Sep 21 | Michigan State

[Irish Insanity]

Doing great...watching Stanford abuse ASU and sipping some Russian Standard.

The UofM game isn't bad either.

I can't believe I just said that

 

[Irishpinoy]

Um...I disagree. That's always a huge thing.

Let me rephrase that: I'm glad we won. But it really sucks when you breathe a sigh of relief every time your QB throws the ball and it didn't get intercepted.

 

[Bluto]

This team needs to establish some sort of identity on o and d. That includes the coaching staff. Given the level of talent on both sides of the ball this squad abould be playing at a much higher level. Watching Wisconsin run Purdure off the field was kind of disconcerting.

 

[CanadianIrish]

Offensively opponents are now jumping our short passes to WRs, we cannot run at all (our YPC is abysmal and the line is as good as last year, problem is the backs), and our passing game does not look good.

At this point I think we lose three more on the schedule, and we're likely to get humiliated by Stanford.

 

[ickythump1225]

Kelly calling dive right and dive left won't work against Stanford. My hope is we evolve before then. I don't quite understand Kelly's stubborn play calling.

Probably because Martin has taken over offensive play calling duties.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Let me rephrase that: I'm glad we won. But it really sucks when you breathe a sigh of relief every time your QB throws the ball and it didn't get intercepted.

130 attempts this year through 4 games. 2 INTs, one of them coming off a tipped ball (the other one being just a terrible pass).

He's been good at protecting the ball.

 

[Cackalacky]

How's everybody holding up after the win?

Funny. Lulz.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Watching Wisconsin run Purdure off the field was kind of disconcerting.

Night game though against Purdue.

A few people used that excuse after "scUM debacle 2.0." There are no excuses. It's time to put the big boy pants on and play well no matter if the sun is shining or moon is glowing.

 

[wizards8507]

Night game though against Purdue.

A few people used that excuse after "scUM debacle 2.0." There are no excuses. It's time to put the big boy pants on and play well no matter if the sun is shining or moon is glowing.

Or whether "ND is the biggest game on every opponent's schedule so we get their very best."

Classic excuse from delusional ND fans and, sadly, coaches alike.

 

[irisheyes]

How sure are we that martin is still play calling? Kelly did make that comment the first game of the year but i havent heard anymore on it. Today it looked like he was calling plays but you cant be certain.

 

[koonja]

How sure are we that martin is still play calling? Kelly did make that comment the first game of the year but i havent heard anymore on it. Today it looked like he was calling plays but you cant be certain.

I'm still convinced it's neither. Lee Corso has tapped the head phones and is selecting plays for Tommy.

 

[ScooterIrish]

Several of them were.

You are right. The no-call PI on our 2nd drive was horseshit.

The fact is the MSU defense wanted to play man. 31 sucks and got burned multiple times. The refs were correct on throwing the flag.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

All I know is that we just beat a top 7 defense (guarantee they finish the season that way) with our backup QB that had his worst game of the season. I am thrilled. On to Oklahoma.

 

[NDBoiler]

How's everybody holding up after the win?

I see your point, but I think it's more the feeling of dread that there is a blowout loss looming in the near future, especially against a good team who has their stuff together and will capitalize on the mistakes ND is making.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I see your point, but I think it's more the feeling of dread that there is a blowout loss looming in the near future, especially against a good team who has their stuff together and will capitalize on the mistakes ND is making.

I hear you. I just pray the staff figures things out and give us a shot to win.

 

[GoIrish41]

All I know is that we just beat a top 7 defense (guarantee they finish the season that way) with our backup QB that had his worst game of the season. I am thrilled. On to Oklahoma.

This. Few thought we were going to crush Oklahoma last year because we weren't dominating on the field the week before. I think we can beeat the Sooners. This team will stay in the game with anyone. There will be no blowout losses and we'll always have a punchers chance in the 4th quarter of every game.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Not sure where else to put this, but I just flipped to the scUM game, and saw UCONN do more in one play on defense than ND did their entire outing against them. Had to be because it was "Under the Lights."

*It's still daytime in Connecticut right????

 

[Booslum31]

How sure are we that martin is still play calling? Kelly did make that comment the first game of the year but i havent heard anymore on it. Today it looked like he was calling plays but you cant be certain.

Whoever is calling them, they need to get those plays in faster....and don't be afraid of the middle third of the field.

 

[stlnd01]

I see your point, but I think it's more the feeling of dread that there is a blowout loss looming in the near future, especially against a good team who has their stuff together and will capitalize on the mistakes ND is making.

Sure. But the longer it takes for that to happen, the more time we have to put things together. Case in point, the defense played a lot better today. Next week will be interesting.

 

[irishff1014]

220 yards of offense is not good at all.

 

[palinurus]

Not sure if this has been noted, but in the post-game sideline interview, if I followed it correctly, Kelly said he wanted to pass on the last few drives, but Martin wanted to keep it on the ground and run out the clock.

Aside from the anemic yardage total and the overthrows, which Kelly also alluded to, Kelly did note that we had lots of guys open. Against what seemed a good secondary, this is a good sign for the future. I thought the receivers, as a group, did quite well. And the pass blocking was very good, too.

 

[stlnd01]

Not sure if this has been noted, but in the post-game sideline interview, if I followed it correctly, Kelly said he wanted to pass on the last few drives, but Martin wanted to keep it on the ground and run out the clock.

Aside from the anemic yardage total and the overthrows, which Kelly also alluded to, Kelly did note that we had lots of guys open. Against what seemed a good secondary, this is a good sign for the future. I thought the receivers, as a group, did quite well. And the pass blocking was very good, too.

If we can establish a running game, we'll actually be in decent shape. I am flummoxed as to why we can't though.

 

[palinurus]

If we can establish a running game, we'll actually be in decent shape. I am flummoxed as to why we can't though.

I know; me, too. It's either the line, the backs, or the chemistry, lol. Or it may vary from play to play. It wasn't Michigan State, because it's been true through four games vs. "good" Ds and bad.

 

[GATTACA!]

I'm still convinced it's neither. Lee Corso has tapped the head phones and is selecting plays for Tommy.

The whole conversation is irrelevant since TR is convinced he is the second coming of Peyton manning and should change every single play at the line.

 

[wizards8507]

If we can establish a running game, we'll actually be in decent shape. I am flummoxed as to why we can't though.

Todd Gurley - 6-1, 232
TJ Yeldon - 6-2, 218

We need guys like that, not guys like this.

Amir Carlisle - 5-10, 190
Cam McDaniel - 5-10, 207

 

[wizards8507]

The whole conversation is irrelevant since TR is convinced he is the second coming of Peyton manning and should change every single play at the line.

He RARELY changes actual plays. Most of the jibberish (gibberish?) he's shouting out there is adjusting the OL protection.

 

[palinurus]

The whole conversation is irrelevant since TR is convinced he is the second coming of Peyton manning and should change every single play at the line.

Today, at least, he threw beautiful 45 yard spirals, just like Peyton. Unfortunately, his receivers were running 40 yard patterns.

 

[stlnd01]

Todd Gurley - 6-1, 232
TJ Yeldon - 6-2, 218

We need guys like that, not guys like this.

Amir Carlisle - 5-10, 190
Cam McDaniel - 5-10, 207

You mean like
Theo Riddick - 5-11, 200
Cierre Wood - 6-0, 215

Our guys aren't Gurley, but they're big enough.

 

[IrishMoore1]

All I know is that we just beat a top 7 defense (guarantee they finish the season that way) with our backup QB that had his worst game of the season. I am thrilled. On to Oklahoma.

A top 7 defense? Their first 3 opponents were Western Michigan, South Florida, and Youngstown State. They sure shut down some major powerhouses there...

 

[GoIrish41]

A top 7 defense? Their first 3 opponents were Western Michigan, South Florida, and Youngstown State. They sure shut down some major powerhouses there...

They have a good defense. They might not be top 7, but it wasn't just because we were bad on offense, but that they were pretty good on D, too.