Post Game Observations

[Rudy89]

to me, this is a huge part of the problem this year. I believe way too much credit was heaped on this team at the end of last year.

* We beat a Utah team that was a pretender that got exposed the week before the ND game and played with no confidence

* We beat Army, enough said

* We beat a USC team that began to impolode with an injury to their potential All-American QB

* We beat a Miami team that was just a freaking mess and made us look all world. They had a QB that threw interceptions almost more often than he did completions.

It all seems a bit like false momentum in the light of day. This year it appears obvious we are a very undisciplined and poorly coached team (please, I do not feel like getting in a pissing contest about the coaching staff and am not advocating for a coaching change). I do think ND is better than last year, but they are still nowhere near ready for prime time.

this

and next year we lose cierre and floyd so iccckkk

 

[arndtjc]

Rudy, Cierre is only a Junior

 

[GoIrish41]

Rudy, Cierre is only a Junior

and he will have two years of eligibility going into next year.

 

[DANsanity15]

Give it to him 45 times a game! Considering whoever the qb will be wont have a target like Floyd to throw to

 

[NDMontana]

Who ever said give this team time is nuts. That is what every apologist says every year. Who needs more time?
Te'o?
Harrison Smith?
Gary Gray?
Floyd?
The entire o-line?
Blanton?
Can these guys get six years of eligibility? This ain't the Cubs! This "they'll get 'em next year" crap is getting real old from you people. Fans can be disappointed and they can complain, too. You invest time watching the games and money on apparel....you're G damn right they can complain.

 

[arndtjc]

I am extremely sad we are talking about 'next year' already, but I hope this year ends up a maturing year for Theo, TJ, Tommy, and Co. The defense is young and they will get a ton of playing time this year, and this team will be okay!

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Jared, me bandwagon? Did you go to ND? Did you? Did you get your degree from there, and cert there? I did, so I am way past the band wagon.

He is a soph. But, one that had 3 turnovers. And if he can't take the heat of a QB at ND, then it is time to sit. Or if you can accept that type of play, then you can accept the outside the top 25.

Hold players accountable for their play is what I like to do. Don't call them crap, don't call them names, don't call them to quit school etc. Hold them accountable. Tommy had 3 huge turnovers-by himself. He was a huge reason we lost. Accept that or not. Soph or not. I like the kid, I think he is a fine player. He just did some bad things today.

 

[GoIrish41]

Give it to him 45 times a game! Considering whoever the qb will be wont have a target like Floyd to throw to

I think Floyd leaving next year may actually help Rees because he won't have him on the field to force the ball to.

 

[arndtjc]

They are in YEAR TWO of this Kelly system, and obviously they need more time to learn it. The starting QB is a true sophomore five games into his career, and you're giving him hell because of a few mistakes? Come on man

 

[DANsanity15]

And you can pretty much Te'o off. He's a definatly a first round pick next year, it would be almost foolish for him to stay to be honest

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

ND Montana, very well said.

Veteran Oline.
Veteran DE's.
Veteran LB's
Veteran DB's

Veteran WR and TE

And we have to say wait till next year. Not acceptable.

DO IT NOW. Young, Old, etc. Big players Rise, young or not. We will see if we have those players.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Jared, I will hold him accountable He had 3 huge TO's. And 2 last week. How can you expect us to win when our QB has 5 Turnovers in 2 weeks? Soph or not. He is the starting QB, if you want to handle him with kit gloves then you are one of the wait till next year guys. Which is your right to do. I just don't agree with it.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Jared, our soph QB now has had:

1 Early Enrollment Spring Football
2.Summer training
3. Fall training
4. Whole season of practices
5. 6 games played and 4 starts
6. Bowl game
7. Bowl game extra practices
8. summer training
9. Fall practice
10. 1 game played in this season as a 2nd stringer
11. 1 game as a starter.

So, he is a soph but much more training than most soph QB's.

But, you can add excuses if you feel the need.

 

[NDMontana]

Jared, I will hold him accountable He had 3 huge TO's. And 2 last week. How can you expect us to win when our QB has 5 Turnovers in 2 weeks? Soph or not. He is the starting QB, if you want to handle him with kit gloves then you are one of the wait till next year guys. Which is your right to do. I just don't agree with it.

Yeah and it's only going to be worse next year when there is no Floyd and a nearly brand new o-line. Rees might be the man for 2011 but he is not for 2012. Morever, my view only, ND is going to need a dynamic QB next year given what there is going to be to work with. Rees is okay with a lot of talent around him but he isn't the type who can get it done witjout great weapons and there won't be great weapons at ND next year.

 

[arndtjc]

What else can we say at this point besides wait until next year? Oh we'll come back and everyone else in the SEC will beat up on each other and 10-2 will get ND into the national championship? Kelly has a major recruiting class coming in, and his first class will be juniors next year, why not look forward to next season already? If you were expecting a BCS bowl this season, you were sorely mistaken, and if you thought these kids were going to be perfect out of the gate, well you were lying to yourself. Year two of an era still includes growing pains, and these growing pains will prove to be key in the maturation of Tommy, Theo, TJ, and the rest of the group.

I'm sorry you have such a negative outlook on such a talented team and young quarterback, but your pessimism is ridiculous and something our fan base doesn't need right now.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Saying all that, I love this team as most of us here. And most of us feel pretty sick after the first 2 weeks. I sure hope it gets better. We do have a lot of good teams to play, and hope we can raise our game.

 

[GoIrish41]

They are in YEAR TWO of this Kelly system, and obviously they need more time to learn it. The starting QB is a true sophomore five games into his career, and you're giving him hell because of a few mistakes? Come on man

I'm not giving him hell. I'm just pointing out that it is not possible for him to have played great during the same game he had three turnovers (2 of which were in the red zone). You know who else is in year two of Kelly's system - EVERYONE! I'd argue that Floyd, Blanton, Wood, for example have played very well in their second year of Kelly's system. There are several who have not and I'd put Rees in that category. I will repeat however, that this does not mean I'm saying he played horrible or that I'm "giving him hell." It just means that I'm not going to say someone played great who didn't. But, you are free to continue doing so if you would like.

 

[arndtjc]

I know Tommy isn't the guy of the future, but he is the guy of now, so instead of bashing the kid, you need to rally around him, and understand he's going to make some mistakes. I'm excited for Golson and Hendrix, but why waste a year's eligibility when they can learn the new system, study it, and come out more prepared and ready to run it than we have seen in a long time!

 

[pkt77242]

I'm not giving him hell. I'm just pointing out that it is not possible for him to have played great during the same game he had three turnovers (2 of which were in the red zone). You know who else is in year two of Kelly's system - EVERYONE! I'd argue that Floyd, Blanton, Wood, for example have played very well in their second year of Kelly's system. There are several who have not and I'd put Rees in that category. I will repeat however, that this does not mean I'm saying he played horrible or that I'm "giving him hell." It just means that I'm not going to say someone played great who didn't. But, you are free to continue doing so if you would like.

I would say Rees is playing above average but not great. Though most of us would be loving all over him right now if Michigan hadn't scored that last touchdown.

 

[phgreek]

I'm beat...heading off to sleep a little...

I'll leave you with this...

Brian Kelly is the guy. He won with lesser talent prior to ND (the counter to the bitch about TW's mediocre record before ND)... he has a ton of HC experience (the counter to the bitch about BD and CW)... He recruits like a mutha (counter to the bitch about BD and TW)...He knows both sides of the ball (counter to the bitch about CW)...He represents the program well (another bitch about CW)...he is everything we asked for...ITS NOT HIM!!

Its just silly for people to talk about firing him...he is by far the best guy we've had in the job since Lou...hands down. Just Like BD survived a few years on the winning mentality Lou built...BK will suffer what has manifested here for the last 15 years or so...

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

That's fine Jared, you can keep adding excuses of why we are not good. That is fine, something that a lot of the ND Haters around the nation say most ND Fans are. And you are definately one of them.

I guess stating facts is negativity. 5 Turnovers from our QB is horrible. But, you can hide behind him being a Soph, once again proving the excuse thing.

I am extremely supportive of this team. Like I said did you graduate from ND? Did you go support them in El Paso last year? I did, and I will support them as I have for 30 years. Not hiding behind excuses. I have a hard time believing Coach K will hind behind excuses like you are.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Jared, Bashing??? Saying the kid had 3 horrible turnovers is bashing? Isn't that Fact. Maybe you need to figure out the difference between bashing and fact.

 

[DANsanity15]

My cousin goes to msu. Think I'm gonna block her number, cuz if it's anything like last year my phone will be blowing up with **** talking...not sure I cam handle that

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

NDIrish15 I have to 100% agree with you. I turned off my phone, my friends are killing me right now. I can't imagine what it is going to be like at work Monday. Getting Killed already.

Anyhow, got to hold the chin up and take it. Getting tired of taking punches like Irish Mickey Ward. He kept taking them over and over, we all have to also.

Please Recruits stay committed--we need you!

 

[GoIrish41]

I know Tommy isn't the guy of the future, but he is the guy of now, so instead of bashing the kid, you need to rally around him, and understand he's going to make some mistakes. I'm excited for Golson and Hendrix, but why waste a year's eligibility when they can learn the new system, study it, and come out more prepared and ready to run it than we have seen in a long time!

Not only am I not "giving him hell" but I'm not "bashing him" either. The comments were directed at you calling something great that was clearly not. Using Hendrix would not be wasting a year of eligibility since he did not play last year. This year counts against his eligibility wheather he plays or not, so I say lets play him. It is my opinion that it is him, and not Golson, who has the highest degree of upside of all the QBs. Further, he has been in Kelly's system as long as Rees and Crist, since Kelly just arrived last year during Hendrix's freshman season.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

I'm beat...heading off to sleep a little...

I'll leave you with this...

Brian Kelly is the guy. He won with lesser talent prior to ND (the counter to the bitch about TW's mediocre record before ND)... he has a ton of HC experience (the counter to the bitch about BD and CW)... He recruits like a mutha (counter to the bitch about BD and TW)...He knows both sides of the ball (counter to the bitch about CW)...He represents the program well (another bitch about CW)...he is everything we asked for...ITS NOT HIM!!

Its just silly for people to talk about firing him...he is by far the best guy we've had in the job since Lou...hands down. Just Like BD survived a few years on the winning mentality Lou built...BK will suffer what has manifested here for the last 15 years or so...

Based on what? I'm not gonna disagree with your post, but in the big boy world, production wins out....not comparisons to garbage coaches who've since been tossed to the scrap heap. Boob, The Best Golf Coach in the Country and CW all had their fatal flaws...and paid dearly for them. But in the end, Kelly will have his feet held to the fire just like the rest of them...and at this point, he's gonna need some ointment for his toes... Just sayin'.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

What scares me now is how are we going to stop a very good throwing QB in Cousins of MSU? Boys got to step up.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Goirish41, great post!

 

[DANsanity15]

Yea, afew of y friends love Michigan too. Needless to say soon as the clock hit zero I put my phone on silent and tossed it across the room

 

[arndtjc]

I'm not hiding behind excuses, I'm just stating facts as well. I'm aware he's turned it over 5 times in two games, but I'm also aware he's accounted for 30 of their points so far, and won his first four starts, including tearing up Miami's defense.

The D couldn't close the game out and hold a 17 point lead, so this is in no way 100% Tommy's fault like you are making it out to be.

And just because I didn't go to Notre Dame doesn't mean I'm not a real fan so you can stop saying that. I've lived and died with this team since I was a little tyke. Growing up in NE that was even tougher because there was actually national championships being won in Lincoln, but I stuck with them and will continue to do so. Attending my first game at ND solidified that statement, and I will love the Irish until the day I day.

I think we all want what's best for this program, but if you don't have faith in Kelly being the guy, and giving him time to work with his recruits, then this program will go nowhere, because it will happen coach after coach after coach.