Sept 13 | Texas A&M

[IRISHDODGER]

Bowen missed 5 tackles all of last year

Plus he’s a MLB so fewer positions are in on as many tackle opportunities as he is. Commonsense tells a rational fan that he’ll have some missed tackles.

 

[WildMan1]

Missed tackles is a sum of different types/reasons for missed tackles. By PFFs definition and pretty much every coach a missed tackle is one you are responsible for. Then the breakdowns in different categories could be broken tackle, missed assignment, eye discipline, block shedding, etc etc. You don't have to wrap someone up, or grab them, then they break it to ONLY be considered a missed tackle.

I'm explaining how when bowen wraps up he does a good job typically of finishing his tackles. Cool. The bigger issue is him not being gap sound, not shedding blockers, and lack of foot speed to get where he needs to be in the box. If a tackle is his responsibility at that time, and he doesn't make it, it's a missed tackle, even if he doesn't lay a hand on them. Then it goes into sub buckets of what type of missed tackle it is. Perfect example is the run by judkins. Terrible job by bowen here to start second half. Feel free to watch bowen on this play, and how a LB can be responsible for giving up a 70 yard run. This is where KVA has much better instincts than bowen IMO to ensure he stays gap sound and assesses the play developing better.

Hinish like normal gets pancaked and opens a huge hole, bowen should have been there to ensure it wasn't a huge gain. Bowens is an easier fix than Hinish just not being capable.

This is Hinish being a NON FACTOR.. Simply sticking with a guy just because he’s a veteran & vocal in the weight room while getting obliterated on the field is some Brian Kelly shit.

I refuse to believe he’s the best option.. If he is then Washington should be fired immediately.

He’s going to make hustle plays throughout the season but his liability heavily out weighs those as we saw in the natty & against Miami..

Boosters are going to have to throw a ton of money at the DL portal next year.. otherwise we’re in the same position

 

[PutuporShutup]

So do we play a lot of zone to try and not give up any big Reed running plays (secondary heads turned around in man a lot)? Or, do we attack similar to what we did vs USC in 2023 and ensure our DL/LBs contain and hit him?

Outside of the academies we didn't really play an athletic QB last year, but we did give up long QB runs to stanford and Louisville.

My personal opinion is this team needs to get a mentality back that wasn't there on any side of the ball vs miami.

Also, i'm fully expecting A&M to show us how to run a slot screen pass correctly at some point in the game and make it look easy. It will piss everyone off that we couldn't really execute them, or maybe just piss me off that we couldn't execute one of the easiest plays and turned it over twice on it.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

So do we play a lot of zone to try and not give up any big Reed running plays (secondary heads turned around in man a lot)? Or, do we attack similar to what we did vs USC in 2023 and ensure our DL/LBs contain and hit him?

Outside of the academies we didn't really play an athletic QB last year, but we did give up long QB runs to stanford and Louisville.

My personal opinion is this team needs to get a mentality back that wasn't there on any side of the ball vs miami.

Also, i'm fully expecting A&M to show us how to run a slot screen pass correctly at some point in the game and make it look easy. It will piss everyone off that we couldn't really execute them, or maybe just piss me off that we couldn't execute one of the easiest plays and turned it over twice on it.

Curious how they employ Devonta Smith in this game. He’s really good against the run but is less than optimal in pass offense. Could he spy Reed?

 

[PutuporShutup]

Curious how they employ Devonta Smith in this game. He’s really good against the run but is less than optimal in pass offense. Could he spy Reed?

Why do you think Smith is not good against the pass? I thought he was pretty good. Clearly significantly better than hobbs.

A&M spreads you out with small shifty WRs. We'll need smith to be in pass pro against concepcion and craven. Two small fast/quick wrs. They will try to get those WRs in space. I don't think we can have our nickel corner handing them off to safeties to cover and blitzing a lot. I think the front 6 is going to need to own the LOS and contain reed and the run game with some safety help. Gray, Smith, Moore are going to be spread out a lot in coverage. A&M will also run screens to get these guys the ball in space.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

So do we play a lot of zone to try and not give up any big Reed running plays (secondary heads turned around in man a lot)? Or, do we attack similar to what we did vs USC in 2023 and ensure our DL/LBs contain and hit him?

Outside of the academies we didn't really play an athletic QB last year, but we did give up long QB runs to stanford and Louisville.

My personal opinion is this team needs to get a mentality back that wasn't there on any side of the ball vs miami.

Also, i'm fully expecting A&M to show us how to run a slot screen pass correctly at some point in the game and make it look easy. It will piss everyone off that we couldn't really execute them, or maybe just piss me off that we couldn't execute one of the easiest plays and turned it over twice on it.

Well, we know you will continue to post about those slot passes, regardless.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Why do you think Smith is not good against the pass? I thought he was pretty good. Clearly significantly better than hobbs.

A&M spreads you out with small shifty WRs. We'll need smith to be in pass pro against concepcion and craven. Two small fast/quick wrs. They will try to get those WRs in space. I don't think we can have our nickel corner handing them off to safeties to cover and blitzing a lot. I think the front 6 is going to need to own the LOS and contain reed and the run game with some safety help. Gray, Smith, Moore are going to be spread out a lot in coverage. A&M will also run screens to get these guys the ball in space.

It’s more about what was reported on him by the Alabama beat. After he announced his transfer, Pete Sampson reached out to as many Bama reporters as he could to get their take on Smith. They all raved about his tackling ability but his pass defense was underwhelming. One beat writer simply responded w/ the word “meh”.

 

[Dale]

It’s more about what was reported on him by the Alabama beat. After he announced his transfer, Pete Sampson reached out to as many Bama reporters as he could to get their take on Smith. They all raved about his tackling ability but his pass defense was underwhelming. One beat writer simply responded w/ the word “meh”.

Clark struggled in 2023 and Harper was thought of mainly a hitter as well. Mickens is batting 1.000 until proven otherwise at nickel

 

[PutuporShutup]

Well, we know you will continue to post about those slot passes, regardless.

 

[Dale]

Nobody wants to hear it but zone does make sense against A&M. Easier to stop scrambles as well as another team with a strong slot WR.

I can see them playing a similar amount of zone again (which I maintain was around 40 - 45%) unless they realized they just aren’t good at it in which the alternative is play man, DEs keep their lanes and light that sucker up.

 

[allenm5333]

Nobody wants to hear it but zone does make sense against A&M. Easier to stop scrambles as well as another team with a strong slot WR.

I can see them playing a similar amount of zone again (which I maintain was around 40 - 45%) unless they realized they just aren’t good at it in which the alternative is play man, DEs keep their lanes and light that sucker up.

I would like to see some cover 1 with a qb spy (Sneed, KVA). Some green dog pressures as well

 

[PutuporShutup]

Nobody wants to hear it but zone does make sense against A&M. Easier to stop scrambles as well as another team with a strong slot WR.

I can see them playing a similar amount of zone again (which I maintain was around 40 - 45%) unless they realized they just aren’t good at it in which the alternative is play man, DEs keep their lanes and light that sucker up.

I'm sure NDs plan was to play more zone these first two games. With how bad we played zone do they scrap it or try to fix it?

A&M offense is more difficult to defend than Miami's. I don't expect A&Ms oline to be quite as good. To me it's going to be the dline and if they can improve or not. If Reed has a lot of time to find open receivers OR run, it will become a shoot out of a game.

Dawson and Young need to play a lot more. It's not Hinish, Burnham, or Junior.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Nobody wants to hear it but zone does make sense against A&M. Easier to stop scrambles as well as another team with a strong slot WR.

I can see them playing a similar amount of zone again (which I maintain was around 40 - 45%) unless they realized they just aren’t good at it in which the alternative is play man, DEs keep their lanes and light that sucker up.

FWIW: According to The Athletic, ND’s defense was in zone around half the time. Beck completed over 80% of his passes vs zone & ~50% of his passes vs man, however; both TDs were scored against man.

 

[PutuporShutup]

It also seems like common sense to have Moore on one of A&Ms two top receivers each play. A&M top receivers typically work to the field to have more space, Moore tends to play boundary (makes no sense to me), with gray playing field wr despite being on the slower side for a top cb.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

ND 27
TAMU 17

I think the game slows down for Carr a little bit and the friendly atmosphere helps too.

 

[Irishcop]

ND 27
TAMU 17

I think the game slows down for Carr a little bit and the friendly atmosphere helps too.

Hope the Oline also shows up.

 

[Irish Norseman]

I was so overly confident for week 1 (which is weird because I’m usually a ball of nerves before every game). I thought last week would take me back but I’m weirdly assuming the team will rebound. I just have a bad feeling now that we are 0-2. This is probably a better state of mind for me because if we win great, but if we lose I won’t be a miserable dick and yell at my wife and kids all day Sunday.

 

[tko]

 

[irishff1014]

ND 27
TAMU 17

I think the game slows down for Carr a little bit and the friendly atmosphere helps too.

The second half showed Carr is ready. Home opener should have a good crowd for the Irish. Every game matters, crazy to think that this a must win game this early.

 

[Irish4life]

ND opens -6

 

[CANONIZEFATHERSORIN]

ND opens -6

Makes me nervous

 

[ulukinatme]

Would prefer the underdog, but I think this team will come out hungry after Miami. Hopefully it's another NIU situation and we get serious real fast.

 

[Dale]

Miami DEs:

- Bain: 6’3 275
- Mesidor: 6’3 280

Texas A&M DEs:

- Howell: 6’2 248
- Searcy: 6’5 255

This is a large portion of the key to the offense. Howell in particular is very fast, pure speed rusher, but you have to see Wagner/Knapp look better in pass protection and the run game Saturday.

 

[forkbeard3777]

Wanna stop A&M and Marcel Reed? Go watch the tape from last year's LSU - Texas A&M game. Watch what the LSU defense did .... and do the opposite.

 

[forkbeard3777]

I'm very intrigued on this game. I'll have to either go to a sports bar or have a dual-TV setup (as it's the same time as LSU-Florida).

I work with a lot of Aggies and they're very optimistic. I think they're putting too much into the Miami game and they really haven't been tested themselves. Their defense hasn't been pitching shutouts either. They also ignore that it was Carr's (1) first start, (2) on the road, (3) in a hostile environment, (4) against a good, top 25 team, and (5) in a downpour.

 

[Irish du Nord]

I'm very intrigued on this game. I'll have to either go to a sports bar or have a dual-TV setup (as it's the same time as LSU-Florida).

I work with a lot of Aggies and they're very optimistic. I think they're putting too much into the Miami game and they really haven't been tested themselves. Their defense hasn't been pitching shutouts either. They also ignore that it was Carr's (1) first start, (2) on the road, (3) in a hostile environment, (4) against a good, top 25 team, and (5) in a downpour.

How bad was the rain? I was in row Z and could hardly notice it, even when I was told it was raining.

 

[Huntr]

I'm very intrigued on this game. I'll have to either go to a sports bar or have a dual-TV setup (as it's the same time as LSU-Florida).

I work with a lot of Aggies and they're very optimistic. I think they're putting too much into the Miami game and they really haven't been tested themselves. Their defense hasn't been pitching shutouts either. They also ignore that it was Carr's (1) first start, (2) on the road, (3) in a hostile environment, (4) against a good, top 25 team, and (5) in a downpour.

YTTV, man. Get you a quad box.

 

[PutuporShutup]

is Freeman not doing his A&M press conference today, or has he moved it from Mondays at noon for saturday games?

 

[IrishFanForever23]

is Freeman not doing his A&M press conference today, or has he moved it from Mondays at noon for saturday games?

I believe it's at 12:30 Eastern

 

[PutuporShutup]

yep, freeman press conference is rolling now