Roll Call: Isn't worried at all.

[JughedJones]

I understand that the Michigan game stung.

****, I have a special place next to my door where I break drywall when Michigan beats us. (I still have scars on my knuckles from hitting a stud.)


However, there are only two teams that we need be concerned about going forward with this schedule. Arizona State and Stanford.

Unless I'm mistaken, Southern Cal still has Lane Kiffen as a coach, right?

Oklahoma was barely able to get by a West Virginia team that damn near lost to Bill and Mary.

USC..... well, I feel we have their number. (Need I say more about that?)


Come on guys!!!! Tommy did a damn fine job against the Baltimore Raven's defensive coordinator. Our D did an OK job with a kid that's going to go to be an All American before he's done.

I know Carlo could be faster in coverage, but we're going to be facing power running schemes from here on out for a while.

We will be OK.

 

[CanadianIrishFan306]

Tommy had some bad decisions and some bad throws but there were alot of dropped catchable balls too.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I dont think we tailspin from here, but i think we should expect to have another game or two like this. I lile what tommy tried to do last night, but i think we all know where the peak is for this team offensively and i am betting that isnt good enough to win 9 of the next 10.

 

[JughedJones]

Tommy had some bad decisions and some bad throws but there were alot of dropped catchable balls too.

GA3 will not be asked to catch anymore balls.

That was a disaster.

 

[JughedJones]

I dont think we tailspin from here, but i think we should expect to have another game or two like this. I lile what tommy tried to do last night, but i think we all know where the peak is for this team offensively and i am betting that isnt good enough to win 9 of the next 10.

I just don't agree.

I think the Werewolf spells Carlo more and Jaylon takes over on a lot of LB duties.

Jaylon looked like a stud.


It's our 'battery' that's killing us. The middle of our D (not including Louis.)

I think that's fixable with scheme going forward.

 

[NDinFL]

GA3 will not be asked to catch anymore balls.

That was a disaster.

I'm with ya, jug

It was strange that it seemed like they had Amir and GAIII's skillsets switched

(Amir running up the gut and GAIII running routes and attempting to catch passes)

I know we want versatility and depth at the hybrid RB/slot position, but it seemed odd that they did that

 

[Buster Bluth]

However, there are only two teams that we need be concerned about going forward with this schedule. Arizona State and Stanford.

I'll agree that the schedule looks a lot less daunting and 9-3 for me is still the minimum.


Purdue (1-1): They're terrible. This should be a blowout and a statement.

Michigan State (2-0) - A terrific defense meets a pathetic offense. It could be trouble, but it's doubtful. The revenge factor and rivalry scare me though.

Oklahoma (2-0) - It's Oklahoma; it will be a challenge. An Irish fan has to appreciate the quarterback problems they're apparently having though. I'm 60/40 on it right now.

Arizona State (1-0) - 50/50 as far as I'm concerned. We'll know a lot more about that after games against Wiscosnin Stanford, and Southern Cal before Notre Dame.

Southern Cal (1-1) - They have a long time to get better, but they also have a long time to fall apart like last season (if it
hasn't happened already). I'm 80/20 on it.

Air Force (1-1) - Not worried.

Navy (1-0) - Also not worried.

Pittsburgh (0-1) - We don't know much about them. This is so far away. It's not keeping me up at night.

BYU (1-1) - This should worry you. They sodomized Texas last weekend, but they lost to Virginia. Virginia. I'm 65/35 on it.

Stanford (1-0) - Some people are on the Stanford train, some aren't. I am. This should be a slugfest.

 

[NDWorld247]

My confidence in this team hasn't waivered, and I agree ASU and Stanford are the best two teams remaining on our schedule, but I disagree that they are the only ones we need to worry about.

College football is so unpredictable. Teams routinely come out one week and look like crap and the next week look like they should be playing in a BCS bowl. The transitive property often doesn't work well in college football.

I'd put our A game up against any team in the country. That doesn't mean we beat every team with our A game, but rather we have a chance against the elite when we play our best game. But our B game can be taken down by a number of teams remaining on the schedule. Should we "worry" about MSU, Oklahoma, BYU, Pitt, etc? Not necessarily, but don't think for a second those teams won't give their A effort and will be a threat if we don't play well (i.e. our A game).

 

[Buster Bluth]

It's our 'battery' that's killing us. The middle of our D (not including Louis.)

I think that's fixable with scheme going forward.

And yet the defense has controlled the LOS in both games, convincingly too. I'm not worried about the center of the defense, I'm worried about inexperience meeting superior athleticism, which I don't see on the schedule.

 

[arndtjc]

Can't go undefeated every year, and losing to a good Michigan team is nothing to scoff about. They played decent but ran into a buzz saw that was the Michigan offense. Gardner played the game of his life, the D had a less than stellar performance.

^^^All of this is correctable, and I think we'll see plenty of adjustments from here on out. Full trust in Kelly and Company, along with full trust in Tommy and the offense, and Nix, Tuitt, and the Defense.

'Saul Good...

 

[mick2]

well i'm all in for 11-1 until proven otherwise. one bad throw and two bad calls decided that game two nights ago. Our D forces other teams to play perfectly, and unfortunately the other team was able to pretty much play perfectly, and got extremely lucky on some throws.

on to the next one.

Go Irish!

Side note: ncaa record attendance for a football game saturday night. ohio state can't even pack that house like we did. mich will miss us when they can barely sell their allotment for the "showdown" with oregon state in a couple years.

 

[Ndaccountant]

well i'm all in for 11-1 until proven otherwise. one bad throw and two bad calls decided that game two nights ago. Our D forces other teams to play perfectly, and unfortunately the other team was able to pretty much play perfectly, and got extremely lucky on some throws.

on to the next one.

Go Irish!

Side note: ncaa record attendance for a football game saturday night. ohio state can't even pack that house like we did. mich will miss us when they can barely sell their allotment for the "showdown" with oregon state in a couple years.

That will be the best beavers that most um fans have ever seen.

 

[NDohio]

I'm all in. I still have a lot of confidence in this team AND this defense. Gardner was all world Saturday night.

Make a few adjustments in th LB group, get the red zone fixed, and this is another stellar year for the Irish.

If you are gonna lose, lose early.

Go Irish!

 

[TheRealLynch51]

I'm in. I think we go 10-2 with us only dropping the Stanford game from here on out. Gotta love our O and D lines.

 

[irishfan]

I was thinking 10-2 before the year, and its still very attainable. Diaco seems to get a mulligan every year on D (Navy in 2010, Michigan in 2011, Bama in 2012) and fields a strong D in every other game.

We lost by 11 on the road at Michigan really didn't catch any breaks (the tipped Jones TD in the 1st half should have been a TD catch by GAIII, and the Tuitt TD would have been a Safety regardless). They caught a couple of breaks with the Rees pick before half giving them 7 points (could have been a 14-swing right there) and the questionable PI call.

I'm worried about Stanford and Oklahoma the most, and think that as long as we bring the "B" game, we will get by MSU, ASU, USC, and BYU. The other 4 games (Purdue, Navy, Air Force, Pitt) should be 20+ point wins.

I really want to get to 10-2 so we can get to a BCs game. I'd hate to see us finish 9-3, ranked around ~18, and in no-man's-land for a bowl. I really don't see us below 9-3 with our schedule.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I'm in. I think we go 10-2 with us only dropping the Stanford game from here on out. Gotta love our O and D lines.

I love and appreciate the optimism, but what basis so far this year says we have the lines that are difference makers?

We couldn't convert the short 3rd downs with consistency against UM. We ran it well with checks at the line, but I believe the true test is can you run it when the other guy knows its coming. The results are mixed at this point. Pass Pro has been very good, so that is a plus. However, I am not sure our running game is about to take off against good run D's.

On the DL, we should be dominating on paper. Results haven't matched that yet. I don't think we will get tested again until OU, so the next two weeks need to be spent on getting back to 2012 production.

I hope you are correct, but I am not as optimistic. I don't foresee much change in red zone production on offense against good defenses due to TR lacking as a running threat and a OL that has not proven it can run against a good D that knows a run is coming.

I thoroughly expect us to win big the next two weeks and everyone will be convinced the world is fine again. But, we need to acknowledge that nothing could change and we can still win big the next two weeks. We will not know until the OU and ASU games are in the books.

 

[NDohio]

I love and appreciate the optimism, but what basis so far this year says we have the lines that are difference makers?

We couldn't convert the short 3rd downs with consistency against UM. We ran it well with checks at the line, but I believe the true test is can you run it when the other guy knows its coming. The results are mixed at this point. Pass Pro has been very good, so that is a plus. However, I am not sure our running game is about to take off against good run D's.

On the DL, we should be dominating on paper. Results haven't matched that yet. I don't think we will get tested again until OU, so the next two weeks need to be spent on getting back to 2012 production.

I hope you are correct, but I am not as optimistic. I don't foresee much change in red zone production on offense against good defenses due to TR lacking as a running threat and a OL that has not proven it can run against a good D that knows a run is coming.

I thoroughly expect us to win big the next two weeks and everyone will be convinced the world is fine again. But, we need to acknowledge that nothing could change and we can still win big the next two weeks. We will not know until the OU and ASU games are in the books.

This is the one area that really concerns me from a coaching standpoint. I do not understand why the offensive philosiphy completely changes once we get in the RZ. Last year this drove me crazy - it seems to have started the same way this year as well.

 

[TheRealLynch51]

I love and appreciate the optimism, but what basis so far this year says we have the lines that are difference makers?

We couldn't convert the short 3rd downs with consistency against UM. We ran it well with checks at the line, but I believe the true test is can you run it when the other guy knows its coming. The results are mixed at this point. Pass Pro has been very good, so that is a plus. However, I am not sure our running game is about to take off against good run D's.

On the DL, we should be dominating on paper. Results haven't matched that yet. I don't think we will get tested again until OU, so the next two weeks need to be spent on getting back to 2012 production.

I hope you are correct, but I am not as optimistic. I don't foresee much change in red zone production on offense against good defenses due to TR lacking as a running threat and a OL that has not proven it can run against a good D that knows a run is coming.

I thoroughly expect us to win big the next two weeks and everyone will be convinced the world is fine again. But, we need to acknowledge that nothing could change and we can still win big the next two weeks. We will not know until the OU and ASU games are in the books.

If Devin Gardner isn't a mobile quarterback, then we would be talking about how many times he was sacked and how our D Line dominated the game. Also, the O Line started to take over late in the game when Amir Carlisle was in the game. We just didn't have the clock to run the ball. There were holes for our running back to run through.

Now, i think only mobile QB's can hurt this team defensively, and I don't see any on the schedule for the rest of the year. That's why we have shut the running games DOWN of both opponents that have played us, save for Gardner's runs.

 

[IrishLax]

Every single bowl-eligible team lost a game last year. Every. Single. Team. So whatever... we got beat by a good opponent because we dug ourselves a whole and couldn't make the big plays when needed. Stuff happens.

If USC continues to stay in the crapper then I'm optimistic we can get to 9-3. Maybe even 10-2. I bet on 8 wins in the vBook thread... but the schedule looks much easier now. ASU and Stanford are the only games where I wouldn't pick us as downright favorites.

 

[IrishLax]

If Devin Gardner isn't a mobile quarterback, then we would be talking about how many times he was sacked and how our D Line dominated the game. Also, the O Line started to take over late in the game when Amir Carlisle was in the game. We just didn't have the clock to run the ball. There were holes for our running back to run through.

Now, i think only mobile QB's can hurt this team defensively, and I don't see any on the schedule for the rest of the year. That's why we have shut the running games DOWN of both opponents that have played us, save for Gardner's runs.

Yeah... depending on how you want to look at BYU's QB... there are either 6 or 7 games left against mobile QBs.

 

[Ndaccountant]

If Devin Gardner isn't a mobile quarterback, then we would be talking about how many times he was sacked and how our D Line dominated the game. Also, the O Line started to take over late in the game when Amir Carlisle was in the game. We just didn't have the clock to run the ball. There were holes for our running back to run through.

Now, i think only mobile QB's can hurt this team defensively, and I don't see any on the schedule for the rest of the year. That's why we have shut the running games DOWN of both opponents that have played us, save for Gardner's runs.

I think we are playing against more moble QB's this year. Now, most will not be the same runner as DG is, but there will be other QB's that can run.

I am also going to be nit picking here, but we did not dominate on the DL. We were blitzing. It seemed we were always blitzing from the ILB spot, whether it was Ishaq or Fox or Carlo. We also sent the OLB's and S's. We did not generate pressure via a 4 man rush. That is why JG killed us since Bjax or KR were man up on him. That is also why they had the huge swing pass in the 4th.

Also, UM was begging us to run. They were playing 2 deep and were concerned with the outside passing game. In a way, UM was doing to us what we did to many teams last year.

 

[CarrollVermin]

I have major issues with our defense that cause me reservation and pause moving forward. You cannot ignore that our secondary is largely out of position, does not turn around on the ball, and is on an island for most of the game because of the pressure we are forced to bring for lack of pressure from our front.

As Eric Hansen pointed out, Houston had a better plan and greater success against Temple than we did. I don't know if it is scheme or otherwise, but unless Diaco can figure it out, we could be in for a long season.

And I am usually an optimist so no need for the "your all doom and gloom" comments. I am trying to call it as I see it. I am scared to death of OU, ASU, USC if they get it together, and watching Navy throw for 300 yards out of the option game reminded me that we aren't far removed from losing to them at the Meadowlands.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I co-sign Jug's post 100%. Basically exactly how I feel. And I also feel like the point Lax made about every team that played 13 games last year lost at least one is something that people should keep in mind. Every season it is incredibly unlikely that you run the table. I don't want to get yelled at again for being condescending, but I do think some fans could do a better job keeping some perspective after a loss.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I co-sign Jug's post 100%. Basically exactly how I feel. And I also feel like the point Lax made about every team that played 13 games last year lost at least one is something that people should keep in mind. Every season it is incredibly unlikely that you run the table. I don't want to get yelled at again for being condescending, but I do think some fans could do a better job keeping some perspective after a loss.

I would share that view only if the Temple game didn't happen. We should have kicked the living hell out of them and didn't. The QB contain issue in that game was followed up by Gardner.

I am not on a ledge here, but I do think they are some very fundamental issues with the entire team. I think we are good enough to get to 8 or 9 wins playing the way we did against UM.

However, I think we are in for a major *** kicking in a BCS Bowl game if we would make it there if things don't change. If you think about the teams we would possibly play, I don't find a really favorable match-up without some significantly improved play.

 

[irishtrinity]

I'm all in. I still have a lot of confidence in this team AND this defense. Gardner was all world Saturday night.

Make a few adjustments in th LB group, get the red zone fixed, and this is another stellar year for the Irish.

If you are gonna lose, lose early.

Go Irish!

Go Irish

 

[palinurus]

It seems like there is one game nearly every year that is a much easier win than expected, and one that is a loss or a near loss that was completely out of the blue. In recent years, I am thinking Utah a couple of years ago and Oky last year in category 1; Tulsa in 2010, South Fla in 2011, and the near-loss to Pitt last year are in category 2.

This year, I expect AZ State to be the one that isn't that close. Not sure about the loss/near loss, but Pitt may be it. Fact is, if we don't better contain the QB, some pretty weak teams can be made to look pretty good.

 

[mick2]

That will be the best beavers that most um fans have ever seen.

it could be the greatest oregon state team ever assembled and they won't sniff 115k fans. or was this a joke that just went way over my head lol!

I'm all in. I still have a lot of confidence in this team AND this defense. Gardner was all world Saturday night.

Make a few adjustments in th LB group, get the red zone fixed, and this is another stellar year for the Irish.

If you are gonna lose, lose early.

Go Irish!

Great points. I think we are still in for a great year. just have to refocus.

Every single bowl-eligible team lost a game last year. Every. Single. Team. So whatever... we got beat by a good opponent because we dug ourselves a whole and couldn't make the big plays when needed. Stuff happens.

If USC continues to stay in the crapper then I'm optimistic we can get to 9-3. Maybe even 10-2. I bet on 8 wins in the vBook thread... but the schedule looks much easier now. ASU and Stanford are the only games where I wouldn't pick us as downright favorites.

Another good point. its wayyy early to be counted in or out of anything. let the chips fall where they may, and lets see where we are around november. a loss to mich isn't going to look bad unless they crap the bed like they've done in the past after playing us. we could be 10-1 going into stanford with a loss against a top 10 opponent being our only blemish.

 

[Buster Bluth]

It seems like there is one game nearly every year that is a much easier win than expected, and one that is a loss or a near loss that was completely out of the blue. In recent years, I am thinking Utah a couple of years ago and Oky last year in category 1; Tulsa in 2010, South Fla in 2011, and the near-loss to Pitt last year are in category 2.

This year, I expect AZ State to be the one that isn't that close. Not sure about the loss/near loss, but Pitt may be it. Fact is, if we don't better contain the QB, some pretty weak teams can be made to look pretty good.

If you only watched the first 3.5 quarters one would have said it was verrrrry close. Notre Dame made it look more certain that it really was.

 

[palinurus]

Every single bowl-eligible team lost a game last year. Every. Single. Team. So whatever... we got beat by a good opponent because we dug ourselves a whole and couldn't make the big plays when needed. Stuff happens.

If USC continues to stay in the crapper then I'm optimistic we can get to 9-3. Maybe even 10-2. I bet on 8 wins in the vBook thread... but the schedule looks much easier now. ASU and Stanford are the only games where I wouldn't pick us as downright favorites.

I saw Herbstreit and Cowherd talking before week 1 about the ND schedule and they agreed that if ND gets more than 8 wins, Kelly should be coach of the year! Of course, the talking heads said that sort of thing at the beginning of last year, too; it was only after the Irish went undefeated that pundits, in their wisdom, determined that the ND schedule 2012 wasn't that tough after all. Shameless.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

My confidence in our defense against ASU has plummeted. Taylor Kelly should terrify you after Reilly and Gardner.