Secondary - Critical Issues!

[Patulski]

I share your concern for the secondary. We are playing a converted slot receiver and running back at cornerback, and one of them is a true freshman. We have one very slow safety. So, we are vulnerable to both wide receivers and tight ends.

Thankfully, we have a strong front 7 and Manti who is a superb blitzer. So, if we start getting burned the defensive staff can dial up some pressure. Still, we are going to struggle at times. Let's hope we can overcome this weakness.

 

[PraetorianND]

I'm not picking up the Kool-Aid just yet, either. It's pretty obvious that both of our corners are weak in man-to-man coverage. If I'm an Offensive Coordinator, I am pulling out every formation that forces our corners into man coverage. Some teams will not be able to do that, but some will. If the corners don't grow up quickly, those teams will throw the ball all over us.

I agree with this completely. I think the secondary is going to grow up. They are going to be serviceable. People forget that our secondary was our weakness last season too. I think we've improved everywhere else on the field (except maybe WR).

 

[Patulski]

And even with the teams you listed, USC runs a pro style offense, so the chances they up and decide to go 5 wide and throw 50 times are pretty low.

Pro style teams don't have to throw the ball 50 times to decimate weak secondary's. They can pound the ball and then throw long bombs over the top. That strategy has been used forever. ND did it to Purdue in 1966. USC could do the same in November.

 

[irishff1014]

Pro style teams don't have to throw the ball 50 times to decimate weak secondary's. They can pound the ball and then throw long bombs over the top. That strategy has been used forever. ND did it to Purdue in 1966. USC could do the same in November.

Barkley could break his leg by then too. No need to worry about the WHAT IFS!! We can't control that.

 

[NDinFL]

I share your concern for the secondary. We are playing a converted slot receiver and running back at cornerback, and one of them is a true freshman. We have one very slow safety. So, we are vulnerable to both wide receivers and tight ends.

Thankfully, we have a strong front 7 and Manti who is a superb blitzer. So, if we start getting burned the defensive staff can dial up some pressure. Still, we are going to struggle at times. Let's hope we can overcome this weakness.

I thought the same thing.

A good way to temporarily hide a weaker/inexperienced secondary is by blitzing and forcing the QB to hurry his throws.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

It ( pass defense )wont be pretty against southern cal/Okla/Miami/Mich and maybe Purdue. Mich State should run it down our throats. Forgot about Stanford/BYU passing games-doesnt look good. I was a real drink the kool-aid glass half full guy until recently. Now I see this football program for what it is-once proud tradition/zazzy unis once or twice a year for attention/accentuate the brand like a corporate entity/substance pretty much gone/Ivy League/MAC level football and get ready to have your asses handed to you by the top 20 pro/college programs in the country. The Notre Dame that I grew up with has left the building. Prove me wrong guys ( Notre Dame football player )please prove me wrong! I dont want to watch southern cal beat you again by 40/chasing Denard Robinson down the field/intimidated by the crowd in Norman/stubbing your toe to Wake/ pounded by Mich State's run game and so on.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I'm concerned, but I have faith in our coaches. They will get it right

 

[anarin]

Pro style teams don't have to throw the ball 50 times to decimate weak secondary's. They can pound the ball and then throw long bombs over the top. That strategy has been used forever. ND did it to Purdue in 1966. USC could do the same in November.

Agreed. But thats not part of the response I had to his statement. Had he said something to the effect of " I worry the db's will get burnt by the playaction or precise route running in the pro set", my answer wouldve been different.

And since thats not what he said, you get my response

 

[irishtrain]

You're lying through your ****ing teeth.

I don't have the time or patience to dig up your ****** posts, but you've been nothing but unsubstantiated negativity lately.

If that's you "drinking the kool aid", then you must usually predict 3 win seasons for ND every year.

Admitt to 'yes' being negative. Should stay away from posting. And I think I will. I'm not adding much. I do hope I'm very wrong about this season and want to see the program take it more personal. All points well taken by me and if they prove me wrong I'll post my apologies. Man would I like to post my apologies.

 

[N_D_Fighting_Irish]

Our secondary is not good yet...shocking. Lighten up...we are going to be playing a ton of zone. We are going to give up a good number of yards. As long as our front seven can hold the front against the run, our secondary will not be exposed. If you want worry about anything worry about our linebackers in space and Golson against zone blitzes.

I don't think we are going to win NC, but anything can happen. All I know is that it has been a long time since I have seen us play the we did on Saturday against any opponent. No lucky breaks...just total domination.

 

[KPENN]

What's funny is this was discussed in the Navy and Purdue gameday thread, but of course jonesman starts a thread anyways.

 

[NDinFL]

What's funny is this was discussed in the Navy and Purdue gameday thread, but of course jonesman starts a thread anyways.

I nominate you for best avatar

 

[KPENN]

I nominate you for best avatar

Thanks. I thought it was a cool picture.

 

[NDinFL]

Thanks. I thought it was a cool picture.

The cool thing is that a 6'6 300 lb man outran an entire Navy offense for 70+ yards.

Lol, gotta love it!

 

[KPENN]

The cool thing is that a 6'6 300 lb man outran an entire Navy offense for 70+ yards.

Lol, gotta love it!

Haha yeah. It was quality stuff unlike this thread

 

[phgreek]

I know everyone is basking in the glory of our major win over Navy, however there are some serious storm clouds hanging over our defense. The storm clouds are in the form of a poor secondary. There is no other way to say it. For those of you who want to say that our guys were concentraating on the run, well our CB's should be able to cover a Navy WR with one eye closed. Instead, Bennett Jackson was spinning the wrong way more than once and K. Russell was just plain lost and struggling. I felt bad for Russel because he was putting forth great effort, but is too green to be playing CB at this point.

I don't care what Kelly says to the media this week, he knows there is a HUGE issue with his defense. We are lacking even one lockdown CB at this point. The guys might mature to become better, but I don't recall seeing these kind of struggles in the past. I remember watching Darrin Walls locked up with Calvin Johnson as a true frosh and he held his own. I remember watching Blanton scraping with many a WR as a frosh.

In my opinion, we might see Slaughter at CB sooner rather than later. That is because I actually am seeing a bright spot with Farley. He could possibly become a solid safety. The kid has a knack for the ball and plays fast.

Until our defense proves we can cover, you are going to see every team we play spread us out with 4-5 WR sets. They will take our defensive strength away by forcing us to play nickel and dime packages, keeping many of our front seven off the field. Watch this happen this week already. Purdue with throw the ball 40+ times.

Sure, I think there is cause for concern. I think Our Dbacks will take lumps every week. It will cost us some games...no question in my mind. next year the entire back end of our defense will be mediocre...

But think back to Jimmy, and how effective the O was, and how many games we lost because our defense was SOOO damned bad.

Back then we would have killed for this defense. Point is we have a QB that looks like he can move the chains in many ways...maybe he's not Jimmy's equal in accuracy...because who is, really. But he can run better, and we have better backs and Oline...our defense is, we'll move the ball damn near at will on damn near everyone. We'll get to some folks with our D-line and Manti...we'll get enough stops and turnovers to win 8 to 9 games based on what I think EG gives us in ability to keep things alive and move the chains.

JMHO...

 

[Bluto]

Sure, I think there is cause for concern. I think Our Dbacks will take lumps every week. It will cost us some games...no question in my mind. next year the entire back end of our defense will be mediocre...

But think back to Jimmy, and how effective the O was, and how many games we lost because our defense was SOOO damned bad.

Back then we would have killed for this defense. Point is we have a QB that looks like he can move the chains in many ways...maybe he's not Jimmy's equal in accuracy...because who is, really. But he can run better, and we have better backs and Oline...our defense is, we'll move the ball damn near at will on damn near everyone. We'll get to some folks with our D-line and Manti...we'll get enough stops and turnovers to win 8 to 9 games based on what I think EG gives us in ability to keep things alive and move the chains.

JMHO...

Best analysis I've read so far. This team has the talent to compete with every team on our schedule. It'll come down to execution.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I must believe that Coach Diaco, being a systems man, will design defenses which employ system principles which make much of this discussion a tad ignorant on our parts. Diaco is unlikely I'd assume to think that Bennett or Keivaree are Revis.

What I am going to be interested in vs Purdue is whether our System can defense a pass-oriented offense, not whether our cornerbacks can. Most particularly, I am going to be interested in where our pass-coverage linebackers are lurking and whether they get deflections, picks, or create QB hesitation.

I'm also interested in seeing how much of the "Linebacker/DE" bookend of Ishaq/Prince is used, as I think that it may turn out as the season goes on that this passrushing array cannot be stopped.

 

[Cackalacky]

My kool-aid is green and i drink it with#reckless abandon. The only team that impressed me or at least met my expecations this week was USC. Miami and Oklahoma looked beatable for sure. MSU-we got to stop Bell. UM - well I just want to kick the ever living crap out of them in all phases of the game. Stanford also looked beatable but they are a tough team and will be hard to break down.

 

[notredomer23]

You do realize that whenever they passed the ball we literally never had any deep safeties, correct? It was one on one, and a mismatch at that since our corners were strictly playing the run. SMH

 

[jmurphy75]

It's not so much that the secondary was concentrating on the run, it's that half of the secondary was devoted to stopping the run. Against an option team like Navy, your safeties come up and become primarily run-stoppers. They are NOT in position to help your corners, leaving said corners out on an island, in man-to-man coverage. Against the more traditional offenses on our schedule, the safeties will be back in their normal alignment, where they will be in position to provide help to the corners. There aren't really that many teams that have one, let alone two, lock-down corners on their D. And many of those teams go on to have stellar seasons. It's not time to panic yet. It's something to watch, for sure; but let's put the crack pipe down, and back slowly away from the big red button, ok?

TRUTH

 

[RallySon]

Zeke Motta was out of position no matter what coverage he was playing.

The argument of Russell getting cooked deep because he was in man coverage with no help over the top is irrelevant.

If our starting corner can't cover a 2nd string navy WR by himself, we'll be in a world of hurt when teams like USC and Oklahoma will easily be able to isolate one of our corner's where he won't have any over the top coverage anyway.

Jalen Brown needs reps this week. And please, find a replacement for Zeke. The kid just isn't gifted enough for this level of football.

 

[NYMIKE6]

Zeke Motta was out of position no matter what coverage he was playing.

The argument of Russell getting cooked deep because he was in man coverage with no help over the top is irrelevant.

If our starting corner can't cover a 2nd string navy WR by himself, we'll be in a world of hurt when teams like USC and Oklahoma will easily be able to isolate one of our corner's where he won't have any over the top coverage anyway.

Jalen Brown needs reps this week. And please, find a replacement for Zeke. The kid just isn't gifted enough for this level of football.

I'm starting to really question your knowledge and understanding of the game.

 

[RallySon]

If you think OU or USC won't be able to isolate one of our DB's in to single coverage regardless of nickel or 2 deep package. You must be in denial. Isolation of a DB is football 101.

Hell, I'm concerned about what Purdue is capable of doing against a weak safety and a true freshman corner.

 

[irishpat183]

The guys trying to gloss this over as "it's navy" or "they were playing the run" are lying to themselves...Come on. Reality check.

Navy didn't even have their top two WR's. We were not only getting beat man to man by inferior athletes, we were outta position in zone. Hell, Navy out passed us. Never, NEVER should Navy drive the field on a THREE PLAY, ALL PASS, SCORING DRIVE. EVER. I dont' give a damn what week it is, or "how Diaco coached them to play".

There is alot to be worried about here. I have now placed QB play as my 2nd worry...Our secondary is gonna really cost us unless something dramatic changes.

I think we did a ton of good things on Saturday. Don't get me wrong....But to say that it's "just navy" and that it, eccentially doesn't count..is asinine. Navy, in the passing game, should be the very least of our worries and not a factor.

Like others, I look forward to our game against Purdue. Let's hope it's a lot better back there.

 

[NYMIKE6]

So i guess we should consider VT a joke also considering GT was throwing the ball around last night?

Reality is "checked".

Offensive play calling vs Navy very very bland.

Defensive play calling vs Navy very very bland.

we won 50-10... yes beat a inferior team but still beat them big.

You guys are funny and love to point out 1-2 bad plays but saying nothing about the positives of the game. Motta big read on outside option, check, Russell read route very well and almost picked it, check... Don't let 1-2 bad plays put panic blinders on you.

 

[irishpat183]

If you think OU or USC won't be able to isolate one of our DB's in to single coverage regardless of nickel or 2 deep package. You must be in denial. Isolation of a DB is football 101.

Hell, I'm concerned about what Purdue is capable of doing against a weak safety and a true freshman corner.

Russell and Jackson against Woods and Lee?? LOL.

This is why it's so critical that we run the football and limit plays against those teams. Play the field position and clock management game.

The bright spot is that we can run the ball on anyone with our line and RB's, and we have a great front 7.

 

[koonja]

Zeke scares me right now, but we'll know so much more this Saturday that it's not even worth debating right now.

 

[RallySon]

It looked to me as if Zeke played a lot of spy. If he didn't, then he was out of position on nearly every defensive play. Let's see what Farley can do or remove that redshirt from Hardy.

 

[irishpat183]

So i guess we should consider VT a joke also considering GT was throwing the ball around last night?

Reality is "checked".

Offensive play calling vs Navy very very bland.

Defensive play calling vs Navy very very bland.

we won 50-10... yes beat a inferior team but still beat them big.

You guys are funny and love to point out 1-2 bad plays but saying nothing about the positives of the game. Motta big read on outside option, check, Russell read route very well and almost picked it, check... Don't let 1-2 bad plays put panic blinders on.

Nobody said we're a "joke"....we just looked awful. And you guys are funny and love to make excuses for poor play. It wasn't "1-2" bad plays...Did you watch the game?!?! Coverage was freaking terrible from start to finish.