Post-Game Thoughts: 2017 Blue-Gold Game

[T Town Tommy]

Hard to predict much coming out of mostly pedestrian spring games. But still, nice to see the pigskin being tossed around a bit.

 

[phgreek]

1. I think the defense benefited greatly from the QBs not being live so all they had to do is get in the area code for a "sack." With that being said, they did a better job beating blocks in this game than I've seen in awhile. Not a lot of exotic pressures, rather standard stuff executed well.
2. I like Tranquill by the LOS. Like it a lot.
3. Daelin Hayes might be one of the most important players on the team if what he showed today wasn't a mirage.
4. How badly did we miss Watkins last year?
5. Wimbush made some special throws, and will be 100x more dangerous when he can destroy people with his legs. Only like one of those "sacks" was a play where he wouldn't have easily avoided the rusher and ran to freedom.
6. I feel rather confident in Book as a backup. Doesn't have the big arm, clearly had the ability to manage the offense in that scrimmage.
7. We have 3 NFL caliber backs. None are Leonard Fournette but they're all legit players.
8. Don't think our WRs are going to set the world on fire, but I'm not sure they need to. I do like how many big bodied pass catchers we have that will cause headaches for opponents that can't match up.
9. OL play was surprisingly average. Didn't have their protections right on occasion, and other times got beat 1v1 by defenders.
10. Interesting move by Kelly to give Book and Wimbush so many reps. I liked it, shows he's not effing around.

It appeared to me the defense was holding up in the last step+. I think he got off passes on some plays that, in live action, would have resulted in a hit on him, if not a sack. He did fine, but I think if he waits for more than 3, he is going to get hit... a lot.

 

[pumpdog20]

Those who go to tune in:

Even though it was a generic scrimmage, were your expectations raised, lowered, or confirmed watching?

Lowered, I thought the first team offense was stagnant after the first series.

 

[dshans]

...will cause several plays worth of havoc-reeking damages ...

As an example of my not catering to sacred cows –

it's "wreaking!"

I mean, I mean, like, uh, are we talkin' smelly mayhem?



Dammit!



Some years back some poor sod posted something about "wrecking havoc."

I couldn't help but wonder: if one wrecks havoc, does one gently maintain or restore, order, peace, and tranquility?

 

[Old Man Mike]

No. Reeking is correct (in West Virginia) : "he hit him so hard he knocked the @#$% out of him." "he stomped him so hard all that was left was a stinkhole." "he clobbered him so bad he looked like a deranged orangutan and smelt like his posing pouch."

 

[Cackalacky]

Well consider me underwhelmed by Wimbush. Two INTs and he had the ball knocked loose (fumble) from what I saw in the first half. He held the ball way to long and some of his reads were very questionable. Sure he might have a great arm and some wheels which will help him out but I saw some things I typicallly loath seeing from any quarterback college or pro.

 

[irishff1014]

Well consider me underwhelmed by Wimbush. Two INTs and he had the ball knocked loose (fumble) from what I saw in the first half. He held the ball way to long and some of his reads were very questionable. Sure he might have a great arm and some wheels which will help him out but I saw some things I typicallly loath seeing from any quarterback college or pro.

I see you point. But hopefully he will continue to grow over the summer. With our 3 headed monster at running back and the TE's and good WRs I think we will be ok. But i don't think we need to expect a Heisman trophy winning performance.

 

[arrowryan]

There is a lot to be excited about, offensively and defensively, with this team. But to save myself from heartbreak, I'll get excited when they do this against other teams.

 

[woolybug25]

Anybody got a link for a full game replay? The google machine failed me.

 

[BobbyMac]

Anybody got a link for a full game replay? The google machine failed me.

Watch live stream Notre Dame

 

[dwshade]

People take away way too much from spring games. Good and bad. To me it's just another day of practice.

 

[dshans]

No. Reeking is correct (in West Virginia) : "he hit him so hard he knocked the @#$% out of him." "he stomped him so hard all that was left was a stinkhole." "he clobbered him so bad he looked like a deranged orangutan and smelt like his posing pouch."

Well, I never thought of it quite that way.

I guess that encounters with skunks, citrus and beet processing plants, and farmlands in spring during manure spreading would qualify as reeking (olfactory) havoc.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Well consider me underwhelmed by Wimbush. Two INTs and he had the ball knocked loose (fumble) from what I saw in the first half. He held the ball way to long and some of his reads were very questionable. Sure he might have a great arm and some wheels which will help him out but I saw some things I typicallly loath seeing from any quarterback college or pro.

I agree with much of the good posted in this thread but I definitely agree with this. I won't fault him for one of those ints but he held the ball so damn long. He is going to get someone killed this year if he keeps doing that.

I also agree that we should take almost nothing from the spring game. It was enjoyable to watch but almost nothing can be deduced. There is no way to tell what we have until we see live fire.

 

[Cackalacky]

I agree with much of the good posted in this thread but I definitely agree with this. I won't fault him for one of those ints but he held the ball so damn long. He is going to get someone killed this year if he keeps doing that.

I also agree that we should take almost nothing from the spring game. It was enjoyable to watch but almost nothing can be deduced. There is no way to tell what we have until we see live fire.

Absolutely. I know it was a spring game and there is much to be excited for. I loved seeing the two TEs but i saw less 22 than I was thinking we would but it is early. I just hate TOs because they are killers and to have three in a spring game is well..... concerning. They should get that cleaned up by fall I suspect.

 

[koonja]

Haven't read a comment because I didn't want to pollute my mind Here are my observations.

- Dexter Williams is awesome. He's our best RB, and Josh Adams is a really good #2 IMO. This has been the case for over a year.

- Ian Book looks like he'll be just fine. Didn't at all look overwhelmed.

- BW looks like he was created on Madden and put into a red jersey. Physically a stud and looked really good. His medium/long throws over the middle need to improve. Or the decision to make those throws I guess.

- Julian Okwara looks fast, but so small out there. Looks like a tall SS playing DE.

- Isaiah Robertson looks like he's ready to play safety if the other guys don't get it figured out. Is he our starter? I'd be fine with that based on what I saw. This defense is as new to him as it is the others, and he looks physical.

- Adetokunbo is a monster out there, he looks 7' tall. Hope he can become something next year.

- Chris Finke can be nasty in the open field. I also though CJ Saunders was quietly reliable.

- Trumbetti didn't look like a total non factor, and got a couple of rushes it seemed against the 2nd team.

- Thought the new kicker did a good job hitting field goals.

- Miles Boykin is a real player! Awesome that he's stepping up as a #2 because we already know ESB will be a player.

- Daelin Hayes is our only good rushing DE. That's not good. But good on him. He's the only one that gets any pressure.

- 1st team OL seems to create a pretty good passing pocket. Looks like it's supposed to, with keeping rushers from coming through the lanes.

- Nice play by Kevin Stepherson to end 1st quarter. Too bad he will not be playing for ND ever again, IMO.

- Khalid Kareem just not materializing? That's a bummer if he doesn't step up. Big, and highly rated player. There's so much opportunity on the DL and he doesn't seem to be taking it. Never hear anything about him, and didn't notice him today.

- Alize Mack has great hands. Weapon.

- Tranquill played well, I think the assumptions that he'll thrive at rover will come true.

- Jallen Elliot looks like he's having fun out there. I like that because this team needs it, but also because it tells me he's comfortable with the defense and is picking it up. That's big. He's an athlete.

- Asmir Bilal - still soft in my book. Plays like it's not important to him, or that he's too good for the moment. News flash, you've done nothing here. Show some passion. He plays like he's a 3rd year incumbent starter and just too good to have to be out there. He doesn't have a defensive players attitude.

- MDT, Tiassum, Mokwuah, we need at LEAST 1 to step up. Didn't notice a single one of them out there. Disappointing.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Why would you say Stephenson will never play at ND again? If that's the case then the offensive might be in some trouble he is the only guy capable of taking the top off the defense

 

[koonja]

Why would you say Stephenson will never play at ND again? If that's the case then the offensive might be in some trouble he is the only guy capable of taking the top off the defense

I don't have info, but I just don't think this is going to end well and I think we'll know before the season starts. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[IrishLion]

- Where's Chase Claypool? I hope he's not a guy that ends up being all hype.

He made a couple catches, including a really nice deep catch on a rollout/scramble where Wimbush hit him over the top, and Claypool made the catch and dragged the toe right in front of the pylon.

If he's our base slot WR, and Boykin keeps looking athletic as hell opposite EQ, Claypool will get plenty of looks over the middle as the season (and Wimbush) progress.

 

[koonja]

He made a couple catches, including a really nice deep catch on a rollout/scramble where Wimbush hit him over the top, and Claypool made the catch and dragged the toe right in front of the pylon.

If he's our base slot WR, and Boykin keeps looking athletic as hell opposite EQ, Claypool will get plenty of looks over the middle as the season (and Wimbush) progress.

I took this comment out because I made this post after watching the 1st half, and in the 3rd quarter against the backups he did make a couple of plays. But I knew he was going to make plays against the 2s/3s, so I guess I'm indifferent to his day. I wanted to see something in the 1st.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Well consider me underwhelmed by Wimbush. Two INTs and he had the ball knocked loose (fumble) from what I saw in the first half. He held the ball way to long and some of his reads were very questionable. Sure he might have a great arm and some wheels which will help him out but I saw some things I typicallly loath seeing from any quarterback college or pro.

Thank goodness. If he were throwing TDs all day, Kelly would have forgotten about the run game by mid-May.

 

[Henges24]

I really like Finke. He still plays with the heart of a walkon and is scrappy as hell. He'll have a big year this year.

 

[NDVirginia19]

I don't have info, but I just don't think this is going to end well and I think we'll know before the season starts. Hope I'm wrong.

A lot of the campus scuttlebutt is that he's failing like literally all of his classes. It'd be one thing if he were just a headcase out in town, but if he also isn't close to getting it done in the classroom then there's gonna be a big problem

 

[Cackalacky]

Thank goodness. If he were throwing TDs all day, Kelly would have forgotten about the run game by mid-May.

I dont know what this means. Kelly isnt calling plays I dont think. I know this was designed to get BW as many reps as possible but clearly there is work to be done.

 

[ThePiombino]

A lot of the campus scuttlebutt is that he's failing like literally all of his classes. It'd be one thing if he were just a headcase out in town, but if he also isn't close to getting it done in the classroom then there's gonna be a big problem

I doubt BK would waste reps on a guy who is guaranteed bit to be eligible come fall.

Also, how has no one mentioned the "FOR 20" on Wimbush's towel? Am I missing something here or is it exactly what I suspect? And if it is exactly that, how long until he's rumored to be suspended for that activity?

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[Domina Nostra]

I dont know what this means. Kelly isnt calling plays I dont think. I know this was designed to get BW as many reps as possible but clearly there is work to be done.

Right. There is work to be done. To me, it's nice that we didn't end up with a bunch of fool's gold based on how he plays in an artificial envirnment where he threw like 5 TDs and the coaches started getting past themselves and trying to install more complicated aspects of the offense. They need to keep it simple and rely on the fact that superior athletes can win college football games if they play sound.

As far as the Kelly vs. Long, which I was not getting into, I think Kelly is going to get very, very anxious if Long's offense isn't clicking and we start losing. Plus, if the other team thinks you are run first, it's not that easy to just run down there throats. Alabama, for example, has a lot of games where there offense starts very slow and the games seem close in the first half. They can stay patient because their defense is great. People don't freak out. For us, if Nelson and McGlinchy aren't destroying people in the first quarter, people are going to start fainting, especially if the defense is giving up points.

 

[koonja]

So if you want something to be concerned about, BW, in basically 1 half of play when he couldn't even got hit, accounted for 3 turnovers himself. 2 INTs, and a strip sack. Not to mention, there probably would have been more if he was allowed to be hit, because he stood in the pocket too long and took sacks that weren't because he was in a red shirt.

 

[Cackalacky]

Right. There is work to be done. To me, it's nice that we didn't end up with a bunch of fool's gold based on how he plays in an artificial envirnment where he threw like 5 TDs and the coaches started getting past themselves and trying to install more complicated aspects of the offense. They need to keep it simple and rely on the fact that superior athletes can win college football games if they play sound.

As far as the Kelly vs. Long, which I was not getting into, I think Kelly is going to get very, very anxious if Long's offense isn't clicking and we start losing. Plus, if the other team thinks you are run first, it's not that easy to just run down there throats. Alabama, for example, has a lot of games where there offense starts very slow and the games seem close in the first half. They can stay patient because their defense is great. People don't freak out. For us, if Nelson and McGlinchy aren't destroying people in the first quarter, people are going to start fainting, especially if the defense is giving up points.

Gotcha. Agree.

 

[Cackalacky]

So if you want something to be concerned about, BW, in basically 1 half of play when he couldn't even got hit, accounted for 3 turnovers himself. 2 INTs, and a strip sack. Not to mention, there probably would have been more if he was allowed to be hit, because he stood in the pocket too long and took sacks that weren't because he was in a red shirt.

Yes.... concerning. Shades of Pittsburgh

 

[Rizzophil]

Right. There is work to be done. To me, it's nice that we didn't end up with a bunch of fool's gold based on how he plays in an artificial envirnment where he threw like 5 TDs and the coaches started getting past themselves and trying to install more complicated aspects of the offense. They need to keep it simple and rely on the fact that superior athletes can win college football games if they play sound.

As far as the Kelly vs. Long, which I was not getting into, I think Kelly is going to get very, very anxious if Long's offense isn't clicking and we start losing. Plus, if the other team thinks you are run first, it's not that easy to just run down there throats. Alabama, for example, has a lot of games where there offense starts very slow and the games seem close in the first half. They can stay patient because their defense is great. People don't freak out. For us, if Nelson and McGlinchy aren't destroying people in the first quarter, people are going to start fainting, especially if the defense is giving up points.

True.

Also Alabama has big, bruising running backs and offensive lineman. Defenses that are built to stop the spread can never handle a full game of that style.

As far as I can see/hear, Our offense is simply built to take what the offense gives us with a run preference

 

[BobbyMac]

So if you want something to be concerned about, BW, in basically 1 half of play when he couldn't even got hit, accounted for 3 turnovers himself. 2 INTs, and a strip sack. Not to mention, there probably would have been more if he was allowed to be hit, because he stood in the pocket too long and took sacks that weren't because he was in a red shirt.

And he would have had 150 yds on the ground.

The staff wants him to stand in the pocket and let things develop down field so they can evaluate.