Post Game Observations

[tadman95]

Another thing to remember is this was Kelly's first look at this years starters and backups in a game. How do they respond in a game? We know what some guys are going to do, ie.. Teo and Floyd.

But others, well Kelly now has to figure was it a bad game or was/is it a bigger problem than that. I expect he/coaches will have some heart to heart with some guys. Rees may have some shortcomings (not many IMO) but he stays in the moment and in his own skin better than most and not a bad role model for those who struggle with focus to follow.

If ever a player and a team need to focus on doing their job it's going to be at the Big House in a night game.

 

[IRISH FAN IN EASTL.A.]

staying positive

staying positive

Another thing to remember is this was Kelly's first look at this years starters and backups in a game. How do they respond in a game? We know what some guys are going to do, ie.. Teo and Floyd.

But others, well Kelly now has to figure was it a bad game or was/is it a bigger problem than that. I expect he/coaches will have some heart to heart with some guys. Rees may have some shortcomings (not many IMO) but he stays in the moment and in his own skin better than most and not a bad role model for those who struggle with focus to follow.

If ever a player and a team need to focus on doing their job it's going to be at the Big House in a night game.

defense was outstanding...that south florida touchdown shows why fox will start a 2nd time vs scum because calabrese is a run stuffer not good at coverage..overall our defense was pretty stout...(would of like to see more sacks) our offense was really shakey should be better this week for damn sure... i dont know about you but floyd had the onside kick he should of went for the ball on that onside kick he tried to let the ball come to him... i want to see more from the offense...cierre wood and floyd cannot do it all...everyone else gotta pick it up or its gonna be a loooooooooooong season.... coach kelly is better than than so i am pretty sure he let them have this week....go irish

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

defense was outstanding...that south florida touchdown shows why fox will start a 2nd time vs scum because calabrese is a run stuffer not good at coverage..overall our defense was pretty stout...(would of like to see more sacks) our offense was really shakey should be better this week for damn sure... i dont know about you but floyd had the onside kick he should of went for the ball on that onside kick he tried to let the ball come to him... i want to see more from the offense...cierre wood and floyd cannot do it all...everyone else gotta pick it up or its gonna be a loooooooooooong season.... coach kelly is better than than so i am pretty sure he let them have this week....go irish

Great post... Please do so more.

 

[BGIF]

Floyd and...........???

My error, original post corrected.

I had seen a report that Eifert had 103 but the UND site only lists him with 93. I see Eifert and Ragone, the TEs, combined had 103 but that's obviously not a 100 yd receiver. Only Floyd.

Nice catch.

Mea culpa.

 

[BGIF]

... close enough though to make BGIFs point, so OK

only with the "drop".

 

[BGIF]

... i dont know about you but floyd had the onside kick he should of went for the ball on that onside kick he tried to let the ball come to him...

Carpe Diem.

That was a Heisman Moment that won't be in the highlight clip. Jarious Jackson would have plucked that ball out of the air, tucked it away, then stuck his shoulder into that Bull on Jarious's way to the end zone.

 

[BGIF]

I care not about making people scapegoats for something irretrievably in the past, but I DO care about the future. To make such best guess decisions, Kelly has the recent past to work with.

Crist [shoulda had...i.e. whatever play we called if the Jonas fumble didn't occur + the "seven" from Mike's micro-hold] = 14.
Rees [shoulda had...i.e. Ruffer's FG] =23.
Crist [actual] = 0.
Rees [actual] = 20.
Crist yards = c.200 [half by Cierre Woods running].
Rees yards = c.300 [passing almost entirely].

Kelly was asked why he shifted QBs. He did not say because I blame Dayne Crist as a scapegoat [a useless way of thinking about things], but rather simply "production". I find Coach's logic very difficult to gripe about.

You and I took a lot of heat from in the Crist v. Rees thread this summer when we noted that aside from the 5 Stars and cannon arm we didn't see the decision making from Crist to justify a lock on the job. We both offered that we didn't have a horse in the race but simply wanted to see the one that could execute best get the job.

I ran the NCAA QB Efficiency numbers for Crist and Rees for the USF game:

Crist QB Eff 86.53

Rees QB Eff 151.36


And I don't buy the scapegoat tag either.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Keith Arnold breaks down each of Crist's throws against USF with video here. Very illuminating.

He'll be doing the same for Rees tomorrow.

 

[jakerbluegold]

You and I took a lot of heat from in the Crist v. Rees thread this summer when we noted that aside from the 5 Stars and cannon arm we didn't see the decision making from Crist to justify a lock on the job. We both offered that we didn't have a horse in the race but simply wanted to see the one that could execute best get the job.

I ran the NCAA QB Efficiency numbers for Crist and Rees for the USF game:

Crist QB Eff 86.53

Rees QB Eff 151.36


And I don't buy the scapegoat tag either.

You win man. Old man here chiming in. It's Rees or losing. No other way to victory but a different QB besides Crist. I love the guy, but he's just not getting it done.

Regardless, I GUARANTEE A VICTORY AGAINST MICHIGAN THIS SATURDAY!

I have absolutely nothing to back this up, just a feeling.

 

[NDinL.A.]

You and I took a lot of heat from in the Crist v. Rees thread this summer when we noted that aside from the 5 Stars and cannon arm we didn't see the decision making from Crist to justify a lock on the job. We both offered that we didn't have a horse in the race but simply wanted to see the one that could execute best get the job.

I ran the NCAA QB Efficiency numbers for Crist and Rees for the USF game:

Crist QB Eff 86.53

Rees QB Eff 151.36


And I don't buy the scapegoat tag either.

I'm on record as saying I hoped Crist won the job and I was happy when he did win it. He came out looking excellent, confident and calm. Took the team right down the field. Started out 6-8. But when adversity struck, he just didn't respond well. The fumble killed the team. Drops didn't help Crist, obviously. But he wasn't very accurate after that 6-8 start, and that INT in the endzone was awful (Barkley-esque).

And then I saw how well the team responded when Rees was playing and hw the crowd responded and how Rees responded to the moment, and I think it's pretty obvious that Rees should (and will) get the nod. Kid just doesn't get rattled and the offense moves when he's in the game.

Whoever is chosen, this is just a HUGE game and he must perform. We cannot start 0-2 with a loss to our rivals, we just can't.

 

[jakerbluegold]

I'm on record as saying I hoped Crist won the job and I was happy when he did win it. He came out looking excellent, confident and calm. Took the team right down the field. Started out 6-8. But when adversity struck, he just didn't respond well. The fumble killed the team. Drops didn't help Crist, obviously. But he wasn't very accurate after that 6-8 start, and that INT in the endzone was awful (Barkley-esque).

And then I saw how well the team responded when Rees was playing and hw the crowd responded and how Rees responded to the moment, and I think it's pretty obvious that Rees should (and will) get the nod. Kid just doesn't get rattled and the offense moves when he's in the game.

Whoever is chosen, this is just a HUGE game and he must perform. We cannot start 0-2 with a loss to our rivals, we just can't.

Amen brother. This will define the season.

 

[BGIF]

You and I took a lot of heat from in the Crist v. Rees thread this summer when we noted that aside from the 5 Stars and cannon arm we didn't see the decision making from Crist to justify a lock on the job. We both offered that we didn't have a horse in the race but simply wanted to see the one that could execute best get the job.

I ran the NCAA QB Efficiency numbers for Crist and Rees for the USF game:

Crist QB Eff 86.53

Rees QB Eff 151.36


And I don't buy the scapegoat tag either.

Another piece of data. There's been much commentary about Crist being the better runner and thus a better fit for Kelly's offense. In the USF game Crist had a 6 yd carry and an 11 yd sack for a -2.5 yds/attempt. Rees also had two carries one for a 4 yd gain and a 3 yd sack for a 0.5 yds/attempt. Neither was note worthy but this was supposed to be a big advantage for Crist. Small data set but Rees was NOT the liability perceived.

In the 1st Q ND rushed 12 times for 67 yds but dropped to 9-29 in the 2nd Q. As for the lack of the ND rush game in the second half, we were 4-19 yds in the 3rd Q and 4 for 2 in the 4th Q. The halftime score and the clock took ND out of a run game not the presence of Rees.

 

[phgreek]

1. Wow, if there is such a thing as the football gods, then ND must have done something to really anger them. 5 turnovers, 8 penalties; and they all seemed to come at crucial times. It certainly seems like the team was not fully mentally prepared to play this game. I'm gonna lay that on Kelly. However, I want to qualify that with the fact that Coach Kelly is known for having his teams prepared. So I'm going to call that an aberration, and give him a mulligan.

...this goes on the guys in cleats...You are right in looking to Kelly's previous stints to evaluate this situation...Guys just found out that being a starter has expectations, and isn't simply a reward for being the guy who is more talented, or did better in camp...we had 4 guys lay eggs...EACH wilted when they came face-to-face with their time...those individual failures, and their timing will NEVER have a neutral impact...it will propel, or propogate...lets hope Kelly knows how to do some voodoo and get some propulsion.

2. Cierre Wood certainly is looking like a starting D-IA tailback. I think he lacks that "6th gear" top end speed, but he certainly seems to be running very well.

agree, many question his first drive performance, saying he looked spent, etc....I think when he got tackled on his head, it shook him up...the runs after that he looked out of it, and was asking out of the game...otherwise he lit USF up...bad.

3. Michael Floyd is just incredible.

...well except for tracking on-side kicks...I honestly thought he had a shot and wasn't aggressive enough...in his regular receiver role he was very good

4. The other receivers aren't.

agree...none (TE included) are even ready to be starters other than Floyd...they've shown mentally to be easily shaken, and to lose focus and consistency...each had their moment(s) to be the man by simply executing pedestrian plays...and failed. They simply wilted...

5. I thought that the offensive line looked better than I have seen an ND O-line look, since the Holtz days.

agree

6. I really think that, despite the killer late interception, Tommy Rees will probably be under center, at the start of the Michigan game. The offense just moves better with him in. Comparison:

Dayne Crist was in for 7 drives: The opening drive was 8 plays and 76 yards.

Drive #2 was 5 plays, 25 yards.

The rest were:

3 plays, 4 yards
11 plays, 61 yards
3 plays, 5 yards
3 plays, -1 yards
3 plays, 1 yard

Tommy Rees had 6 drives:

7 plays, 44 yards
5 plays, 66 yards
6 plays, 54 yards
12 plays, 76 yards
2 plays, 4 yards
10 plays, 99 yards

The offense clearly ran better, tonight, with Rees in the game. I'm not sure if I can forgive him for that HUGE interception, though!.

agree...didn't need the stats, it was that obvious to me, even if I couldn't see the score...TR is just better in this scheme.

7. The defense played well, but they are still nowhere near in the class of the better SEC defenses, or say, Ohio State.

In the first half, it seemed that S. Fla.'s gameplan was to attack our D by getting the ball to the outside quickly, and it was working. But Diaco seemingly made the adjustments that he needed to, and the second half was a much different story. The outside linebackers did a MUCH better job of keeping outside contain, in the second half.

It's been a while, since the offense failed to score, and I felt confident that the Defense would hold and get the ball back to them. I had that feeling, tonight. .

...D is better than many give them credit for...I think its very tough to say anything negative of any facet of the D until they play a reasonably normal game...not willing to cede to ohio state...will give the nod to LSU and Florida...right now.

8. Losing the opener, even as ugly as it was, is not the end of the season. From what I saw tonight, this team could still win 9 or 10 games. Certainly not if the play another game like they played tonight, but if they can hold on to the damn ball and play with a lead, I think they will be alright.

future depends heavily on the play of TR, exactly what Kelly does to get wood a blow, and what spell he puts the receiver corps under to make them as mentally tough as he thought they were, because they are freakin orchids right now...

as always thanks for the thoughtful breakdown...

 

[tankjeep]

I don't know about the timing. Rees makes it look pretty easy and he was getting 1/3 of the reps. I just have no clue what Crist's problem is.

here in lies the problem that most people have not thought about. in the off season what has crist been doing the past two years? bouncing back from injury. with that being said, he's lost a lot of developmental time (his own time) with working on timing and rhythm. granted, he's shown that he's a hell of a practice player, but when it comes to game time.....he cannot take the pressure.

i truly believe that if crist wasn't recovering from injury the last two years, we'd see a much better and confident qb. it's stunted his development and his confidence has suffered because of it.

he has no touch on his passes and his accuracy was awful. i feel bad for the guy. hopefully he gets going and comes back because if we have to rely on rees to win games for us....we are in trouble.

go IRISH!!!! btw, the season ain't over yet. there's still a ton of football left to be played.

 

[tankjeep]

also, brian kelly needs to take a chill pill on the sidelines. i know players were screwing up left and right, but someone needs to stand up and be that calming influence on the sidelines & kelly wasn't it.

i may coach a different sport, but the approach to handling players is about the same. and i feel that kelly needs to hold back from blowing a gasket and coach the boys up. i know it's hard to be positive in that kind of game where everything seems to be going wrong, but i truly feel that kelly's coaching may have gotten the boys to be tighter as the game progressed.

i'm not saying he should've been coddling players and all. i'm just saying that he needed to tone it down a notch and reel them back in.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

This is my first opportunity to post since this debacle. My initial reaction was that of an obsessed fan who's hopes and dreams were shattered. But after I've calmed myself and gathered my thoughts, all I have to say is that I'm tired of watching ND teams with potential and talent BEAT THEMSELVES. It's one thing to have your butt handed to you by a better team. It's a tougher pill to swallow if you had a chance to win but continually shoot yourself in the foot. The latter is what clearly happened on Saturday. Credit to USF for taking full advantage though.

 

[Old Man Mike]

On the Keith Arnold passing breakdown listed above: very "enjoyable" read [in that knowledge at depth is important]. The analysis, plus that of BGIFs, authenticates the spontaneous "eyeball" tests of watching the ... well, it's almost a change in "atmosphere" about our offense when Tommy is at the controls.

Arnold gives Crist some props for good leadership after his rocket caromed off Riddick in the second quarter. I'd really like to, but I can't. Firstly, I believe that Crist threw that ball way too hard, making it a tough catch unless it arrives right in the middle of your body. More important to the leadership issue: If we watch the tape I believe that some of us will see Crist immediately hang his head.

Then, almost in a "mannered" [i.e. not spontaneous] way, he gets it up and yells at Theo. This might be good leadership, but it did not strike me as the sort which would either inspire me as a lineman, or inspire Theo. I wasn't on the field. I don't know what I'd think then. But I remember when I played ball [admittedly basketball not football], I wasn't "elevated" by someone making mannered remarks when they themselves were stinking the court up.

Good leadership in that situation to me would have been simply to look at Theo and tap my own chest. [even if I didn't believe it was my own fault]. Crist was not self-confident enough to do that. And I understand that.

Just opinions...probably wrong.

 

[IrishLax]

I've purposely taken a couple days off from this board to let things marinade. I was at the game this past Saturday and it was by far the worst game experience I have ever had. And that's saying something considering I was there for our first loss to Navy in 50+ years. I've had to chance to read most of the posts... and here is really the only thing I think I can add.

Looking at the statistics, 508 yards of total offense ranks #5 behind Oregon, Boise State, Oklahoma State and Nevada. 254 yards allowed as total defense ranks only behind TCU (228.5 ypg). So ignoring the score for a second, if Notre Dame duplicated an offensive/defensive performance like that for an entire season we would finish #5 in total offense and #2 in total defense... and would've been ranked #3 and #1 of BCS conference teams.

If you told me before the game that we would turn in a Top 5 offensive and defensive performance I would've been thrilled. I think any sane person would be thrilled. Then again, this is why you play the games... and this is why 10 point favorites in Vegas have historically a 20% chance of losing. This is also why it is imperative to schedule a tune up game. Auburn goes out and should've lost to lowly Utah State as they attempt to figure crap out. USC barely escapes by 2 over almost equally lowly Minnesota. I'm sorry but Notre Dame is never going to have a serious chance at finishing September with a good record as long as we open with a slate that includes 2 of the top 3 teams in the Big East and the Michigan schools who sandwich our game with cupcakes.
-------
As for Kelly being over the top, I've heard way worse from coaches at ND. Way, way worse for far less boneheaded plays. The only difference is that those games aren't being broadcast on NBC.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Lou Somogyi at BGI put together an historical perspective on how the Irish perform after losing the opener. It can be found here.

Looks like 9-3 is the likely ceiling now.

 

[phork]

Since the other thread was closed, Kelly acknowledges he needs to keep his cool.

IrishIllustrated.com - Video: Kelly wraps up week