Post Game Observations

[Chicago Irish Fan]

I can't even read the **** some people post on here after losses. It's scary how quick so many of you jump ship. I think we got outplayed, USC dominated the trenches. But, the 2 key plays in this game were the Dayne Crist fumble and the incomplete pass to Cierre Wood that was behind the line of scrimmage so it was a fumble. The first one was a 14 point swing and, depending on if we would have been able to score on the possession, the second play was a 7-14 point swing. If those two plays don't happen, I think we win the game.

 

[IrishinSyria]

This post is killing me, where do I even start. Post when you have something intelligent to say. Where is the uncertainty or the lack of confidence. Tommy is a hell of a lot more confident then Dayne and what is the uncertaninty? Please have something constructive in your criticism as this is all BULLSHIT. I mean BULLSHIT.

The uncertainty was from Kelly. My criticism is that Kelly never gave him his full support, and that ****ed with Dayne's confidence. I have nothing but respect for Tommy and what he's done with a limited physical skill set. However, when it comes to one player: Dayne Crist, I think Kelly did a poor job as a coach. And that, in my opinion, limits this team, as I don't think Tommy has the physical skills to stress athletic defenses. Constructive enough for you? I'm not sure I can do it any more Barney-style than that. Let me try:

Kelly's uncertainty=unconfident Crist= Tommy Rees starting= ND limited by QB play against good teams.

 

[JoeyGetherall]

The uncertainty was from Kelly. My criticism is that Kelly never gave him his full support, and that ****ed with Dayne's confidence. I have nothing but respect for Tommy and what he's done with a limited physical skill set. However, when it comes to one player: Dayne Crist, I think Kelly did a poor job as a coach. And that, in my opinion, limits this team, as I don't think Tommy has the physical skills to stress athletic defenses. Constructive enough for you? I'm not sure I can do it any more Barney-style than that. Let me try:

Kelly's uncertainty=unconfident Crist= Tommy Rees starting= ND limited by QB play against good teams.

Its not BK's fault Dayne plays the way he does. For whatever reason Dayne has had a hard time learning the offense. He just has a look of panic out there. Its hard to explain what it is and a shame he hasn't panned out to be the next great ND QB.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

I can't even read the **** some people post on here after losses. It's scary how quick so many of you jump ship. I think we got outplayed, USC dominated the trenches. But, the 2 key plays in this game were the Dayne Crist fumble and the incomplete pass to Cierre Wood that was behind the line of scrimmage so it was a fumble. The first one was a 14 point swing and, depending on if we would have been able to score on the possession, the second play was a 7-14 point swing. If those two plays don't happen, I think we win the game.

That is so easy to say.. I'm not "jumping ship", I've been die hard for a very, very long time. In fact, I have drowned with this team over and over again.

It is simply not okay that we got outplayed. IMO, the coaches lost this game. BK called a weak and predictable offensive gameplan from the get-go and Diaco was toyed with.

There are a million intricacies we could get into but to sum it up:

- The LBs are slow on the edge and did not finish tackles tonight.
- Hendrixs' first appearance never should have happened.
- Ethan Johnson was sorely missed.. The run D disappeared.
- Gary Gray.. back pedaling expert.
- Safety? Why can't we recruit this position at an elite level?
- CBs playing soft all night was a joke.
- I root for the guy but the Carlo Calabrese type LB is losing it's place in modern day football. We need an athletic specimen with equal strength but more speed. They are out there.

I just hope BK, Diaco and company can develop the Ishaqs, Niklas', Lynchs and Tuitts this time around.. Otherwise we're going to lose our shot at their equals in depth.

 

[Green Goblin]

I can't even read the **** some people post on here after losses. It's scary how quick so many of you jump ship. I think we got outplayed, USC dominated the trenches. But, the 2 key plays in this game were the Dayne Crist fumble and the incomplete pass to Cierre Wood that was behind the line of scrimmage so it was a fumble. The first one was a 14 point swing and, depending on if we would have been able to score on the possession, the second play was a 7-14 point swing. If those two plays don't happen, I think we win the game.

Nailed it.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this game was losing the trenches -- especially on defense. What the hell?!! How?

However, some wackos calling for Kelly to be fired already? Are you kidding me? Psychos.

 

[WaveDomer]

This is kind of off-topic, but have you ever seen a season with 3 trippy fumbles like ND has had? The S. Florida one, the Denard fumble, and then tonight? WTH?

 

[Kak7304]

This is kind of off-topic, but have you ever seen a season with 3 trippy fumbles like ND has had? The S. Florida one, the Denard fumble, and then tonight? WTH?

The bad bounces we encounter are absurd.

 

[BGIF]

This is kind of off-topic, but have you ever seen a season with 3 trippy fumbles like ND has had? The S. Florida one, the Denard fumble, and then tonight? WTH?

I saw Tony Driver return two fumbles with fortuitous bounces for TDs against Navy. But no I don't recall 3 in a season that were game changers. ND has had seasons with a lot more fumbles than this one. Usually the bounces tend to even out. I'm hoping all of them come our way in the SU game.

 

[NDinFL]

Bench Rees. He is not the long term answer. Play Hendrix and take your lumps.

Defensive line got man handled.

Our linebackers are not good in pass coverage AT ALL!

Playcalling was atrocious. Option with Rees? Seriously?

Coaching lost this game. Plain and simple. Lo Wood on Robert Woods? How do you get outcoached by Lane freaking Kiffin?

Just by your first post on this, I didn't need any other reason to ignore you

enjoy your short stint!!!

 

[NDinFL]

Its not BK's fault Dayne plays the way he does. For whatever reason Dayne has had a hard time learning the offense. He just has a look of panic out there. Its hard to explain what it is and a shame he hasn't panned out to be the next great ND QB.

That was very evident when watching this game... It's nothing against Crist, but if you compare the two Tommy is just "better"

 

[bert2834]

Just by your first post on this, I didn't need any other reason to ignore you

enjoy your short stint!!!

Enjoy my stint?


I have been here since 08. Have 800 more posts than you.

Anywho, if the ball even touches the ground it is not a catch, correct?

The Woods TD over Wood, the ball clearly touches the ground. Is it different when it's in the endzone? I was confused.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Grahambo]

That is so easy to say.. I'm not "jumping ship", I've been die hard for a very, very long time. In fact, I have drowned with this team over and over again.

It is simply not okay that we got outplayed. IMO, the coaches lost this game. BK called a weak and predictable offensive gameplan from the get-go and Diaco was toyed with.

There are a million intricacies we could get into but to sum it up:

- The LBs are slow on the edge and did not finish tackles tonight.
- Hendrixs' first appearance never should have happened.
- Ethan Johnson was sorely missed.. The run D disappeared.
- Gary Gray.. back pedaling expert.
- Safety? Why can't we recruit this position at an elite level?
- CBs playing soft all night was a joke.
- I root for the guy but the Carlo Calabrese type LB is losing it's place in modern day football. We need an athletic specimen with equal strength but more speed. They are out there.

I just hope BK, Diaco and company can develop the Ishaqs, Niklas', Lynchs and Tuitts this time around.. Otherwise we're going to lose our shot at their equals in depth.

Your first point has nothing to do with coaches, let alone BK. Blame Weis for that.
Not like the offense was doing anything special at that point. Can't blame BK for trying to spice it up.
Ethan Johnson being hurt is no fault to anyone.
Gary Gray...see the Weis comment
Once again, recruiting which goes before BK. Insert blame Weis for lack of recruiting here
The CB's were up against one of the top junior QBs in the country against All American WR's.
Once again, the Calabrese comment goes back to recruiting before BK was here.

I have said over and over that these same players played average at best when Weis was around, for BK to take them to actual winning seasons is nothing short of a miracle in itself. We are expecting BK to take those same guys and turn them all into All-Americans, BCS quality players. We have two star players (Te'o and Floyd), a few good players (Eifert, KLM, Harrison Smith) but would Gary Gray, Dan Fox, Calabrese, Slaughter, even Blanton be a starter on a BCS winning team? Look at the top teams in the country and tell me which teams they would start for over the current rosters.

 

[kmoose]

Calling out losses already! I mean yes I am as heartbroken as the next diehard Notre Dame fan, but really, how can one be a fan when they are doubting the team. I still think we have an opportunity to win out (maybe it's just my love for this team/school so much that I have blinders).

It is. Get over the hero worship, and jump on the reality bandwagon.

 

[bert2834]

Blanton could be a good nickelback on a lot of teams. He has the talent.

Eifert is a star imo. Other than that, spot on with your post.

 

[kmoose]

Carlo Calabrese might very well be able to start at Ohio State..............at QB!

 

[Grahambo]

Blanton could be a good nickelback on a lot of teams. He has the talent.

Eifert is a star imo. Other than that, spot on with your post.

I suppose in most defenses being a nickleback is like starting but I truly mean the top two CBs on the team.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I didn't read through this entire thread, so if this has been mentioned already, forgive me.

The game was lost on 2 plays.

Barkley rolling out on third and fourth down with a linebacker in his face, pump faking them, and then picking up the first down.
Both drives lead to points.
Both drives ND's coaches put their players in the perfect place to stuff the play.
Both drives had a future number 1 qb making the play.

Yes, we didn't run the ball enough.
Yes, Crist fumbled.
Yes, Tommy stared down his receivers.
Yes, the d-line was mauled in the first half.
Yes, USC got away with numerous holds on Lynch.

I still believe it was those two plays.

 

[dmort]

You cant run if the line doesnt control the LOS.Nor can you stop the run if the line doesnt control the line of scrimmage.The loss yesterday is on the O and D lines.Gut check time boys.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Did they stop teacking reading comprehension in school?

I said to bench Rees because he is not the QB for the future. Not because he lost the game for us. I think Brian Kelly lost the game.

Dayne was rolling, then you take him out, then put him back in.

Plus he completely abandoned the run. BK panics way to early.

I love this team, I think Tommy gives us our best chance to win this year, but this year is scrapped and we need to start thinking about next year.

What puts you in the position to argue this? Do you go to practices? Do you evaluate all the QBs during the week and have a lofty arguement? I mean come on... really??? I could go eat alphabet soup and crap a better arguement than that. Put some facts on the board that suggests anyone is better than Rees to lead the team.

Diz

 

[bert2834]

These are just my observations from watching the games and all the videos of the practices that are on UND.com.

Rees is probably the best guy to lead the team this year. He has the most poise and knowledge of the offense. But it seems like he has the least upside. This is the reason I think we should give Hendrix a shot to lead, then the next season you have him with a good amout of experience and Golson can be the real change of pace guy. I personally don't like to have a change of pace guy, but I am a guy who never played past grade school and don't know all the intricacies of playing or coaching football.

Hendrix and Golson to me seems to be what Kelly is looking for. Both are good athletes with Golson being the more athletic.

I get that he went with Dayne and then Tommy to start the season when we all thought we had a shot to make a run at the BCS, but now we don't so I think we build for the future.

I also wrote the previous comments last night in a drunken rage. Glad I didn't write something dumb enough to get me banned.

I thought this was a forum, where as long as we weren't overyly rude about it, we could express our opinions?

 

[Yes]

Everyone should keep their heads up. We have an oppurtunity to win the rest of our games (eh, minus Stanford). 8-4 may be underachieving, but it means this team is making progress. If you would've given me 8-4 after we went 0-2 I would've taken it in a heartbeat.

 

[IrishLax]

Everyone should keep their heads up. We have an oppurtunity to win the rest of our games (eh, minus Stanford). 8-4 may be underachieving, but it means this team is making progress. If you would've given me 8-4 after we went 0-2 I would've taken it in a heartbeat.

Vegas set our O/U line for the year at 8.5... so yes, it might be slightly underachieving but honestly as long as we win the next 4 games (which I'm not convinced that we do... Maryland is starting to play much better football on O) and head into Stanford 8-3.... it's not the end of the world. According to Vegas, we had theoretically a 50% of finishing with 8 wins or less and a 50% chance of finishing with 9+ wins. So we'll just land on the wrong side of that coin.

 

[Dizzyphil]

These are just my observations from watching the games and all the videos of the practices that are on UND.com.

Rees is probably the best guy to lead the team this year. He has the most poise and knowledge of the offense. But it seems like he has the least upside. This is the reason I think we should give Hendrix a shot to lead, then the next season you have him with a good amout of experience and Golson can be the real change of pace guy. I personally don't like to have a change of pace guy, but I am a guy who never played past grade school and don't know all the intricacies of playing or coaching football.

Hendrix and Golson to me seems to be what Kelly is looking for. Both are good athletes with Golson being the more athletic.

I get that he went with Dayne and then Tommy to start the season when we all thought we had a shot to make a run at the BCS, but now we don't so I think we build for the future.

I also wrote the previous comments last night in a drunken rage. Glad I didn't write something dumb enough to get me banned.

I thought this was a forum, where as long as we weren't overyly rude about it, we could express our opinions?

Man, don't you know the given rule about alcohol and posting yet???? LOL!!!

Diz<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

 

[bert2834]

Man, don't you know the given rule about alcohol and posting yet???? LOL!!!

Diz<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

Like I said, at least I didn't anything terrible!!!

 

[Dizzyphil]

Like I said, at least I didn't anything terrible!!!

I hear ya!! I've done it, more than once and got a little red flag from the mods.... Offended a couple of folks too..made me realize what this forum is for... Good deal Bro!!


Diz

 

[bert2834]

Thanks Diz.

 

[Chicago Irish Fan]

That is so easy to say.. I'm not "jumping ship", I've been die hard for a very, very long time. In fact, I have drowned with this team over and over again.

It is simply not okay that we got outplayed. IMO, the coaches lost this game. BK called a weak and predictable offensive gameplan from the get-go and Diaco was toyed with.

There are a million intricacies we could get into but to sum it up:

- The LBs are slow on the edge and did not finish tackles tonight.
- Hendrixs' first appearance never should have happened.
- Ethan Johnson was sorely missed.. The run D disappeared.
- Gary Gray.. back pedaling expert.
- Safety? Why can't we recruit this position at an elite level?
- CBs playing soft all night was a joke.
- I root for the guy but the Carlo Calabrese type LB is losing it's place in modern day football. We need an athletic specimen with equal strength but more speed. They are out there.

I just hope BK, Diaco and company can develop the Ishaqs, Niklas', Lynchs and Tuitts this time around.. Otherwise we're going to lose our shot at their equals in depth.

Most of those points are personnel problems. Have you seen the athleticism we're bringing in? Let BK get his guys in and developed before everyone starts calling for his head.

 

[Buster Bluth]

This is what got me, there was no excuse for not being prepared.

Mentally, no. The gameplan probably wasn't to play defense with their thumbs up their *** for the first 18 minutes.

 

[anarin]

F'n mistakes

 

[CarrollVermin]

Just got back home from the game. Here are a few things that I saw this weekend.

First, the stadium atmosphere was beyond anything that I have seen in my 34 adult years. The crowd was great, the music helped tremendously...however...two things:

The "oldies" are still very much present in the stadium. We were told to sit down several times, including fourth downs and the missed field goal. Some things may never change.

Speaking of things never changing, the "doom and gloom" atmosphere is not gone either. I don't know how to fix this, but after the Crist fumble, you could have heard a pin drop. I know that so much has been made about the "Michigan Experience" how their fans kept the energy up the entire game. Well, that was not the case at home yesterday. The same thing happened when Goodie fumbled the punt against State, but the team rallied. The "here we go again" mentality, hopefully, one day, will change.

As for the actual game. It has been said on here, we started slow, looked slow, and appeared to play scared. For all the energy in the stands, the team seemed flat. Props to SC for taking advantage of that, but props to us for coming back to within one score. Andrew should have scored on the 2nd and goal play had he made an earlier cut, or stretched the ball out, and the complexion of the game may have fully changed.

A few things. I know that people don't want to hear it, but this team is better. After 34 years of ND footall, we are getting there. As Kelly has said, we have not arrived; the difference, however, is notable. Comparing the last 5 years, we have better athletes, and while they may revert back to their old ways, those things change as you change the mindset of the program, and of the fan base. I am not the most patient man, but this process deserves patience. I have been critical of BK in drunken rage before, but deep down we are trending the right way. He is building from within, and like any organizational change, it is going to take the right people in the right place...those things take time.