game that every kicker should make.

I just said a real test for ANY kicker is when the game is on the line.

EDIT: their is a difference from a great kicker and a clutch kicker. As of now he is great.

 

[Dizzyphil]

the more i think about the game, the less concerned I am with the O, I think we were just very conservative in the 2nd half to keep the lead. At least we kept them from coming back, something our teams in the past 2 years have been susceptible against.

+1 brother, there is a thing called clock and game control which I don't think we had a grasp on in the past couple of years, although we didn't really have the defense to do it either.

Diz

 

[Junkhead]

Read the whole post first, i said he is a great kicker he will make anything he is set up to do, but its common fact that most kickers get rattled when the game is on the line. So that is the real test.

I never once said he was bad or that he is negative. He is great and makes kicks throughout the game that every kicker should make.

I just said a real test for ANY kicker is when the game is on the line.

EDIT: their is a difference from a great kicker and a clutch kicker. As of now he is great.

Can't take anything away at this point. Remember a few years ago, with Walker? Ugh. Ruffer is 20-20 on FGs. Insane!

 

[Dizzyphil]

Read the whole post first, i said he is a great kicker he will make anything he is set up to do, but its common fact that most kickers get rattled when the game is on the line. So that is the real test.

I never once said he was bad or that he is negative. He is great and makes kicks throughout the game that every kicker should make.

I just said a real test for ANY kicker is when the game is on the line.

I did read the whole post and and you said to separate the boys from the men with the game on the line.

Every time Ruffer has been called upon he has delivered. Nor did I say you said he was a bad kicker... read my whole post.

We win a needed game and you want to test his ability hypothetically..... and his contributions have never been questioned throughout his career until someone says wait until one second is left in the game and see if he performs then we will separate the men from the boys...

Diz

 

[Irish Insanity]

Our D is playing great right now. It seems that our bye week came at the right time for them. Since then they are playing as 1 and hitting a great stride.
Floyd is blocking. I think i've seen him block more in the last couple games than in his entire career. And he's blocking pretty well too.
Ruffer is the MAN!!!
The entire team seems to be coming together. They appear to be playing with discipline.

 

[military_irish]

I did read the whole post and and you said to separate the boys from the men with the game on the line.

Every time Ruffer has been called upon he has delivered. Nor did I say you said he was a bad kicker... read my whole post.

We win a needed game and you want to test his ability hypothetically..... and his contributions have never been questioned throughout his career until someone says wait until one second is left in the game and see if he performs then we will separate the men from the boys...

Diz

The first thing i said in my original post was that Ruffer was a great kicker. But he has yet to be tested when the game is on the line, and yes that does matter for anyone.

And the only reason i "tested" his ability is because it was said he was the greatest kicker ever. That can not be determined until a game is on the line. I've nevr doubted Ruffer but he can not be determined as the greatest kicker ever until he has had every challenge.

But I will say without a doubt he is the greatest kicker ND has had for awhile, but not ever.


People on here question everyones ability even when ND wins, how can I be looked "down" uponbecause I bring up a realistic point

 

[Irish Insanity]

Want to know how to stop the option? Thats how.

Anyone else think Floyd is just playing to get through the year so he can bolt to the NFL? I think he is definitely gone, but I think Rudolph is back.

Floyd seems to have bought in more as the season has gone. He appears to be playing harder than at the start of the season. Its been said that him and Rudolph are really good friends and that one will go with the other. The odd part is that Rudolph is still listed, as he should be, as the top TE NFL prospect. Yet Floyd has dropped well out of the projected top 5 WRs. With as good as Floyd is, and the his recent play, there is no way 5+ WRs are drafted prior to him. But I really want them both to stay. Seeing our teams ability turn into reality over the last couple weeks it would be nice to see the end results if everyone who can return does for next season.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

What an awesome win!!!!!!! Our boys did it again!!! I'm so proud of our team...., Both coaches and players!!! They came out and played a 4 quarter game!!! We are now 6-5 Ladies and Gentlemen....., we have USC next week. Lets celebrate a nice win and then get ready for USC..., We have some nice momentum now and I LOVE the way our defense came to play!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait for next weekend now...., for the first time in a long time I am excited about where we are as a football team! Loved the defensive effort tonight!!!! Like I have said from beginning...., we are getting better as a football team and in due time we will be prominent again.

 

[Dizzyphil]

The first thing i said in my original post was that Ruffer was a great kicker. But he has yet to be tested when the game is on the line, and yes that does matter for anyone.

And the only reason i "tested" his ability is because it was said he was the greatest kicker ever. That can not be determined until a game is on the line. I've nevr doubted Ruffer but he can not be determined as the greatest kicker ever until he has had every challenge.

But I will say without a doubt he is the greatest kicker ND has had for awhile, but not ever.


People on here question everyones ability even when ND wins, how can I be looked "down" uponbecause I bring up a realistic point

Good Deal bro, he is a great kicker and no... he has not been tested in the last second with the game on the line -- agreed.

My bad for throwing a post that suggests you are negative against a player..

Peace my Irish friend.... 'nuff said from me on the post....


Diz

 

[military_irish]

Good Deal bro, he is a great kicker and no... he has not been tested in the last second with the game on the line -- agreed.

My bad for throwing a post that suggests you are negative against a player..

Peace my Irish friend.... 'nuff said from me on the post....


Diz

Yeah sorry if it sounded "attacking" just don't want to look negatie because I am one of the least negative on this board.I support whom ever is at any position.


Go Irish!!!

Beat SC in a week

 

[Dizzyphil]

Yeah sorry if it sounded "attacking" just don't want to look negatie because I am one of the least negative on this board.I support whom ever is at any position.


Go Irish!!!

Beat SC in a week

I read your posts and I feel we are close to one in the same, just ready for some more Irish wins and less negative posts. I admit, I took your post the wrong way... truly my bad brother.

Go IRISH!!!!!

Diz

 

[NankerPhelge]

Hey, of course don't ever want to see any harm befall our players. But, didn't Teo look like one tough SOB when they showed him sitting there on the sidelines after his nose got busted? I bet that's just gonna make him even meaner. We're gonna eat USC alive, mark my word.

 

[Junkhead]

Hey, of course don't ever want to see any harm befall our players. But, didn't Teo look like one tough SOB when they showed him sitting there on the sidelines after his nose got busted? I bet that's just gonna make him even meaner. We're gonna eat USC alive, mark my word.

Yeah, my wife kinda gasped when they showed him, I scoffed and said "he's a tough SOB." Teo will be huge against U$C, broken nose or not.

 

[choo choo]

its so damn fun to watch these guys win...right now they look like a totaly different team...they actually have an air of confidence about them and are playing very aggressive on d...good job to the coaching staff, especially at their approach to defending the option (4 downlinemen really helps, eh?)...gotta love the extra practice time this win buys us and love the fact that we're headed to usc with some "mo" for a change...maybe we can get that monkey off our backs...congrats to bk and team

 

[choo choo]

i know this post doesnt fit here, but i was watching the chattanooga mocs play this afternoon and was watching a former recruit, chris donald...anyone out there remember him?...well he went to tennessee, but found himself in the doghouse for most of his stay there then transfered to chattanooga along with a qb...he played at lb last year, but this year they moved him to de and he has played really well there...anyway, i dont know if anyone remembers him or not, i just thought the info might be interesting

 

[IrishinSyria]

And Ruffer does have at least one clutch kick under his belt. He nailed the long OT kick against Michigan State this year. Ended up not mattering, but that was basically a game on the line kick.

 

[PapaIrish37]

Was at a fund raiser for my younger daughter's high school and have only seen highlights so far. My other daughter at the game was texting me updates.

The thing I think I am most impressed with at this point is - 2 and 0 in November!

A team that is getting stronger as the season winds down and a team that can close the door in the second half when they need to.

Now, go beat Kiffie's SCumbags.

GO IRISH.

 

[tripsdad]

Two observations:

1. it looked like both long balls to Eifert looked to be overthrown; yet, he grabbed them both. Great stretch/timing by Eifert!

2. is it just my imagination, or with making the offense "simpler" for the relatively inexperienced Rees (as opposed to the more complicated, score-a-minute plan for Crist) actually making things better for the team as a whole?