Post Game Observations........

[KPENN]

Obviously it's different but teams get up for Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon, etc. and those teams are able to dominate teams.

Don't really care about those teams, that's not what I was asking or saying.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Don't really care about those teams, that's not what I was asking or saying.

Okay well then you are missing the point of what he's saying.

 

[koonja]

Post game observations:

1) Rees. Wow. I know he's not really talented, but if you polled 100 ND fans and said he'd have 300 + passing yards in every game so far, all 100 would take it. Anyone who thinks Hendrix should start is dead wrong, IMO.

2) Freshman RBs need carries ASAP. A) They cannot be worse than GAIII, and B) It helps deter them from transferring.

3) OL played ****** for 3 quarters. They've dominated all games IMO, but this one was ugly. They did not handle Purdue's initial punch.

4) The 'ND will get everyone's best shot' argument is an excuse for an overrated team. A) This team is coming off of a huge loss. For every hungry Boilermaker out there, there should be a ND player ready to get the **** poor taste out of their mouth. And B) Great teams always get other team's best, and they still blow them out.

5) Defense looks slow. Obviously I'm on the Longo hate wagon more-so than BK/Diaco's. I don't see an overall improvement in athleticism on this team. If you don't believe me, watch special teams coverage/returns.

6) My God, WR screens are pathetic. Play the offense, let it sling, even if you don't complete the seem routes at least you soften up the defense.

7) DD is getting a lot of praise and deservedly so, but TJ played like a man, yet again.

8) Cam is doing everything Cam can. Churning out yards and running like someone you don't want to tackle.

9) Nice kicking game.

 

[koonja]

Purdue Notebook

 

[BGIF]

Post game observations:

...

2) Freshman RBs need carries ASAP. A) They cannot be worse than GAIII, and B) It helps deter them from transferring.

3) OL played ****** for 3 quarters. They've dominated all games IMO, but this one was ugly. They did not handle Purdue's initial punch.

...

Geez, it was Game 3 of the season not Game 10.

Considering how thin we are at QB, I don't want any rookie being responsible for blitz pickup. You did notice PU was sending people in? And yes you told me last week, Bryant knew what to do on one audible. ND checks about 60% of the time. Each time the QB has to turn to the RB and take time to tell him what to do the defense has time to readjust and counter.

The Oline was not handling anybody well in those opening drives. I don't know how many backside tackles they had but it was a bunch. Cam and Amir were tackled 7 times behind the lines.

GA is the vocal fans whipping boy ala Tommy. New flash, GA averaged 5.4 yds per carry. Cam was next with a hard fought 3.5 yds per carry. NOBODY ELSE AVERAGED BETTER THAN 2.0 YPC.

GA was the only back with more than 1 carry than wasn't tackled for a loss. Yes, he dropped a couple last week. Tonight he caught 1 for 11 yds.

I'm not nominating GA for #1 RB but whipping him when NO ONE is better is foolish.

How far is a team going on a #1 RB that averages less than 4 ypc?


And since it's now vogue to flog Longo, a non-field position coach, how about some shoutouts for, dare I say it, Alford or Hiestand! Their charges aren't getting it done.

The running attack lives on the OLs and RBs, so let's blame the Strength Coach. Every Strength Coach since Woolfolk in '94 had been blamed by the knowledgeable fans as the cause for ND's woes. BTW, Holtz hired Woolfolk who went on to become the Strength Coach for Navy who beat ND 3 times. Every strength coach since Woolfolk has been sacked and everyone has done well elsewhere.

 

[koonja]

Geez, it was Game 3 of the season not Game 10.

Considering how thin we are at QB, I don't want any rookie being responsible for blitz pickup. You did notice PU was sending people in? And yes you told me last week, Bryant knew what to do on one audible. ND checks about 60% of the time. Each time the QB has to turn to the RB and take time to tell him what to do the defense has time to readjust and counter.

The Oline was not handling anybody well in those opening drives. I don't know how many backside tackles they had but it was a bunch. Cam and Amir were tackled 7 times behind the lines.

GA is the vocal fans whipping boy ala Tommy. New flash, GA averaged 5.4 yds per carry. Cam was next with a hard fought 3.5 yds per carry. NOBODY ELSE AVERAGED BETTER THAN 2.0 YPC.

GA was the only back with more than 1 carry than wasn't tackled for a loss. Yes, he dropped a couple last week. Tonight he caught 1 for 11 yds.

I'm not nominating GA for #1 RB but whipping him when NO ONE is better is foolish.

How far is a team going on a #1 RB that averages less than 4 ypc?


And since it's now vogue to flog Longo, a non-field position coach, how about some shoutouts for, dare I say it, Alford or Hiestand! Their charges aren't getting it done.

The running attack lives on the OLs and RBs, so let's blame the Strength Coach. Every Strength Coach since Woolfolk in '94 had been blamed by the knowledgeable fans as the cause for ND's woes. BTW, Holtz hired Woolfolk who went on to become the Strength Coach for Navy who beat ND 3 times. Every strength coach since Woolfolk has been sacked and everyone has done well elsewhere.

YPC is a not the end all in who's a better RB. Different RBs are used in different situations.

If you don't believe me, go back and look at who our best RB was last year, based on YPC.

Your list would be 1) GAIII 2) Cierre Wood, and 3) Theo. This would be exactly *** backwards.

Levonn Bell averaged almost 1.5 yards less per carry than MSU's other top RB last year, Keith Marshall averages more yards per carry than Todd Gurley, the examples of 'YPC' don't tell the story are endless.

I'll give you that the senior RBs will be better in blitz pick ups, but that's on Kelly to have the younger guys ready. Other true freshman are making huge impacts elsewhere at major programs. And if he can't get them to handle all of the playbook, that's fine, but he needs to have packages that get the best athletes on the field for parts of the game.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

It's like Kelly, Diaco and Martin never had this much talent on a roster and don't know how to effectively organize it.

 

[Eddie.Smith Irish]

It's like Kelly, Diaco and Martin never had this much talent on a roster and don't know how to effectively organize it.

My thoughts EXACTLY.

 

[BGIF]

YPC is a not the end all in who's a better RB. Different RBs are used in different situations.

If you don't believe me, go back and look at who our best RB was last year, based on YPC.

Your list would be 1) GAIII 2) Cierre Wood, and 3) Theo. This would be exactly *** backwards.

Levonn Bell averaged almost 1.5 yards less per carry than MSU's other top RB last year, Keith Marshall averages more yards per carry than Todd Gurley, the examples of 'YPC' don't tell the story are endless.

No, its not the be all, end all. It's just the basic rule of thumb that's been around since they changed 1st Downs to 10 yds in 4 plays, Football 101.


Tell me how many 1st Downs do you make with RBs averaging 2.0 yds per carry?

How about the decreased probably of making a 1st Down when the your RB get dropped in the backfield?

 

[NDisme]

We were playing on the road, at night, against a team who views us as the biggest game on their schedule, which is the case for nearly every team we play. The ND game is "special" for everyone we play. If you've ever played the game, you'd know games like that bring out the best in you.

And, I'm not making any excuses. On paper, ND is a much better team than Purdue. But, guess what? Football isn't played on paper and just because another team's players and coaches make plays or have a good game plan doesn't mean our players and coaches suck.

I'm disappointed we didn't blow them out. I was hoping we'd turn the corner this year and start mauling teams like an elite team should. But just because we didn't run them out of the stadium doesn't mean we are terrible. It's annoying when every single "negative" play is met with "X player is awful", "This team is so unathletic", "I wish BK took the Eagles job", etc.

A perfect Example is Michigan. They get up for our game last one in the big house Gardner honored, night game. Then go out following week almost get knocked off by Akron. Akron!

 

[IrishMoore1]

It's like Kelly, Diaco and Martin never had this much talent on a roster and don't know how to effectively organize it.

This makes no sense whatsoever. A quick look at 2012's roster totally debunks this.

 

[irisheyes]

We were playing on the road, at night, against a team who views us as the biggest game on their schedule, which is the case for nearly every team we play. The ND game is "special" for everyone we play. If you've ever played the game, you'd know games like that bring out the best in you.

And, I'm not making any excuses. On paper, ND is a much better team than Purdue. But, guess what? Football isn't played on paper and just because another team's players and coaches make plays or have a good game plan doesn't mean our players and coaches suck.

I'm disappointed we didn't blow them out. I was hoping we'd turn the corner this year and start mauling teams like an elite team should. But just because we didn't run them out of the stadium doesn't mean we are terrible. It's annoying when every single "negative" play is met with "X player is awful", "This team is so unathletic", "I wish BK took the Eagles job", etc.

It is frustrating when people jump ship so quick but Notre Dame hasnt looked good against its first 3 opponents. Sure when Amir fumbled and everyone jumped on him it was premature but thats what happens when a team goes 12-0, and then the floor drops out on them. ND is not the biggest game on purdues schedule. Thee ohio state and IU are much bigger (as far as rivalries). Many purdue students were nd fans long before they were purdue fans. Sure its a great game but theres not the hate. And teams dont magically get better because of a huge rivalry. Sure you may give it a little more, or be hyped up more. But you dont get super human powers that somehow make your program into a top 25 team.

In either 2004 or 2007, I forget which year, Purdue beat ND (as most teams did in those years) and put the score of the game on the side of their rings signifying the importance of a win over ND to them.

Edit: Think about it. How many teams put the score of "just another opponent" on their rings?
We ND fans take the PU series for granted. They don't. Is it the intrastate rivalry. They beat Ara 5 times. We brag about Bear 4.

Thank you for repeating the statistic they said during the broadcast. There is probably 5 purdue fans who could have gotten that. I have plenty of friends who are purdue grads, all of them understand they have a dog sh*t football team. Us irish fans hold on to history a lot more than most teams i think. (probably because we have more of it)

So you don't think a game versus ND is different for a team then against say Northwestern?

Ya theres a big difference between a team playing nd vs northwestern. Northwesterns 3-0 and ranked 17th. They arent over rated. Im sick of ND fans trying to name drop us like we belong because of our past. Teams want to play us because of revenue, not because we are a good football program.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

No team in college football--I mean no team loses more top talent in transfers than us. Not one college team. We will most likely lose some of these freshman that think they should be playing. And can you blame them? Watching uneffective plays, and feel they can do better. I wish they wouldn't. Give time, this is a special place. I don't care the reason, but look at the 4 and 5* talent that has transferred in the last 1.5 years or 2 years. It is sickening.

Eddie V (5*), Lynch (5*), Gunner (5*), Prestwood (4*), Neal (4 or 5*), Ferguson (low 4*), Tee who knows why/this one was weird (4 or 5*), Shaq Evans (high 4*--more than 2 years ago though), Chris Badger (4*, 3* by some)

Those are huge talent guys.

 

[pkt77242]

No team in college football--I mean no team loses more top talent in transfers than us. Not one college team. We will most likely lose some of these freshman that think they should be playing. And can you blame them? Watching uneffective plays, and feel they can do better. I wish they wouldn't. Give time, this is a special place. I don't care the reason, but look at the 4 and 5* talent that has transferred in the last 1.5 years or 2 years. It is sickening.

Eddie V (5*), Lynch (5*), Gunner (5*), Prestwood (4*), Neal (4 or 5*), Ferguson (low 4*), Tee who knows why/this one was weird (4 or 5*), Shaq Evans (high 4*--more than 2 years ago though), Chris Badger (4*, 3* by some)

Those are huge talent guys.

You are a ****ing idiot. Prestwood failed out. Tee couldn't get into any school. Badger was not a 4*, Lynch was about Pussy, Neal was about baby (or Mary Jane depending on who you listen too). Ferguson was about MaryJane. Shaq was about Pussy and many years ago. So that leaves Gunner and Eddie V who never made it on campus. Nice try.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Perception is reality on how athletes and recruits look at it. They see "Why do they have so many transfers?" Believe what you want. Yes, some failed-Baby-family issues-playing time-girl-etc. They transferred, and all recruits see is more transfers from ND.

Again, believe what you want. Reasons why they did aren't the biggest deal, transferring in general is.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

What helps to combat the transferring IMO are two different things:

1. If you are good enough you will play even if you are a freshman. Jaylon, elmer, Shumate last year, Robinson, Luke etc.

2. If you have NFL guys stay after they are eligible to goto the NFl--Martin, Nix, Manti, Eifert could have left 1 year earlier,

Ok, I missed one--consistent winning/BCS Bowl type winning.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Purdue: 1st year coach with a first year starter at QB and a team full of 2-3 star talent.
ND: 4th year head coach with a veteran QB and a team full of 4-5 star talent.

Coaching.


Oh, I forgot, we get every teams best effort....nevermind.

 

[Domer4ever]

My thoughts:

- It's true what they say, winning is the best deodorant because this team stunk tonight and was dominated for almost three quarters of play against an inferior opponent. Nice to win, but I felt we were exposed once again.

- I think my biggest concern continues to be the defense, who was horrendous again tonight. I think the problem boils down to something I have complained about on this board before: the 3-4 defensive scheme. I think it's difficult to run at the college level because of the specialty players you need to run it effectively and not many teams do outside of Alabama and their five star talent across the board. I understand it's implementation is to disguise blitzes and to contain the edge against option/running QB's, but again it's just difficult to run. Notre Dame is getting gashed up front because of the gaps in the three man line which allows offensive lineman to get to the second level uncontested and put their hat on a LB. There are just too many guys getting lost in the wash of offensive lineman on running plays. They are not getting any pressure on QB's because of the three man front and it's exposing what really is a sub-par secondary. Some of our best players and pass rushers (Shembo, Ishaq, Jaylon) are being relegated to this "dog" and "cat" linebacker bull crap where their primary responsibility is coverage in space instead of utilizing their more natural talents and abilities. I think they were able to get away with it last year because of Teo's great season and a schedule that just fell the right way for them. This defense was exposed in a major way against Alabama and that has carried over to this season. Diaco's "bend but don't break" philosophy has broke and this team is giving up massive chunks of yardage and having trouble stopping anybody. I think this defense would be better by simplifying things and going with a more traditional 4-3 look which would alleviate some of the confusion and issues I outlined above. Notre Dame certainly has the personnel to make the conversion:

DE- Shembo
DT- Tuitt (not a DE at 320+ and it shows)
DT- Nix (Day on passing downs)
DE- I. Williams

WLB- J. Smith
MLB- Grace
SLB- Calabrese/Fox

It's time for Diaco to make the change.

- Horrendous play again tonight by the secondary. Farley just has no business starting. Watching him get trucked on the first drive of the game like he was uninterested to be there was a joke, and watching him and Jackson over run the WR on that dead duck deep pass without even looking for the ball just left me shaking my head. It's the same story every year in the secondary it seems where guys just look clueless. Luke looked like a freshman tonight and Russell killed me on that fourth down TD conversion where he left a man wide open right in front of him. Too much confusion and not enough communication going on out there. Coaching issue folks.

- I thought the offense was derailed in the first half by dropped passes and vanilla/unimaginative play calling before getting it going late in the second half. Rees played great tonight despite his usual two to three pucker throws a game. Daniels and Jones were excellent.

- I just have no idea what is going on at RB. I appreciate Kelly showing loyalty to the upper class guys and giving them the nod, but there is just no way that Bryant/Folston are not equal or better players than Atkinson, McDaniel, and possibly Carlisle. I appreciate Cam coming in and running hard at the end, but I don't appreciate Bryant/Folston getting only one carry between the two on a night where the offense struggled to run the football. I think RB by committee can be a bad thing especially when that committee is five deep!!! To me Bryant/Folston are the future here and if Kelly doesn't play them, he risk's losing them this offseason because he wanted to show loyalty to upper class guys who are likely inferior players. This program can not endure losing more highly rated players to transfer, just can't happen.

 

[BGIF]

No team in college football--I mean no team loses more top talent in transfers than us. Not one college team. We will most likely lose some of these freshman that think they should be playing. And can you blame them? Watching uneffective plays, and feel they can do better. I wish they wouldn't. Give time, this is a special place. I don't care the reason, but look at the 4 and 5* talent that has transferred in the last 1.5 years or 2 years. It is sickening.

Eddie V (5*), Lynch (5*), Gunner (5*), Prestwood (4*), Neal (4 or 5*), Ferguson (low 4*), Tee who knows why/this one was weird (4 or 5*), Shaq Evans (high 4*--more than 2 years ago though), Chris Badger (4*, 3* by some)

Those are huge talent guys.

You are a ****ing idiot. Prestwood failed out. Tee couldn't get into any school. Badger was not a 4*, Lynch was about Pussy, Neal was about baby (or Mary Jane depending on who you listen too). Ferguson was about MaryJane. Shaq was about Pussy and many years ago. So that leaves Gunner and Eddie V who never made it on campus. Nice try.

There seems to be a common element of vacillation (perhaps for varying reasons) among these young men.

A couple of these guys were mutliple decommitments/transfers Lynch and Prestwood both went ND FSU ND elsewhere. Gunner was IU, LSU, ND, elsewhere.

Wasn't Neal the one that held the press conference that didn't happen?

Eddie V was unique to the entire NCAA process. He still only admits to his grandmother's illness but he repeatedly claims there are 3 other reasons that he refuses to explain.

Tee's current S.I.D. at Hampton CC (?) wrote a lengthy article, posted on IE a week or so ago, documenting or should I say alledging that Tee had a course problem at one of his two HS (again multiple institutions) and took an On-line course while at ND to make up the discrepancy. HOWEVER, the NCAA Clearhinghouse refused to accept that course and would not CERTIFY him for an NCAA Scholarship. He could have paid his own way but he obviously doesn't have 50K a year to do so, does he?

Now if you remember Tee reported when he left ND that it was due to a heart ailment. There was no mention of a heart ailment in the S.I.D.'s lengthy story although there was a heart rendering description of his hearing impairment.

Like Lynch, Prestwood, Gunner, and several of the others you single out, there were multiple stories often conflicting, and more often than not resulted in continued performance problems at other schools.

How many schools have the Montana brothers been through (one never came to ND and still has a lengthy resume)?

Badger is special circumstances, he lost two year with his mission. Take two years off from your work, no matter how noble your reasons, and you'll find that other people have used those two years to grow and fill the need you wanted to fill while you were on a different continent. Badger also wasn't a highly touted recruit, few if any expected him to ever start when he verballed. He was a vicious hitter but slow. Did you think two years out of school eating berries and such was going to make him bigger, stronger, and faster? Or are you just padding your transfer list?


Watt got injured Saturday night and the freshman Elmer was sent in. Funny Kelly didn't send in an upperclassmen, perhaps he sent in the best man available that was prepared to go play. Kelly's played 11 or 12 true freshman. This notion that he doesn't play freshman is specious.


Some people mature later than others, some never do.

Any kid that is hot to trot to transfer 3 weeks should do so - now ... or grow up and make the most of his situation.

 

[ulukinatme]

My observations:

1. Too predictable on offense the first half. Not enough plays stretching the field. Tommy doesn't have to throw 80 yards. 45 yards is plenty, and he's shown he can do that. We need to take these shots (1st down is a fine time) to keep defenses honest. On the plus side, Purdue was completely unprepared for that big pass to DD it looked like. They got somewhat conservative on defense after that it seemed.

2. Give the Cam the damn ball. I'm in favor of Cam being our starting RB from here on out. He can share some carries with Bryant if it keeps him and the fans happy for the year. He's our most consistent back, he protects the ball, runs between the tackles the best, and he runs the hardest (At least among the upperclassmen). He's one tough SOB too.
Notre Dame Needs to Feature Cam McDaniel at RB to Free Up Tommy Rees | Bleacher Report
McDaniel helps Irish escape Purdue - Notre Dame Fighting Irish Blog - ESPN

3. Gotta find ways to get DD the ball a lot. I'm not sure why we're not utilizing Niklas more either.

4. Our secondary has some tackling problems.

5. Nix doesn't get enough credit for what he does, even when he's being praised. On one play he was eating up 3 linemen and still driving forward. On the flip side, our interior LBs should be the stars of this defense typically and some of them have dropped the ball through the first 3 games. OLB hasn't been too bad, and I've been glad to see that the light came on this year for Ishaq.

6. Still some room for improvement on Special Teams...kick coverage, punt return, and punting distance mostly.

 

[irishff1014]

My thoughts:

- It's true what they say, winning is the best deodorant because this team stunk tonight and was dominated for almost three quarters of play against an inferior opponent. Nice to win, but I felt we were exposed once again.

- I think my biggest concern continues to be the defense, who was horrendous again tonight. I think the problem boils down to something I have complained about on this board before: the 3-4 defensive scheme. I think it's difficult to run at the college level because of the specialty players you need to run it effectively and not many teams do outside of Alabama and their five star talent across the board. I understand it's implementation is to disguise blitzes and to contain the edge against option/running QB's, but again it's just difficult to run. Notre Dame is getting gashed up front because of the gaps in the three man line which allows offensive lineman to get to the second level uncontested and put their hat on a LB. There are just too many guys getting lost in the wash of offensive lineman on running plays. They are not getting any pressure on QB's because of the three man front and it's exposing what really is a sub-par secondary. Some of our best players and pass rushers (Shembo, Ishaq, Jaylon) are being relegated to this "dog" and "cat" linebacker bull crap where their primary responsibility is coverage in space instead of utilizing their more natural talents and abilities. I think they were able to get away with it last year because of Teo's great season and a schedule that just fell the right way for them. This defense was exposed in a major way against Alabama and that has carried over to this season. Diaco's "bend but don't break" philosophy has broke and this team is giving up massive chunks of yardage and having trouble stopping anybody. I think this defense would be better by simplifying things and going with a more traditional 4-3 look which would alleviate some of the confusion and issues I outlined above. Notre Dame certainly has the personnel to make the conversion:

DE- Shembo
DT- Tuitt (not a DE at 320+ and it shows)
DT- Nix (Day on passing downs)
DE- I. Williams

WLB- J. Smith
MLB- Grace
SLB- Calabrese/Fox

It's time for Diaco to make the change.

- Horrendous play again tonight by the secondary. Farley just has no business starting. Watching him get trucked on the first drive of the game like he was uninterested to be there was a joke, and watching him and Jackson over run the WR on that dead duck deep pass without even looking for the ball just left me shaking my head. It's the same story every year in the secondary it seems where guys just look clueless. Luke looked like a freshman tonight and Russell killed me on that fourth down TD conversion where he left a man wide open right in front of him. Too much confusion and not enough communication going on out there. Coaching issue folks.

- I thought the offense was derailed in the first half by dropped passes and vanilla/unimaginative play calling before getting it going late in the second half. Rees played great tonight despite his usual two to three pucker throws a game. Daniels and Jones were excellent.

- I just have no idea what is going on at RB. I appreciate Kelly showing loyalty to the upper class guys and giving them the nod, but there is just no way that Bryant/Folston are not equal or better players than Atkinson, McDaniel, and possibly Carlisle. I appreciate Cam coming in and running hard at the end, but I don't appreciate Bryant/Folston getting only one carry between the two on a night where the offense struggled to run the football. I think RB by committee can be a bad thing especially when that committee is five deep!!! To me Bryant/Folston are the future here and if Kelly doesn't play them, he risk's losing them this offseason because he wanted to show loyalty to upper class guys who are likely inferior players. This program can not endure losing more highly rated players to transfer, just can't happen.

Nice Nice Nice

 

[BobD]

A wins a win.

It would be awesome to see someone in a gold helmet with a "killer instinct".

Even if we lose, I'd like to see more toughness. Stick someone damn it! Legally of course, but I wanna see some good old fashion man sized football with the other teams a$$es on the ground. It seems as if our team even congratulates, reprimands and celebrates each other softly with little love taps.....BEAT SOMEONE AROUND THE HELMET AND SHOULDER PADS GOD DM IT! Get motivated, not excited, excited is for girls.

Next up Michigan state. GO IRISH GO!

 

[FLDomer]

Rewatching now and Daniel Smith made a nice block on the Cam TD that tied it up at 10. Oh and it was nice we didn't go spread and actually had some what of a power formation.

 

[CanadianIrish]

I just cannot believe the ridiculous homers here claiming there is no problem with top talent transferring and refusing to see a problem with how the freshmen are being used.

Carlisle averaged 1.5 yards per carry and had a brutal fumble. McDaniel averaged 3.5 yards a carry and got the lions share of the chances. Don't give me some nonsense about one or two carries not being their fault, McDaniel had 16 carries, Carlisle 11. Changing a carry or two won't make those average decent.

How are we supposed to look at Bryant and tell him he's not getting the ball because he's not as good as the upper classmen? It's simply not true, the upper classmen are putting in god awful performances and he's not getting to play for some unknown reason.

Last season they wouldn't even fly Gunner with the team, so he transferred. I'm not saying he had to play regularly, he could have red shirted, but for crying out loud fly him with the team. This is why we have Tommy at QB this year, and that's why we have no chance to do anything serious.

We are suffering because the staff refuses to treat top prospects with respect - and it will only get worse as this goes on. Why would a top prospect at a skill position come here if he sees he simply won't play, whereas TJ Yeldon and Cooper are key contributors at Alabama at freshmen. Are you telling me our upper classmen RBs and WRs were better than Bamas and that's why their freshmen can get on the field and ours can't?

Stop being homers and actually look at the facts.

 

[IrishinTN]

The team doesn't seem to show much emotion out there. At times it seems like they are just going through the motions. I think that is what troubles me the most.

 

[kmoose]

How are we supposed to look at Bryant and tell him he's not getting the ball because he's not as good as the upper classmen? It's simply not true, the upper classmen are putting in god awful performances and he's not getting to play for some unknown reason.

WE don't look at Bryant and tell him he's not getting the ball; the coaches do. And I am certain that they are explaining very specific reasons to him. There is more to being a RB than simply running the ball. The days of the Four Horsemen are LONG gone. I seriously doubt that the coaches are holding the Freshmen out of the game, despite them being better options than the guys who are playing. And I most certainly trust the coaches' ability to judge who is the better option, over the ability of any of us on here.

Last season they wouldn't even fly Gunner with the team, so he transferred. I'm not saying he had to play regularly, he could have red shirted, but for crying out loud fly him with the team. This is why we have Tommy at QB this year, and that's why we have no chance to do anything serious.

Tommy Rees is on pace to complete 61% of his passes (260/428), for almost 4,000 yards (3876), with 28 TDs and 8 INTs. Tommy Rees is hardly keeping this team from doing anything serious.

We are suffering because the staff refuses to treat top prospects with respect - and it will only get worse as this goes on. Why would a top prospect at a skill position come here if he sees he simply won't play, whereas TJ Yeldon and Cooper are key contributors at Alabama at freshmen. Are you telling me our upper classmen RBs and WRs were better than Bamas and that's why their freshmen can get on the field and ours can't?

Kelly has played a ton of freshmen. Jaylon Smith, Cole Luke, Corey Robinson, Folston, Bryant............. they have all seen the field. TJ Yeldon and Amari Cooper are sophomores. What do they have to do with true freshmen in their 3rd ever college game?

Stop being homers and actually look at the facts.

Stop being angry and actually look at the facts!

 

[EifertPower]

This is all the product of having a quarterback who is predictable and limited in what he can do. Tommy is doing the best he can and seems like a nice kid, but defenses are having an easy time preparing for him. Our running game would be much better if the opponents were forced to respect our passing game more.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Anyone really confident ND goes 4-0 in the next 4 weeks?

 

[irishff1014]

Anyone really confident ND goes 4-0 in the next 4 weeks?

We just struggled against one of the worst teams we have on out schedule I doubt anyone needs to be thinking about 4-0 in the next 4 weeks. If they play like they did last night I highly we beat mich state.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Anyone really confident ND goes 4-0 in the next 4 weeks?

No. I think we can win them all, but not confident.