Post Game Observations........

[kmoose]

-If I'm being completely honest, the O line was absolute horse ****. I know Purdue has a good D line, but this is supposedly the strength of our team. We shouldn't get manhandled by Purdue like we did. 5 sacks and a nonexistent running game is flat out inexcusable.

Not trying to excuse the D-Line, but at least two of those sacks are on Golson, for holding on to the ball too long, and/or not recognizing the pressure earlier.

 

[elboricua]

We're playing not to lose again.....just like the past two years under Kelly. Need to open up that playbook and let the kids play. Don't we have some sort of trick plays to give opponents different looks on offense. Well, at least we're 2-0. Go Irish!

The problem is that it goes way deeper than that. It was like this under Weis, it's an ND culture thing, not a Kelly thing. He needs to up the tempo and try to put up as many points as he can. When they play Miami they need to put up 50 or 60 if they can and put up points on anyone and it doesn't matter how much they are up by. Keep scoring and keep blitzing until the players get that the game needs to be played like that all the time. They basically need to go Oregon on people.

 

[Bobias]

O-line (more like No-line) played extremely poorly and honestly seemed outmatched at some points. I know they are better than they showed today, but d*mn it make you wonder how they will handle the SCum's and OK's of our schedule. Zach Martin played probably one of the worst games of his career with 3 penalties and a sack or two and missed assignments. Still I think they will rebound next week after having Kelly and Hiestand's foot in their @ss all week.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Can't say it enough, but have to get healthy for MSU. Jamoris, KLM, Sheldon Day (who no one is even mentioning his injury), Eifert (Our best receiving option and Daniels (Our best WR).

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Honestly guys, there are no outside threats on the team other than Eifert and Daniels. They are huge for success of the offense. Daniels injury doesn't look good.

 

[palinurus]

An ugly win is a thousand times better than a well-executed, hard-fought loss. (Of course.)

Golson will get better; he looked more confident and composed this week than last, and looked pretty darn good on a number of middle routes. He is still a RS Freshman; he was inconsistent and seems a little ill at ease at times. The timeout issue has to be corrected. He looked pretty good overall, and you have to factor in -- no Eifert at crunch time, no Atkinson, and an overmatched front. Bottom line: Golson cannot be counted on to carry the team yet. But he played error free until the end, and he'll get there. I really like what I saw, for the most part.

If Golson's hand was really hurt to the point he couldn't play, then Kelly had an easier call re Rees. To the extent Kelly was being politic and he used a gut instinct to go with Rees, it was ballsy and he deserves big credit. I also like that he said Golson is still the starter.

Rees is not a great or even consistently good. But he was all balls today and really deserves a lot of credit, both for the game and his post game team first attitude.

The kickoff coverage team needs to be better; but the KOs were mostly fantastic. The punts a little inconsistent.

I am concerned about the line, but not yet worried. That's a pretty good front Purdue has, and unless Golson can throw consistently, 8 man fronts are going to be a problem.

 

[Veer option]

I'm not so sure they are. They have 1 elite player, but not so sure their d-line is better. Linebackers probably are though. Not sure about the corners either.

Did you watch them play Boise st?

 

[palinurus]

MSU looks like a worse team than Purdue. You guys can hate on me if you want, but I have watched all of each of their games so far, and Purdue might be better. MSU's QB situation is horrid.

I saw only Mich St vs Boise St last week, and based on that, I completely agree. The Spartan QB was a wretched mess.

 

[aubeirish]

MSU looks like a worse team than Purdue. You guys can hate on me if you want, but I have watched all of each of their games so far, and Purdue might be better. MSU's QB situation is horrid.

I think so too. MSU have a good running back. That Purdue team isn't bad at all.

 

[zbikowski88]

Irish Sports Daily ‏@ISDUpdate
BK - injuries are not significant and will be day to day

 

[Bobias]

I'm also ashamed of all the fans who booed Tommy. He plays on OUR team. I wasn't happy, but I would NEVER boo one of our own.

Haha, I screamed at my TV at the people who were booing him. That is just completely inexcusable on all levels to boo a player on your own team. Let alone someone who is coming in fresh and attempting to run a 2 minute drill with no timeouts to win the game. F**k them! It infuriates me just thinking about it.

 

[kmoose]

Honestly guys, there are no outside threats on the team other than Eifert and Daniels. They are huge for success of the offense. Daniels injury doesn't look good.

NBCSports tweeted, about 20 minutes ago, that Eifert may have a concussion.

 

[zbikowski88]

NBCSports tweeted, about 20 minutes ago, that Eifert may have a concussion.

Irish Sports Daily ‏@ISDUpdate
BK - Kap has a calf strain. Slaughter has a shoulder. Eifert has a slight concussion.

 

[Chicago Irish Fan]

By the way, was anyone else praying that GAIII would just take it to the house to avoid a QB controversy?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Irish Sports Daily ‏@ISDUpdate
BK - Kap has a calf strain. Slaughter has a shoulder. Eifert has a slight concussion.

Day and Daniels?

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

MSU looks like a worse team than Purdue. You guys can hate on me if you want, but I have watched all of each of their games so far, and Purdue might be better. MSU's QB situation is horrid.

I always respect your opinion. I hope you're right.

 

[elboricua]

Did you watch them play Boise st?

Yes. the whole game. I think they are as a whole D as good or better than Purdue. But that doesn't mean that their d-line is better or a worse matchup for ND than Purdue. We will see.

 

[NYMIKE6]

Game was definitely a war today, hope and pray all of our boys come out ok.

 

[GBdomer]

Day was dehydrated. All should be read to rock next Saturday night.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Yes. the whole game. I think they are as a whole D as good or better than Purdue. But that doesn't mean that their d-line is better or a worse matchup for ND than Purdue. We will see.

MSU doesn't have the tackles that Purdue has, but the do have DE's specifically Gholston.

 

[Yes]

The offense was too slow. It had no tempo at all and was extremely inconsistent. I'd like to see an up-tempo offense and Golson not staring at the sidelines for 8 seconds before every snap.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Day was dehydrated. All should be read to rock next Saturday night.

That answers Day, Eifert, KLM, Jamoris, but what about Daniels?

 

[Old Man Mike]

Everything has been said above. One small possibility: early in the game I noticed Chris Watt get up VERY slowly after a play. He toughed it out. Just wondering if we played with a partially damaged O-Line most of the day... and maybe RBs without Cierre's ability to help with the pass-protection. I don't mind us not having success against a heckuva D-Line with 8-in-the-box on top of it.

 

[Senoj13]

That answers Day, Eifert, KLM, Jamoris, but what about Daniels?

I think Kelly said Sprained Ankle in the press conference

 

[elboricua]

The offense was too slow. It had no tempo at all and was extremely inconsistent. I'd like to see an up-tempo offense and Golson not staring at the sidelines for 8 seconds before every snap.

Completely agree. This is the single big mistake that Kelly has continued to make since he got to ND. He thought for whatever combination of reasons that he shouldn't do at ND what he did at Cincinnati. I love his new found focus on tight ends and slot/rbs, but he could that with an uptempo and a power running game.

 

[Redbar]

Overall, I think we would have lost this game in years past, it was so important for this young team to find a way to win. Thought the DB's played well, but need to tackle better. Zeke played a great game. Tuitt is an animal. Big Lou decide he wanted a potential place at the all-american table. GA III came up big on the final return-nice job. Who doesn't love them some Roby Toma? EG did a great job for a young man at this stage of the season. Tommy IS a class teammate, and did a great job, couldn't be happier for him. I hope the injuries are not too serious we will really need all of these guys going forward. Where is C-Breezy?

 

[Grimm]

Purdue is good. The ability to go man to man by the CBs is such a luxury. Really can let the D-line go after it. And their line is beastly. On the offense side, I think if Marve played every series we would have been in trouble. Couldn't believe he was out the first three series of the 2nd half. Got to wonder about the PU coach. I think he lost them the game.

Incredible game by Golson. Asked to basically carry the team as opposed to last week. He looked a bit shaky towards the end, but the combo of the defensive pressure, no easy running plays, and the uptempo mental strain, etc, and it is understandable. Absolutely right call to bring Rees in. Golson made great strides, but 2 minutes, no timeouts, game on the line seems like a few games of experience away.

I actually think the secondary didn't look that bad. Some terrible tackling here and there, but was a surprise. You can fix tackling, not being in the wrong place.

A bad turnover, but last year I would have prayed for one turnover games. Very positive that mistakes in this area are limited so far.

The adjustments at half-time looked good too. The move to a fast pace, no huddle offense resulted in that first td. Diaco even blitzed a couple times! Gutsy call with sending Russell.

The dline, even with injury, was solid to great.

The surprise negative was the o-line. Even with a good defense loading the box, still would have liked to see a few more wins on plays from the oline in the running game. And penalties, ugh. Zach Martin and Teo no less. No stupid penalties and a made FG and the game isn't on the line at the end.

So my positive takeaway, is we proved we have a qb, the secondary is growing fast, we found a win ugly at the end, you would hope we can make some adjustments on the oline and limit penalties. And maybe we will go a game with out a kicking mishap. If that happens, we have a shot with MSU. Given that Navy was such an easy game, I'm hoping that the time from week 2 and week 3 is when this team learns the most and makes the biggest jump this season. ... because frankly I'm getting to old for days like today!

 

[N_D_Fighting_Irish]

1. Kelly said, before the game, that ND would throw all over the place if Purdue showed a bunch of 8 man fronts. For those who are not aware, that's Football 101. Yet, how many people were apoplectic that Kelly favored the pass, in the face of a bunch of 8 man fronts.

2. I know we tend to look at what we didn't do, but Purdue's D-line is pretty damn talented. Give them credit for making running inside very difficult today.

3. The secondary is still a little scary, but looked much better with a normal (non triple option) alignment. They definitely have to tackle in space MUCH better, though.

4. Everett Golson had an excellent game: 21/31, 289 yards, 1TD, 0 INT. He did have the big fumble, but the TEAM bailed him out. That's what teammates do. However, Golson is a good, but not great, runner. He may never be a great runner, but he certainly looks like a legitimate D-IA starting QB.

5. Tommy Rees was quoted, after the game, as saying, "All you arseholes that booed me can suck it!"

6. There are still too many penalties. Let's hope that the coaching staff gets this straightened out.

This game erases all hope for me that Kelly learns from his mistakes. He doesn't. We made no zero effort at running the ball. Yes Purdue was playing the run, but you still have to compete for the line of scrimmage. He basically gave up. We saw Riddick with a token number of handoffs and that is it. GAIII the most explosive threat we have...doesn't touch the ball. Their front scared us off apparently.

Golson played his @ss off. His athleticism had more to do with our offensive success than any scheme or gameplan (was there one?). The play action plays were open and effective all day but we were too busy in shotgun formation. It is a joke. Their linebackers were as bad as our linebackers in coverage...which is to say pretty bad.

What pisses me off most is the position that Kelly put Golson in on his last drive. We get a first down and there is about 3 to 4 minutes left. Run the effin ball. Take time off the clock. Get to a manageable 3rd down where Golson can throw a quick pass or use his athleticism to get a first. ...No...he goes five wide and Golson gets sacked. Then a Golson run where the CB stripped the ball. Kelly panicks and Golson gets benched because Kelly is more comfortable with TR. WHY THE F START GOLSON. IF TR IS THE BETTER PASSER, START HIM IN THE GAME WHERE I SUPPOSE THE GAMEPLAN IS TO PASS EVERY DOWN.

The defense played well, but please Carlo Calabrese and Fox have NO business seeing the field in any situation other than goalline. The secondary will get better and better. Which is good because I don't see our linebackers getting any better.

 

[zbikowski88]

Brindza post game interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLADDA6D90574EA7F8&v=WjLs4ksszLo&feature=player_embedded

 

[rikkitikki08]

I think the boys will all be ready next week. None of the injuries came off as missing games to me.