Room For Improvement

[eNDzone]

By the end of last year ND had improved in many areas. The defense stepped it up across the board. The offense also made large strides considering all the loses to starters.

Where do you think there is the most room for improvement this year.

IMO the return game. This was almost non-existent last year. I can't really blame the return men for this ,because every time they caught the ball there were three apposing team players draped on them. I see this as more of a blocking problem than getting a different bunch of returners. However speed in the return position kills (aka. The Rocket)

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

By the end of last year ND had improved in many areas. The defense stepped it up across the board. The offense also made large strides considering all the loses to starters.

Where do you think there is the most room for improvement this year.

IMO the return game. This was almost non-existent last year. I can't really blame the return men for this ,because every time they caught the ball there were three apposing team players draped on them. I see this as more of a blocking problem than getting a different bunch of returners. However speed in the return position kills (aka. The Rocket)

You have a good point...another variable is pressure on the punter to rush his kick therefore not get the elevation on the ball he wants. This will give more of an opportunity for the Kick Returner to get some more time and separation. I got into a discussion about this last year...and the kick returner IMO is not to blame. Those same ppl that were saying it is his issue (Goodman in this case) would be the first to critisize if he would fumble after getting blasted!

 

[Riddickulous]

1. The Running Game - As usual, the running game was subpar for most of last season. It improved quite a bit near the end of the year, but come on. We were 96th in the country in rushing offense. We ran for 44 yards against Stanford. We only managed 106 yards on Navy, whom we should be dominating up front.

Through those first nine games, we managed a meager 113 yards per game. In the final four contests, the rushing average went up a whopping 43 yards per game, we averaged 156 yards per game.

I'd like to see 150-175 yards per game rushing.

2. Return Game - We've returned one kickoff for a touchdown since 2002. Since then, I think we've barely managed to return a kick to midfield. I'd like some field positon. Hopefully one of the freshmen provides that return game boost.

3. Punting - Self-explanatory.

 

[IrishLax]

1. The Running Game - As usual, the running game was subpar for most of last season. It improved quite a bit near the end of the year, but come on. We were 96th in the country in rushing offense. We ran for 44 yards against Stanford. We only managed 106 yards on Navy, whom we should be dominating up front.

Through those first nine games, we managed a meager 113 yards per game. In the final four contests, the rushing average went up a whopping 43 yards per game, we averaged 156 yards per game.

I'd like to see 150-175 yards per game rushing.

2. Return Game - We've returned one kickoff for a touchdown since 2002. Since then, I think we've barely managed to return a kick to midfield. I'd like some field positon. Hopefully one of the freshmen provides that return game boost.

3. Punting - Self-explanatory.

This. Our running game is the key to our offensive success. A good return game is worth a couple points a game through field position and the occasional TD. And punting is really the icing on the cake of our special teams. After a 3-and-out from our own 20, being able to boom the ball (Brindza) can be the difference between the opponent starting at midfield or their own 30... effectively doubling the distance (40 yards versus 20 yards) that they have to drive the ball to get into scoring range.

 

[irish1958]

A great return man breaks one tackle; for Goodman to have returned a punt he would have had to break three or four before he could get started. Thank God he could catch without fumbling. (Holtz and a very good team lost to Air Force one year because of fumbled punts (plural) and lost to Ohio State for the same reason) We had no blocking and, with one great exception, no punt rush. The same on KOs; the return man has three or four tacklers he has to elude before he can get past the 15 yard line.
Kelly knows this, but he just did not have the time to get special teams up to par, with so much other stuff to get going.
The same with the run game; after three years of Willingham and five years of Weis with no run game or, more important, no run blocking, we had no run game. Zero. Zilch.
Even at that, the worst part of the team was the defense, which was particularly awful and had been for over a decade.
Herbstreit correctly called it a high school defense; he of course, retracted that statement when it was pointed out to him that that was insulting to high school defenses.
The return game, the run game and the defense are both going to be much better. If we won nine games last year with all the mess the team was in, and if we improve in all facets of the game, I don't see how we can win less than 13 games, unless the injury bug or the ethanol bug bites us.

 

[Riddickulous]

A great return man breaks one tackle; for Goodman to have returned a punt he would have had to break three or four before he could get started. Thank God he could catch without fumbling. (Holtz and a very good team lost to Air Force one year because of fumbled punts (plural) and lost to Ohio State for the same reason) We had no blocking and, with one great exception, no punt rush. The same on KOs; the return man has three or four tacklers he has to elude before he can get past the 15 yard line.
Kelly knows this, but he just did not have the time to get special teams up to par, with so much other stuff to get going.
The same with the run game; after three years of Willingham and five years of Weis with no run game or, more important, no run blocking, we had no run game. Zero. Zilch.
Even at that, the worst part of the team was the defense, which was particularly awful and had been for over a decade.
Herbstreit correctly called it a high school defense; he of course, retracted that statement when it was pointed out to him that that was insulting to high school defenses.
The return game and the run game are both going to be much better. If we won nine games last year with all the mess the team was in, and if we improve in all facets of the game, I don't see how we can win less than 13 games, unless the injury bug or the ethanol bug bites us.

I believe you're thinking of Stanford in 1990. Rocket was injured and Ricky Watters and Adrian Jarrell fumbled three combined punts.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Will Brindza be the punter? He has an absolute cannon for a leg. There's not much sense in him sitting the bench at kicker if he can just smash the ball 50 yards.

I would say the biggest area for improvement, sans special teams, is consistency. Michael Floyd, Cierre Wood, and Theo Riddick are to varying degrees legitimate "homerun threats." They didn't fire on all cylinders last year with all of the injuries. They should in 2011 and it should be fun to watch.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Even at that, the worst part of the team was the defense, which was particularly awful and had been for over a decade.
Herbstreit correctly called it a high school defense; he of course, retracted that statement when it was pointed out to him that that was insulting to high school defenses.

Ummmm, what? The defense was not bad last year outside of the Navy game, and that was primarily a strategy issue. They were solid in the trenches throughout the year, the only serious weakness before the winning streak was on the edges. Michigan State, in my opinion, didn't have success on the running game until they ran off tackle, and Stanford did that as well. The OLB's were lackin but to say the defense was "particularly awful" is asinine.

You could literally see the learning curve every week, Diaco's defenses have a bright future. It was night and day from Tenuta from day one, so please don't associate the previous coaching staffs' defenses with this one's. Even when they'd give up yards and points, players were still in position to make plays far more often than in previous years and as they continue to gel I don't see how they can get anything but better.

For 2011 the DT's need to continue to be a pleasant surprise, development needs to happen at OLB, and injuries cannot decimate like last season.

 

[Riddickulous]

Ummmm, what? The defense was not bad last year outside of the Navy game, and that was primarily a strategy issue. They were solid in the trenches throughout the year, the only serious weakness before the winning streak was on the edges. Michigan State, in my opinion, didn't have success on the running game until they ran off tackle, and Stanford did that as well. The OLB's were lackin but to say the defense was "particularly awful" is asinine.

You could literally see the learning curve every week, Diaco's defenses have a bright future. It was night and day from Tenuta from day one, so please don't associate the previous coaching staffs' defenses with this one's. Even when they'd give up yards and points, players were still in position to make plays far more often than in previous years and as they continue to gel I don't see how they can get anything but better.

For 2011 the DT's need to continue to be a pleasant surprise, development needs to happen at OLB, and injuries cannot decimate like last season.

The biggest issue with last year's defense was the outside. Whenever teams used a fast player on the edge (Denard Robinson and Tulsa are good examples) they too often got big yardage. There were two issues there...

1) Not enough speed on the edge.
2) Kerry Cooks was out of his element coaching the OLBs.

I expect a considerable amount of improvement on the edge this year. Our interior run defense was excellent all season (except Navy, but as stated by BB, that was mainly a scheme error) and the pass defense was above average and not absurdly terrible like it was in 2009.

 

[IrishLax]

The other issue is Brian Smith ALWAYS lost contain on the outside. The DOG OLB spot was a weakness all year, but played better (read: less big mistakes) in the latter half of the season.

 

[tadman95]

Quarterback play. Don't care who it is but we have to have consistency with fewer mistakes. Fewer missed receivers, fewer interceptions.

 

[BeauBenken]

Everywhere?

 

[IrishLax]

Everywhere?

Hard to argue with our place kicking... unless you want to gripe on the missed extra points. But yeah, every other unit (save maybe TE) has a lot of room for improvement in either consistency or production.

 

[BeauBenken]

Hard to argue with our place kicking... unless you want to gripe on the missed extra points. But yeah, every other unit (save maybe TE) has a lot of room for improvement in either consistency or production.

Honestly, I think if you want a BCS title contending team you should gripe about stuff like that. There must be perfection in the kicking game.

And even tight end has room for improvement. I admit they're pretty dang good, but they can be better.

I want an offense that's averaging 35+ points a game and a defense that averages 10.

Sorry, but I just have a coach's mentality. You don't ever come in saying, "let's go be 9-3!" You strive for perfection in all aspects and details of the game.

 

[BleedBlue&Gold]

somebody besides #3 at receiver. I know Theo was hurt, but we need another guy with at least 60 catches, if not 2, not including T. Eifert.

 

[ACamp1900]

Everywhere?

this... if this program is going to get to where it is expected to be then there must be some serious across the board improvement... it's getting better but across the board this team must improve if it is going to compete with the best.

 

[Riddickulous]

somebody besides #3 at receiver. I know Theo was hurt, but we need another guy with at least 60 catches, if not 2, not including T. Eifert.

Three players with 60+ catches is a little steep.

Last season, Oklahoma had three players with such a feat. However, they played 14 games and attempted 633 passes (~45 attempts per game).

 

[BleedBlue&Gold]

Three players with 60+ catches is a little steep.

Last season, Oklahoma had three players with such a feat. However, they played 14 games and attempted 633 passes (~45 attempts per game).

45 attempts per, ouch. I'm a little high. 30 maybe 35. I'm just looking for crisp offense. The first drive of the game against Michigan is more what I'm looking for.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I'm just looking for crisp offense. The first drive of the game against Michigan is more what I'm looking for.

I would be shocked if we didn't see a much crisper offense. There is no reason to not see improvement. Notre Dame's 2010 team had 28 passing touchdowns. Brian Kelly's Cincinnati teams had 36, 26, and 39. I think we'll see 35+ passing touchdowns.

I'm not in the group of people who think Floyd is going to have a Tate-level year. I think his YPR will go from his 2010 13.0 to a ~15, and maybe get to 1,200 yards. Brian Kelly is going to want to get the ball to Riddick underneath and Eifert down the middle, and both should have improved their game substantially and that will limit Floyd's catches.

 

[irish1958]

Ummmm, what? The defense was not bad last year outside of the Navy game, and that was primarily a strategy issue. They were solid in the trenches throughout the year, the only serious weakness before the winning streak was on the edges. Michigan State, in my opinion, didn't have success on the running game until they ran off tackle, and Stanford did that as well. The OLB's were lackin but to say the defense was "particularly awful" is asinine.

You could literally see the learning curve every week, Diaco's defenses have a bright future. It was night and day from Tenuta from day one, so please don't associate the previous coaching staffs' defenses with this one's. Even when they'd give up yards and points, players were still in position to make plays far more often than in previous years and as they continue to gel I don't see how they can get anything but better.

For 2011 the DT's need to continue to be a pleasant surprise, development needs to happen at OLB, and injuries cannot decimate like last season.

I guess I wasn't clear in my statement. The defense in the past decade was awful and near the worst in the nation all those years in spite of "number one" recruiting. This is what Kelly inherited, and what he and Diaco had to work with. Along with the a host of other problems.
The defense in the first five or six games of the season was terrible, awful,........ unbelievably bad considering the talent they had to work with. This was a priority of the coaching staff and they appear to have fixed it. This is good to great coaching!!!
Weis left the team, especially the defense, in terrible shape, with no direction and no hope of improvement.
This is no longer true. The running game has stunk for a decade or longer. This is no longer true. When the coaches can get to the return game, which has stunk for the past decade, I hope this will no longer be true.
The change I see is similar to the mess Ara inherited; and I feel the turn around Kelly and his staff has accomplished is on par with that. Had it not been for the (.........) injuries, the turn around may have been as great. On the other hand, the (.........) injuries were probably because the prior conditioning program had been so .... .... (fluid secretion which the male does standing up); this probably wouldn't have happened if the team had been in better conditioning.

 

[D-BOE34]

umm ....Win and loss column....

...?

 

[dshans]

As an old (and possibly tired – much like me) saw goes "There is always room for improvement."

I, personally, look first to the defense. Our guys performed exceptionally well the final games last season. In other words, if "we" hold a team to no points that increases our odds of winning dramatically. All the offense need do is score a point or 50 now and then.

The offense is far from off the hook should the defense be "lock down." It needs to score some points and take time off the clock. Or at least score so many points that a mediocre performance (more and more unlikely) by the defense is of no consequence.

As to special teams: if a kickoff or punt pins an opponent inside their ten yard line, I will smile. If a place kicker can add 3 points from 50 yards out I will smile. If an opponent's punter or field goal kicker is intimidated, hurried or blocked (especially if said block is returned for a TD), I will smile, shout "HUZZAH!" and grab another beer or pour another Jameson.

Synopsis of ramble: Things are looking brighter in all aspects, though I have concerns about offensive output and kicking team prowess. The defense strikes me as being on the right path.

I want to see offensive drives with "in-your-face" running plays and highlight pass receptions, defensive stops that say "not on my watch" and special team's play that definitively declare "we've got your number."

Do I have any specific names to mention or analyses for specific matchups? Hell no. I'm just a fan and ND grad with a good feeling. I leave the nuts and bolts to those of you who have played and coached the game and are (or at least seem to be ) in "the know." I defer in that "arena" and prefer to tell stories and wise crack.

Apologia: It's late. It was the Fourth of July. I've been drinking all day. The spectacle of the celebration, by a varied group of Americans, reacting to the day and the fireworks in the park across the street, was inspiring to this aging hippie.

 

[BurningRiver]

off-the-field decisions of a certain member of the wide receiver corps.

 

[irish1958]

umm ....Win and loss column....

...?

I am assuming you are referring to my statement that we had nine wins last year. I will never consider the Michigan State robbery a loss.

 

[Rocket89]

Decibel level at home games.

 

[BeauBenken]

I am assuming you are referring to my statement that we had nine wins last year. I will never consider the Michigan State robbery a loss.

I think he was just referring to that as a place we could use improvement.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Rushing defense. Argue all you want, but getting gashed for over 200 yds on the ground 4 out of 12 games is not good. It's understandable if Navy does it in a 13 point effort, but that's about it.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Rushing defense. Argue all you want, but getting gashed for over 200 yds on the ground 4 out of 12 games is not good. It's understandable if Navy does it in a 13 point effort, but that's about it.

Our run defense was ranked 13th nationally last season. Hardly an area crying out for improvement.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

I want to see our defense getting more pressure on the QB. I want to see chaos in the other team's backfield and their QB running for his life on a regular basis.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Our run defense was ranked 13th nationally last season. Hardly an area crying out for improvement.

Fair enough. I just would like to see Denard get grounded for less than 75 yards rushing this year, which is a possibility since he won't be running wild as much in a new offense. Like someone said earlier, the contain on the edges was the crippler on many big plays, not the bottleneck in the middle.