Post Game Observations....

[Wild Bill]

Not at all. I completely agree. I've said it a few times, that we're the better team but Gardner just went Lebron in Cleveland on us.

Gallon didn't play bad.

 

[ScooterIrish]

Overall, the Irish needed to commit more to the run the second half. I think they panicked a little when down by two scores and abandoned the success they had with the run in the first half way to quickly. And the absence of Amir in the second half was puzzling. Run the ball more in the third and I think Rees completes more of those passes he missed.

The red zone offense has to improve. I think ND only got two tds in five trips and that won't work moving forward. On the other hand, I think UM was four out of four in the red zone for tds. And to me, that's the ball game no matter how much we want to lay blame on the defense.

I agree with the first point, but we need to run more all game. Once ND tied it up at 10 in the first half, Kelly/Martin called 13 pass plays out of the next 15 plays. Just crazy but it helps explain our crappy red zone offense.

I mean, I can't help but think of the drive against USC when Riddick ran over the USC defense to inside the 10 and Kelly went 5 wide/no RB in backfield and ran Golson three times. Wtf is that?

 

[Cackalacky]

I didn't see much zone. Im sure it was played, but we wanted to line up in man and get after Gardner/stop the run.

There were periods of time where we we switched and Borges started calling designed QB runs and moving pockets. It might not all have been zone but it was obvious enough that even Musberger and Herbie were talking about it. We then switched to a D to stop those and Borges went back to Gardner in the pocket. On the field it was predictable.

 

[Irish Fam]

There are no more than 5-6 plays that really changed the dynamic of the game. I already mentioned 3 pass interference calls on 3rd in long all on our side of the field with 2 happening in the end zone. The other was Rees's interception at the end of the half that led to a Michigan score. And I would include the long Gallon catch and td run where seemingly everyone in our secondary forgot how to tackle.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i thought our very first drive of the game, i think it was 3rd and 2 and we called a very vanilla run up the middle....we could have used a few first downs to change field position instead they got the ball with decent field position and were able to seemlessly march down into field goal range.

 

[dublinirish]

There are no more than 5-6 plays that really changed the dynamic of the game. I already mentioned 3 pass interference calls on 3rd in long all on our side of the field with 2 happening in the end zone. The other was Rees's interception at the end of the half that led to a Michigan score. And I would include the long Gallon catch and td run where seemingly everyone in our secondary forgot how to tackle.

BJax going for the strip on the ball there was inexcusable.

 

[Ndaccountant]

There were periods of time where we we switched and Borges started calling designed QB runs and moving pockets. It might not all have been zone but it was obvious enough that even Musberger and Herbie were talking about it. We then switched to a D to stop those and Borges went back to Gardner in the pocket. On the field it was predictable.

It was predictable largely based on our personnel package, especially on 3rd down.

When Ishaq was at MLB, he was blitzing. Also, whoever was blitzing off the edge would line up and totally telegraph the blitz. I have no clue why we do this and it bugs the living hell out of me. It totally telegraphs the play and worse of all, we don't back out of the blitz when it is obvious the QB has made a check.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i'm thinking it's time to maybe move tuitt inside on obvious passing situations where he'll be over a less athletic guard and get ishaq on the edge...perhaps this could help create pressure without blitzing so we can stay in zone where our corners/safeties are much more comfortable from the looks of it.

 

[Cackalacky]

There are no more than 5-6 plays that really changed the dynamic of the game. I already mentioned 3 pass interference calls on 3rd in long all on our side of the field with 2 happening in the end zone. The other was Rees's interception at the end of the half that led to a Michigan score. And I would include the long Gallon catch and td run where seemingly everyone in our secondary forgot how to tackle.

I guess I can't boil that loss down to just 5-6 plays. Michigan beat us at what were supposed to be our strengths for the whole game. Many here thought our DLine and scheme would clearly prove superior. Our LB play was suspect but our D as a whole was supposed to be better and deeper.

 

[Cackalacky]

It was predictable largely based on our personnel package, especially on 3rd down.

When Ishaq was at MLB, he was blitzing. Also, whoever was blitzing off the edge would line up and totally telegraph the blitz. I have no clue why we do this and it bugs the living hell out of me. It totally telegraphs the play and worse of all, we don't back out of the blitz when it is obvious the QB has made a check.

Thank you. I was not crazy.

 

[Irish Fam]

I guess I can't boil that loss down to just 5-6 plays. Michigan beat us at what were supposed to be our strengths for the whole game. Many here thought our DLine and scheme would clearly prove superior. Our LB play was suspect but our D as a whole was supposed to be better and deeper.

I really couldn't disagree more.

Our strengths on defense are against pro style, smashmouth teams. We gave up very little up the middle on defense. We were gashed on qb scrambles and play action. Both of which are often associated with linebacker play... and we knew that was a weakness coming into the game.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

mojo, can you enlighten us on how mobile a QB is when he has mononucleosis?

It generally takes a few weeks for the virus to run its course. Then patients are prescribed a lot of rest for a month. After a month most can resume "normal" activities such as walking to class. They will still feel fatigue until they build up their stamina which can take some time.

Sports are hardly a normal activity. Football particularly as a DT QB obviously takes a high level of fitness and stamina. Two things mono patients lack.

Brian Kelly acknowledged to the media on 8/27 that Zaire had mono and was NOT medically cleared to play football. So we supposed to believe in a dozen days that he's in game ready condition? Ready to dodge or take hits from 320 pound DLs? Ready to use his mobility to evade 250 pound LBs or 180 pound DBs that run as fast or faster than he does? How many winds prints has he run in the past few weeks? Laps in the pool? Minutes on the exercise bike? How many passes has he thrown during that time for arm strength, accuracy, and timing with the receivers?

Watching game film or riding on the bus to the last game is good for the mind and spirit but doesn't rebuild stamina nor hone the finely tuned muscles that have lost tone through inactivity.

Do you really want one RB to be the Bell Cow? It won't be Carlisle. I think he's the best all-around RB now but his injury record doesn't demonstrate that he has the body to take that wear and tear. You put a plow on a race horse. GA has the body and speed but his hands betray him. Cam would have to the guy. The two freshman might fill the role around mid-season ala Julius Jones.

Zaire was not Cleared to play on offense.

Of the thirty first downs we had we ran on twenty some percent, around eight, and averaged six or eight yards. We averaged much more on successful passes on first down. It was the incompletes and the sack, which were higher than Tommy's overall completion percentage would indicate. First down killed us. Against Temple we had seventeen percent zero or negative first down plays. It was probably double against Michigan. This was all that killed us on offense considering we were averaging 6 plus yards on first down, and 5.3 yards per carry over all. That was with the safeties softening up as the game progressed.

On defense, you can keep bend versus break. There comes a time when you have to stop intellectualizing the defense of a given opponents offense and just punch them in the mouth. One-on-one corner coverage all night against Gallon, isn't it.

 

[tko]

Zaire was not Cleared to play on offense.

Of the thirty first downs we had we ran on twenty some percent, around eight, and averaged six or eight yards. We averaged much more on successful passes on first down. It was the incompletes and the sack, which were higher than Tommy's overall completion percentage would indicate. First down killed us. Against Temple we had seventeen percent zero or negative first down plays. It was probably double against Michigan. This was all that killed us on offense considering we were averaging 6 plus yards on first down, and 5.3 yards per carry over all. That was with the safeties softening up as the game progressed.

On defense, you can keep bend versus break. There comes a time when you have to stop intellectualizing the defense of a given opponents offense and just punch them in the mouth. One-on-one corner coverage all night against Gallon, isn't it.

You Gaelic freak, welcome back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ndaccountant]

I really couldn't disagree more.

Our strengths on defense are against pro style, smashmouth teams. We gave up very little up the middle on defense. We were gashed on qb scrambles and play action. Both of which are often associated with linebacker play... and we knew that was a weakness coming into the game.

To be fair, his post indicated scheme and players. Clearly either the scheme wasn't right or the players weren't right considering the scrambling. It has to be one or the other.

 

[Cackalacky]

I really couldn't disagree more.

Our strengths on defense are against pro style, smashmouth teams. We gave up very little up the middle on defense. We were gashed on qb scrambles and play action. Both of which are often associated with linebacker play... and we knew that was a weakness coming into the game.

Yes I and everyone else agree with the bolded.

 

[Emcee77]

Agree with Bogs that there had to be something more we could do to keep Gallon in check. After he ran all over us in the first half, I feel like we had to do a better job of making someone else beat us.

 

[IrishLax]

Agree with Bogs that there had to be something more we could do to keep Gallon in check. After he ran all over us in the first half, I feel like we had to do a better job of making someone else beat us.

I don't think we respected him. Mainly because he didn't do crap last year. Therefor, we had no game plan for him to start the game. It's easy to defend receivers like him...

Step 1. Put your bigger/more physical corner on him tight. Bump him as he tries to get off the LOS.
Step 2. Put help over top.

The end. It can get you burned in other places, but that's how you deal with a small but explosive WR. Letting him run free and trying to keep up? Yeah... no.

 

[phgreek]

Agree with Bogs that there had to be something more we could do to keep Gallon in check. After he ran all over us in the first half, I feel like we had to do a better job of making someone else beat us.

...yes, I agree. But I gotta qualify some. I am overboard on the topic some because I think we've been failing to make teams go away from the hot hand since freakin '93. Multiple schemes an regimes since then. So I kinda think I must be overly simplistic on that concept...still makes me nuts though...

 

[Bogtrotter07]

You Gaelic freak, welcome back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you too, man!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I don't think we respected him. Mainly because he didn't do crap last year. Therefor, we had no game plan for him to start the game. It's easy to defend receivers like him...

Step 1. Put your bigger/more physical corner on him tight. Bump him as he tries to get off the LOS.
Step 2. Put help over top.

The end. It can get you burned in other places, but that's how you deal with a small but explosive WR. Letting him run free and trying to keep up? Yeah... no.

You are exactly right. Work with me.

Gallon is their # 1 receiver, right?

Start with knocking him on his @ss, right?

Follow as you said it with help over the top.

If you take Gallon away, that is more than half of Gardner's game. They were dusting that tight end, what is his name Duchess, or something? In fact all of the tight ends that played were having a hard time getting up off the ground, didn't you notice?

But once you got Gardner's money man on ice or on his @ss, Gardner has lost the ability to gouge you, and you can contain him, (somewhat).

 

[koonja]

The good, the bad, the ugly: Notre Dame vs. Michigan | Inside the Irish

 

[DillonHall]

Very sorry if someone has mentioned this. Why don't we go more uptempo on offense? Our QB is experienced, we have weapons all over the place, and our defense is suspect.

 

[Ndaccountant]

You are exactly right. Work with me.

Gallon is their # 1 receiver, right?

Start with knocking him on his @ss, right?

Follow as you said it with help over the top.

If you take Gallon away, that is more than half of Gardner's game. They were dusting that tight end, what is his name Duchess, or something? In fact all of the tight ends that played were having a hard time getting up off the ground, didn't you notice?

But once you got Gardner's money man on ice or on his @ss, Gardner has lost the ability to gouge you, and you can contain him, (somewhat).

I think there were two issues here. First, we were blitzing a bunch, so help over the top was somewhat limited, which is why he had the long score after **** poor tackling. Next, we don't have corners that are excellent at jamming. In the future we will, but Bjax and KR are not the prototype of this play. Finally, I think many of the catches were short to middle type passes. In reality, a zone blitz scheme would have worked better since they were not really throwing the ball that far down field.

 

[Cackalacky]

Very sorry if someone has mentioned this. Why don't we go more uptempo on offense? Our QB is experienced, we have weapons all over the place, and our defense is suspect.

Please see the last 3 minutes of the 1st half for your answers.

 

[felkey72]

After watching the game again i noticed that Nix and Tuitt are getting doubled about every play, and we just dont have the linebacker back there to make teams pay for doing so like we did last year. Though i do think Grace played the best out of the ILBs, and believe he should start the rest of the year. I would like to see what deeb or randolph could do back there. We are really thin at ILB and looks like we will miss on that position again this year, the lose of Alex really hurts.

 

[PANDFAN]

After watching the game again i noticed that Nix and Tuitt are getting doubled about every play, and we just dont have the linebacker back there to make teams pay for doing so like we did last year. Though i do think Grace played the best out of the ILBs, and believe he should start the rest of the year. I would like to see what deeb or randolph could do back there. We are really thin at ILB and looks like we will miss on that position again this year, the lose of Alex really hurts.

gone for the year w/ shoulder issue

 

[felkey72]

gone for the year w/ shoulder issue

Where have i been

 

[tko]

Where have i been

Findlay, OH will do that to you

 

[BangbangNDLarry]

Stop thinking like this. Notre Dame didn't let him. HE'S ****ING GOOD.

He can be as good as he wants we had all year to prepare for this game our defense simply **** they bed. I was embarrassed to watch them play.

 

[GDomer09]

-I know when you get behind it's the assumption that you pass to get ahead, but
53 passing attempts vs. only 19 rushing attempts. Come On!

-I hate when we call run plays up the middle on 3rd down. It's So obvious and we suck at it! It seems soooooo delayed!

-On various occasions our Linebackers missed obvious assignments in which Gardner was going to run. From a viewer’s standpoint it was so obvious. My brothers and I were taking turns calling it. Never were we wrong!

-Michigan seemed to pull out everything they had & I hope to God their Offense is really that good.